AmateurRadio.com

Its been quite some time since I have added anything to my blog, and indeed quiet some time since I’ve added any videos. Don’t worry though, everything is fine, I’ve just been really busy on other projects.

Radio and all radio related items has taken quite a large step back over the past 6 months, work commitments and other personal commitments have really swallowed up any spare minutes that I have.

However I have still kept up with the distance learning classes and also been involved in the upcoming Club Relay for 2015 (now 2016) for the RSGB. So its not all lost.

So what has prompted the sudden blog entry ? well I received this week a Volunteer 2015 badge for the RSGB for all the activities I have completed over the past 12 months. For which I’m very grateful for the recognition.

It got me thinking – how we take the RSGB for granted, and indeed watching other constantly belittle the society, how we should actually take a moment and celebrate the society and everything that it has accomplished over the past years.

I even wrote a quick entry on the RSGB unofficial Facebook page, which is often a melting pot full of moans and groans – and I added that we should all note down what makes up proud to be a member, and add an open thanks to things that the society has done for us.

A few liked the posting but even better quite a few agreed with my comments and also added what they are proud of and how the Society had helped them.

Its times like this that we really should step back form the immediate issues that we face in the hobby and remind ourselves – its just a hobby. We all volunteer, we all do out best, and we really should be grateful for what we have achieved.

This is likely to be the last post of 2014 – so until next year (and I promise not to leave it so long) have a very happy Christmas and happy new year.

Its been quite some time since I have added anything to my blog, and indeed quiet some time since I’ve added any videos. Don’t worry though, everything is fine, I’ve just been really busy on other projects.

Radio and all radio related items has taken quite a large step back over the past 6 months, work commitments and other personal commitments have really swallowed up any spare minutes that I have.

However I have still kept up with the distance learning classes and also been involved in the upcoming Club Relay for 2015 (now 2016) for the RSGB. So its not all lost.

So what has prompted the sudden blog entry ? well I received this week a Volunteer 2015 badge for the RSGB for all the activities I have completed over the past 12 months. For which I’m very grateful for the recognition.

It got me thinking – how we take the RSGB for granted, and indeed watching other constantly belittle the society, how we should actually take a moment and celebrate the society and everything that it has accomplished over the past years.

I even wrote a quick entry on the RSGB unofficial Facebook page, which is often a melting pot full of moans and groans – and I added that we should all note down what makes up proud to be a member, and add an open thanks to things that the society has done for us.

A few liked the posting but even better quite a few agreed with my comments and also added what they are proud of and how the Society had helped them.

Its times like this that we really should step back form the immediate issues that we face in the hobby and remind ourselves – its just a hobby. We all volunteer, we all do out best, and we really should be grateful for what we have achieved.

This is likely to be the last post of 2014 – so until next year (and I promise not to leave it so long) have a very happy Christmas and happy new year.

Okay so not exactly a ham radio blog entry here but its Wi-Fi related, so in a tenuous link its sort of radio related right ?

Recently I upgraded my home broadband to BT Infinity 2. It has been fantastic except for one little annoying thing. Every time I try to reconnect to the Wi-Fi my MacBook will not reconnect and insists the password is invalid.

This has only happened since the BT Home Hub 5 came about and I genuinely thought I had a broken hub. The issue seems to fix itself after a reboot of the hub, but within a day or so its annoying habit of throwing you off comes back.

So what’s the issue here – and more importantly the fix.

MacBook’s seem to have a hard time switching between Wi-Fi or 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. Why this is the case god knows. But the solution is very simple and easy to do.

1. Login to your hub usually 192.186.1.254
2. Click on Advanced Settings – Log in using your admin details, and click Continue to Advanced Settings
3. Click Wireless on menu at the top

You will now see options for 2.4Ghz 5Ghz  and WPS. We are going to change the way 5Ghz works.

