wythall radio club

M0JMM Plug ‘n’ Playing…

Before the British Summer comes to an end, the members of Wythall Radio Club are planning a day outside!

This Sunday we will be on the field at Wythall Park from 09:30 onwards having what we call a “Plug ‘n’ Play Day”.

This is where we invite you to bring along your portable set-ups to try out, test a new aerial if you like, or get some advice from some of our most experienced operators…

With HF and 2m contests on over the weekend, there will be plenty of stations to work. So why not charge up that old FT-817 or dig out your vintage gear or maybe bring your home-built QRP rig and join us?

Look for us behind the Scout Hut near the Rugby pitch at Wythall House B47 6LZ. The weather is set fair so it should be fun!

Latest news from our Training Department – there is to be an Advanced Licence course at Wythall Radio club this autumn. 

It will take place every Monday evening in the Shack at Wythall House from September 5^th onwards.

The exam is scheduled for Monday 12^th December.

There will also be one Saturday morning practical set for 26^th November.

The course runs over 15 weeks altogether and the total cost is £60 – this includes the course book, course materials and the exam fee and all other costs.

Anyone who wishes to do this course, please get in touch in the first instance with Chris via email on g0eyo(at)blueyonder.co.uk

And we wish you good luck!

Reader Anita 2E0DUO & Dave (soon to be a 2E0 himself)

More great news from the Wythall Radio Cub Training department.

This weekend, Club member David M6KND took his intermediate examination and passed. But what makes this particularly newsworthy is the fact that David is blind.

Just to put on the exam involves having extra people on hand – we thank our invigilators Ian M0IDR and Roger M0GWM, for example. But one of the hardest jobs was the one our Chair Anita 2E0DUO took on – the role of reader; David listens and then has to remember the question and the four possible answers before deciding on the correct one – just imagine doing that for yourself!

Apparently the whole process was quite exhausting for bother reader and candidate.

But what a fantastic result!

We fully expect David to enrol for Advanced class starting in September and we know this is going to challenge both candidate, tutors, invigilators and reader even more than it has up to now – but we are up for it!

Fantastic news from the Wythall Radio Club Training Team – we have yet another 100% success from our latest Intermediate Course.

Michael M6GWQ, Terry M6KKO, Stuart M6GYF & Rob M6FRF with pass certificates

Lead Trainer Chris G0EYO explains, “I am pleased to confirm that last night’s four candidates passed their Intermediate examination with excellent scores, one even got 100% but I won’t embarrass Stuart by mentioning his name!”

Chris continued, “My thanks to the training team and invigilators who ran the course & exam very professionally as always.  Click on the pic for the smiling faces.”

All four have expressed an interest in doing our Advanced Course starting this September.

Adjudicator Lee G0MTN presents Kev G4XLO with the Lew Williams Shield

A very special presentation  took place last night at Wythall Radio Club. The results of the Morse Activity Month were revealed – and several members were commended.

May is designated our special “Morse Appreciation” month at Wythall Radio Club – at the end of the month our band of intrepid adjudicators selects the people they feel have shown the greatest progression in either learning or improving in the mode for special recognition.

This year, Dave M0IFT, John M1JSS and Jamie 2E0SDV were singled out for special praise but the overall winner (and winner of the Lew Williams Memorial Shield) was judged to be Kev G4XLO.

Kev’s interest in Morse has blossomed from re-learning the code to being on air between 12-15 words per minute in what seems a very short space of time. He is now at the forefront of efforts in the club to get a CW net going!

So it’s a very well done to all our “commendees” but especially to Kev and we all look forward to working him on the key very soon.

Back: Terry M6KKO, Rob M6FRF, Stuart M6GYF & Michael M6GWQ Front: Peter G4LWF & David M6KND

It’s all go for the current batch of Intermediate exam students at Wythall Radio Club. Yesterday saw them doing their practical assessments for the whole morning!

