The written notes and a low-res copy of my presentation slides are available here.
...-.- de m0xpd
Monday, 30 May 2016
Dayton Presentation Materials OnLine
Having got back home, I've just posted my materials from FDIM 2016 online - so anybody who missed the show live can 'catch up' ...
The written notes and a low-res copy of my presentation slides are available here.
...-.- de m0xpd
The written notes and a low-res copy of my presentation slides are available here.
...-.- de m0xpd
Friday, 27 May 2016
Icelandic Radio Amateurs
They allowed me to gave a presentation about some of my activities in homebrewing and operating beacons...
in the comfortable surroundings of what was once a Shell Oil facility...
I wasn't the only overseas visitor - there were some DF hams on their way back from Dayton and Dave, ei9fbb and Col, MM0NDX were on Iceland for an IOTA activation...
Dave gave a great presentation about the S79C DXpedition to Coëtivy Island in the Seychelles after my talk...
Col was on the team for the S79C trip with Dave.
After my talk, we sold the few copies of my book that remained after the North American sector of the trip (and the two 'sample' copies).
Thanks to all members of the IRA, their visitors (especially Dave and Col) and, particularly, to Jon Th. Jonsson, TF3JA, for arranging my visit.
...-.- de m0xpd
Sunday, 22 May 2016
Hamvention 2016
Did a long day at Dayton Hamvention yesterday...
where we had a mix of rain and overcast, exactly as on the Saturday of last year.
Once again, we Brits were represented by the RSGB stand in its familiar location...
Walking around the flea market I was delighted to bump into Kristen, kb3oqv
Kristen is known as Antenna Hair Girl (she's not just standing in front of a tower - it is worked into her hair) and, what's more, it was working as an antenna for the HT she's holding up in the photo!
Best of all, Kristen is a fellow member of Portage County Amateur Radio Service - she came to my talk a few weeks back. Her folks farm Buffalo and (as I can confirm personally) those animals sure taste fine!
Make sure you visit the Dayton Hamvention at least once in your Amateur radio career.
...-.- de m0xpd
where we had a mix of rain and overcast, exactly as on the Saturday of last year.
Once again, we Brits were represented by the RSGB stand in its familiar location...
Walking around the flea market I was delighted to bump into Kristen, kb3oqv
Kristen is known as Antenna Hair Girl (she's not just standing in front of a tower - it is worked into her hair) and, what's more, it was working as an antenna for the HT she's holding up in the photo!
Best of all, Kristen is a fellow member of Portage County Amateur Radio Service - she came to my talk a few weeks back. Her folks farm Buffalo and (as I can confirm personally) those animals sure taste fine!
Make sure you visit the Dayton Hamvention at least once in your Amateur radio career.
...-.- de m0xpd
Friday, 20 May 2016
FDIM and the WBB
FDIM 2016 is well under way ...
I gave my presentation, "Occam's Scrip", as part of the seminar series yesterday and I seem to have got away with it! (I'll post copies of both the written paper and the slides online when I get back to the UK). I also sold some copies of my new book during the vendors' event last evening.
Yesterday afternoon, delegates had opportunity to participate in what was billed as "The World's Biggest Buildathon" (WBB), organised by FDIM stalwart Rex Harper, w1rex, (of Tuna and QRPme fame).
The WBB was an opportunity for all to make a simple 20m transmitter, distinguished by the fact that no soldering was required.
Rex and his helpers had done a heroic job to put together 300 kits...
which were passed out to the assembled multitudes
and Rex (and some helpers) gave personal assistance to get everybody going with the 'plug in' build.
Here's Rex in action...
Very soon, some working transmitters were assembled - one of the first I spotted was completed by Harold, ke6ti...
As if all the efforts of yesterday weren't heroic enough, Rex is running another 'regular' Buildathon even as I type - I'll go down and take a look at how things are progressing.
Respect and kudos to w1rex - his contributions to FDIM over the years continue to amaze!
...-.- de m0xpd
Update:
Rex has produced a detailed write up of the event - you've gotta see his fleamarket 'chicken shack'!
I gave my presentation, "Occam's Scrip", as part of the seminar series yesterday and I seem to have got away with it! (I'll post copies of both the written paper and the slides online when I get back to the UK). I also sold some copies of my new book during the vendors' event last evening.
