Amateur Radio
Starting out with Amateur Radio
Being new to amateur radio I was keen to learn as much as I could, both opperating practice and teachnical knowledge. I needed to join a club and get licenced.
Antenna Workshop
I joined Bolton Wireless Club, “a forward-thinking group, with members ranging from G2 to M6 licensees and SWLs, the perfect place to nurture your enthusiasm for all aspects of this fascinating hobby.” As well as having biweekly meetings with regular guest speakers, BWC also runs a range of Wednesday workshops covering all aspects of amateur radio such as; Doppler DF project, Digital-ATV techniques, Amateur television on the microwave bands, Software-defined radio, Build your own VHF antennas to name but a few. You can find out more on the Bolton Wireless Club website.
Passed the Foundation Licence Exam
"Stewart, Gregg, Bob, David, plus tutors Glenn, G6HFF, Ian, G0CTO and chairman Mick, M0ICK" from RADCOM Newsletter Aug 2011
Following a BWC course run by Glenn and Ian, which involved mainly classroom sessions plus a practical assessment where we made contact with other radio amateurs (whilst using the club callsign under supervision). I sat the foundation level exam this was 45 multiple choice questions.
Chosen Foundation Callsigns:
- Stewart Culshaw M6CRC
- Gregg Nolan M6GMN
- Bob Walsh M6AVX
- David Aldred M6KFC
Passed the Intermediate Licence Exam
"Left to right you can see Phil, 2E0UDX, Bob, 2E0RSA, Stewart, 2E0SCU, Geoff, 2E0CHY and David, 2E0LCA, tutors Ian, G0CTO & Glenn, G6HFF are also pictured" from RADCOM Newsletter Dec 2011
Following on from passing the Foundation exam I immediately enrolled onto the Intermediate course. This is a more technical course that also requires you to assemble a “radio related kit”
Chosen Intermediate Callsigns:
- Phil Humphries 2E0UDX
- Bob Walsh 2E0RSA
- Stewart Culshaw 2E0SCU
- Geoff Lyon 2E0CHY
- David Aldred 2E0LCA
The next step…
Learn and pass the advanced licence. I’ve enrolled on the Bath-Based Distance Learning Course led by Steve Hartley, G0FUW. I’ll be back in here to comment when the course starts in a couple of weeks.
Useful Resources
- Bolton Wireless Club (http://www.boltonwireless.org.uk)
- Southgate Amateur Radio Club (http://www.southgatearc.org/news…distance_learning_for_advanced_exam.htm)
- RSGB_Newsletter_December_2011
- RSGB_Newsletter_August_2011
Tagged 2E0SCU, amateur radio, bolton wireless club, BWC, ham, ham radio, hamr, M6CRC, stewart
