This channel is designed to inspire and create conversations. I like to take things apart to learn how they work and repurpose them - taking what already exists and reconnect the dots differently to see what comes out.
I enjoy working with the Raspberry Pi as well as the Arduino and BBC Micro:bit. My projects feature around music and radio quite heavily but I'm just here to experiment with anything really.
If you like the sound of this channel then please subscribe to get a regular(ish) dose of creative inspiration.
I am also available on Twitter too where I feature other projects that don't get made into videos: twitter.com/RocketJez
Excellent video. Great advice. I too passed my foundation during lockdown. I have a Kenwood th-d74 and a pi star hotspot for talking all over the world on d star but other than a few calls at the beginning I don’t go on it anymore. I am also very mic shy and can’t think what to say. I never remember people’s callsigns. Please could you make more videos like this. This was so helpful. 73’s. M7TTI.
That is such a nice comment to leave, thank you. I'm beginning to understand just how common mic shyness actually is. I thought I was the only one. What has help to overcome it as well as think on the fly about what to say is my RU-vid live shows. I still get really nervous doing them but every week I feel a little more confident than the previous week.
Thank you for doing this. I plan to return to the frequencies after a 35 years hiatus, I still have a license but need new gear and so much happened not least digital radio. I don't expect many of the old contacts to be around. For small talk I think after initial hello's and reports talking about gear one has or wants will be fine. 73's
Have the same xhdata, it was about £55 delivered to London in 2023. Lovely radio! Can also be used to search for sources of QRM around the house or check if HF bands are open by listening on the FT8 frequencies. Very versatile!
I had the same fear, also got my license during the pandemic. It was like fear of death, probably worse. If you are like this, try the following: 1) mimic calling cq with the radio off or connect a dummy load so you can hear yourself saying it 2) if you have access to HF bands, make contacts when there is a contest. Answer when others call CQ and the whole exchange is your callsing and singal report. They will also thell you your signal report an 73 - contact over. This way you can build the confidence to call CQ yourself either on HF or 2m - Alex M0OOV
Thanks - I've just passed my Foundation exam, but I found this most useful and encouraging, I can connect with it in so many ways. Obviously the "now I've passed" bits are particularly helpful to me at the moment. 73, David (haven't got my call sign yet)
Interesting game! Idea for extra element: grey line propagation, where you don't square the hexagon distance count or maybe half the hexagon count, so you can get further distances. Another idea: maybe have a skip zone by default i.e. can't work squares inside your own hexagon; but then have some stages with sporadic-E propagation where skip is short, and for that go can work squares inside your hexagon.
Hey there; hopefully this comment reaches you. I had a run in with an official Zoltar machine and thought "I'd love to make my own" and came upon your series of videos. Very inspiring, just wish I had the workshop space and tools to get started. I know you mentioned you were able to keep costs down by using scrap materials, but if you don't mind my asking, what was your final tally on that? Cheers, and thank you again for the ideas.
Hello! Yes, the message got through, thanks for reaching out. You can always work with what space you've got. This is how Zoltar started out (originalyl built on the kitchen table using a Microbit, a servo motor and a broken Furby) before I scaled him up: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D5SkrXEw8Hg.html I've taken him to various conventions and events and he's looking a bit rundown as a result so I've had to spend a little more money to keep patching him up but the inital cost would have been around £100 and that includes the Microbit, LEDs and components. Luckily I was able to use most of the wood from old dismantled wardrobes which kept the cost down. The spray paint was the most expensive out of everything but I wanted it to look nice.
Thank you for your comments. I have had my Technicians license for MANY years and have never initiated a conversation for fear of doing it wrong or not knowing what to do. I hope your pep-talk might get me going in the right direction.
Thanks. I really wish I had documented the process. It was very much making it up as I went along though, so may not have made great viewing. It got recycled into this build... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d8XthYMNSRg.html
I like the comment about bashing the new kid! I have tried getting into this hobby but can't find anyone who states sensible intelligible info. Like how do you know what works in your area before spending cash to find out nobody is using what you can on a Foundation certificate.
ive been a 2meter ham for 3 years, never talked to anyone . never had any friends to help me with tihs....will prob never contact anyone....i dont deserve this im too new and incompetant
Why not give Echolink a go? It has the Call CQ feature where it'll connect you with someone else who has selected the Call CQ option. I know it's not quite the real thing but it'll get you connecting with people. Just go for it! The first call will be terrible, the second time will be better and the third call will just come naturally. Good luck!
Interesting, when I looked at Shrewton ROC Post on Subterranea Britiannica , it says there is no trace of it. I wonder if this is something else? Also, you don't have to wait for the grey line to 'Broadcast' there is plenty of activity during daylight hours. There are activations of bunkers almost every day now, sometimes several people out there every day, its getting very popular! G8XDD
@@RustyRocketProjects Ah, perfect location, and awesome to see it still has some structure. Whilst passing Enford in the car the other week, I went to see if there was any sign of ROC Post Enford not too far away from Tilshead/Shrewton, but looks like it's long gone.
