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Archive for October, 2019

Communicate worldwide! New on-line Foundation course starts November

October 18, 2019 By: Chris G3YHF Category: Club, News, Training

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 25th November and complete by 10th 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

Brownies on the Air at Wythall

October 17, 2019 By: Chris G3YHF Category: Club, Fun, News, Training

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.