wythall radio club

Twenty-five scouts from 1st Tidbury Green enjoyed an evening of communications activities hosted by Wythall Radio Club.  The scout group is a neighbour of the radio club, both located in Wythall Park.

Scouts took part in four activities – sending names and messages by Morse code, using licence-free handhelds to pass messages using the phonetic alphabet, learning about WebSDR and satellites carrying amateur radio, and passing greetings messages over the air to other radio amateurs.

Although radio conditions were not good during the evening, we did speak to stations in Germany, France and Scotland using short-wave radio on the 80 meter band.  We also used vhf radio on the 2 meter band, and had contacts with stations around Bimingham, Redditch and Cheltenham.

Some of the scouts used the phonetic alphabet they had learnt earlier in the evening to spell out their names when talking on the air.

The evening’s activities involved 5 Wythall Radio Club members plus another member on the air.  It forms part of our outreach activities for youth groups, and we welcome enquiries from similar groups in the area.

Wythall Radio Club put on a team effort for the Beavers of 1st Tidbury Green Scout Group.  As a result, 30 Beavers – aged 6 – 8 years – achieved their Communicator Badge and a Certificate of Achievement from the Radio Club.

We had 4 members working with the Beavers on a range of activities – learning how to send their names by Morse code (see photo), using licence-free walkie-talkies to pass secret messages using the phonetic alphabet, and passing a greetings message to 3 additional Club members on-air.  This used the Club’s 70cm repeater GB3WL.

As December is ‘Youngsters-on-the-Air‘ (YOTA) month, we used the special callsign GB19YOTA with the Beavers.  And a coordinator of this international YOTA month is Jamie, M0SDV, one of our teenage Club members.

It was a hectic hour but the Beavers threw themselves in to the activities and went away happy if exhausted.

Get on the air with an amateur radio licence by following Wythall Radio Club’s new free, on-line Foundation course starting in November.

The specially designed course provides you with an exciting introduction to the hobby.  After passing the straight-forward multiple choice exam, you can obtain your own callsign for use when communicating with other radio amateur operators worldwide.

This course is planned to start on the 25^th November and complete by 10^th of January with a one week Xmas break.  We will be using the new RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) Syllabus introduced in Sept 2019. 

Wythall Radio Club’s tutors have many years experience and achieve a very high pass rate for their students.  

Students can study in their own time following this specially designed on-line course, with support via posts from the tutor.  You also need to have the necessary free time to do the course.If you need special assistance because of any disabilities then please let Chris, the Training Coordinator, know.  You also need to have the necessary free time to do the course.

The course is based around the free-to-use virtual learning experience (VLE) software named EDMODO.  This has gained world-wide acceptance as a safe and easy way for tutors to connect with their students at home via the internet.

You sign up for the course free of charge and you get notifications via e-mail that the course material and quizzes are available for you to download.  This takes place over a 7 week period with two lessons per week in the comfort of your own home and at a time of your own choosing.

We will set a date for the practical assessments (usually done as a group on a Saturday) and the exam when we know how many people will be on the course. These should be done in January or early February.

Although the online course is free of charge, there is an examination fee of £27.50 plus £6 room hire cost to do the practical assessments and examination at Wythall Radio Club.

You will also need to purchase course book “The Foundation Licence Manual for Radio Amateurs” by Alan Betts G0HIQ from the RSGB.

If you are interested in joining this on-line course then please contact our Training Coordinator Chris G0EYO  via g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk

Six members of the 127th Birmingham Brownie Troop made a very successful visit to Wythall Radio Club’s shack.  The girls are working towards their communication badge.  They took full advantage of the activities offered by the event’s host – Lee G0MTN, seen in the picture with an enthusiastic visitor!

After a quick introduction to radio communication – illustrated with some pictures – they had time to try sending Morse code messages and look at QSL cards and match them up to countries on a map (see photo).

They then sent a coded message using the phonetic alphabet on PMR446 handheld radios.  They also watched Lee conduct a contact on the 40 meter amateur radio band with an Italian operator. 

Having gained some knowledge and experience, the evening concluded with the Brownies sending greetings messages by VHF radio to Jan M3YXM, another Club member operating from her home. 

