This month is the last chance to visit the former Marconi radio factory at Hall Street, in Chelmsford. The Marconi Exhibition at Hall Street, Chelmsford, has been running for the last 3 months, and closes on the 29th of May 2016. After this date, the premises is to be turned over to commercial developers. The exhibition commemorates the pioneering work of Marconi and the tight links to Chelmsford, the birthplace of radio, and you can find out more here: Marconi Science WorX
As part of a series of ongoing talk and activities, youngsters had the chance to make their first basic AM receivers over the weekend of the 14th and 15th of May, at at event organised by the Chelmsford Civic Society.
On Saturday the 14th of May, Kathryn Sipple, daughter of Pete M0PSX and Sarah M6PSK, visited the exhibition so that she could make her first radio.
Kathryn, aged 8, already has some soldering experience, having make an LED badge at the Southend Raspberry Jam. The AM radio kit was a more complex project, but a little help from dad to hold the board steady, she was able to complete the Rapid Electronics kit with ease.
Under the watchful eyes of Chief Engineer Ed G8FAX, and CARS Chairman Chris G0IPU, the unit was tested and was able to pull in a strong signal from BBC 5 Live first time around.
After completing the project, Kathryn said: “It was really fun making my first radio and it was quite easy. I enjoyed counting the turns of wire on the aerial. I will be listening to my new radio at bedtime tonight”
Kathryn will be taking her first radio into school for her science lesson next week. The school already has a radio connection, as Kathryn’s school tuned in to a Tim Peake ISS contact earlier in the year as part of their space studies.
Kathryn also had the chance to sit in a replica of the Titanic’s radio room, having learned about the fate of the Titanic at school.
Kathryn’s schools science work has included some basic electronics information, and she has been taught about voltage, batteries and circuits. She had to do a presentation on a famous inventor earlier this year, and chose Marconi.
On the journey to the Hall Street factory, dad Pete M0PSX explained about Marconi’s connection to Chelmsford, as well as the work done at Bletchley Park that has led to today’s computers. When passing the Chain Home Tower, discussion turned to the importance of that invention too.
It was great to have the chance to explore New Street and to walk through such a historic place. Pete M0PSX was interested to find an old BBC Glensound mixing desk on display, and as a former broadcast radio technician, it brought back a few happy memories.
Thanks to Ed G8FAX, Chris G0IPU and the other helpers, plus the Chelmsford Civic Society volunteers for putting on an excellent exhibition and for giving Kathryn the chance to complete her Intermediate practical project a few years ahead of schedule!
Related links
- Marconi Science WorX – Exhibition details
- Marconi at Hall Street – Chelmsford ARS
We are so pleased that Rapid’s radio kits are giving youngsters like Kathryn an early education in electronics, soldering and radio technology. These kits are aimed at Key Stage 3-4 so Kathryn really is ahead of the field here. We are always keen to hear from people who have made our kits so we would be delighted if you wrote a product review on our website for this product: http://www.rapidonline.com/rapid-radio-project-kit-no-pcb-set-of-5-70-0110. If there is any feedback about the product or suggestions on how it could be improved we would also love to hear from you.
Congrats to the YL for making this work – those ZN414 etc derived TRF chips were a right bear to keep stable ISTR ;) And so young too – I struggled to make a crystal set work at that age, though I hadn’t grasped the meaning of a high-Z earpiece.
But WTF is it with the safety goggles? I have never needed to wear goggles in forty years of soldering things either as a hobbyist, student on an electronics engineer. It’s not like there’s a lathe or a drill press in the room!
Sadly, use of googles is often mandated now, especially on activities like this, as organisers have to perform a basic risk assessment.
There’s a small risk to solder splatter (the lead-free stuff spits more than the lead-based stuff), and there’s also the risk of someone flicking solder, or a component leg pinging off and finding an eye.
Pain the backside and I had to wear a pair helping my daughter – visibility is hampered, adding risk!
Pete
Good point about solder Pete. Just in case anyone is not aware: lead solder is not banned for home use, only commercial. It is readily available except in that well known high street chain that choose not to sell it. Make your life easier: go out and buy some decent 60/40!