Welcome to RADARC!

Recent Events: Vintage Computer Evening 15/10/26

RADARC members had a wander down “kilobyte memory lane” at their October 15^th meeting, which was “Vintage Computer Night”. Not strictly radio back then but inextricably linked to amateur radio now.

Club members brought 1980s computers which they had as geeky teenagers and kept for old time’s sake. Some of those keepsakes are now collectors’ pieces.

Ted, G6IJK was involved in computer production in this period and showed a Ferranti FM1600B bootstrap loading panel, which he built as an apprentice. He said that the system was part of the weapons firing and control system for many Royal Navy warships from the 1970s to the late 1980s.

Ted showed the back of the panel to reveal the wiring was hand wrapped by him as an apprentice and a complete work of art!

Ted G6IJK with the Ferranti FM1600B bootstrap loading panel which he built as an apprentice.

Another interesting piece was Dave, G6AWF’s Pong game. Built by Dave, this was a one chip wonder and many will remember the version which formed one of the first pub computer games. I remember one version which resembled a coffee table with the screen inset into the table surface.

This event was extremely popular and sadly, there isn’t space here to mention everyone’s exhibit but an honourable mention goes to Simon, M0ZSU’s Creed teleprinter. This machine was the deposed by the advent of computerised, digital equipment and it was interesting to see it displayed against the kit which made it redundant.

Simon’s version is now controlled by an ESP32 module which he jokingly described as the “only Creed printer on the internet”!

This was the first time RADARC had run a vintage computer night and it was so popular, I think it may become a regular event in the calendar.

Words & Photographs: Ace G0ACE

Recent Events: Amateur Radio/TV And The ISS 08/10/26

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About RADARC

Thames Valley’s leading Amateur Radio Club since 1934

Based in Reading, our activities are generally at 8pm on Thursdays, and the majority of our meetings are run as hybrid sessions – with both local and remote speakers, and open to those on Zoom as well as in-person audiences.

Further online interaction happens via our busy ‘Discord’ community and our members’ Google group. Occasionally we run ad-hoc zoom natter sessions perhaps supporting an on-air net.

In the summer we run social and practical events/sessions (“antenna evenings”). Generally there is no online element to these, although you may well hear us on the air! We take part in CW, SSB and VHF field days where people are welcome to camp overnight.

Our outreach activities include working with local scout groups for events such as Jamboree on the air and practical activities such as building and experimenting with radio kits.

RADARC welcomes all who wish to learn about radio, electronics and indeed all aspects of amateur radio. Dates of meetings can be found on our events page.

Other local radio groups we are delighted to work with include:

Bracknell Amateur Radio Club

Thames Valley Repeater Group (“TVRG”)

Burnham Beeches Radio Club

Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society

Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club

Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club

We are also proud to be part of the thriving Reading area diverse technical and scientific community. Here’s a small sample:

Reading Hackspace (Rlab) Reading’s very own makerspace sporting a wide variety of amazing tools, equipment and people.

Reading Geek night organising a wide variety of evening talks and Science in Reading

Reading Repair Café leading the way in making society more sustainable whilst promoting learning about how things work.

Reading Library of Things (RLOT) is an imaginative initiative making a fantastic range of resources (tools etc.) available to Reading folk whilst saving the planet and de-cluttering your garage!

Finally, we are proud to support the MCR21 BBC outside broadcast van restoration project.