We’re packing up projects, charging the batteries, and heading south—Tog Hackerspace is back at the Cork Carnival of Science this weekend, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of June, in the beautiful Fitzgerald Park.
As veterans of this fantastic festival, we’re excited to return and share our love of making with the people of Cork once again. It’s one of our favourite science outreach events of the year!
This year, we’re making the journey by car and train, carrying our interactive projects across the country to take part in the science-fuelled fun. Whether by road or rail, no distance is too far when it comes to spreading maker magic and hands-on learning.
The Cork Carnival of Science is packed with family-friendly experiments, live shows, garden games, food stalls, and all kinds of interactive activities. It’s an amazing celebration of curiosity and creativity—and a perfect match for what we love to do.
📍 You’ll find us on Discover Drive, where we’ll be showing off an assortment of interactive games and projects built in our hackerspace. Expect blinking LEDs, DIY gadgets, mechanical puzzles, and more. Come explore what’s possible when creativity meets technology!
We believe strongly in science outreach—in sparking curiosity, encouraging learning, and making tech more approachable for everyone. Events like this are how we connect with communities, share our knowledge, and hopefully inspire the next generation of makers.
🕚 We’ll be there both days from 11 am to 6 pm, ready to welcome visitors of all ages.
So if you’re in the Cork area, come join us for some hands-on fun! Bring your curiosity—we’ll bring the projects.
We’re excited to announce a special event at TOG Hackerspace: a full day dedicated to radio, electronics, and signal experimentation, celebrating our recent membership with the Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS).
Whether you’re a maker curious about what amateur radio is, a licensed operator interested in digital modes and SDR, or just love to learn how signals fly through the air, Radio Day at TOG has something for you.
This is a unique day to connect the local radio and tech communities, explore the fascinating world of wireless communication, and get hands-on with tools and concepts that are often invisible, yet all around us.
🗓 Date: Saturday, 14th June 2025 📍 Location: TOG Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V 🎟️ Tickets: Free, but registration required – Reserve your free ticket here 🍕 Bonus: From 7 pm, join us for TOG’s famous monthly open social night — meet the community over chats, demos, and pizza!
📅 Event Schedule
🔧 11:00–12:30 — Multimeter Masterclass
Instructor: Jeffrey Roe EI7IRB Want to confidently measure voltage, resistance, and current? This class will give you hands-on training in using a multimeter properly. You’ll leave knowing how to troubleshoot circuits and understand key electronic measurements.
💶 Fee: €25 🎟️ Booking required – Book here Note: This is the only paid session of the day. All talks and demos afterward are free with a general ticket.
📡 13:00 — What Is Amateur Radio? A Beginner-Friendly Introduction to the Radio Hobby
Speaker: Adrian Connor EI9HAB
Ever wondered what amateur radio is all about? Adrian will walk us through this rich and varied hobby, from chatting across the globe with handheld radios to decoding digital signals and building antennas in your garden.
This talk highlights:
Voice, Morse code, and digital modes
Fun, license-free projects (like listening to satellites or airband)
How to get started in Ireland, including the path to licensing
The creativity, experimentation, and global community that makes amateur radio unique
To wrap up, Adrian will demonstrate a portable station setup, and if conditions allow, attempt a live radio contact!
🛠️ 14:00 — Packet Radio for a New Generation: Reimagined
Speaker: Ben Field EI9IUB
Once the backbone of digital amateur communication, packet radio is getting a fresh look. This talk explores the current state of packet radio, its potential in a modern context, and the ambitious goals for building a new Irish packet radio network.
We’ll look at:
What packet radio is and why it still matters
Emerging uses with low-power devices, mesh networking, and APRS
Ideas and inspiration from international efforts
How you can get involved in shaping a next-gen Irish system
Whether you’re into digital comms, infrastructure, or retro-tech with a modern twist—this one’s for you.
📊 15:00 — Hands-On With Filters
Speaker: Gary Cooke
This live, practical session dives into one of radio’s core building blocks—filters. Using function generators and oscilloscopes, Gary will demonstrate:
Band-pass, low-pass, and high-pass filters in action
How frequency and signal type affect filter behaviour
Applications in real radio systems—reducing interference, improving clarity, and isolating desired signals
This is ideal for anyone into RF design, SDR, or improving their shack’s performance. Come see waveforms in motion and leave with real-world insights.
This will be a drop-in in hands-on session and a chance to also get a cup of tea and have a chat.
🛰️ 16:00 — Talking to Space: Connecting Students with the International Space Station
Speaker: Daniel Cussen EI9FHB
How do students get to ask astronauts questions live from Earth? Through ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station)—a program that brings space communication to schools around the globe.
Dan shares the behind-the-scenes experience of helping set up an ARISS contact event:
Tracking the ISS as it races overhead at 28,000 km/h
The antennas, radios, and audio/video gear involved
Challenges in receiving video and audio from space
The human impact of seeing kids speak live to astronauts
An inspiring talk for fans of space, education, and the power of amateur radio to bridge worlds—literally.
🏠 17:00 — A Homebrew Amateur Radio Setup
Speaker: Tony Breathnach EI5EM
Tony takes us on a tour of his personal amateur radio station, built with DIY and budget-friendly gear. He’ll explain how he put together antennas, tuned radios, and tackled interference challenges—all from a home setting.
This talk is perfect for those looking to start their own station, especially with limited space or funds. Come see how creativity and perseverance can bring the airwaves to life.
