wythall radio club

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

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!

Another newcomer to the Amateur Radio hobby has been born thanks to the team of instructors at Wythall Radio Club.

Proud Paul with pass certificate

Lead trainers Roger M0GWM and Chris G0EYO  are celebrating following the success of wheelchair-bound on-line student Paul Lunn.

Paul is no stranger to education – he is a senior lecturer in Digital Music Technology at a local University. He took the on-line course we held in the summer but was on holiday when his colleagues sat their exam – last weekend was the first day we could find a mutually agreeable date to take it.

We send our warmest congratulations to Paul, who we hear passed with a VERY high mark, and our best wishes for the Intermediate and Advanced exams which he will be doubtless studying for soon.

Wythall Radio Club are pleased to announced yet another training course. This will be starting a classroom-based Advanced License course.

It will take place mostly on Monday evenings, starting on 7th September and culminating with the exam on 7th December.

Spaces are limited to just eight students and we hear that two of the recent Intermediate passes have already signed up! So if you are interested, please contact our Training Co-ordinator Chris G0EYO as soon as possible at g0eyo@blueyonder.co.uk

Al M6KPO, Carl M6ERA, Zaid, Dave M6HPD & John M6EGP with their indicative pass slips last night

It might sound like an Enid Blyton book title, but in actuality, it is the latest headline for the successes of Wythall Radio Club’s Training Department.

Last night, five students from our current Intermediate course took and passed their exams at the Club HQ.

The results will be officially rubber-stamped later this week but nonetheless in anticipation, the members of WRC send our congratulations to Al M6KPO, Carl M6ERA, Dave M6HPD, John M6EGP and Zaid (who has been waiting to pass this exam before applying for his first callsign).

There will be news of their new callsigns soon, so keep checking back to see what they get and to listen out for them on the air.

Our collective thanks go to Training-Coordinator Chris G0EYO and his team of tutors, Roger M0GWM, John G3VRF, Peter G4LWF and Dave G3YXM. Well done, chaps!