wythall radio club

A 3 week programme covering:

• How to get going with your Raspberry Pi
• Connecting to your network and other computers
• Compiling ham radio programmes from source code

Tuesday, March 10^th, 17^th, 24^th 8 – 9.30pm,

Darts Room, Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ

with Ian Gilmore M0LQY

Free course, but please make a small donation towards room hire.

To reserve a place, e-mail us at: wythallradio@gmail.com

Most hams will have noticed that world of amateur radio is undergoing a transformation.  The analogue nature of radio design is rapidly being swept aside and replaced by digital designs.

Recent models by radio manufacturers are all based upon Software Defined Radio Technology (SDR) Better sensitivity, selectivity and filtering can be provided by software than would have been previously possible.  Even familiar meters displaying, power SWR, ALC etc. are created in software using TFT screens instead of older analogue meters.  

Additional information once fixed is now configurable according to operator preference. Electronics under software control is the new standard and there can be no going back.

A common trait amongst HAM’s is the desire to experiment finding new ways to improve the performance of our radios and whether this means designing and building circuits, constructing new antennas or finding innovative ways of controlling our radios is now possible using software. We routinely attach our radios to computers either to control, display information or to operate one of the many digital modes available to us.

Although many of us routinely connect our radios to a PC or laptop running Microsoft Windows this is not the only option. The Raspberry Pi is a real alternative. This is a true mini-computer that has become a favourite amongst licence HAM’s.

This remarkable device now on its fifth generation has become a truly powerful computer and unlike the closed nature of expensive Microsoft products it utilises software freely available to all and actively encourages users to experiment.

Taking full advantage of opensource software, you can learn to program and develop controls to support your own projects. Many of you may already have discovered this marvel and want to extract maximum value from it.  Alternatively, you maybe are thinking of giving it a try or just want to know more. Well, we can help!

For those with an interest in learning how to get going with a Pi then this is your chance.

Wythall Radio Club is hosting a series of workshops beginning in March which will guide and advise members on buying, powering and connecting peripherals.

The workshops will guide you through the process of setting up a new installation and installing key Ham Radio programs. Hopefully, we will dispel many of the myths about complexity, the command windows or other unfounded rumours which are often heard.

Later sessions will progress into networking and connecting to other computers running windows or other Unix based systems such as Apple Mackintosh.  Another issue we will cover is Unix permissions which often confuses new users.

We will look into compiling programs from source code which is something that is a very useful skill since some applications are only distributed as source code. Some of you may want to go on to write your own programs or just want to improve your skills or understanding.

The Raspberry Pi is an ideal platform for Radio Hams to develop skills to further your knowledge of software-controlled electronics. Additionally, the Pi is excellent at performing more traditional computer tasks.

A Ham wanting a small computer for field days, running a local hotspot or controlling your radio then the Raspberry Pi is for you. The Pi is a real computer that can be used for all of the traditional tasks expected of a PC whether it is email, writing documents or keeping a  spreadsheet.

Come and join us in March and begin your Raspberry Pi Journey. Who knows where it will lead you to. 

‘You mean it’s not connected to the internet?’

‘Is it encrypted?’

‘How far will these signals go?’

‘You built a satellite antenna using a tin can?’

Just some of the questions from Wythall Radio Club’s Communications Evening with 1st Tidbury Green Scouts.

What can you do with 30 keen Scouts in a 2 hour Friday evening session?

We wanted to give them a hands-on experience. 

Our solution was to rotate each patrol of 6 or 7 scouts around 4 activities.  A Scout leader went with each group so they could assist and also see each of the activities.

We always have a lot of success with ‘old school’ technology! 

In this case, it was giving each Scout the opportunity to send their name in Morse code, to be decyphered by other Scouts.  John M6KET used the Club’s CW gear plus his K2 in ‘test’ mode and soon dots and dashes were being sent from one end of a long table to the other end.

On the other side of the hall, the ‘beeps’ of licence-free handies could be heard.  Chris G3YHF ran a session in which Scouts used the phonetic alphabet to spell out messages, to be received and translated by their colleagues at the other end of the hall. 

Having mastered this, our 70cm repeater GB3WL was accessed and two of our Club members – Simon G4TVR and Martin G8VXX – spelt out their names, with the Scouts reciprocating. 

They were excited to discover that Martin was operating from his narrow-boat.

Over in neighbouring Wythall House, digital sounds were emanating from the Darts Room.  Ian M0LQY  demonstrated how far his HF FT8 signals could go, and showed ways in which a computer-linked transceiver could be utilised. 

