wythall radio club

Two men approach Wythall House early on a cold misty late November evening.  About their persons they carry equipment that would fool the most vigilant security, reports John M6KET.

As they walk the deserted streets televisions screens flicker through half drawn curtains. 

But not even the England-Wales World Cup match can deflect these two dedicated operators from their goal: the operation centre of the Wythall Radio Club QRP HQ – the Dart’s Room in Wythall House. **

Yes, Tuesday night saw the Wythall Radio Club QRP night, an event that would bring to a close eight days of QRP operating to see: ‘How Low You Could Go’.

Once in the safety of the Darts Room at Wythall House a range of small, (mostly) portable radios was revealed to include (photo left) the tiny QCX+ mini 17m cw rig and the magnificent Discovery 500 radio, last seen operating from the summit of Bredon Hill. 

Also on show was the Elecraft KX3 and the older but very venerable K2 (photo right, with John M6KET operating).

The few QRP QSO’s made that night were really the climax of the 10 days that went before. 

Lee G0MTN, despite being fatigued, powered down to 5 watts and worked some 85 DXCC countries in two hours during the ARRL CQ WW contest at the weekend, including a memorable and recorded QSO with VK6T on 20m CW.

5 watts and 12000 miles .. as they say in the States “Do the Maths”.

Meanwhile, Chris G3YHF heroically rose from his bed at ungodly hours at the weekend, and using his doublet and 5 watts on 80m CW achieving 160 QSO’s with 39 DXCC countries in 8 different zones.

He worked, amongst others PJ4K Bonaire (1468km per watt!) (photo top of page), 10 Canadian and American stations and 3 African stations.

Columbia HK1MW was a close call but escaped and New Zealand was heard for around 20 minutes in the Winter Dawn Grey Zone (when dawn and dusk coincide across the world).

In sunny Torquay, Kevin G4XLO had fun with his 5 watts on FT8/FT4 working mainly European stations, Madeira Island and the USA.  His signal was also decoded in Brazil and Australia (photo right).

John, M6KET, spent the week using anything from 5 watts CW to half a watt, a K2 and the infamous 90’ dog-leg doublet. 

He was amazed how far 1 watt and then half-a-watt could reach with QSO’s with Switzerland, France, Andorra, Sweden and Hungary.

5 watts saw John make good QSO’s with the Bahamas, Belize, Central African Republic, Roderiguez Island and Antigua and Barbuda, all worked in the week leading up to the weekend contest.

There may well be others we have not heard from for QRP operators are notoriously modest and self effacing. 

But like the two agents mentioned above, they move under the radar with quiet efficiency, getting the most out of their simple but well designed equipment and having a lot of fun doing so.

Try it some time!!

(** With apologies to Ben Mcintyre)

TX5N – where’s that?

It’s the remote Austral Islands in the Pacific Ocean, activated by the Perseverance DX Group earlier this year.

And it’s kept Wythall Radio Club member Tim M0URX of United Radio QSL Bureau busy processing QSLs for their 50,000 plus QSOs.

This is the same group that activated VP8PJ, South Orkney Island in Antarctica earlier this year, for which Tim also supplied QSL management.

There’s a nice write-up about the TX5N DXpedition and Tim’s role in November 2022 QST – the ARRL magazine.

How can you put out the best signal on HF? And make a good score in HF contests? 

This was the theme for Wythall Radio Club member Lee G0MTN’s talk at the RSGB Convention 2022 and at an evening session for Club members.

What can we do with a modest sized garden?  

Is it only possible to achieve a good contest score with multiple multi-element beams? 

How can antenna theory help us? 

Lee covers these questions and more.

You can watch his talk by clicking on the picture.  

Bright sunshine and warm weather graced Wythall Radio Club’s autumn field day.

Over a dozen Club members and friends had fun with RF at Wythall Park, our home QTH, and we worked several more members ‘on-the-air’.

While some erected masts and strung wire antennas from trees, and Kev 2E0NCO got the generator running, Phil 2E0WTH put the kettle on and got the bacon and eggs cooking!

Operating from the field gave us a chance to get some big antennas out – from ex-military verticals and a DX Commander to a Buddipole. 

There were also SOTA linked dipoles, vehicle-mounted HF and VHF antennas and a Moxon.

We’d like to thank all those amateurs with whom we had QSOs, helping us have a great day out.

At the field day were:  Phil 2E0WTH (thanks for arranging the venue), Clive M7OCB, Kev 2E0NCO (flight controller!!), John M6KET/2E0XET, Jim 2E0BLP, Warwick G4WMH, Martin G8VXX (thanks for the loan of the genny), Lee G0MTN, Les 2E0LRV, Don G0NES, David G7IBO and Chris G3YHF, our members who called in ‘on-air’ – Chris G0EYO, John G3VRF and Milo 2E0YZW, and visitors Mike 2E0ILX with spaniel Brambles, and SWL Richie.