Photos are used with permission.

May is Morse Code Appreciation month at Wythall Radio Club – where we celebrate members’ progress in learning the ‘dots and dashes’!

The overall winner of the Lew Williams Memorial Shield this year was Dave M0IFT.  He is seen receiving the shield from Lee G0MTN.

Dave is one of the group of members who have been learning Morse code at the Club’s weekly Morse class, run by David G0HVN.  We welcome new members who might like to learn this skill!

So very well done, Dave, and we look forward to hearing your dots and dashes on air!

Lots of activities will keep Wythall radio Club busy during June.

All club members are encouraged to come along to the Club ‘shack’ and have a go operating using the special call signs for the Cricket World Cup during regular Club meetings on Tuesday 4th and 11th June and 2nd July. 

The special call signs will be GB19EB – for Edgbaston Cricket Ground – and GB19ENG for the England Team.

In addition, GB19CWC – the HQ station for the Cricket World Cup – will be activated from the Club on the morning of Monday 17th June.

We will be providing Communications Badge training for 89th Birmingham/1st Hall Green Scouts on 18th June.  This will include passing messages using handheld licence free radios, phonetic alphabet, sending names in Morse Code and passing greetings messages over the air to other radio amateurs using our portable radio station.

And we will be up early on 23rd June to provide communications for the annual Wythall Fun Run.

Our regular Morse Class takes place on Tuesday evenings in the Club meeting room, and Intermediate Licence practicals take place on Saturdays.  On 29th June Club members will be helping out at the Wythall House Bar-b-Q.

New members and visitors are always welcome at Wythall Radio Club –  Tuesdays from about 7.45pm at Wythall House. 

Wythall Radio Club are pleased to announce that we are running our latest on-line Foundation course for those seeking to gain their Foundation licence. 

We think this might be ideal for younger students or those who cannot make a regular classroom attendance on our normal teaching nights as students can study in their own time with support via posts from the tutor.

The course is planned to start on the 4^th February and complete by 8^th March.

Find out more at our Training Page here.

Nine happy students passed their Foundation exam at Wythall Radio Club.

Congratulations to Terry, Tim, Marcin, Mo, David, Darren, Andy S and Andy W, and Paul!  We hope to hear them on the air soon with their new M6 call signs.

The photos show them completing their practical assessments, and three of the successful candidates – Paul, Darren and Andy.

We expect that some will want to progress to the Intermediate course offered by Wythall Radio Club’s training team.  And some of the graduates from this course have recently signed-up to study for their Advanced amateur radio licence!

Perhaps there are more aspiring radio amateurs out there who would like to study our on-line courses? 

Further details are on the Wythall Radio Club web site or visit the Club which meets every Tuesday evening from 8pm at Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall!

May is “Morse Code Appreciation” month at Wythall Radio Club – and some of our new members received special awards to mark their progress in learning the ‘dots and dashes’!

Harry M6NKW, Stuart M0SRZ, Ian 2E0LQY and Kim M6SSV were singled out for special praise.  Kim made his first ever Morse code contact – with a station in Germany – during one of the Club’s Friday morning ‘open shack’ sessions.

The overall winner of the Lew Williams Memorial Shield was Sue 2E0LUJ.  She not only learnt Morse code but also built a small transmitter/receiver.

The Club also recognised the contribution of members who teach and promote use of Morse Code, awarding certificates of commendation to John 2E0XET and John G4OJL.

So very well done to our members, and we look forward to hearing you try out your new skills on the air!

Four candidates passed their Foundation exam at Wythall Radio Club on Sunday.  This enables them to apply for Foundation amateur radio licences and get on the air!

Ed, Emily, Stephen and Les (pic left to right) passed their practical assessments with excellent scores, having studied  Wythall Radio Club’s on-line course.  Emily is the daughter of club member Stuart M0SRZ. 

Given their high scores, we expect some of our successful candidates will want to progress on to the Intermediate course, which is also run by the Club.

All are Midlands based, so we hope to hear them on the air soon with their new call signs!!

The exam and assessments were managed by Wythall Radio Club members Chris G0EYO, Roger M0GWM, Peter G4LWF and John G4OJL.

The next on-line Foundation course starts on 21^st May.