Certified
Tag: radio
We love a travel show
To be fair I mean the kind with a host who goes gently and with an open mind into all manner of places and accommodation. I’m definitely not talking (Judith Chalmers…you have to be a Brit of a certain age but think leather skinned journalist sampling up market package tours). Inspired by a live performance by one Sandi Toksvig we spent a happy evening catching up on some of her exploits around the UK this evening. Together with her chums she shows us around splendid, and often isolated, places where you could stay with a group or as a pair (if you had a lot of money) and pretend to be a knight or lady of the manor. There’s history and weather and non of it stops one from having fun.
Joanna Lumley does a mean travelogue too. Though these tend to be lengthy and exotic as do Sue Perkins travels. Notice that all of these are women. Obviously being accompanied by a film crew and fixer make things go more smoothly (or less dangerously) but the commentary from a female presenter is on a different scale. Even the great Michael Palin could be a touch epic. Its the little things which endear these women to you. I mean when did you last see a blokey travel host make dinner for his chums?
In other news I have just passed my Ham exam and will soon be licenced for the airwaves. My voyages around the world may be virtual for now but we shall see.
Wireless for Sound
So I started the process of getting my radio ham beginners license. I’m enrolled in an online course. The calculations are going to mess with my brain for a while but practice, practice. Next stage is to book an exam but I’m going to leave that until I’m through the programme. I told you this blog would be eccentric.
The little Chinese walkie talkie arrived today. A Baofeng. It’s cheap and hopefully cheerful. I’m not allowed to PTT (push to talk) until I pass my exam and have a call sign and license from HM Government. I can, however, listen and I am told that it may be possible to hear the ISS (International Space Station) as it passes overhead. I can also get Radio 2 from the BBC no doubt!
Today’s adventures in amateur radio seem to have included a lot of information about electrical circuits and radio frequencies which is to be expected I suppose. I’m thankful that there’s not currently a practical requirement for the first level due to Covid 19. No doubt that will come. In the meantime I’ll sign off.
ffiftypluses 