wythall radio club

Wythall Radio Club’s members don’t just live in the Midlands!

Kev, G4XLO, who lives in Torbay, sent us news of his exploits.

“I’ve had a good weekend on the air – I logged 43 contacts, most of them on FT8 and FT4 (digital modes).  Also the odd one on Fusion and 2m FM with a local station in Exmouth that I got really chatty with as he is a dedicated QRP operator using no more than 10 watts on any band / mode.  

I logged one new one for the DXCC ladder at the weekend – Romania, not fantastic DX but another EU station I was after, that brings me upto 40 now for the year so far.  

On Saturday evening I head Argentina and Cuba coming in on FT8 on 20m and on Sunday morning Japan as well as China were audible but really weak.

West Coast USA was coming in quite strong over the weekend for me and I had 2 qso’s that were in the range of 4200 miles from my location.

I was out portable on Thursday as I left work early – I went to Daddyhole Plain and parked up for an hour, called CQ on 2m and 70cms FM but nothing came back. 

On the marine VHF channels it was all rather quiet in the Bay!!  There were a couple of ships moored in the area for shelter with a bit of general chit chat between them – that was about it!”

Follow Kev on twitter 

It’s been a great month for awards won by Wythall Radio Club members!

Lee G0MTN had a nice surprise!  In the post were two plaques from the ARRL – the US amateur radio association – commemorating his radio achievements.

The ‘5 band DXCC’ plaque is in recognition of having confirmed contacts with radio amateurs in 100 countries on each of five different amateur radio bands. 

Lee also received the DXCC Challenge 2000 Award.  Lee received the initial award which is earned by working and confirming 1,000 DXCC band-points.  One band-point is scored each time a new country is contacted and confirmed on each of the global amateur bands from 160 meters to 6 meters. 

It’s taken a lot of hard work! And still plenty to do to get to 3,000!

Meanwhile Chris G0EYO – who leads our Club’s training programme – was the leading Wythall RC entrant in the Midland Inter-Club GMT competition, organised by Solihull Amateur Radio Society.  Full details of the competition and awards are available here.

Well done Chris and Lee!

Jamie M0SDV – a keen amateur radio operator and member of Wythall Radio Club – had a long chat ‘on air’ with Brian, call sign 9J2BO, in Lusaka Zambia.  Jamie (photo below) and Brian used Morse code on the 12-meter amateur radio band.

Following this, Brian personally delivering a QSL card confirming the contact to Jamie’s friend Phillipp (aged 21). 

Phillipp is a German radio amateur – callsign DK6SP – who also operates from Chisamba Zambia at the DXpedition station 9J2LA.  The DXpedition station was set up to activate Zambia, a country with few radio amateurs. 

Jamie comments: “It never seizes to amaze me how we are connected in the hobby not only on the airwaves, but by friendships that are built for a lifetime.”

The picture left shows Brian 9J2BO handing M0SDV’s QSL card to Philipp 9J2LA.

Solihull ARS will be announcing the results of the first MIDLANDS INTER-CLUB GMT AWARD at Wythall Hamfest:

Wythall Hamfest on Sunday 15th March is well and truly FULL!

Click here for Hamfest programme 2020(pdf file – download Free Adobe Acrobat if file won’t open).

The list of traders at the popular Wythall Hamfest has been updated – click here for the ‘2020 Trader List‘ or see the Hamfest side panel on our web site.

Wythall Hamfest on Sunday 15th March always attracts large crowds to view and buy from our many traders.

Whether it’s small components, second-hand equipment or a brand new antenna or rig – you’ll find them all at the Hamfest.

We also have our popular ‘bring and buy’ stall.

Don’t forget to make a date in your diary!  Doors open 9.30 for disabled visitors and 9.45 for general entry.

Upgrade your Foundation licence through study at home with Wythall Radio Club.

Our new FREE on-line Intermediate level training course under the new syllabus starts this Spring.

The course will run over 10 weeks, from 2^nd March until 11^th May, with two lessons per week.  The examination will be around 23^rd May.

You now need to register your interest.

You study this course at home in your own time from lessons you download from the internet, as you did at Foundation level.

In addition there will be one practical assessment session, usually on a Saturday, where you will learn soldering, digital measuring and other skills. This will require you to be available for ONE Saturday in April, but there will be a choice of dates.

The course is FREE but there will be an exam fee of £32.50, an exam room hire fee of £6 and a project kit and materials fee for the practicals of £12.  You will not need to pay this until the course starts.

You will also need to purchase the RSGB Intermediate Licence Manual from them at £9 plus postage – or visit the RSGB Bookstall at Wythall Hamfest on the morning of Sunday 15th March. 

IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR THIS COURSE YOU MUST CONFIRM YOUR INTEREST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO OUR Training Coordinator Chris G0EYO  via G0EYO@blueyonder.co.uk  

PLACES WILL BE LIMITED AND WE WILL WORK ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS

Our 35th ANNUAL WYTHALL HAMFEST will take place on SUNDAY 15th March 2020.  Doors open 09:45am – DISABLED ACCESS FROM 09:30am.

Our growing list of traders includes…..

RadioWorld – regulars at the Hamfest who bring you a wide range of goodies.  They are one of the largest suppliers of radio communications equipment within the UK. Check out their comprehensive stock (they also do a nice line in mugs and T-shirts!).

Sinotel UK make a welcome return with a selection of antennas and radios – they are authorised UK dealers for Baofeng, KYD, Quansheng, TYT, Vero and Xiegu Technologies.  Their stand always has lots of interest.

Worsley Communications supply all major brands of Amateur radio equipment, towers, rotators and aerials.  They specialize in ex-NATO pump up masts – which may be a way to get that antenna a bit higher without annoying the neighbours.

RSGB Bookstall will provide a full range of technical and general radio interest books.  Come and have a brouse, meet the team and add to your bookshelf!

Solihull ARS will be on hand.  And don’t forget that they will be hosting the Midlands Inter-Club ‘GMT’ awards – sponsored by Martin Lynch – at 12 noon, Archery Hut (Hall 4).

MA Components specialize in the supply of small electronic components together with a comprehensive range of nylon nuts screws and washers.  Just what’s needed for small and large construction tasks in the shack.

Alan Clegg Valves – another regular at the Wythall Hamfest – supplies a wide range of ‘tubes’ to meet your needs.

….And many more traders to keep you interested – together with ‘Burger Bob’ for fast food and drink and the Wythall House bar open at lunch time.

Our full trader list will be provided later this month.

Radio signals from Wythall Radio Club members reached remote parts of the world – including New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Mali, Seychelles, Guinea-Bissau, British Virgin Island and South Korea.  

The Club’s annual DX Table involves members logging their two-way radio contacts with other countries.

In 2019, Tim MoURX was top of the Table with 165 countries. He was closely followed by Jamie M0SDV and Lee G0MTN with 145 and 142 respectively.  These are all in the Full licence category where operators are allowed to use higher power.

John M6KET won the Foundation licence category with 78 countries contacted, using QRP (low power) – no more than 10 watts output and a simple wire antenna. 

During the year he passed the exams for the Intermediate licence, and also won that category with 63 countries – but continued to use low power and a wire antenna.   He operated 100% CW (Morse Code) rather than using voice transmissions.

It shows what can be achieved with simple equipment despite the poor radio conditions.

Special awards were made to several Wythall members for achievements during the year.

Tim M6OTN (photo) contacted A73A in Qatar – a small country in the Arabian peninsular – with his basic antenna, a short mobile whip.  He won the ‘piece of wet string’ award – so named as wet string can be used as a very basic antenna to transmit radio waves!

Chris G0EYO won the ‘midnight oil’ award for contacting 50 countries on Top Band (160 meters), again using low power and a simple wire antenna.  The award is called ‘midnight oil’ because Top Band contacts can normally only be made during nightime, due to propogation conditions.

And Neil M0LUH won the ‘pipped at the post’ award for achieving 99 countries by 31 December (the closing date for the DX Table competition) – but then contacting what would have been his 100th the next day!

The competition is also open to short-wave listeners who don’t have a transmitting licence. 

If you don’t have an amateur radio licence, but would like to gain one, then come along to our Club one Tuesday evening or see the ‘Training’ section of the web site.  A warm welcome awaits you.

Wythall Radio Club’s annual Christmas Contest results ceremony attracted a big turn-out of members.

Operating from Colorado USA, Mark M0LXQ – who also holds the US call sign K0YC – made contacts with 8 Club members and was first in the Digital Voice category.  His Christmas operating was at 8,000 feet in the mountains, with guaranteed snow (see photo)!

There was intense competition in the ‘all modes/all bands’ section and little to separate the top three places.  Success went to David G7IBO, who won the G7OJO Trophy (photo left).  Ian MoLQY and Chris G0EYO were in second and third places.

A cold and misty evening operating from the Lickey Hills assured Kevin 2E0NCO of success in the 2meter/70cm (VHF/UHF) FM section, and award of the FM Trophy (photo right).  Winston 2E0EGP came second and Juliet M6RSC was third and also the leading Foundation licence competitor.

The Christmas contest is one of many Wythall Radio Club activities.  The Club meets Tuesday evenings at Wythall House, with its own dedicated meeting room and fully equipped shack, and welcomes visitors and new members.