Off-air contest in action
Our day began with the usual routine of a delicious breakfast and a quick team leader meeting to recap yesterday’s fun and get ready for the day ahead. Afterwards, we dove into the technical side of ham radio with a presentation by Pavel OK7PM. He started with the basics of how radios work and then took us on a journey into the world of Software Defined Radios (SDRs). We learned about the differences between SDRs and traditional radios, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. While it was a bit more technical than our usual activities, it was still fascinating to learn about the technology behind our hobby
Our minds were transported back to the 1920s for our next presentation. Dana OK1ZKR shared the incredible story of the airship Italia, which crashed in the icy expanse of the Arctic. This dramatic tale highlighted the crucial role of radio communication in emergency situations. Despite the challenging conditions, the crew’s SOS calls triggered a massive rescue operation, ultimately saving lives. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of radio communication and our hobby.
After the intercultural evening yesterday, we learnt a lot about the culture of all the different countries participating. But to get to know more about our host country Czechia, Klara took us on a journey through the country’s rich history, geography, and culture. From historical landmarks to traditional cuisine, we learned a wealth of information about our host country. We even received a handy souvenir guide, making it easier to find the perfect gifts for our loved ones back home. It was a great way to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Czechia.
After a morning filled with presentations, we enjoyed a longer lunch break to get some food and to recharge our batteries and spend some quality time with our new friends. Once we were refreshed, we delved into the world of antennas with a presentation by Jiří OK1RI. We learned about fascinating topics like propagation, radiation lobes, polarization, SWR, impedance matching, and the importance of ground conditions. It was a bit technical, but it definitely expanded our knowledge of this essential aspect of ham radio. Afterwards we headed outside for a group photo and team pictures. Gathering everyone for the perfect shot took a bit of time, but it was worth it to capture these memories. Of course, we also took team pictures and even more, as it was just super fun to get pictures with our new friends and all the different flags from so many different countries. We already felt some drops during the photoshots, but luckily we stayed dry during that. Only on the way back, when just arrived at the lecture hall, heavy rain started to kick in.
Back inside and mostly dry, we kicked off the last lecture session for the day with the first round of team presentations. Each team had prepared a short presentation about ham radio activities for young people in their home country. It was fascinating to learn about the diverse ways that different countries engage young people in our hobby. From
established clubs to innovative projects, we were truly inspired by the creativity and passion that we saw there! And as the afternoon quickly passed, it was already time for dinner.
As evening program we had the famous Off-air contest. As the name suggests, no radios were involved! Instead, our voices became our tools. In a big room, we prepared three rows of chairs, imitating the 20m, 40m and 80m band and a big clock so everyone can log the time. Everyone started occupying frequencies, walking around, shouting for qsos. From speakers and some organisors we had some QSB and try to make our QSOs through this noise jungel. It was like a real-life pile-up, but with no actual radio waves! Even though it was a new experience for many of us, it was incredibly fun and challenging. Now everyone awaits the results of the contest to see who won.