Meanwhile, Neil G1TZC had his satellite station on-air and the Scouts had the opportunity to pass greetings messages with stations around Europe.  They also leant about WebSDR if they wanted to do some SWLing.

Fortunately the Scout Hut is next to Wythall House, our Club’s HQ.  We’ve learnt from experience running sessions for Cubs and Beavers that the large Scout Hall doesn’t absorb sound!

We were fortunate to obtain GB1TGS (1st Tidbury Green Scouts) as our special event call.

Each Scout was awarded the Communicator Badge at the end of the evening and a Certificate of Achievement from Wythall Radio Club listing what they had done.

Our Club team thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the Scouts were a delight to work with – keen, engaged and asking smart questions.

We’re looking forward to more engagement with our local Scouts!

See some of our previous activity with the Scouting and Guiding community….

Beavers 2023

Scouts 2020 A

Scouts 2020 B

Beavers 2019

Guides 2018

Scouts and Beavers 2018

Tanworth Scouts 2018

David G7IBO has taken time off from building high grade test gear to write this easy-to-follow guide to using GB3WL’s new multimode functions.

If you’ve never used C4FM, D-Star or DMR, this will help!

The Guide is also available on the GB3WL web page.

And here’s some info on GB3WL’s upgrade!

GB3WL now has been relaunched with full FM, D-Star, C4FM (Fusion) and DMR capability.

During the past year, the project to make GB3WL multi-mode has involved many Club members including Derek G1INC, Mike G4VPD, Ian M0LQY and David G0HVN.

Much testing and reconfiguring towards the end of 2025 enabled Club members to use all the available modes during the Club’s annual Christmas Contest – and score those valuable ‘mode’ bonuses!

(Christmas contest results and highlights follow shortly!).

Our new ability to talk to other radio amateurs internationally via handhelds will be a great bonus for our public events locally.

For details of how to access GB3WL – click here – or see the ‘Repeaters’ tab on the web site.

If you cannot access the repeater, it may be in use with a mode your radio cannot receive – NB on FM, there is no ‘Bleep’.

And don’t forget to try our 2m SSTV repeater – MB7TW!

THE JIM TONGUE 2E0BLP 2M/70CM TROPHY (L) THE REG BROWN G7OJO ALL MODES TROPHY (R)

As the Wythall Club prepare to do (friendly) battle again this Xmas Lee G0MTN whetted our appetite with a trawl through the origins of the competition  (going back some 32 years?) and outlining  the basic rules.: very simple .. get active over the period of the competition, work as many members as you can, on as many different  modes as you can and have some fun.. spreading Xmas cheer as you go!

It really is a friendly event designed to stimulate radio activity in whatever mode (AM/digital/CW/SSB etc) and perhaps provide a respite from the demands of the festive season!

Great to see new members in the Club and look forward to hearing them on the bands over the Xmas period.

          JANUARY 1ST 2026 HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

watch this space for details!

The murky gloom of a rain-drenched Midlands evening couldn’t dampen the spirits of Wythall Radio Club members…..

….as they gathered for our ‘show and tell’ evening of construction projects.

David G7IBO demonstrated his self-designed instrument for obtaining highly accurate resistance and voltage measurements (photo right).

On the radio front, we had various QRPLabs and Kanga projects, including the QDX and QMX multiband qrp transceivers and the Rooster xtal controlled 2-watt cw rig (and its predecessor, the Foxx 3 in a Cadbury’s tin).

Phil 2E0WTH brought along a simple direct conversion receiver.

The pint of Guinness shows the compact size of Martin M0XFI’s satellite-controlled clock, contrasting with David’s home-built and cased electronic Enigma machine.

There was also a balun, Kanga ATU, audio amplifier and Sotabeams keyer on display.

Ten members braved the weather and the demos and discussion went on late into the evening.

NEXT EVENT……  NEXT WEEK

Tuesday 11th November, 8pm – Construction for satellite activity with Neil G1TZC

ALL WELCOME

Wythall Radio Club have 2 ‘show, tell and demo’ evenings coming up….

From simple DIY projects to complex kits – and all points between!

On Tuesday 4th November, Club members will be bringing some of the homebrew projects they have been working on.

It will include kit radios and accessories by Kanga, SOTABeams and QRPLabs as well as DIY antenna projects.

We’ll look at the build process, hints and tips for home construction and try out some of the finished projects.

On Tuesday 11th November, we’ll focus on Neil G1TZC’s construction activities as part of his QO100 satellite station.

Club members are encouraged to bring any homebrew projects along to either of the evenings.

From 8pm in Darts Room, Wythall House – all welcome.

See our annual programme here!!