Amongst other things, they had to make up DC circuits, take measurements and do some calculations using Ohm’s Law. They also wired up a 13 Amp plug and put a PL259 connector onto a piece of RG58 Coaxial Cable. The grand finale involved calibrating a VFO.

A lot of fun was had by all, even though the principal tutor’s patience was sorely tried at times!

Despite his visual handicaps, Dave M6KND (the subject of earlier posts on this website) was able to do most of the practical work being assisted by tutor Peter G4LWF, who wielded the soldering iron.

There is still a long way to go, as the exam is not for another 4 weeks, but Wythall Radio Club tutors are sure that all will manage the much longed-for pass certificate!

Neal, Stuart & Martin, now M6NCM, M6GYF & M6GYH

While Wythall Radio Club’s next Intermediate Exam Course is soon to begin, we are currently celebrating our recent Foundation successes.

You may have already read below about David Simmons and his success in becoming M6KND, but 4 other candidates have also been celebrating.

So it’s a big Wythall “well-done” to Martin M6GYH, Stuart M6GYF, Neal M6NCM & Michael M6GWQ. All four passed their Foundation exams with us in the Spring and it is fantastic to hear of their new callsigns. Watch out for Martin M6GYH who is giving a talk to the Club next month!

Meantime, remember if you are interested in our training courses, drop a line to Training Co-ordinator Chris G0EYO on the email, g0eyo(at)blueyonder.co.uk.

You could be featuring on these pages next!

Invigilator David G0ICJ, David Simmonds and reader Anita 2E0DUO celebrate the pass

Hot news from the Training Department at Wythall Radio Club! We have just had our first exam pass for a blind entrant to the hobby.

David Simmons achieved his Licence just a few days ago and now has the callsign M6KND. Many congratulations to David! However, there is a story behind his success…

With help from our friends at the Radio Society of Great Britain, we were able to remove many of the obstacles in the way of a disabled candidate gaining a license, whilst keeping the course both challenging for him and meeting the statutory requirements.

David used an audio version of the Foundation course book and prior approval for the Practical tests was obtained so that he could show his knowledge in the most appropriate way.

Wythall Chair, Anita 2E0DUO was also examined by the relevant officials so that she could act as David’s reader for the specially-prepared exam on the night.

A fuller article on the details of how our Trainers overcame some of the difficulties involved in training David will appear in our next newsletter, so watch out for that!

All the hard work paid off of course, as David passed at the first time of asking and he is already making our Training team put their thinking caps on – he wants to do the Intermediate and Advanced exams next!

3 New Radio Hams!

Wythall Radio Club’s training department are celebrating today – on two fronts!

Training Co-ordinator Chris G0EYO informed us recently that all 3 of our latest cohort of online Foundation Licence students have passed with flying colours – one with 100% in the final exam.

Hearty congratulations then to Neal from Loughborough, Stuart from Solihull and Martin from Maypole, South Birmingham.

But on further delving, Chris was able to give us some other revealing statistics.

Wythall Radio Club’s training courses began in January 2008, with an Intermediate Course. Since then we have accrued 84 Foundation passes, 62 Intermediate successes and 53 Advanced Licence holders.

Furthermore, these new entrants to the hobby make up almost 60% of our current club membership, which numbers well over 80. No wonder Wythall Radio Club continues to flourish.

Our special thanks then to Chris G0EYO, Roger M0GWM and all our training team, not forgetting John M6KET and the Morse Code class, which also draws new members into the club!

Wythall Radio Club is pleased to announce that our next two Foundation Courses will be commencing this February.

Wythall Radio Club’s 2015 Foundation Successes

We are running a classroom-based course starting on Monday 8^th February at 8pm in our shack in the basement at Wythall House, Silver St, Wythall, B47 6LZ.

Alongside this, we are also running an “on-line” version of the course – this is for those who are not local to Wythall or cannot be available on Monday evenings.

This course starts on the 15^th February, but please note that you need to register for this by 1^st February, which its not that far away!

More information is available on our training page here.

If you are interested in either course, please contact Chris G0EYO on his email address, g0eyo(at)blueyonder.co.uk