Over the Air 36 Hours of Mobile Development

FAQ

Accomodation

One of the fun things about Over the Air  is that it's an overnight event. Bring your tent, sleeping bag and toothbrush along, and you can set up camp on the lawns of Bletchley Park or find a cosy corner of the Marquis tent, which will be filled with bean bags to curl up on when you're done hacking, watching movies and playing Werewolf!

We know a lot of you will be coming from a long way, and unfortunately we are not able to organise hotel accommodation as part of the event. There are a number of hotels and B&Bs in the area of Bletchley Park (and many more in nearby Milton Keynes) for those of you wanting to stay longer. If you're planning to come up to Bletchley the night before, or linger on the night after - drop margaret at overtheair dot org a line and we'll see if we can arrange a bulk-discount.

Competitions & Challenges (the Hack-a-thon)

Another key features of Over the Air is the in-event competition, which gives you a chance to show off the clever and fun ideas you've been coding and hacking away at over the course of the event. We've had some really great entries over the years, and hope to hear plenty of stories of how they were developed further after the event (in which case we'll link to them for you).

We will be making some changes to how we run the Hack-a-thon this year in response to all of your good suggestions, and our experiences from past years. We'll get all of that updated here, and post about it as well when we get that far.

 

Connectivity

We have worked hard in past years (with the help of Imperial College ICT) to ensure that Over the Air has great connectivity. The event at Bletchley Park will be no different - with mainly Wireless connectivity, but there may be a little bit of wired connectivity too.  As soon as we have details about this years coverage, we will be posting them here.

What equipment will you need?

• Bring your laptop and power adapter
• Bring cameras and camcorders, we want you to document & share the event
• Bring your mobile devices!
• Do not bring your Router or Wireless access point
• Because your machines are online, please make sure your machines have all the latest patches

Costs

With the help of  our lovely sponsors, we usually make a point of ensuring that Over the Air  is completely free to attend, but this year we are introducing a small 5 pound donation to the Bletchley Park Trust as part of the registration process - a tiny cost for us, but with 500+ attendees expected it's a nice little sum towards the repair and upkeep of the Park. (And of course you are welcome to donate more, if you feel inspired by the Bletchley Park story)

Directions

The full address is: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB

When using a sat-nav please enter Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, as the postcode may take you to the wrong location

By Rail

Fast efficient service to Bletchley Railway Station from:

London Euston, Milton Keynes Central (for InterCity connections), Coventry and Birmingham New Street. Bedford Midland (except Sunday) for connections to London Thames Link, East Midlands and South Yorkshire.

For rail enquiries, including dates that maybe affected by disruption due to engineering works and service alterations, please contact http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

If you are travelling on the Marston Vale Community Railway you are entitled to a

20% discount on a season ticket, (the discount does not apply to separately ticketed events) for more information please visit the

Marston Vale Website

Turn right out of the Railway Station on to Sherwood Drive. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing. Bletchley Park entrance is approximately 100 yards ahead of you.

By Bus

There are buses and coaches from all parts of Milton Keynes and beyond arriving at Bletchley Bus Station. On leaving the Bus Station head towards the Railway Station. The Bletchley Park entrance is on the opposite side of the road to the railway station 300 yards along Sherwood Drive.

By Road

When using a sat-nav please enter Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, as the post code will take you to the wrong location

Please note: Milton Keynes is divided into grid squares, with roads numbered either as horizontal (H) or vertical (V).

From the North or East (via M1 junct 14)

At M1 Jct 14 follow the A509 signposted towards Milton Keynes. At the Northfield roundabout take the 2nd exit onto H6 Childs Way. At the Fox Milne Roundabout take the 1st exit onto the V11 Tongwell Street, and carry on straight across the next roundabout (Monkston). At the Brinklow roundabout turn right onto the H8 Standing Way (signposted to Kents Hill). Follow the H8 across 4 roundabouts, at the 5th (Coffee Hall) turn left on to the V7 (B4034) Saxon St. Continue across the first roundabout, at the 2nd Denbigh (has large B&Q on the right) take the 2nd exit towards central Bletchley. You will quickly come to a small double roundabout, continue straight across towards central Bletchley keeping the Tesco's store on your left hand side. You will now be on a dual carriageway.

Continue along this road and you will come to another larger roundabout, continue straight across (Enigma Tavern to your left). At the next roundabout turn right (signposted to the railway station) and you will go under a railway bridge. (Follow signs to Railway station). After going under the railway bridge, you need to turn right at the double roundabout towards the railway station into Sherwood Drive. The railway station is on your right just on from the fire station. The new B.P entrance is on the left after M.K.College.

From the West (via A421)

From the A421 at the Tattenhoe roundabout follow the B4034 into Bletchley. You will go straight across a small roundabout continuing into Bletchley. You will see the Eight Belles pub on the left hand side. Continue straight on past the Eight Belles Pub until you reach the double roundabout, turn left towards the railway station into Sherwood Drive. The railway station is on your right just on from the fire station. The new B.P. entrance is on the left after M.K. College.

From the South (via M1 junct 13)

At M1 Jct 13 follow the A421 signposted for Milton Keynes. At the 2nd roundabout (Kingston) take the 2nd exit on to H9 Groveway. Follow the H9 across 3 roundabouts, at the 4th turn left on to the V7 Saxon St. Continue across the first roundabout, at the 2nd Denbigh (has large B&Q on the right) take the 2nd exit towards central Bletchley. You will quickly come to a small double roundabout, contine straight across towards central Bletchley keeping the Tesco's store on your left hand side. You will now be on a dual carriageway.

Continue along this road and you will come to another larger roundabout, continue straight across (Enigma Tavern to your left). At the next roundabout turn right (signposted to the railway station) and you will go under a railway bridge. (Follow signs to Railway station). After going under the railway bridge, you need to turn right at the double roundabout towards the railway station into Sherwood Drive. The railway station is on your right just on from the fire station. The new B.P entrance is on the left after M.K.College.

From the South (via A5)

From the A5 junction with the A4146, take the exit signposted to Bletchley/Fenny Stratford. You will come to a double roundabout, go straight across. At the two small roundabouts also go straight across. At the next roundabout with Tesco on your left, turn left onto dual carriageway.

Continue along this road and you will come to another larger roundabout, continue straight across (Enigma Tavern to your left). At the next roundabout turn right (signposted to the railway station) and you will go under a railway bridge. (Follow signs to Railway station). After going under the railway bridge, you need to turn right at the double roundabout towards the railway station into Sherwood Drive. The railway station is on your right just on from the fire station. The new B.P entrance is on the left after M.K.College.

For a downloadable version of the map below, please click here.