wythall radio club

We are very lucky in Wythall Radio Club, in that we have several members who seem to be well known in the amateur radio world in the UK. One of those is Dave G3YXM, who writes the regular LF column for the Radio Society of Great Britain’s monthly journal RadCom. 

However for the March edition, Dave has written a very informative article for the “Getting Started” series on how to get on the air on the LF bands. These bands are often used by experimenters in the hobby as there is precious little commercial equipment or antennas available. With 472kHz having been made available as a new band to UK hams only recently, there has been an upsurge of interest in LF operation, something in which Wythall member Dave is one of the UK’s experts.

All the members of Wythall Radio Club congratulate Dave on an excellent read – of course, we were lucky enough to have the talk in person that preceded the article, so to some degree, we’ve heard it all before!

This Tuesday evening will be a very special one for the members of Wythall Radio Club. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Graham Coomber G0NBI, the General Manager of the Radio Society of Great Britain.

Graham Coomber G0NBI with Wythall Radio Club Chairman Mike Pugh G4VPD at the G100RSGB activation last November

Graham has not been in his new post for very long but, since he is a relatively local lad (he lives in Bromsgrove), a visit from him was always going to be high on Wythall Radio Club’s “hitlist”.

It will not be the first time that Graham has visited Wythall Radio Club as he was one of our special guests last November at our highly acclaimed activation of the G100RSGB call sign, celebrating 100 years of the RSGB. It was there that he met up with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Sajid Javid MP and was seen forging some useful links with government!

Wythall Radio Club is a passionate supporter of all that is good about the RSGB and we are looking forward to having Graham (and his wife Von) with us this week. Tuesday evening, 18th February at 2030 in the Darts Room at Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall. B47 6LZ. Feel free to join us there.

Traders, get your bookings in quickly – there is not much room left at Wythall Radio Rally for 2014!

Radioworld, probably the busiest stall at Wythall 2013!

That is the message from Wythall Radio Club’s organising team.

Club President & Rally Organiser, Chris Pettitt G0EYO spoke at our latest planning meeting, telling members that there were only a few tables left for hire and that traders will now have to be very quick to get one of the few remaining places.

The lads from Sandpiper Aerials enjoyed 2013’s rally!

Club members are now enthusiastically preparing to receive our regular welcome visitors & friends, such as Dave Hayward and his family from Radioworld, the boys from Sandpiper Aerials, and W H (Henry) Westlake, to name just a few!

Wythall Radio Club’s annual Radio and Computer Rally takes place on Sunday March 9th at Woodrush School, Shawhurst Lane, Wythall. B47 5JW. Now close to its 30th year of existence, it is fast becoming one of the longest remaining events of its kind in the Midlands or indeed the country!

Click on the photos to see larger versions and put the date in your diary – it is going to be a year to remember!

Wythall Radio Club is proud to welcome yet another member into the ranks of the Advanced Class of license.

A very pleased Darren M0WYH

This time is the turn of Darren (formerly 2E0LPD) who heard earlier today that he has passed the Advanced Exam.

Darren is now the proud owner of the callsign M0WYH. All the members of Wythall Radio Club congratulate Darren on his fantastic achievement!

Remember to click on our Training Pages if you are interested in taking a Radio course with us at Wythall Radio Club. We run courses all year round and you could be our next “Darren”!

While all Wythall Radio Club members are eagerly looking forward to our own Radio Rally on Sunday 9th March, we also like to support and visit other clubs’ events too. Today was one such, the Harwell Radio Club Rally at Didcot Leisure Centre near Oxford.

Phil 2E0WTH, Jon M0JMM, Simon G4TVR, Chris G7DDN, Ian M0IDR & Dave G3YXM with Alton Antenna Arrays in the background

Six of us made the trip – three, Dave G3YXM, Phil 2E0WTH & Chris G7DDN travelled together in one car in convoy with Simon G4TVR in his BMW(!). John M0JMM & Ian M0IDR travelled separately as they live nearer the venue!

A great time was had by all, chatting with traders, meeting old friends, making new ones too like the folks at Alton Antenna Arrays and Sinfully Sweet.  Of course we just HAD  to spend a little hard-earned on some nice radio goodies! This was all topped off with a sit down and a chin-wag over a pint at lunchtime. A great way to spend a Sunday!

And of course an excellent taster of what is to come on March 9th, a date you will just NOT want to miss!

Now we are into February, the thoughts of Wythall Radio Club members start turning to our annual radio rally.

Henry Westlake did a good trade at last year’s rally!

A rally, or “hamfest” as our cousins in North America might call it, is a festival of all that is good in the hobby. Traders come along and turn a local venue (in our case, two halls of a local high school) into a marketplace of goodies for local amateurs to buy to enhance our fun in the hobby. In the West Midlands, Wythall Rally is one of only two left running and is the nearest to the UK’s second city, Birmingham.