Yesterday afternoon, delegates had opportunity to participate in what was billed as "The World's Biggest Buildathon" (WBB), organised by FDIM stalwart Rex Harper, w1rex, (of Tuna and QRPme fame).
The WBB was an opportunity for all to make a simple 20m transmitter, distinguished by the fact that no soldering was required.
Rex and his helpers had done a heroic job to put together 300 kits...
which were passed out to the assembled multitudes
and Rex (and some helpers) gave personal assistance to get everybody going with the 'plug in' build.
Here's Rex in action...
Very soon, some working transmitters were assembled - one of the first I spotted was completed by Harold, ke6ti...
As if all the efforts of yesterday weren't heroic enough, Rex is running another 'regular' Buildathon even as I type - I'll go down and take a look at how things are progressing.
Respect and kudos to w1rex - his contributions to FDIM over the years continue to amaze!
...-.- de m0xpd
Update:
Rex has produced a detailed write up of the event - you've gotta see his fleamarket 'chicken shack'!
Author Event
Earlier this week we went back to Saint Marys, OH, to visit with Larry Kramer - owner of Saint Marys Hobby Center. We had first met a year back, when we parked our rental car - by chance - outside the same store on Wednesday, 13th May, 2015 and heard Larry tell the story of the Miami and Erie Canal, which runs through Saint Marys and explains the nearby Great Lake.
It was Larry's infectious enthusiasm for history and his natural gifts as a storyteller which turned my intentions to keep a private journal into the idea to write something more public - so, naturally I wanted to thank Larry and give him a copy of my book...
Larry had already read the library's copy of my book (!) but I wanted him to have his own, personal copy. Larry was even promoting my book on his store front...
The next day, we visited some more of the remains of the canal, particularly in the nearby town of New Bremen, which boasts restored lock in the centre of town and a lock-keeper's cottage, now used as a museum and the offices for the Chamber of Commerce...
Then I was pleased to give a talk about my book at an 'Author Event' at Saint Marys Community Public Library, in which I picked up the theme of the local canal and the importance of waterways to the opening up of the entire US economy - the same story taught me by Larry, repeated in chapter 11 of my book and picked up again as the story was repeated on our journey west last year.
I was fortunate that my talk was attended by a talented reporter from The Daily Standard, Claire Giesige, who gave my talk a really nice write up in the next day's edition...
Thanks to Beth and all the staff at the Library who made the event possible - I had a great time.
...-.- de m0xpd
It was Larry's infectious enthusiasm for history and his natural gifts as a storyteller which turned my intentions to keep a private journal into the idea to write something more public - so, naturally I wanted to thank Larry and give him a copy of my book...
Larry had already read the library's copy of my book (!) but I wanted him to have his own, personal copy. Larry was even promoting my book on his store front...
The next day, we visited some more of the remains of the canal, particularly in the nearby town of New Bremen, which boasts restored lock in the centre of town and a lock-keeper's cottage, now used as a museum and the offices for the Chamber of Commerce...
Then I was pleased to give a talk about my book at an 'Author Event' at Saint Marys Community Public Library, in which I picked up the theme of the local canal and the importance of waterways to the opening up of the entire US economy - the same story taught me by Larry, repeated in chapter 11 of my book and picked up again as the story was repeated on our journey west last year.
I was fortunate that my talk was attended by a talented reporter from The Daily Standard, Claire Giesige, who gave my talk a really nice write up in the next day's edition...
Thanks to Beth and all the staff at the Library who made the event possible - I had a great time.
...-.- de m0xpd
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Listen Up!
Yesterday we were back on our favourite highway (the one that goes straight to Laramie)...
This time, we were headed out of PA into Ohio...
Then we took the Ohio Turnpike to Portage County and the City of Kent, OH, to meet up with Tom, wb8lcd. Tom and I had met last year at FDIM and we had arranged that - if ever I were in Portage County - I should look in at the Portage County Amateur Radio Service. Yesterday was my chance...
I gave a presentation about audio in amateur radio, which I'd entitled 'Listen Up!'...
On the evidence of last evening's meeting (and on seeing the excellent newsletter, the 'Radiogram') PCARS is a lively, active club, covering the whole breadth of our hobby and reflecting the service which PCARS members pours back into the local community.
It was a pleasure to meet with members and to be able to make my little presentation, which they appeared to enjoy (they neither lynched me or threw anything!)...
