Geoff’s Challenge

 

Geoff’s Challenge was a series of construction challenges spread initially over 5 years.  2003 was the last year in the series, and most members agreed that it produced some interesting home construction topics.  How do you follow such a successful idea?  Simple – with many further years, and over a decade later it is still going strong!

 

2022 Anything relevant to Amateur Radio

Geoff’s Challenge for 2022 is to make something relevant to amateur radio.  Entries will be judged at the meeting on Thursday 6^th October 2022.  It was won by Phil Ciotti who had a built an ATU.

 

2019 Anything relevant to Amateur Radio

Geoff’s Challenge for 2019 is to make something relevant to amateur radio.  Entries will be judged at the Annual General Meeting in April 2019.

 

2018 Anything relevant to Amateur Radio

Geoff’s Challenge for 2018 was to make something relevant to amateur radio.  Entries were judged at the Annual General Meeting in April 2018.

 

2017 Anything relevant to Amateur Radio

Geoff’s Challenge for 2017 was to make something relevant to amateur radio.  Entries were judged at the Annual General Meeting in April 2017.

 

2016 Programmable Device

Geoff’s Challenge for 2016 is to make something that uses a programmable device.  The programmable device might be an Arduino or a PIC Chip for example – but anything that needs a program to operate, and is relevant to amateur radio is fine.  Entries will be judged at the Annual General Meeting in April 2016.

 

2015 Something for Top-Band

Geoff’s Challenge for 2015 was to make something for top-band (160m – 1.8MHz) band.  For example this might be a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, antenna – but anything that would help you get operational on top-band is fine.  Multi-band equipment is fine as long as it includes top-band.  Entries were judged at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 10^th April 2015.

 

2014 Transceiver, Receiver or Transmitter using a valve

For 2014 Geoff’s challenge was to build a transceiver, transmitter, or receiver using at least one valve.  Entries were judged at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 11^th April 2014.

 

2013 A Piece of Test Equipment

For 2013 Geoff’s challenge was to build a piece of test equipment or station accessory for an amateur radio station.  Entries were judged at the June 2013 meeting.

 

2012 A Suitcase Radio

For 2012 Geoff’s challenge was to produce a suitcase radio (a receiver, transmitter and Morse key) in the style of those used during the second world war.  Geoff said that whilst he would prefer it to be valve-based, he would also be pleased to see semi-conductor versions as well.  Entries were judged at the May 2012 meeting.

 

2011 A 20m Receiver and Transmitter

For 2011 Geoff’s challenge was to produce a 20m receiver and transmitter.  Geoff said that the receiver could be Direct Conversion or Superhet, but NOT Regenerative.  In addition to three ‘serious’ entries, this year there was an additional humorous entry.  Entries were judged at the May 2011 meeting.

 

2010 A 20m vertical antenna ideally for portable use

For 2010 Geoff’s challenge was to produce a 20m vertical antenna, ideally suitable for portable use and be small and easy to carry.  The challenge was taken up by 7 members, with entries judged at the May 2010 meeting.

2009 An International Space Station Receiver & Antenna

For 2009 Geoff came up with two challenges.  For the first one, Geoff was looking for a receiver to receive signals from the International Space Station.  Geoff said that a receive converter was not eligible.  The second one was to build an antenna to receive signals from the International Space Station.

 

 

Geoff's Challenges Over the Years Year Section - 1 Section - 2 Section - 3 1999* One-Valved transmitter One Valved receiver A crystal set (receiver) 2000 50ohm Dummy Load SWR Meter ATU ('L Match') 2001* Transistor Transmitter Direct Conversion RX. Low Voltage PSU(12V) 2002 Transistorised VFO Superhet Receiver Frequency Meter 2003* Simple Dipole Antenna Loop Antenna for hf Yagi Antenna for VHF 2004 * Station Accessory, RF Station Accessory, AF Station Accessory, DC, Mains or Mechanical 2005 * Something for Foundation Licence Training 2006 * A Transceiver using no more than 20 components 2007 * Test Equipment for the Field using LEDs 2008 * (1) Power without Batteries.  (2) Combined Seat and Operating Table 2009 * (1) International Space Station receiver. (2) An antenna to receive signal signals from the International Space Station. 2010 * A 20m vertical antenna ideally for portable use 2011 * A 20m receiver and transmitter 2012 * A suitcase radio 2013 * A piece of test equipment for an amateur radio station 2014 A transceiver, transmitter or receiver using at least one valve 2015 Something for Top Band (160m) 2016 Something that uses a programmable device 2017 Anything of relevance to amateur radio 2022 Anything of relevance to amateur radio

 

* Click on the year to see the entries.