GOTA 2006 Guides On The Air

A FUN WEEKEND  Learn different forms of technology  Learn about communications  Have a go  Have FUN!

ACTIVITIES  Radio operation  Phonetics  Satellite tracking  Global Positioning System (GPS) Geocaching  Amateur Radio Direction Finding Foxhunting (ARDF)  Aural Foxhunting  Learn Morse code

ACTIVITIES cont….  Live weather picture reception Weafax  Night sky sights, satellites, planets  See your voice on a Oscilloscope  Listen to aircraft radio communications  Automatic Positioning Reporting System (APRS) (Vehicle & weather movements)  Amateur TV video link  FM radio music station

RADIO OPERATION  Find out how a radio differs from a telephone  Do’s and don’ts of operation & procedures  Learn how to use a 2 way radio  Use different types of radio  Public Radio System (PRS) / CB  Shortwave  Very High Frequency (VHF)

PHONETICS A system of words of which none sound like the other A system of words of which none sound like the other Used by the military, maritime, aircraft, police etc Used by the military, maritime, aircraft, police etc For example: For example: The name BEV would be: Bravo Echo Victor

SATELLITE TRACKING  Watch satellites orbiting the earth  Listen as they pass overhead  Look at the pictures they send  Track the ISS (International Space Station)

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Image above: Expedition 14 Commander Michael Lopez- Alegria uses a computer in the Destiny laboratory of the International Space Station. Photo credit: NASA.

ORBITING WEATHER SATELLITES Check out Weather Sat pictures of New Zealand Check out Weather Sat pictures of New Zealand Download pictures as the satellite passes overhead Download pictures as the satellite passes overhead

GPS GEOCACHING Learn about GPS Learn about GPS Use a GPS to find hidden geocache Use a GPS to find hidden geocache A Geocache may contain treasure or simply a piece of paper! A Geocache may contain treasure or simply a piece of paper!

WEAFAX  Live weather picture reception  Sent by radio waves to ships at sea  Received by ships radio  Decoded by computer

ARDF FOXHUNTING  Find hidden radio transmitters  Each fox transmits a different code  This is the same as used by D.O.C

AURAL/VISUAL FOXHUNTING  Use your ears to find a hidden beacon  Listen carefully and follow your ears  At night look for a flashing beacon

LEARN MORSE CODE  Learn the Morse alphabet  Try to send your name  Why is SOS the emergency signal?

NIGHT SKY SIGHTS  Look up in the sky (weather dependant)  You might see  ISS (International Space Station)  Satellites  Planets  Moon

OSCILLOSCOPE Talk into the microphone to see your voice displayed as a visual wave form on the small round green screen. Talk into the microphone to see your voice displayed as a visual wave form on the small round green screen. Try talking softly then loudly, what happens to the waveform on the screen? Try talking softly then loudly, what happens to the waveform on the screen?

AIRCRAFT RADIO Hear what pilots are saying Hear what pilots are saying Local VHF transmissions Local VHF transmissions International Oceanic transmissions International Oceanic transmissions

APRS Automatic Positioning Reporting System Automatic Positioning Reporting System Look at the regional land map Look at the regional land map See the weather live in Canterbury See the weather live in Canterbury Watch vehicles being tracked by GPS Watch vehicles being tracked by GPS

ATV VIDEO LINK  High power video link  Find a hidden camera  Pan and tilt video camera remotely

FM RADIO STATION Select music on the computer Select music on the computer Music goes to a FM transmitter Music goes to a FM transmitter Transmitter sends out the song Transmitter sends out the song Listen on a FM radio to your song Listen on a FM radio to your song