Radio Amateurs make friends, and talk to their friends, by radio, often across continents. Some transmit text and TV pictures. Many build their own equipment and find that their hobby enriches their technical knowledge.
To transmit on the amateur bands an individual is required to have a licence issued by Ofcom. There are three grades of licence, Foundation, Intermediate and Full, with increasing privilages designed to encourage progressive self-training in technical and operating skills.
To help people 'get-started' in a 'hobby' that can provide emergency-communications at times of crisis, Solihull Amateur Radio Society offers training leading to the Amateur Radio Foundation Licence. This permits operation on nearly all amateur bands with a transmit power of up to ten watts.
Courses are held at the Shirley Centre, Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull and generally comprise two evenings (7.30pm to 9.30pm) per week for three weeks. The sessions include 'classroom' tuition and 'hands-on' radio operation. On the final evening students take a multi-choice examination assessment. Successful candidates then receive a result-slip as evidence of appropriate training and competence in order to apply for the licence.
The course is open to all (subject to the rules of Solihull A.R.S.). The course is suitable for young people of around 12plus through to those of pensionable years.
The cost of the course is £25. The fee covers the exam-fee charged by the RSGB and a contribution towards the cost of the course. Students will be provided with a 'course-book' published by the RSGB. The Society is pleased to acknowledge the support of 'Awards for All' in providing a grant to assist it with running courses and enabling the Society to aquire new equipment for training purposes.
Dates for the next course of are yet to be arranged (Spring 2008) and will consist of six sessions (7:30pm to 9:30pm)
Application should be made by telephone to the course-coordinator G4BBT on 0121 743 7277 or by e-mail to r_a.hancock@which.net .
The course fee will be payable at registration on the first evening and students (or Parents/Guardians of minors) must have available evidence of identity. [Note to parents and teachers:- Solihull Amateur Radio Society operates a Child Protection Policy]