AMSAT-UK Colloquium First-time Visitors' Notes:

A full comparison between the Amsat-UK Colloquium and the AMSAT-NA Symposium would be unfair because the events have several differences. These notes, then, are intended as "a guide on what to expect" for folks thinking about visiting the UK event.

The major difference is that the UK event is held in a different environment from the US event. On the campus of the University of Surrey everything is done as a collective event and the price of the event includes all meals. We all meet, eat, and drink in the same place; round-table discussion of just about everything takes place all of the time outside the sessions (i.e. in one of the university restaurants or bars). The beer is REAL and the food is usually of a good standard (albeit bulk-prepared); special dietary needs can be accomodated provided the UoS are warned in advance.

The Saturday night Gala Dinner avoids hours of speeches and prize-giving. Dress-code for the entire event is casual; some folks like to dress smartly for the dinner but this is not essential.The sessions are similar in content to the US sessions in that they are a mix of subjects ranging from highly professional to "how I did ..." but they are held in a dedicated (tiered) lecture theatre with full audio-visual aids. Tea and coffee are served just outside the lecture theatre in the breaks.

The Amsat-UK shop is usually open before sessions start, towards the end of the lunch break, and at the end of the day. Registration, shop, and lecture theatre are all adjacent to each other. Restaurants and bars are all within (a maximum of) two minutes walk (through the open air) from the lecture area but to reach the accomodation blocks sometimes takes a five minute walk.

It is rare for there to be an active satellite station because most people prefer not to miss out on the socialising, so volunteers to do this are few (However this year (2006) we are expecting GB4FUN to be with us again as last year). Being at the UoS there are, of course, guided tours available of the SSTL facilities: command station, laboratories, clean-rooms, etc. mostly during break-times and in the evenings.The University grounds are nicely landscaped and it is common for the Friday night meal to be a barbecue beside the lake, weather permitting.

Most people reside on the campus and the university (student) accomodation is clean and comfortable (watch out for the hot water, its red-hot) but unpretentious rather than plush; this doesn't bother most people because they're usually only in their rooms to sleep and change, but there are a few rooms with added conveniences (such as en-suite rather than corridor facilities) for a higher cost. There is a shop on-campus in case you forget anything but its not open 24 hours per day. If your prefer more luxury (and expense!) there is a Holiday Inn close by.

What exactly is "student accommodation" and what is the cost?

The accommodation is clean and comfortable but sparse; reached by (up to three floors of) stairs. Student rooms contain: bed, chair, table, cupboard, wash basin, towel. The "en-suite" accommodation is more plush and includes a shower and toilet but, personally, I have always found the student rooms to be adequate because you don't spend much time in them and they are nearer to the lectures, bar, etc. Using the student showers, for me, means taking a few steps down the corridor wearing a towel (warning: not a pretty sight); toilets are adjacent to showers. Student blocks contain a large kitchen; if you need a hot drink you go there and put the kettle on (cups and a small amount of tea/coffee are provided in each room). Something to remember to bring: a plug adapter for UK power sockets, not all rooms have shaver sockets; our mains is 240v 50Hz (assuming you have electrical appliances). The wall sockets are three-pin and called "13-Amp"; I find international airport shops usually have lots of different power adapters.

The UoS campus, situated beside Guildford Cathedral, is hilly but (usually) peaceful because the Colloquium occurs outside of term-time. It is not uncommon for folks to sit under the trees on the grass outside the lecture theatre (and bar), chatting in the breaks and throughout the evening. The university's bars close at 11pm; if you are minded to continue discussion later than this, in the kitchens of the living blocks or elsewhere, even outside, (a natural occurrence at Surrey), it is wise to bring your own booze with you.UK weather in July/August is hot (75 degrees F) three years out of four; but there is a possibility of heavy rain occasionally. I have never known the weather to be cold for the Colloquium so, if you feel brave, bring short trousers and T-shirts (but also bring an umbrella or raincoat just in case).For me, the big difference between the UK and the US event is the social life. Buy them a beer and Amsat-DL, AMSAT-NA and/or UoS staff will design you a spacecraft on the back of a beer-mat.

Talk satellites or other amateur radio subjects ALL through the weekend without having to accommodate (or be restricted by) a spouse; although a few wives do attend, and generally make their own programme.

In the past the lectures have usually run from 0900 to 1800 only, with part of the final afternoon (an hour or so) being the Amsat-UK annual general meeting (we call it the AGM).Guildford is about 40 miles from central London and is easily reached, by train and/or bus, from both the major London airports (LHR and LGW) and from London itself. The UoS is not far from the railway (and bus) station. There are large (free) car parks for folks who come by car. See the travel page for more information.AMAST-UK are DELIGHTED to have visitors from overseas come to our Colloquium; there are usually 30-40 such visitors from most continents with the remainder of the (usually about) 100 attendees being British. Come and join us.

A point of confusion to some visitors from overseas is the style of accommodation booking. In the USA it is normal to book "a room" whether there is one person or a whole tribe; but in the UK the prices are normally on a "per person" basis. If you are not keen on the student accomodation then it is perfectly acceptable to get accomodated elsewhere;  you will have to organise that, but the organisers are happy to give advice about this. Hotels etc get booked fairly early so don't expect to find vacancies at the Ritz available just a few days before the event. We recommend you book about three months before.