Amateur Radio - A hobby for life
As you may have gathered I am an Amateur Radio Operator (a radio ham) and have been active in the hobby since 1981. Prior to that I was involved in radio via the then illegal Citizens Band and that gave me enough incentive to study for and obtain the two City and Guilds examinations papers that were needed at that time and to go on to take the Post Office 12 words a minute Morse test at Lands End Radio about 6 months after getting my first Amateur Radio call, a class 'B' call being G6SMA. Following success in the Morse test my call was changed to its present Class A call of G4USB.
I quickly became involved in the local Amateur Radio Club and within less than 12 months was elected to serve on the Cornish Radio Amateur Club Committee. A year or so later I became the Secretary, a post held for around 7 years followed by Vice Chairman for a couple of years and then Chairman for about 7 years too. Presently I have the honour of being the Club's President and also its Vice Chairman.
At home I have an antenna mast with a 7 element bean at the top for HF operation on 10,15 & 20 meters, this antenna also works quite well on 17 & 24 Mhz with a tuner. I also use 6 metres, 2 ,metres VHF and 70cm UHF bands. I run HF/VHF/UHF from my vehicles too and this was great fun in June 2007 as it enabled me to operate from my camper in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. A great way to speak to the locals and of course back to the UK.
The Cornish Radio Amateur Club meet regularly at the Church Hall at Perranarworthal on the First Wednesday each month. After a short business meeting there is the chance to listed to a guest speaker. Mostly radio related topics but not always. I have been known to give slide show presentations and recently we had a talk on the history and present day relating to Radar cover for the UK as a whole from a friend who is a radar technician with the Royal Air Force based at RAF Portreath, a radar establishment.
We welcome visitors but expect only two visits prior to taking up an annual membership.
If you have ever thought of taking up the hobby and live within range of Perranarworthal pleas come along and have a chat with us. We will be able to give you some help in deciding how you can obtain the qualifications to hold a licence. Things have changed over the years and instead of the old written examinations and more recently the two
City & Guilds exam papers there is a much easier route into the hobby. You no longer need to pass a morse code test to gain access to the HF bands and can achieve transmitting amateur status with a limited power output of 10 watts and an M3XXX call sign or an M6XXX with the Foundation Course. After that there is an Intermediate licence with a 50w power limit and in England a 2E0XXX call sign. And then the full licence with full power of up to 400w and an M0XXX call sign. Sounds complicated but not really. We have two of our members who run courses when there are enough trainees and they can give full details.
City & Guilds exam papers there is a much easier route into the hobby. You no longer need to pass a morse code test to gain access to the HF bands and can achieve transmitting amateur status with a limited power output of 10 watts and an M3XXX call sign or an M6XXX with the Foundation Course. After that there is an Intermediate licence with a 50w power limit and in England a 2E0XXX call sign. And then the full licence with full power of up to 400w and an M0XXX call sign. Sounds complicated but not really. We have two of our members who run courses when there are enough trainees and they can give full details.