Needless to say, putting on this event takes up a lot of our thoughts & efforts in the run up to the event, which this year is on Sunday March 9th.

So this Tuesday’s meeting at the Club Shack is an evening of planning and preparation (and handing out of jobs!) and although the Rally does constitute a lot of work for members, there is nothing quite like the feeling at the end of the day itself when the last trader has gone home and we all reflect on the satisfaction of a job well done (and a hot bath to ease sore muscles!)

Why not get your hands a little dirty this year and come and join the fun? This Tuesday at 2030 in the Club Shack, Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall. B47 6LZ. You will be very welcome!

Stu M0NYP takes the top prize for 2013

Christmas Contest results night at Wythall Radio Club tonight was full of surprises as always! Participation in this event has gone through the roof again with over 50 members taking part and over 40 logs submitted, an all-time record.

The overall winner in the Open Section, and thus the winner of the Reg Brown G7OJO Trophy for 2014 is Stuart M0NYP. Chairman Mike G4VPD finished in second place and David G7IBO picked up the 3rd place certificate.

Jim 2E0BLP is presented with the 2m FM trophy by Lee G0MTN

In the 2 metre FM section, it was quite a family affair with the “Voice of the Midlands” Jim 2E0BLP coming out on top, just pipping his own son(!) Kevin M6NCO into second place. Third was a very creditable showing from club founder member, Colin G6ZDQ.

There were sterling efforts too from our lady members with Dawn M6UDY and Stacey M6STJ also winning certificates. Ian M0IDR completed the certificate winners with a special award for the highest score from a non-local member.

Our thanks go to Lee G0MTN for his untiring work on the organisation and software fronts – and for putting adjudicating our contest ahead of some little event he also helps adjudicate called “CQ Worldwide”!!!

Wythall Radio Club members are now looking forward to April and our Easter Contest where there is the little matter of chocolate eggs to be won!

Tuesday evening is a big night for Wythall Radio Club members – the results of the 2013-2014 Christmas Contest will be out.

Every year between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, Wythall Radio Club hosts this in-house Contest, designed to encourage activity between our many members. It has become a firm favourite with just about everyone – some people have been known to join the club just to take part in it!

It is designed as a relaxed fun “party” exchanging serial numbers and generally having fun on air in keeping with our club motto. It has to be said though, it does bring out the competitive side in more than a few folk! There are two trophies up for grabs too and this Tuesday at 2030, we have our presentation evening.

Adjudicator Lee G0MTN has been busy wading through over 40 entries and has come up with 2 winners. They will be presented with the G7OJO Trophy (for all modes/all bands) and the FM trophy (for 2m FM only entries) this week. 2nd & 3rd place certificates and other certificates of merit will be given out too.

This is one of the most anticipated evenings in the Wythall RC calendar so space is likely to be limited – an early arrival is advised! This Tuesday 28th January at 2030 in the Darts Room at Wythall House, Silver Street, B47 6LZ. Visitors, as always, are very welcome!

This Tuesday’s meeting at Wythall Radio Club is a very special one in our calendar for 2014 – pleasing then that it is coming so early in the year!

Richard G3CWI, owner and proprietor of Sotabeams is visiting the club to demonstrate to us how to go portable this coming Spring, Summer and Autumn, preferably with his superb products!

Not only is Richard the purveyor of truly excellent and innovative portable goodies, he is a also leading light in the UK “Adventure Radio” movement.  He was one of the Founding Fathers of the SOTA (Summits on the Air) movement. Richard will often be found hiking or biking his way to the top of mountains far and wide in search of Amateur contacts from 1.8MHz to 10GHz!

Many members have been eagerly awaiting Richard’s visit and laments were heard last year that his visit was not taking place just before Christmas, but there are bound to be some January sales on(!) and Wythallians will have a little bit of cash left over, we are sure!!

Why not come and meet Richard this Tuesday? 2030 in the Darts Room at Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall. B47 6LZ. E-mail our President Chris Pettitt G0EYO at g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk if you want any more details.

For many years, Wythall Radio Club has offered a full range of classroom based learning programmes for those wishing to gain their Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Amateur Radio licences. Now we are pleased to announce that we have designed an on-line course for those seeking to gain their Foundation licence.

The programme is based around Virtual Learning Experience software and allows our tutors to connect with students at home via the internet. We think this might be ideal for those who cannot commit to several evenings of study over a period of weeks. This way, you can study in your own time with support via posts from our lead tutor. The only attendance required is a weekend at the end of the course so you can complete the practical assessments and actually sit the exam paper!

If you are interested in this programme then click here for more information. We aim to start our first Foundation License Course on 17^th Feb with the practical/exam weekend scheduled for 29/30^th March.