Chelmsford Science & Industry Museum has a series of Open Sunday afternoons during August each year. September often features a Science Day

August Afternoons

CARS was invited to provide an Amateur Radio Station on Auguste 6th & 20th this year.

Both days were bright & dry which resulted in a good number of the public attending, approx 200 on the 6th & over 100 on the 20th. Among those who came, many (or their family) had connections with Chelmsford or Marconi or other allied industries and therefore appreciated the many displays.

The Open Days also attract visitors, often with children, who may never have realised that Chelmsford created much of the technology which people now take for granted.

On August 6th CARS provided our "usual" Radio Tx station which was visited by about 50 people. From 1400 till 1700 BST we had the satisfaction of considerable interest in the radio station operating under our club call, GX0MWT.

The band conditions were diabolical, with a general noise on all HFs of 9+20 or worse. Some of it had a manmade component that compounded the problem. The 40m band was unusable and 80m only opened after 1440 hrs when the signals gradually overcame the noise. The operators then worked 25 QSOs, all UK except one which was a dodgy ON.

Thanks for the effort and kind help especially to those folk behind the scenes who are so necessary to the success of such an event. Above Report by Brian G3CVI.

Pegrum Family on the 20th August 2006 with Friend of the Museum.
Photographs by John, G8DET

CARS used the usual the long-wire aerial over the water course which surrounds the Mill. This contributes enormously to the strong signal which radiates from G0MWT, however this does not completely overcome the Sun Spot Minimun (ends December 2006?) which contributed to poor propagation conditions.

Operating in the Marconi Hut on Sunday 20th August.
Malcolm, G4KGL logging with Brian, G3CVI on the microphone.

Reversing the roles

Our transceiver is the FT847 running about 100watts output and the aerial system is an 80 metre half-wave fed in the centre with open wire feeders and an MFJ antenna tuner.

Malcolm G4KGL on the microphone with Adrian Soane, M0ABY (visitor) logging.
Adrian & his Wife are Members of the Hoggeston Radio Society & are involved with Duxford Radio Club.

Retired Marconi employee, Stan Dodd G0SXK, by the side of a Marconi TV Camera. Stan worked with CARS Member, Eric G8ADX.

Also attending were Peter Best G8BLS and his Wife from Ipswich. Peter was with BT in the Microwave Group, Eastern Region for many years and is known by many Amateurs.