In defining my winter project (Arduino satellite rotator) I was going through the background stuff and stumbled across a ham in the US (Nimit, K6XOX) who has clearly got a lot more experience in these things and has produced a rotator controller that works with the Yaesu protocols and works with his set up. A bit of email tennis later and I’m on the cusp of ordering a PCB off him that uses the same microprocessor that’s in the Arduino only without the unnecessary parts.

He has sent through a manual that is excellent and seems keen to promote his gizmo, if a little reluctant to send a PCB outside of the US. This PCB helps to remove one of the issues I had which was likely to be the biggest stumbling block, the software side of the project. I have had some good practice using existing tutorials to turn on and off LED’s, making the Arduino talk to the internet but failed miserably to get it to display a simple ‘Hello World’ on a LCD despite checking, double checking and triple checking the wiring, software and PC based bits.

this project is a long way from being finished and in reality hasn’t really started but so far its been a very good educational experience

Nw that christmasis over and I’m back at work the time allowed to do these things is over. Worse still is that some of my colleagues have brought with them a new set of germs to infect us with and school starts back today so bring on round two!

Theres no easy solution but to soldier on knowing that if I get anything then its 20 times worse than anyone elses

Way back when Noah was in short trousers or so it seems, The old girl showed me a advert in some trade magazine for the concept 2006 competetion run by Bureau Veritas with a prize of ??1000 for the winner. She goaded me to make something seeing I was a bit of a smart arse so the challenge was set.

The Theme – Baby Products….how apt

About 20 minutes of thinking and I came up with something that still needs to be quite secret for obvious reasons. I submitted the entry not expecting anything, I got shortlisted from around 350 entries down to the last 10 and finally down to the last 4. last week i had to present my wonder at the NEC.

So a second challenge was set. Make the item without spending much cash and try and return a profit on the whole proceedings. ??78 later (including fuel) I was down at the NEC competing against products already available and at the back of stand away from the prying eyes.

Needless to say i didn’t win the top prize but after recieving a cheque for ??200 I can safely say I got home just about in profit after deducting all my expenses. Challenge complete.

The twist is that I picked up a few business cards from people who may wish to take this further, hence the secrecy.

more may follow…..

Just a small slip and I gave myself a lovely deep cut on me left index finger. Still it did stop gushing eventually. I’m embarrased to say that after an hour and still no sign of a slow down, I had to call in the cavalry to give me some fatherly advice and a proper dressing. I better get this funding.

Next stop fibreglass…..god knows what’ll happen with that stuff.

Glasses…check
Face mask….check
Gloves…check
Sharp object…..stay away!

After a 5 hour drive down to Derby on monday night followed by a late night with Teenwolf, Slowly Bowley and Bernard Manning I dragged myself, with nasty hangover, to Warwick for the presentation. It’s amazing what a shower and a suit can do because this morning to my utter surprise I got the call…..

Ask me the question Noel…….

Deal…Or rather I’m in the final 4 for a grand and possible manufacturing deal.

Heres the bummer. Mrs G7KSE is due on the 25th Sept. They want me down on the 7th October for 3 days at some trade show, so if she’s late then we miss out. Push damn you woman push, like you’ve never squeezed before.

There is another bummer, my attempts at building a mock up oout of foam board and covering it with cloth went well and truely noticed. My collar was well and truely felt by the style police. So I’m going to have to produce a proper prototype in 3 weeks.

Note to self: Focus on one thing at a time

I got an email from the sponsors and I’ve been shortlisted for a ‘dragon’s den’ style presentation on the 12th Sept. I basically need to produce a vaible mock up that isn’t made out of cardboard by then and if sucessful then a proper prototype by the 8th October (which is when the little Urchin is due! nice timing)

So armed with a shopping list and a some power tools, I’m off to B&Q for some hardware and to Boots for some plasters and antiseptic wipes when I cut my fingers off!

Still keep an eye open for it in the shops soon!