The historic Morse code keys donated to the RSGB National Radio Centre by the family of Colin Baker G6ZDQ (SK) are now on display.

NRC volunteer Mervyn G4KLE has been trying them out and demonstrating them to visitors.

The keys were recently donated to NRC at Wythall Radio Club, where Colin was a founder member.

A collection of historic Morse keys has been donated to the RSGB National Radio Centre by the family of Colin Baker G6ZDQ (SK)

Colin was a founder and much respected member of Wythall Radio Club (photo below left, operating in the Club shack that he helped to construct).

Examples from the collection will be displayed on rotation at the NRC. 

A keen CW operator, he built up a collection of vintage keys including the ‘Bathtub’ used by the RAF in World War II and a Chad Valley Signaller.

The international collection includes straight and paddle keys from Japan, Russia and Australia. 

The donation was accepted by Richard Horton, G4AOJ, the Chair of the RSGB Board (third from right) from Colin’s partner Janett Beer (centre) and daughter Anna Gifford (second left).

Also present were Wythall Radio Club members who knew Colin well – Anita Richards 2E0DUO, former chairperson of Wythall Radio Club (far right), Club President Mike Pugh G4VPD (far left), Phil Newth 2E0WTH (third from left) and Pete Richards M5DUO (second from right).

The collection was catalogued and researched by Chris Pettitt G0EYO, Wythall Radio Club’s Training Coordinator.

Wythall Radio Club’s wandering beams (photo left) – much commented on by Hamfest regulars – have been replaced (photo right)!

Our tower now sports shiny new 6M+4M and 2M+70CM dual band beams.

We constructed the beams on Friday night and stored them in Wyhall House.

On Saturday afternoon a working party led by Vinnie M0TAV luffed the tower and – working on the flat roof – removed the four orginal beams and installed the two new ones. 

Below, Pete M5DUO get to grips with some U bolts!

Warwick G4WMH’s gas soldering iron played a key role in fitting the new N plugs. 

Fortunately the original coax is still in good condition.

In addition to Warwick and Pete, the project involved Club members Ian M0LQY, Lee G0MTN, Martin G8VXX and Phil 2E0WTH.

We’re looking forward to trying out the new beams from our new ground floor shack on Tuesday evenings!

A big ‘Thank You‘ to all the Club members involved in this project!

Wythall Radio Club celebrated Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games by hosting the special event callsign GB22GE.

Using SSB and FT8 data mode, we worked stations across the UK – from Peterhead in north Scotland to Plymouth in south-west England and Knighton in mid-Wales.  

Stations across Europe were also put in the log.

A special treat was to work Club members Jim 2E0BLP and John M6KET – a rare outing on SSB for 99%CW John, using is usual QRP power of 5 watts!  (Photo above: Ian M0LQY and Martin G8VXX are seen chatting to Jim.)

Meanwhile Lee G0MTN (photo left, Lee on far right) is assisting the Commonwealth Games HQ station and worked Club members Dave M0IFT and Chris G3YHF.

An appreciation of Roy’s life by Chris Pettitt G0EYO and Peter Green G4LWF/G4MEB, after discussions with David Hillyer G0RQO (ex MEB), Emma Sedgewick and other friends.

It was with great sadness that Wythall Radio Club heard of the passing of long time member Roy G0HDF in June 2022 at the age of 71 after a long illness.

Born in Birmingham, Roy was a single man and lived most of his life in Weoley Castle and worked at the MEB until he took early retirement. He was active in Wythall Radio Club, participating in club contests, helping setting up and manning the doors at their radio rallies, social events and was a regular at weekly club meetings.

Roy’s association with the club goes back to the late 1980’s when he and his friend Tony G1PKG (who he met at a morse class in the early 80’s) became regular visitors. Tony tragically lost his wife in 1988 and Roy became sort of “uncle” to Tony’s daughter Emma, who was only 9 at the time. In fact, when Roy became ill in 2021, and could no longer look after himself, it was Emma who took him into her home with her family and nursed him up until his passing.

Photo below: At Wythall Radio Club August 2020: L-R: Kev 2E0NCO, Roy G0HDF, Les G0HOR, Mike G4VPD, Phil 2E0WTH and Pete M5DUO

A non-smoker, Roy found out he was a diabetic when he was younger and so he became a bit of a fitness fanatic to keep himself healthy.

He loved swimming and riding his bike, so it was ironic that following an accident on his bike where he hurt his hip, that other things where found to be wrong. His breathing became difficult, he was thought to have angina and fell into a diabetic coma a couple of times. Eventually they discovered he had a secondary cancer but could not establish the primary cause.

Roy was well known for his cheerful nature and after retirement he indulged his love of travel and spent many holidays in Spain, Cyprus, Malta, Egypt where he had friends and relatives. All his friends and family knew him as a very patient man who never had a cross word for anyone. But he could have a wicked sense of humour.

