wythall radio club

“Network radio expands our hobby”, Wythall Radio Club members were told at a talk by Chris G7DDN. 

This growing network of handheld and mobile radios has global coverage, via WiFI and the cellular 2-4G network.

And the International Radio Network (IRN) allows licensed radio amateurs to use their mobile phones, tablets, computers or network radios to transmit RF from the many repeaters, hubs and nodes around the world. 

“It’s easy to dismiss the whole network radio phenomenon as ‘not real Ham Radio'”, says Chris, “But there are plenty of folk enjoying radio-like experiences without the necessity of transmitting on certain specific bands.”

Members of the Wythall Radio Club tried out network radio after the talk, using the free Zello app. 

“As we go further into the 21st Century,” says Chris, “I think we will see the lines between ‘naturally propagated’ signals and ‘artificially propagated’ signals blurring further.”

Read more at Chris’s blog and on Duarte, CT1EIZ’s, web-site.

There was a fun evening on the air when Wythall Radio Club hosted a visit by Girlguides from the 132nd Birmingham Senior Section.  

Sophie, Yasmin, Gemma, Naomi and Lara, with their Girlguide leader Liz, hunted satellites using a Yaesu FT-857 Radio and satellite tracking software. 

They used Morse Code (CW) and digital communications (RTTY) to talk to each other via FLDigi, and saw how far the Club station’s short-wave signals could reach by using the Reverse Beacon Network. 

WebSDR illustrated the connections between computing, physics and amateur radio.

Lee, G0MTN, who hosted the evening with Anita, 2E0DUO and Peter M5DUO, fired up our 2 meter rig and the Guides passed greetings messages to Chris, G3YHF. 

“They were very confident on the mic,” commented Chris, “and even used the phonetic alphabet to spell their names.”

“Thanks for a brilliant evening.” said Liz, the Guide leader, after the event.  

We hope to continue our co-operation…. but next we have some Scouts visiting us!  Watch this space.

Wythall Radio Club Newsletter Editor Chris G0EYO has informed us that the March edition of the Club Newsletter is out now.

Click here to see a copy or follow any of the newsletter links on the left sidebar of this site for more information.

We hope you enjoy your latest read!

Steve G0TAN with liquid friend!

The recent visit to Wythall Radio Club from Steve Venner of Martin Lynch & Sons was a great success.

Over 30 club members turned out last Friday night to welcome Steve, who in return, gave us a fascinating insight into life on the other side of the counter.

John G3VRF managed to get a few snaps for us to share with you, so here they are! As you can see, we had a bit of fun with Icom’s new SDR radio, the IC-7610.

We hope you enjoy them.

Scary Radios? Find out on Tuesday!

Another fascinating talk is in store for you at Wythall Radio Club this coming Tuesday.

Chris G7DDN is giving a presentation entitled “Network Radios – The Next Big Thing?”

There has been a buzz in recent months in certain parts of the Ham community about these devices. Many have not even heard of them or understand what they do.

Chris will be trying to take the lid off the can of worms that is Network Radios – and in so doing he tells us he has found some real challenges they pose to the very nature of the hobby.

According to Chris, “It will be a talk that will, in turns, enthuse, provoke, annoy and fascinate you – and it will challenge what it means to be a Radio Amateur in the 21st Century”

Sounds scary – be there in the Club Shack at Wythall House B47 6LZ this Tuesday 27th Feb at 8.30pm to find out more… Visitors welcome, as always!

The list of traders coming to Wythall Hamfest is now finalised!

Click here to take a sneak peek at who will be there!

First-timers includes our friends from Sotabeams supplementing our stalwarts from Radioworld UK.

Remember the date – Sunday March 25th – and set your clocks – they go forward that weekend!

Just a reminder that Steve Venner from Martin Lynch & Sons is visiting Wythall Radio Club this Friday 23rd February.

Steve is bringing the very eagerly-awaited new IC-7610 SDR from Icom with him to the club.

Apart from listening to Steve’s stories of “Life on the Other Side”, what a fantastic opportunity to see one of the latest ham radios close up and have an unfettered play! 

Remember, the talk is at 8pm (earlier start than usual!) in the Darts Room at Wythall House, B47 6LZ and visitors are welcome!

I’d get there for 7.30 and get a drink from the bar & reserve my seat, if I were you. :)

Chair Anita 2E0DUO is ready to welcome YOU to Hamfest 2018

Well that’s it! Wythall Hamfest is well and truly full. 

Our bookings team have today told us that, due to a rash of bookings this weekend, the final few tables have now been taken.

So we are ready to welcome both traders and visitors alike on Sunday 25th March.

A gentle reminder too that you might need to set your alarm clocks a little early, as the clocks go forward that weekend and you won’t want to be late to the party to miss the best bargains.

More news on our Hamfest as the date approaches, but it is looking like being one of, if not THE best, yet!

Further to the news that Steve Venner from Martin Lynch & Sons is visiting Wythall Radio Club on Friday 23rd February (see previous post), we have some additional news to add.

Steve has informed us that he will be bringing the very eagerly-awaited new SDR from Icom with him to the club.

What a fantastic opportunity to see one of the latest radios close up and have an unfettered play! We wonder if we can persuade him to forget to take it back with him… Hmmm…

Remember, the talk is at 8pm in the Darts Room at Wythall House, B47 6LZ and visitors are welcome!

Steve G0TAN with his best friend, an IC-7300!

Advance notice for a couple of events coming up at Wythall Radio Club before the end of the month. 

Programme Co-ordinator John G3VRF explains, “On Friday 23rd February, Steve Venner G0TAN, Engineering Workshop Manager from Martin Lynch & Sons is driving up from London to give us a talk on ‘Life on the Other Side’.

He’ll be talking about issues encountered when repairing equipment and why some of that equipment needed repairing in the first place!” Sounds fascinating!

Please note this is a change of evening from our normal schedule, so pop Friday 23rd Feb in your diary and see you in the Darts room at Wythall House B47 6LZ at 8.00pm. Visitors, as always, are welcome.

Following that, on Tuesday 27th Feb, Chris G7DDN will be doing a presentation on “Network Radios – The Next Big Thing?”  This is a fascinating insight into how the latest technology is expanding the range and scope of Amateur Radio. It will also touch on exactly what Ham Radio may look like in the 21st Century. Chris will be giving this talk again for visitors to the Wythall Hamfest on Sunday 25th March, so if you cannot make it on 27th Feb, don’t despair, there is a repeat!

We look forward to seeing you at these events. If you are first-timer, please feel free to come along unannounced – we will give you as warm a welcome as we can!