05-Feb-2009

Mrs Johnson and her family are Amateur Radio enthusiasts - this means after having taken 1 or more exams and obtained an Amateur Radio Licence, they are qualified to operate a transceiver so that they can communicate with other radio amateurs, potentially from any where in the world.

Our local radio group - South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur Radio Group - came recently to Eureka to share this experience with Mrs Johnson's class.

http://www.sdawarg.co.uk/home.htm

Here you can see one of our club members - Roger (then Chairman) helping some of the children with their QSO's.

During this exciting afternoon, class 5 spoke to Gerald in Burton-upon-Trent - whose call sign is M5ACI and a gentleman in Ireland. Many of the children had a chance to call CQ, CQ, CQ which is radio language for 'I am seeking you' - is there anyone out there?

Our call sign was GX0SRC/P - Golf X-ray zero Sierra Romeo Charlie / portable.

This is the call sign of the radio group, we had to sign /portable because the call sign wasn't being used at the usual address.

We had a great time and are hoping that we can do this again soon.

Science Week 2008

Once again, South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amatuer Radio group came to Eureka to share with us the wonderful hobby of radio communications.

All of KS2 enjoyed the activities this year.

The mast arrives and position is selected - due to a terrible weather forecast, we opted for the area between Ecologists and Goldie's Garden.

The mast is erected with a tri-band aerial for 6m, 2m and 70 cm (VHF frequencies) on top of the mast; a crossed trap dipole (the wire antenna) that covers some of the HF frequencies - 10m, 15m, 20m, 40m and 80m. We were very impressed as the antenna system did not let us down; it withstood the wind admirably.

Ecologists with Roger, M1CBO (mike, one, charlie, bravo, oscar); Roger holds a full amateur radio license; the children are speaking to other local radio amateurs with great confidence.

During the activity, we spoke to gentlemen amateurs in Algeria (north Africa) and Sicily (Italy) - our International contacts! Also, local amateurs in Belper, Burton-upon-Trent and other parts of Derbyshire.

The children learnt how to say their name, Eureka and Derbyshire in phonetics; something about sun spots and how this has a tremendous effect on radio activity and they designed our own Eureka QSL card. A QSL card is a confirmation of a contact that amateurs all over the world exchange.

 Goldie looks on... longingly; he never got his hands on the microphone!

We have been so impressed that we are looking into setting up our own amateur radio station - you may soon hear G0EPS

(if this call sign is available) on the air!