1. Click on 5Ghz
2. Make sure Sync with 2.4Ghz is NO
3. Choose a name for a new wireless ID – I chose Lumber-5Ghz (My Wireless at home is called LUMBER – so it makes sense)
4. Make sure the interface type is selected “Up to 150 Mb/s)
5. I’ve selected Channel 64 – you may not need to change channel unless you have some interference
6. Choose a new password for you to join the new network.
7. Hit Apply

While you wait for the router to save the settings, I’ll explain what you have done.

You have separated the Wifi Networks into 2. You now have a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Network. Soon (leave it a minute) you will see your new 5Ghz network pop up in your Wi-Fi network list. Join it and you will be connected to your 5Ghz network. If your Mac cannot connect it will default back to your 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network and stop that annoying “Invalid password” issue from reappearing.

Since doing this all the MacBook’s, Mac Minis and iMacs in my household have not has this issue reappear so it seems to be the fix.

I hope this does help anyone else who is having this issue.

Okay so not exactly a ham radio blog entry here but its Wi-Fi related, so in a tenuous link its sort of radio related right ?

Recently I upgraded my home broadband to BT Infinity 2. It has been fantastic except for one little annoying thing. Every time I try to reconnect to the Wi-Fi my MacBook will not reconnect and insists the password is invalid.

This has only happened since the BT Home Hub 5 came about and I genuinely thought I had a broken hub. The issue seems to fix itself after a reboot of the hub, but within a day or so its annoying habit of throwing you off comes back.

So what’s the issue here – and more importantly the fix.

MacBook’s seem to have a hard time switching between Wi-Fi or 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. Why this is the case god knows. But the solution is very simple and easy to do.

1. Login to your hub usually 192.186.1.254
2. Click on Advanced Settings – Log in using your admin details, and click Continue to Advanced Settings
3. Click Wireless on menu at the top

You will now see options for 2.4Ghz 5Ghz  and WPS. We are going to change the way 5Ghz works.

1. Click on 5Ghz
2. Make sure Sync with 2.4Ghz is NO
3. Choose a name for a new wireless ID – I chose Lumber-5Ghz (My Wireless at home is called LUMBER – so it makes sense)
4. Make sure the interface type is selected “Up to 150 Mb/s)
5. I’ve selected Channel 64 – you may not need to change channel unless you have some interference
6. Choose a new password for you to join the new network.
7. Hit Apply

While you wait for the router to save the settings, I’ll explain what you have done.

You have separated the Wifi Networks into 2. You now have a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz Network. Soon (leave it a minute) you will see your new 5Ghz network pop up in your Wi-Fi network list. Join it and you will be connected to your 5Ghz network. If your Mac cannot connect it will default back to your 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network and stop that annoying “Invalid password” issue from reappearing.

Since doing this all the MacBook’s, Mac Minis and iMacs in my household have not has this issue reappear so it seems to be the fix.

I hope this does help anyone else who is having this issue.

The weekend of July 19th & 20th saw the 1st YOTA UK event take place in Wolverhampton UK. This event was to run along side the main YOTA event in Finland for those who couldn’t make the trip to the main event.

YOTA is a fantastic initiative to promote amateur radio within young people. The European event has been running for some years now, but the RSGB was invited to take part for the first time this year.

On Saturday we had young amateurs complete antenna construction (Available here). Complete the intermediate practical’s and examinations. In the afternoon we also hosted the buildathon with the hugely successful PSK receiver.  Throughout the day we had talks, presentations and a special event station (GB1YOTA) running alongside the indoor activities.  It was a bit warm I can assure you and with constant rain, thunder & lightening it was a great day.

Sundays activities took place outdoors. While the special event station still carried on- many of the participants took part in some ARDF, a spot of operating and testing their newly constructed antennas. You can see a small snapshot of the Sundays events in this video.

A big thank you to Wolverhampton ARS who are based at  The electric club at Wolverhampton – who were amazing hosts,  Camb Hams for supporting and supplying the Special Event Station and of course all the participants who’s enthusiasm and technical ability was simply astounding.