Where and Why

[snaarman]

Oooh! Technical Nerdfest question.

Back at work. Where was I today, and what was I doing?

We were here



and I spent most of the day in this



So what was I doing and where.

Pete

PS. This place gave it's name to something you have.
PPS. Four real Ales, but I didn't have any

[s785]

Re: Where and Why

That second picture looks like sound (or other wave) proofing... and there's a huge antenna. So clearly you are testing something there.. 3 lasers on the desk? What for?

Is it research into radiowave communication of some sort?

[ChrisW]

Re: Where and Why

Four things spring to mind:

[s785]

Re: Where and Why

Well he said the name was something we all own and I for one don't have a Snaarman.....


:P

[PeterBirder]

Re: Where and Why

No idea about the house but it does seem to have a "heavy duty" CCTV camera on the roof.
The second picture is easier (perhaps). It's an RF Anechoic Chamber with an impressive Log Periodic Antenna bombarding some (prototype?) electronic equipment with RF radiation. Possibly for RFI susceptability? OR conversely a receiving antenna for TEMPEST testing?
Which leads back to the house. Is it an outpost of GCHQ (whatever that is.)

Nevertheless two very nice and very different shots from the E-PL3 and 9-18.

Regards

[snaarman]

Re: Where and Why

Ooooh. If only

(My favourite album BTW...)

[snaarman]

Re: Where and Why

No idea about the house but it does seem to have a "heavy duty" CCTV camera on the roof.
The second picture is easier (perhaps). It's an RF Anechoic Chamber with an impressive Log Periodic Antenna bombarding some (prototype?) electronic equipment with RF radiation. Possibly for RFI susceptability? OR conversely a receiving antenna for TEMPEST testing?
Which leads back to the house. Is it an outpost of GCHQ (whatever that is.)

Nevertheless two very nice and very different shots from the E-PL3 and 9-18.

Regards

Now here's someone who knows a log periodic Yagi when he sees one. Well done, and yes, its RF emissions testing.


But where? And 4 real ales? What's all that about. And the name hint thingy...

[Guest]

Re: Where and Why

Well it's IBM Hursley surely, offhand I don't think I've got either a Hursley or a Spitfire around the house.

Nick

[snaarman]

Re: Where and Why

Well it's IBM Hursley surely, offhand I don't think I've got either a Hursley or a Spitfire around the house.

Nick

Excellent. That's the place. IBM is the tag. But you probably have one hint??

What's the nearest town??

[Guest]

Re: Where and Why

Winchester - so are you talking guns or discs, I'll admit to the latter.

Nick

[snaarman]

Re: Where and Why

Winchester - so are you talking guns or discs, I'll admit to the latter.

Nick

Yep. We got there in the end.

We were RFI testing in the underground Anechoic chamber* at IBM Hursley, home of the Winchester Disk. Surely this is a fabulous working environment: A proper grown up employer, rolling parkland, away from the madness that is London and (sit down and get this guys) a staff canteen with a proper bar, with four real ales on tap.

What's not to like?

OK, It probably seems ordinary after the first six months, but I can imagine worse places to work.

Pete

*You can carry out RF immunity tests at kilowatt ERP levels in the chamber downstairs while they are doing free field emmisions tests in the nanovolt region directly above you, with no crosstalk. Astonishing.

Nerd mode off.

[PeterBirder]

Re: Where and Why

(sit down and get this guys) a staff canteen with a proper bar, with four real ales on tap.
.

Note to self " never buy a Winchester disc that was made in the afternoon".

*You can carry out RF immunity tests at kilowatt ERP levels in the chamber downstairs while they are doing free field emmisions tests in the nanovolt region directly above you, with no crosstalk. Astonishing.

.

Impressive. Made me think of a fellow hearing aid user who said he cannot go to the current multi screen cinemas because his hearing aid loops pick up the soundtrack from the screen next door rather than the one he is watching.

[DerekW]

Re: Where and Why

My memories of the place are not quite so rosy. <g>

[Guest]

Re: Where and Why

Yep. We got there in the end

I don't think I was that slow - certainly within 15 minutes. And my visits to Hursley were always heavily chaperoned by IBM staff trying to sell me something very very expensive

We were RFI testing in the underground Anechoic chamber* at IBM Hursley,

ICL (now that ages me - even though I'm younger than Pete) used to do similar testing in a large underground chamber in a Cheshire Salt Mine. Tried for years to get an invitation.

IBM establishments were always well known for their bars.

And whilst it may be true that the Winchester Rifle was invented to pick off IBM sales staff who missed their targets, I can state with certainty that IBM did not invent the Spitfire aeroplane and win the 2'nd world war.

Nick

[DerekW]

Re: Where and Why

"IBM establishments were always well known for their bars."

Not in the US, in the past salesmen have been sacked for drinking on the train going home from a sales convention or "100 per cent Club"

The Executive Briefing Centre in Hursley was legendary probably because mere mortals were never allowed near it.