Thank for sharing your experience and knowledge. I am also new. Passed my technical and taking General next week. Yeah 👍! I have not made a call as of yet. But soon. Setting up my BF-F8HP / UV5R 3rd gen. Yes, tough to make first call. A little confusing on setting up repeaters. Maybe discuss that. Thanks again.
Thank you for dropping by! Just think of the buzz you'll get from making that first call. Repeaters would be an excellent topic to cover in a future video, thanks for the suggestion.
That's a very good project and video. I think besides luck some parts of the success of your game, from what you speak in this video and others is how much you planned the story and the gameplay mechanics. After that like you mentioned you gave the game for alot of people for feedback, soo you have experience in game design, worked alot on the story and also used alot of feedback, 3 great steps for a good game project imo. The only bad thing in my opnion is the use of AI, the AI image tools at the momment still uses alot of resources without consent of the owner and artists, besides that point trying to learn pixelart and other forms of visual art is a great thing to do in a project like this. If you spent the ssame amount of time learning art as you did on the game story you would be great at pixelart and drawing in general. Im commenting this just as my opnion, not trying to be agressive here, just another feedback in a sense. But besides the use of AI images looks like a great game that was made with alot of care, i will be playing it in the near future.
It still feels a little imposter syndrome-ish I guess but you're right, it is other factors other than luck and I should acknowledge that more! I used AI to generate the box art and images for the instruction booklet. I took the time to learn pixel art using the software Tiled. Now, that was fun but for some reason took me longer to learn than I first thought. All feedback is good feedback, so thank you for taking the time to comment.
Thanks! It's been a real labour of love but I'm relieved it's finished if I'm honest. It was hard completing all the none-exciting bits of the project.
Wow that box art is truly beautiful. Will you be selling physical copies when you are finished? and will it be available internationally? (I’m from New Zealand)
Thank you!! I've been working with a publisher Bitmap Soft and this week I've submitted a completed, bug-fixed version along with artwork and instruction booklet content. It'll be released on physical cartridge as well as a ROM download too. Not sure when the release date will be though. I'm just so happy and relieved to have made it across the finishing line after months and months of work.
"Strangely relaxing" is exactly what I was going for. I understand more about mic sound levels after that little test. It was fun. Let's see what Sunday brings.
That isnt a furbym thats a fueby fake nemed: Mowgwai, there rare like most fakes, Gowy,foobie etc, but thay can be really descuised like a phoebe 2012 furby
Good video with valid points. Over the years of using cb and being in sales, here's a couple other tips and tricks mic shy or new hams may find helpful... Make sure you're not eating your mic or have it too far away when you speak in to it. Other stations won't respond if they can't understand you. If you are unsure what to talk about after making the contact, as Rusty pointed out, thank them for responding, followed by "I'm out here on a walk about (or running errands) and thought I'd call out right quick, back to you". This allows you to end the conversation at your convenience because 'well, I just got to the store, I better run in and get my stuff'. After stating you are out running errands etc, the other station 99% of the time responds with their activities (what they have planned, what they should do, etc) for the day. This is good, because you don't have to talk any more. All you have to do is keep asking them about their day. If its gardening, ask what they plant, if working on a car, ask what kind...Get them talking about themselves, people like that. Ask if they generally monitor a particular frequency or repeater. Be prepared to write down the freqs/repeaters they mention. Follow with 'I wasn't sure if anyone would be monitoring. Are there any freq's or repeaters that are more active than others?'. Get them talking. When you're done, its the 'well, I just got to my destination, I hate to cut this short but I better run inside, it was great talking with you today and I sure appreciate all the info you shared!". This makes some simple conversations that get's your call sign out there. Next time you're out, you can specifically call for the station you recently talked with. Having that history with that station, you can build on your conversation skills and it becomes easier to talk with new stations. You'll also make a new radio friend! Don't be afraid to tell the other station that you recently got your license and are new to radio. Lots of times, the other station will offer some pointers and do's/dont's. By mentioning to the station that you're new to the hobby, all the other stations out there listening will hear that as well, thus when you call out next time they'll be more apt to respond beings they know you're new and trying. Write a list of questions you can use as a template to guide your conversations. You'll be able to keep this list with your radio and use it every time you make a contact. Thank them for responding Their call sign Signal Report What your are currently doing (taking a walk, doing errands, taking a break from yard work) Ask questions based on their response. Ask if they usually monitor a specific frequency, repeater, weekly net (to learn the active frequency's and repeaters) Tell them it was good talking with them and you hope to catch them on the air again sometime. Hope some of this helps. Enjoy your radio, its a lot of fun :)
Hey Jez. Glad to see you getting back into the hobby 😄 Web SDRs are very useful. I like to use the various hosted Kiwi SDRs for having a listen to HF bands. I find it useful to have a quick see of band activity before deciding if I should go to the shack and get my equipment powered up.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Since posting this video, I've found that many have had similar experiences. I've recently found a group on Facebook called "145 ALIVE ACTIVITY EVENT GROUP" that looks like it'll help.
