wythall radio club

9 days and counting to the 31st Annual Wythall Radio Club Hamfest on Sunday 20th March at Wythall House B47 6LZ.

And it’s not just the big radios that will be on offer from our main trader on the day, Martin Lynch & Sons.

Why not make 2016 the year you finally enter the world of Software Defined Radio? There are many low cost routes into this fascinating aspect of the hobby.

One such is the UK designed and built Funcube Dongle Pro Plus.

This little powerhouse receiver has a typical frequency coverage of 150kHz to 260MHz and 410MHz to 2.05GHz. That covers pretty much ALL the main Amateur bands – and much more besides!

Boasting extremely simple hardware setup, just two connections, an “in” and an “out”, no additional drivers are required to use it under Windows, Linux or Mac OSX.

This fantastic USB dongle will be on sale at the Wythall Hamfest at a VERY special price – to reserve yours, it is highly recommended that you pre-order by calling ML&S on 0345 2300 599 and quote the code “WYTHALL HAMFEST” – this will not only guarantee you get one on the day but also you will get the best price possible!

Martin Lynch & Sons – the Worlds Favourite Ham Store – coming soon to the West Midlands Favourite HamFest

The latest Wythall Radio Club Newsletter has just hit the streets – well, it’s hit this website at least… 

Just click here (or on the thumbnail picture on the right) for the latest in-depth look at what some members have been up to in the last couple of months.

As well as the latest news, there are fascinating articles on a home-brew 200w Multiband Transceiver built by member Barry M0DGQ and a couple of articles from Ian M0IDR with some Hamfest nostalgia thrown in for good measure!

Newsletter Editor Chris G0EYO commented “I hope all our readers will enjoy this pre-hamfest edition” – we thank him for putting it together and we trust you will enjoy it too.

The clock is ticking towards the next Wythall Hamfest on Sunday 20th March and Wythall Radio Club is pleased to be able to offer some extra special deals together with our main trader Martin Lynch & Sons, “The World’s Favourite Ham Store”.

Featured first in this mini-series of deals is the fantastic Yaesu FT-dx1200 – this rig provides sophisticated operation on 160 to 6 meters with up to 100 Watts on SSB, CW, and FM. A built-in 4.3-in TFT wide full color High Resolution Display with loads of information provides superior operability and visibility. More details are available on the MLS site here.

If you are interested in one of these radios at a very special price (and pickup on the day of the Wythall Hamfest of course!) just contact one of the sales guys at Martin Lynch and Sons on 0345 2300 599 and quote the code “Wythall Hamfest”.

This will ensure you get the best “on the day deals” before the big day and of course, with free pickup from the event, no carriage charges either!

Wythall Radio Club & Martin Lynch & Sons – bringing you the very best deals at the Wythall Hamfest!

Hands up those who have heard of the CAIRO Interface Scheme? Well, not many, and that includes our own members here at Wythall Radio Club!

What on earth is this?? Find out next week!

This Tuesday 16th Feb though, all is going to be revealed!

Club member Dr. Pete Best G8CQH is a bit of an expert on this and is going to be presenting a talk so we can find out more about CAIRO.  (Hint, it stands for Communications Audio Interface for Remote Operations)

CAIRO involves enhancing your home station with standardised signals and connectors, but there’s more to it than just that.

Pete has a page on his website where you can have a sneak peek if you are really keen!

However, hearing from the man himself and the opportunity to ask questions is always better, so come along this Tuesday at 8.30pm to Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ and join us to find out more!

Following on from the previous news item, tonight has seen yet more presentations at Wythall Radio Club. 

Christmas Contest Winner David G7IBO finally got home from France and up to the Club to receive the G7OJO Trophy for the Open Section. It’s been a few years of coming second for young David, but this year he finally managed to get his hands on the trophy! Well done to you, sir!

John M6KET also was on hand to receive his certificate for the highest placed Foundation Licensee in the same section.  What was particularly remarkable about John’s achievement was the fact that all his contacts were made using Morse Code. John is unusual in being 100% Morse and Low Power.