Roy had other interests than amateur radio and foreign travel. He used to be a keen bowls player, indoor in the winter and outdoors in the summer. He was also captain of his local team. Emma tells me that he was very keen on banger racing when he was younger.

Roy leaves an older sister Violet and her family who live in Banbury. He will be missed. RIP old friend. 

(Prepared by Chris Pettitt G0EYO following discussion with Emma Sedgewick)

Photo right: Roy G0HDF and Callum M0MCX at Wythall Radio Club VHF NFD 2013

The MEB Years by Peter Green

I first met Roy around 1980/81 when the MEB Radio Club was formed at the MEB Headquarters at the top of Mucklow Hill, Halesowen. At that time Roy worked for MEB in Birmingham as an electrical fitter wiring three phase meters at customer’s premises. Roy was a member of the radio club until we were forced out of Mucklow Hill and the Sports Club closed in 1998.

It was Roy who suggested those of us left should move to Wythall Radio Club and join in their activities. Roy was always an active member of both radio clubs supporting, field days, special events and at Wythall the annual Rally.

During the 1990’s we would take a portable station up Walton Hill (Clent) for an evening in June with generator and hand rotated mast plus vhf beam aerial. Operation would be from 7:30 pm local time until sunset when a strip down and pack away took place before we lost the light, coming down the hill in semi darkness. Roy along with Rob Jackson carried the generator up the hill and back down later on. One notable night we were tracked by a police helicopter while walking down off Walton Hill with the portable aerial, radios, toolbox, torches and generator. Roy waved at them at one point and they moved on.

Roy was always involved in any maintenance, mainly aerials – both HF (G5RV) and VHF/UHF Beams at G4MEB. Roy’s interest in our club aerials allowed him to build his aerials at the home QTH as well as aerial switch boxes and a 150 watt 50 ohm dummy load in a large coffee tin good enough for HF use.

Roy retired from the MEB in 2002 and found more time to get involved with new interests such as stocks and shares, bowls – indoor, walking, riding a bike along the canals of Birmingham and swimming (at least twice a week for a mile each session). Regular Spanish holidays for weeks at a time plus Malta and Cyprus as other locations kept Roy fully occupied.

At that time Roy also became more active with Wythall Club projects either with or without his MEB colleagues. At Wythall Rally, Roy would attempt to be on site very early on both days and carryout whatever duties he was assigned.

I’m sure there is a lot regarding Wythall that I am not aware off. Roy always appeared everywhere in support of the WRC. He was a great character, a one off who got well known to many folk around the Birmingham area.

He will be missed by many as the cheerful guy who would pop up at any time and be welcomed.

Peter Green G4LWF/G4MEB
8 th July 2022

Warm weather, good company and lots of RF were on hand for Wythall Radio Club’s ‘Plug and Play’ field day last Saturday.

The advance party of Phil 2E0WTH and Kev 2E0NCO collected the pop-up gazebos from the club room at 8.30am, Martin G8VXX delivered his generator, and Ian M0LQY had the first station on the air by 9.15. 

12 members and Brambles the spaniel joined in the fun. 

We had 6 stations on the air on HF and VHF, using SSB, CW and FT8. 

Antennas included long wires, a delta loop, multi-band dipoles, a Moxon, vehicle-mounted HF and VHF verticals, and colinears for 2m.  Unfortunately, the wind was too light for the 5/8ths on 80m kite vertical.

We used a large field in Wythall Park, where our Club is located.  There was considerable debate about the best method to get cord over the oak tree branches to support the long wires. 

We used a fishing catapault and reel as well as a weight, both being successful (see photo)

We chose this Saturday to coincide with the IARU HF Contest so there would be lots of activity on SSB and CW, although we weren’t entering the contest and had lots of time to chat with stations on 2 meters FM and non-contest stations on HF. 

Lee G0MTN had several spells working contest stations on both modes.  He made over 100 qsos despite Brambles wanted him to throw a stick!(see photo).

Meanwhile, Ian M0LQY was busy on FT8 – especially on 20m and 17m – with DX highpoints working VP2EIH in Anquilla and Club member Chris G0EYO in nearby Redditch! 

He was using the new Xiegu600 – reviewed in a recent RadCom by Wythall Club’s own Dave G(M)3YXM – with a Xiegu linear and 124.5′ long wire with a 17′ counterpoise. 

PSK spots show he was getting worldwide coverage – nice!!

We were delighted to be joined by Jim 2E0BLP, and were able to present him with the Colin Baker G6ZDQ Easter Contest VHF/UHF Shield for winning this section in our Easter contest.

All field days rely on a good supply of nourishment, and some members brewed-up and cooked bacon and eggs.  Our fun day together ended with a fish and chip supper.

We packed up and left the field about 12 hours after we arrived – having had lots of fun with RF!

Besides those mentioned above, the Club’s field day also attracted:  Les 2E0LRV, Warwick G4WMH, Stu M0NYP, Milo 2E0YZW, Chris G3YHF and visitors Mike 2E0ILX and spaniel Brambles.

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