In fact, the welcome was so warm that I was elected an Honorary Life Member of PCARS during the meeting - I am proud and delighted to be associated with this fine club. Trouble is, it is going to be rather expensive to get to many meetings (but it is another good motive to attend the Dayton events!).
In addition to the warmth and kindness of all PCARS members and the extraordinary hospitality which Mary, Jennifer and Tom are extending to Deborah and me, I want to say a special thanks to Chuck, w8pt for the personal gift he gave me.
73 from Portage County.
...-.- de m0xpd
This time, we were headed out of PA into Ohio...
Then we took the Ohio Turnpike to Portage County and the City of Kent, OH, to meet up with Tom, wb8lcd. Tom and I had met last year at FDIM and we had arranged that - if ever I were in Portage County - I should look in at the Portage County Amateur Radio Service. Yesterday was my chance...
I gave a presentation about audio in amateur radio, which I'd entitled 'Listen Up!'...
On the evidence of last evening's meeting (and on seeing the excellent newsletter, the 'Radiogram') PCARS is a lively, active club, covering the whole breadth of our hobby and reflecting the service which PCARS members pours back into the local community.
It was a pleasure to meet with members and to be able to make my little presentation, which they appeared to enjoy (they neither lynched me or threw anything!)...
In fact, the welcome was so warm that I was elected an Honorary Life Member of PCARS during the meeting - I am proud and delighted to be associated with this fine club. Trouble is, it is going to be rather expensive to get to many meetings (but it is another good motive to attend the Dayton events!).
In addition to the warmth and kindness of all PCARS members and the extraordinary hospitality which Mary, Jennifer and Tom are extending to Deborah and me, I want to say a special thanks to Chuck, w8pt for the personal gift he gave me.
73 from Portage County.
...-.- de m0xpd
Friday, 6 May 2016
Tour of Duty
Today the XYL and I set off on another spring trip across the pond...
This time I'm set to meet with the good folks at Portage County Amateur Radio Service
who I'm going to bore with one of my presentations, before going on to an Author Event (it's art, darling!) promoting the new book at the Community Library in St Marys, OH.
Then it's down Interstate 75 to FDIM for another magic lantern show
and a trip to the Dayton Hamvention, where we might even sell a few copies of the book.
Our journey home includes a few days in Iceland and another talk at the Íslenskra radíóamatöra club in Reykjavik
There's going to be lots of time for tourism between these 'gigs', taking in Toronto, Niagara Falls, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visiting our friends up in Michigan, etc... that's what I'm telling the XYL!
Greatly looking forward to meeting folks along the way, so please make yourselves known - let's have an 'eyeball QSO', preferably over a beer!
I rather pre-empted this 'spring trip across the pond' by an unexpected business trip to Texas a few days ago - so I'll be back in North America for the second time within a week. Unfortunately, that trip forced me to cancel a booking for a talk at the Chester and District Radio Society. I apologize to members there who I was forced to let down (and to Steve, g6fdk). I shall be pleased to reschedule a talk at Chester for a later date.
I'll try to post news from Dayton (and other points along the way)
...-.- de m0xpd
This time I'm set to meet with the good folks at Portage County Amateur Radio Service
who I'm going to bore with one of my presentations, before going on to an Author Event (it's art, darling!) promoting the new book at the Community Library in St Marys, OH.
Then it's down Interstate 75 to FDIM for another magic lantern show
and a trip to the Dayton Hamvention, where we might even sell a few copies of the book.
Our journey home includes a few days in Iceland and another talk at the Íslenskra radíóamatöra club in Reykjavik
There's going to be lots of time for tourism between these 'gigs', taking in Toronto, Niagara Falls, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visiting our friends up in Michigan, etc... that's what I'm telling the XYL!
Greatly looking forward to meeting folks along the way, so please make yourselves known - let's have an 'eyeball QSO', preferably over a beer!
I rather pre-empted this 'spring trip across the pond' by an unexpected business trip to Texas a few days ago - so I'll be back in North America for the second time within a week. Unfortunately, that trip forced me to cancel a booking for a talk at the Chester and District Radio Society. I apologize to members there who I was forced to let down (and to Steve, g6fdk). I shall be pleased to reschedule a talk at Chester for a later date.
I'll try to post news from Dayton (and other points along the way)
...-.- de m0xpd
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