............RAL 2007................. . The Round Table will commence at 10:30 on Sunday 25th. ..........Please DO NOT arrive Early.......... Tests and measurements....Excellent lecture Programme G6JYB, G4DDK, G8APZ:........

RAL 2007 Information

RAL are once again organising a microwave round table. The date this year is the 25th March. This is an event not to be missed. UKuG are providing an interesting programme of lectures attached to the event and Brian, G4NNS is organising an antenna testing on the day before.

Registration

Thanks for registering - nobody apparently wants to do any measurements!

Here is the list:

Arrival

Dave Cox G0RRJ and Paul Marsh M0EYT have volunteered to man the gate - thanks to them both for this.

Please do not turn up early, unfortunately last year, several people managed to get into the room early rather than waiting by the gate, which really upset out setting up timetable. Once people start coming in we can't leave the gear unattended, which means we can't go and get luxuries like working pens, paper for results or perhaps more critically last year, find someone to get the heating back on.

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Site Rules

There are no real issues apart from common sense. RT attendees must stick to immediate area of the event and not wander off unaccompanied around the site. The speed limit is 20mph except where lower limits are marked, it is strictly enforced. Really strictly, there is CCTV and a Radar gun now. Parking is only permitted in designated parking bays. The site is non-smoking and food and drinks are not permitted in the lecture theatre. In the event of an emergency first contact a RAL employee if available or dial 2222 from a local telephone. In the event of a fire alarm, everyone must gather on the grassed area outside the lecture theatre. If there is a site emergency, stay inside. RAL staff will tell you what to do. Cameras and rigs are OK on site but please do not transmit into an antenna on 13cm as the adjacent band is currently being used on site for receiving deep space comms.

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Event Info

We are in a different conference room this year as the normal lecture theatre is being refurbished. While this is not raked, it does still include full AV facilities. On the plus side, we will not need to drag the test gear quite so far across site and there may be the opportunity for some demonstrations of receiving with the 12m ground station antenna, subject to staff, the moon, and extra-galactic radio sources being willing.

Test Facilities

The test facilities are one of the main reasons for holding the RT at RAL. As usual what I can measure will depend on what equipment is actually available on the day. We got no feedback so the test gear is limited to:

  • Power meter with heads for up to 3W to 18GHz in coax, with WG20 (24GHz) , WG24 (47GHz) at 100mW max.
  • A 30 GHz Spectrum Analyser
  • A 30 GHz Signal generator
  • A Noise figure meter to 24 GHz and also able to do ENR estimation. If you want a record, bring a floppy disk.
  • Variable voltage PSUs to 30V at 20A.
  • A selection of adapters, Anderson Powerpoles - WG24.

*** Remember to bring all the leads and tools you need! ***

Internet

In case anyone is interested, there is a visitors wireless LAN on site using IEEE802.11g. Paul M0EYT will instruct the unsure on how to use it.

Lunch

We normally rely on extending the service provided for the ISIS facilities, but as operations are currently suspended while a new target station is installed there is not going to be a canteen this year. Bring your own food.

Antenna Testing - Saturday 24th March

Antenna testing is planned at the QTH of Brian, G4NNS on Saturday afternoon. Also on Saturday, Brian's dish has "visibility" of the moon from about 1400 local time, so some EME tests might be possible, most likely on 10GHz if the system rebuild is complete, another band if not and provided the weather permits.

Let Brian know if you intend to come along.

The Dinner - Saturday 24th March

For those attending the antenna and/or eme tests and who want accommodation in the area, we have reserved some rooms at the Cricketers Arms Tangley which is near Brian's QTH. Quote "Brian Coleman" when booking. This is about 40 minutes South of RAL.

A dinner will be held locally to the antenna testing at The Red Lion at Clanville. Transport between the accommodation and the dinner venue has been arranged.

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The Round Table - 25th March

 
1030 Doors open
1030-1200 Informal socialising/surplus swap tables
1230-1330 Lunch:
1330-1340 Formal welcome: Brian Coleman G4NNS and Chairman UKuG
1340-1400

Awards:

Presentation of Special Award to Mike Dixon G3PFR

Presentation of Contest certificates and Trophies: Steve Davies G4KNZ presiding
1400-1430

Lecture 1: Spectrum Update with particular reference to Beacons - Murray Niman G6JYB
1430-1500 Lecture 2: 134GHz The next Frontier - Sam Jewell G4DDK
1500-1515 Break
1515-1545 Lecture 3: Organising a multi band microwave contest entry - Robin Lucas G8APZ
1545-1615 Lecture 4: TBA
1615

Event closes.

 

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The list of registrants - external link

RAL: John Wright G3VPW, Jon Eastment GW4LXO, John Bradford and Mike Willis (G0MJW).

RAL Radio Society: Geoff Greyer G3NAQ, John Durban G6LNU

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© Mike Willis Feb 3rd, 2007