Well done to both and great to see such fun being had on our regular Tuesday Club nights. Thank goodness that contest supremo Lee G0MTN was on hand to do the presentations!

David G7IBO received his award in Val d’Isere where he is skiing!

It’s Christmas Contest Results time at Wythall Radio Club.

Contest supremo Lee G0MTN was in the hot seat last night to give us a presentation on the facts and figures of the 2015 event and reveal the changing trends in the contest across the years.

Pretty much half the club’s total membership of over 80 took part in the event at some point and once again the contest succeeded in its main aim, to ensure that members “Have Fun with RF” (as the club’s motto goes) over the festive season.

Lee G0MTN awards the FM trophy to a beaming Ian M0IDR

And to the results then – two brand new winners this year: Club Treasurer, Ian M0IDR was the victor in the 2m/70cms FM section, quite an achievement all the way from Evesham(!) – just pipping Chair Anita 2E0DUO into second place.

The overall winner in the open section though (and winner of the G7OJO Trophy) was David G7IBO.  He won by a whisker from first time entrant (and new Advanced licensee) Dave M0IFT, who ran him extremely close for a first time entry – one to watch for next year maybe?

Congratulations to all winners and runners-up and we hope to see you all again for our Easter event at the end of March, when some serious prizes of Chocolate Easter Eggs will be up for grabs!

Graham Coomber G0NBI meeting Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, in Wythall Radio Club’s shack in 2013

This Tuesday evening is an exciting one in the Wythall Radio Club Calendar. We have a visit from the General Manager of our National Society the Radio Society of Great Britain.

Graham Coomber G0NBI has been in post for about 4 years now and this week’s visit is all the more poignant for being his last to us in the role – this is because he recently announced his imminent retirement.

It will be great to see Graham again, not least because he is not only an official representative of our National Society but also because, along with his wife Von, he is very much a friend of our club.

20:30 in the Darts Room at Wythall House, if you want to come along – set your GPS for Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ and it should bring you to us nicely!

Wythall Radio Club members are celebrating today following the release of the latest set of contest results.

Club members recently took part in the RSGB’s Club Calls Contest (November last year) and the results show that Wythall RC has finished in 2nd place, after a few years finishing 3rd.

Our congratulations go to the winners, Bristol Contest Group, who are a very hard act to beat, but with our team of “ordinary” club members pulling together, we managed what we consider to be an excellent result.

However, the results also show that we are the top non-contest club in the country in this event, something of which we are very proud. Pictured is our hard-earned certificate.

Our thanks go especially to our Club Calls Contest co-ordinator Dave G3YXM who whips us into shape each year for our regular assault on the event.

Perhaps next year, we can steal the top spot!

We hope it will be, for the key in question is Wythall Radio Club’s brand new Morse Paddle Key. 

For some time now, our More Code training class, ably led by the “Two Johns” M6KET & G4OJL, have been short of their own twin paddle key.  No longer!

Last night at the club, Chairwoman Anita 2E0DUO presented the class with a brand new Kent key, with help from our friends at Martin Lynch & Sons.

John Bevan G4OJL received the key on behalf of the group saying, “This is a fantastic addition to our class – it allows us to start teaching members how to use paddle keys more effectively. Thanks to the Club Committee for OK-ing the purchase so quickly.”

Wythall Radio Club’s  Morse Class has been running now for around 5 years and remains very popular with members. If you are interested in taking part, why not contact John M6KET by contacting him at john (at) johndaws (dot) plus (dot) com? Meantime, click on the photos for a better look at our new baby!

The latest edition of the Wythall Radio Club Newsletter is out today!

Yes – even though we have not quite reached the New Year yet, Wythall Radio Club are ahead of the game and the first Newsletter of 2016 is available for download.

Just click here or on the Newsletter logo on the left hand sidebar of this website.

Happy reading…