📶 18:00 — Drones For Sensing and Communications in Emergency Applications
Speaker: Dr. Boris Galkin EI6HDB
Tyndall National Institute and the CONNECT Centre are involved in a number of projects with the Department of Defence and Civil Defence to explore ways to support emergency personnel using emerging technologies. Drones have shown themselves to be a powerful tool in a variety of applications in this talk, I will describe how radio communication equipment mounted on drones can be a gamechanger in the field.
🌐 Bonus Demos (during the day)
We’ll also have demos, tours and plenty of tea and coffee throughout the day.
🍕 From 19:00 — TOG’s Open Social Night
Once the talks end, the fun continues with our legendary Open Social Night. Meet the TOG community, hang out with radio operators and makers, and enjoy an evening of conversation, demos, and pizza. Everyone welcome!
🎟️ Tickets
This event is free, but registration is required so we can plan seating and space.
(Separate booking is required for the multimeter class – link above.)
👋 Get Involved
Want to demo something, share your gear, or help out on the day? We’d love to hear from you. Email info@tog.ie or come along to one of our open nights before the event.
We’re looking forward to seeing you on June 14th for a day of radio waves, learning, community, and fun.
Join us for a practical, hands-on workshop at Tog Hackerspace where you’ll learn everything you need to know about using a multimeter! Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, this session will cover the essential functions of a multimeter, from measuring voltage to testing resistors, capacitors, and diodes.
What You’ll Learn:
Understand the symbols and functions on a multimeter.
Safely measure DC voltage.
Test resistance and continuity.
Compare different multimeter models to help you choose the right one.
This beginner-friendly workshop will give you the confidence to troubleshoot electronics and work with electrical devices safely. Multimeters will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you’d like to get familiar with them.
Who Should Attend:
Anyone interested in electronics, DIY repairs, or home projects.
Beginners looking to learn how to safely use a multimeter.
Makers, tinkerers, and hobbyists working on electronics.
Workshop Details:
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost: €25 Plus Booking Fee
What to Bring: Just yourself! If you have a multimeter, feel free to bring it along.
We’re excited to open bookings for our upcoming 5-part Physical Computing Course, proudly funded by Dublin City Council’s Informal Adult Education Grant Scheme 2024. This hands-on course is specially designed to introduce adults to the world of electronics and programming in a fun, engaging, and supportive environment.
Led by makers Ambrose and Jeffrey, the course will explore how to control the real world using code and electronics. Whether you’re curious about how everyday devices work or you’re ready to dive into your first project, this course is for you.
🛠️ What’s Included:
A complete Arduino Starter Kit to keep and continue your journey at home
5 structured sessions, each building your knowledge and skills
Hands-on activities and small group support
A final session focused on creating a project based on a real-life challenge or interest of your own
📅 Course Dates: You must be available for all 5 sessions, which run from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, 6 May
Thursday, 8 May
Tuesday, 13 May
Thursday, 15 May
Tuesday, 20 May
💶 Booking Fee: €10 per participant (includes all materials)
Places are limited, so early booking is essential!
Are you fascinated by space and want to learn how to receive data from satellites and weather probes? Join us in this TinyGS Station Workshop where you’ll build and program your ground station and antenna to receive data from space. This hands-on, beginner-friendly workshop is perfect for anyone interested in radio, electronics, IOT, antenna design, and space exploration.
About TinyGS: TinyGS is an open community-run network of Ground Stations distributed around the world to receive and operate LoRa satellites, weather probes and other flying objects, using cheap and versatile modules. With a TinyGS ground station, you can receive data from a variety of sources, such as CubeSats.
What You’ll Learn: During the workshop, you’ll learn how to build and program a TinyGS ground station and a quarter-wave ground plane antenna. No prior experience is required, and we’ll provide all the necessary materials, tools, and equipment to guide you through the process.
Materials Provided: All necessary materials, tools, and equipment will be provided for the workshop, including a quarter-wave ground plane antenna kit, a TinyGS base station kit, and a USB cable. You don’t need to bring anything except a WiFi device(computer or phone) configure and create a Telegram account. At the end of the workshop, you’ll take home your very own TinyGS ground station and antenna. You’ll be able to use your ground station to receive data from satellites and other flying objects and explore the fascinating world of space and radio. If you have any questions or want to continue learning after the workshop, we’re here to help.
Date: Sunday 25th of May 11 am to 1 pm
Location: Tog Hackerspace, Unit 1B Motor City, Kylemore Road, Dublin 12, D12 CF6V
Cost: €85 plus fees. Profit from ticket sales goes to fund Tog.
This event is part of Dublin Tech Week, a week-long celebration of innovation and technology that unites tech lovers, professionals, and communities across the city.
We’re excited to announce that Tog Hackerspace will be hitting the road and setting up a table at the SEARG 2025 Radio Rally & Electronics Fair, taking place on Sunday, April 13th, in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow. The rally is part of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society’s (IRTS) AGM weekend and is hosted by the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group (SEARG).
📻 Event Details 📍 Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow 🗓️ Sunday, 13th April 2025 🕥 Doors open: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 🔗 More info on the event here
We’ll be showcasing some of our radio-related projects, electronics builds, and all things maker-y. Whether you’re into amateur radio, DIY electronics, or just curious about what goes on in a hackerspace, drop by our table and say hello!
Expect to see everything from TinyGS satellite ground stations to homebrew antenna builds and maybe even a few surprises. If you’re a fellow maker, hacker, or ham radio enthusiast, we’d love to chat and connect.
This is a great chance to meet the wider radio and electronics community in Ireland, and we’re delighted to be part of it.
