Radio enthusiasts take to the air

Martin Vickers, Data Manager at IBERS and Colin Sauze, Research Associate at the Department of Computer Science picking up radio signals during Youngsters On The Air.

Martin Vickers, Data Manager at IBERS and Colin Sauze, Research Associate at the Department of Computer Science picking up radio signals during Youngsters On The Air.

03 December 2014

Today, Wednesday December 3rd, the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science in conjunction with the Aberystwyth and District Amateur Radio Society is hosting a Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) event.

The event is aimed at those age 25 and under and gives a chance to experience the world of amateur radio.

There will be the opportunity to talk with people around the world through satellites, high frequency radios and data messages.

There will also be demonstrations of weather satellite receivers, software defined radios, morse code and wireless sensor network research.

The event runs from 10am to 8pm in the foyer of the Computer Science Department in the Llandinam Extension and the foyer of the Physical Sciences building. Anyone under the age of 18 is welcome, but will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Amateur radio is a hobby open to all which allows its members to use specially reserved radio frequencies to talk to other amateurs around the world.

Radio amateurs often provide communications capabilities for events and in emergencies.

Unlike the Internet, which relies on commercial or government infrastructure, amateur radio allows world wide and space based communication without extra infrastructure or using only infrastructure owned and operated by other amateurs.

Potential radio amateurs must take a course and obtain a license before they are allowed to transmit.

Earlier this year 25 students and staff from Aberystwyth university qualified as radio amateurs.

Much of what is taught in the amateur radio courses reinforces material taught to Computer Science and Physics students.

Several members of research staff in the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science are also radio amateurs. They are able to apply their radio knowledge into many research areas including solar physics, robotics and wireless sensor networks.

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