Hands-on learning about guy ropes by Mastrant
Today was another day that will take place only at our accomodation. We started the day with breakfast and a brief team leader meeting. Since everyone was staying at the accommodation again, there was less to organize and coordinate compared to previous days. Though still important, as for the afternoon, we had the opportunity to choose our preferred workshop from a selection of five. This ensured that everyone could participate in an activity that aligned with their interests.
After breakfast, the entire camp gathered for three informative lectures. The first presentation by Vavruška delved into the crucial world of emergency radio communication. We learned about various propagation types, how radio waves travel under different conditions. We also explored different antenna options, understanding how they affect signal strength and range. The presentation covered various operating modes, ensuring we can adapt communication strategies based on the situation. Finally, we got a breakdown of essential equipment for emergency preparedness, giving us the knowledge to build a reliable emergency communication setup. Next up, we dived into the DXpedition adventures from Vláďá OK2WX. We learned about the logistics and mountains of paperwork involved in setting up expeditions to places like Burundi and Cameroon, where he recently went for DXpeditions. The presenter also offered a glimpse into the local conditions, with a healthy dose of caution regarding the dangers posed by hippos! Finally, the excitement reached new heights with the announcement of a future expedition to Burkina Faso. This call to action invited young hams to join and participate in this incredible experience. Our final morning presentation took us soaring to new heights with the fascinating world of balloon tracking. We discovered a unique application of amateur radio: tracking simple, lightweight, yet incredibly durable hobby balloons. These balloons can stay aloft for several years, their paths traced by the Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) protocol. This presentation highlighted a unique way to utilize our radio skills and explore the upper atmosphere in a fascinating way.
Time passed by and it was already time for lunch! As the schedule was already relatively packed in the morning, we had some free time after the lunch before the next presentation started. Today, we delved into the fascinating world of satellite technology through the lens of the Planetum-1 Cubesat. From its inception as a concept to its eventual deorbit, we followed the entire lifecycle of this small satellite. The presentation provided a comprehensive overview, covering topics such as design, construction, launch, operation, and the challenges faced in space. It was a truly inspiring to look at the dedication and innovation that go into space exploration!
In order to get some more hands-on experience, we spent the rest of the evening in different workshops. As mentioned before, everyone could choose among five offers. In the Mastrant workshop we learnt Learned which knots and tools can be used to utilise the guy ropes of an antenna as efficiently and safely as possible. The Prusa workshop was all about 3D printing and the representatives from Prusa had set up an interesting booth for the Prusa 3D printer, where you had the chance to ask all kinds of questions. For the Flora and Fauna workshop we left the accomodation and went outside of the city to get on air in the nature! In the micro:bits BLE workshop we assembled the RC car kit and then started programming the microcontrollers so that one controller controls the car and one controller gives the car instructions via Bluetooth on how to move. Last but not least, the baloon workshop was all about building a Traquito Pico Balloon, which is easy to assemble. Participants learned about the whole assembly process like preparing dipole antennas, soldering the solar panels and programming the balloon tracker.
3D printing workshop with Prusa
Once we finished the workshop, it was time for dinner. Right afterwards, we continued with one last presentation by Mahmoud. The presentation explored the diverse applications of High Frequency (HF) technology beyond traditional communication. It highlighted the potential of HF waves for wireless energy transmission, environmental sensing, and gesture recognition.
Since we couln’t finish with all team presentations yesterday, we had one last round of youth work presentations, so that in the end every country gave a short presentation.
Before calling it a day, there was one more spot left on the schedule: it was time to launch the baloon! We went outside to our group picture photo spot, filled our baloon with Helium and let it go off.
