wythall radio club

The members of Wythall Radio Club would like to thank all who attended our Hamfest today.

Initial impressions are that this was one of the biggest Hamfests in recent years – probably helped by the pleasant weather and the extras we put on, including the lecture stream.

We are grateful to all of you who came along – we hope you enjoyed yourselves!

Thanks go to all our traders, especially to Martin Lynch & Sons – Rich, Big Dave & Gary, who were on the M40 before most of us were thinking about breakfast!

Thanks also to all who helped, in whatever capacity, whether on car parking, marshalling, organising, burger cooking, clearing away etc. We had a great time and we hope you did too.

Photos below and these will be updated over the next few days so please keep checking back for more – maybe you will spot yourself!

We hope to see you again next year!

Michael, Jonathan & Greg with pass certificates

In amongst all the excitement over the Wythall Radio Club Hamfest this coming Sunday, it is easy to forget that this is not the only activity going on at our club.

Last night was the culmination of the latest Foundation course and the great news is that all three candidates passed with flying colours.

Training Co-ordinator Chris G0EYO said “All three candidates passed with excellent marks tonight. Well done to Michael, young Jonathan & Greg. Those M6 callsigns will soon be available for you to pick up from Ofcom but don’t get too used to them – we have an Intermediate course starting in early May.”

So that’s let the cat out of the bag then! Click here for news on the next Intermediate Course at Wythall Radio Club.

Meantime, back to dreaming of Hamfests…

Yes, the Wythall Radio Club Hamfest is now officially full!

It will be busier than 2015 this year!

The final traders were confirmed this weekend and, despite overflowing into a fourth hall in order to accommodate more stalls, we have still managed to fill all the spaces.

And for the first time, we have a lecture stream too, with three visiting speakers. All the details will be on your souvenir programme, which you get on admission.

Now it’s over to you, the amateur radio public! We look forward to seeing you at one of the largest Wythall Hamfests in recent years.

Next Sunday 20th March starting at 10am at Wythall House & Park, Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ.

Crossing our fingers, it looks like we are in for dry weather all week too… well, it’s important to get one’s burgers and bacon sarnies in the dry!

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!