STOP PRESS:  Just published – Wythall Radio Club programme for the next 15 months.

Available on our Home Page (see photo) – or click here

There’s lots of fun radio-related activity, including:

• Raspberry Pi for amateurs – workshop sessions run by Ian M0LQY will cover the basics right through to using your Pi with your transceiver.
• We’ll be looking at Club members’ home construction – from basic crystal controlled CW transceivers through to the latest QRPLabs kits, with David G7IBO, Chris G3YHF and other members.
• Neil G1TZC will be giving the inside story on a transverter for operating through the QO-100 satellite

The old favourites will be there: a ‘brains trust’ Q and A (where the members are the experts!), foxhunt in Wythall Park, and Xmas and Easter contests.

PLUS – our 3 field-day events at Transport Museum Wythall, Plug and Play in Wythall Park, and Stoke Prior Steam Fair.

We’re also running a communication evening for our local Scout Group – and also for the Beavers and Cubs.

Our programme will be updated as we organise further activities.  Check at Club Activities on right hand of our web site home page.

This time last year we had strong winds and lashing rain for Wythall Radio Club’s annual activation at the  Transport Museum Wythall.   The weather was so bad that two of the gazebos on site were damaged by strong gusts. 

So as you can imagine, when last Saturday’s forecast was for storms we weren’t impressed.  Fortunately we only had over-night rain and a day of sunshine and breezes!

All the prep work was done on the Friday.  Simon G4TVR kindly supplied his van to move all the gear the mile from our club room. 

Dave G3YXM – who usually catapults a halyard over a tree branch – was in GM-land, but luckily Simon has an arboreal catapult (photo below).  This monster lauched a line attached to our OCFD over the top of 15m high trees.  This ended up with it being even higher than last year.

Ian decided to try locating the HF vertical on the other side of the trees and directly at the end of the wire antenna.  We lashed it firmly to a wooden fence with bungy cord. 

On the previous visit there had been huge issues with the HF stations interfering with each other.  The new positions seemed to resolve this issue.

We all turned up on the Saturday, from 8.30am to put the radio equipment in position, for the general public to start arriving at 10.30am for the Transport Museum open day where there was a visiting fleet of green London Transport buses.

As usual there were one or two snags.  We had tested the 2 HF antennas on the Friday, but on Saturday the OCFD antenna had very high SWR indicating open circuit. 

Swapping coax feeder didn’t solve the problem.  Using Phil 2E0WTH’s RigExpert analyser and Ian M0LQY’s homebrew dummy load, we checked the rig and cables.  Finally we traced the fault to the short piece of coax supplied with the antenna and containing several ferrites. 

Removing this and connecting our coax feeder direct to the antenna solved the problem – and didn’t cause any new ones with RF on the feeder.

So all was well.

In total, five stations were run on the day.  These were split between HF, VHF and satellite. 

On HF, we had separate FT8 and CW/SSB stations.  Conditions were very poor and the CW/SSB station struggled to make contacts. 

But by early afternoon 40m was open for inter-G and we had a couple of pile-ups on SSB.  Many thanks to all the stations who called in.  

The audio from the CW/SSB station was piped through a small PA, and attracted a number of visitors – including some current and prospective radio amateurs.  It competed well against the noise of passing buses and the model steam train whistle! 

Some visitors tried our CW demo kit, and were awarded certificates for sending their names.

Neil G1TZC brought his portable, solar-powered QO100 satellite station.  A highlight was working Garry ZD7GWM – a DX member of our Club – via QO100.  Several members took the opportunity to have a chat.  

The team comprised: John 2E0XET, Phil 2E0WTH, Winston 2E0EGP, Simon G4TVR, David G7IBO, Gary G5RGS, Ian M0LQY, Neil G1TZC and Chris G3YHF. 

Come 3.30pm, we quickly dismanted the stations and everything was back in the Club room by 4.30.

The great thing about these days out is that you get to experiment in the real world to see if your station does what you want it to do.

Saturday June 14th – that’s the date for Wythall RC’s annual demonstration station at Transport Museum Wythall.

It’s a chance to see our satellite station in operation, as well as digital, voice and Morse Code on short-wave and VHF radios.

And you can also experience a ride on the Museum’s fleet of buses and their visiting iconic London ‘green’ buses.

We’ll be talking to radio amateurs around the world.

Watch as our signals travel 22,000 miles up to the QO100 satellite, which will retransmit them the 22,000 miles back to earth – so we can talk to other radio operators across much of the world.

You can try your hand at sending Morse Code – it’s great fun!

We welcome visitors – come and chat to us. 

We’ll be there during the Museum’s normal opening hours.