tun Education Fairs
USKA at training and experience fairs — Radio amateurs showcase their hobby at various ‘tun’ events across Switzerland.
The ‘tun’ events are regional education and experience fairs for young people and adults (TUN = Technology and Natural Sciences). USKA sections showcase the hobby of amateur radio at these events with operational stations, Morse code training and demonstrations of global communication via shortwave and VHF. Young people can even solder small electronic circuits themselves.
Note: Photo galleries from past events are currently being migrated and will follow shortly.
2026
tunSolothurn.ch – from 12 to 18 November 2026 at ENTER Technikwelt
2025
25 April to 4 May 2025 — tun Central Switzerland: tunzentralschweiz.ch
2024
4 to 10 November 2024 — tun Solothurn: tunsolothurn.ch
11 to 17 March 2024 — tun Basel: tunbasel.ch
2023
28 April to 7 May 2023 — tun Bern (as a special exhibition at the BEA): tunbern.ch
Talk to the whole world
Have a go at operating an amateur radio station yourself! Pick up the microphone and you’ll be talking to the whole world via shortwave in no time. You’ll experience how global communication is possible today using a PC — and all without the internet. Try sending your name in Morse code so that it can be read by a PC.
Organiser: USKA Solothurn Section
2022
5 to 9 November 2022 — tunSolothurn: tunsolothurn.ch
From Morse code to digital communication
From 5 to 9 November 2022, tunSolothurn took place at the Rythalle in Solothurn. The USKA Solothurn Section, with the support of the USKA, ran a stand on the theme ‘From Morse code to digital communication’. Around 7,000 school pupils visited tunSolothurn over the course of the event. At our stand, pupils were able to try their hand at Morse code by attempting to spell out their names correctly.
Surprisingly, the girls were consistently quicker to get to grips with the paddle keys than the boys. Those who successfully spelled out their name in Morse code were awarded a certificate, which they were delighted to receive, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Many were very proud that they’d managed it and usually popped back by the stand with their mum or dad to show off their skills.
In addition to two Morse code practice stations, equipped with paddle keys and the ‘CWType’ software, the section had set up an IC-7610 transceiver for the shortwave bands and an IC-9700 transceiver for the VHF/UHF bands. There, the operating modes CW, SSB and FT8 were demonstrated. An FD4 antenna, suspended outside between a tree and the gutter of the police building, was used for shortwave.
2019
tun Bern: tunbern.ch — From Morse code to digital communication — Chatting with the whole world.
tun Basel: tunbasel.ch
2018
tun Central Switzerland: tunzentralschweiz.ch
Radio around the world
Two radio stations will demonstrate how radio communication works, complete with all the necessary equipment: radio transceiver, microphone, Morse key, antenna, communication protocols, call signs, secret code and the propagation of radio waves.
The first radio is tuned to a shortwave frequency. The radio wave emitted by the antenna is reflected by the ionosphere. The ionosphere is located 300 kilometres above us and consists of air particles that are electrically charged by solar radiation and can reflect radio waves. This makes it possible to reach distant stations throughout Europe and overseas.
The second radio station operates on a VHF frequency. Very short radio waves propagate in exactly the same way as light. Radio amateurs have therefore set up relay stations on the surrounding hills, which retransmit the received signal. Such relay stations operate day and night on several hills around Basel: Gempenfluh, Feldberg, Weissenstein and Ballon d’Alsace.
You can choose for yourself whether you want to speak German, English or French — amateur radio is an excellent way to practise foreign languages in a practical setting.
📄 [DE] tun Zentralschweiz — Flyer (PDF)
2017
Things to do in Bern: tunbern.ch
tun Basel: tunbasel.ch
2016
tun Solothurn: tunsolothurn.ch