Group:Amateur Radio: Difference between revisions

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[[File:M0hsl-interior-feb-2020.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Inside our current radio shack (Feb 2020)]]
[[File:M0hsl-interior.JPG|400px|thumb|right|Inside our radio shack]]


Welcome to the London Hackspace Radio Club, established in 2013.
Welcome to the London Hackspace Radio Club, established in 2013.
    
    
We're proud to be a part of the [http://hack.rs London Hackspace: the world's largest co-operative workshop (by membership).]
We're proud to be a part of the [http://london.hackspace.org.uk London Hackspace: the world's largest co-operative workshop (by membership).]
   
   
'''Recently awarded [http://www.rsgb.org Radio Society of Great Britain] [https://twitter.com/m0hsl/status/591943687191588864 National Club of the Year]'''
'''In 2015, we won the prestigious [http://www.rsgb.org Radio Society of Great Britain] [https://twitter.com/m0hsl/status/591943687191588864 National Club of the Year]'''


The call sign of London Hackspace is '''M0HSL'''.
The call sign of London Hackspace is '''M0HSL'''.


The shack's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidenhead_Locator_System Maidenhead locator] is '''IO91XM'''.
The shack's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maidenhead_Locator_System Maidenhead locator] is '''IO91UN'''.


== What is Amateur Radio, Why Do it ==
== What is Amateur Radio, Why Do it ==
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== Meetings, Events & Radio Shack Availability==
== Meetings, Events & Radio Shack Availability==
Meetings are monthly and normally held on the first Saturday, at 14:00. Often there is a casual meeting is held at nearby [https://plus.google.com/110749918009889951568/about?gl=uk&hl=en Billy's Cafe] at 13:00.  
Meetings are monthly and normally held on the first Saturday, at 14:00 (usually preceded by brunch in a pub).


The radio shack is available to members of the amateur radio club (and stewarded guests) 24 hours a day. Use of transmission facilities is restricted to licensed UK/CEPT/HAREC amateurs only.   
The radio shack is available to members of the amateur radio club (and supervised guests) 24 hours a day. Use of transmission facilities is restricted to licensed UK/CEPT/HAREC amateurs only.  Access is restricted to those who have completed an induction to the shack.


We have created some [[Amateur_Radio/Guidelines|guidelines for shack operation  - please study if you intend to transmit.]]
We have created some [[Amateur_Radio/Guidelines|guidelines for shack operation  - please study if you intend to transmit.]]


== Study Courses & Exams ==
== Study Courses & Exams ==
There are three levels of licensing in the United Kingdom: Foundation, Intermediate, and FullThe first licence content (classroom and practicals) is typically taught on a Saturday with the exam on the following Sunday. Intermediate courses usually take a bit longer as it includes more practical coursework (soldering, kit assembly, radio operation) and assessment. The final licence stage is often done through a combination of guided conversations and self-study.
There are three levels of licensing in the United Kingdom: '''Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced.''' One new radio enthusiast's testimonial of acquiring all three licenses at another club is [http://www.hamblog.co.uk/advanced-license-from-zero-to-m0-in-one-year/ here.]


One new radio enthusiast's testimonial of acquiring all three licenses at another club is [http://www.hamblog.co.uk/advanced-license-from-zero-to-m0-in-one-year/ here.]
As the London Hackspace community tends to be familiar with the basic concepts of electronics involved in the amateur radio qualifications, our courses are self-study for the theoretical portions of these exams. There are usually assessors around during meetings who can handle practical assessments on an ad-hoc basis. London Hackspace is a RSGB registered exam centre. Exams are run as needed, based on demand and on the availability of invigilators (who have to give up several hours of their undivided attention).  


'''We have the following courses so far for 2015:'''
If you're interested in doing your amateur radio qualification at London Hackspace, let us know on our [https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/lhs-radio mailing list].
* [[Amateur_Radio/Foundation_Course_March_2015|Foundation Course 7-8 March 2015]]
* [[Amateur_Radio/Intermediate_Course_Q1_2015|Intermediate Course 3 days across Jan-Feb-March 2015]]
* [[Amateur_Radio/Full_Study_Group_2015| Full Licence Self-Study Guidance & Subject-Matter Catch-Ups]]


''Our training team consists of:''
===Our training team consists of:===
* [[User:tgreer@tsone.info|tgreer]] - examination secretary
* [[User:Kraptv|Kraptv]] - instructor, accredited assessor
* [[User:JJ|JJ]] - instructor, accredited assessor
* [[User:JJ|JJ]] - instructor, accredited assessor
* [[User:Wyan|Wyan]] - instructor, accredited assessor
* [[User:Nigle|Nigle]] - instructor
* [[User:MattP|MattP]] - instructor
* [[User:Marrold|Marrold]] - Exam Secretary
* [[User:Paul|Paul]] - instructor
* [[User:Mich181189|mich181189]] - instructor, accredited assessor
* [[User:Mentar|Mentar]] - invigilator
* [[User:MatStace|Mat Stace]] - invigilator, practicals assistant
* [[User:Ridpojken|Ridpojken]] - practicals assistant, accredited assessor (foundation level)


''...and anyone we've forgotten please add yourself or consider volunteering in the future!''
''...and anyone we've forgotten please add yourself or consider volunteering in the future!''
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*[[Project:Morse Code Training|Morse Code]]
*[[Project:Morse Code Training|Morse Code]]
*[[Project:Mast Trailer|Clark Trailer Mast]] – 30M Clark Trailer Mast
*[[Project:Mast Trailer|Clark Trailer Mast]] – 30M Clark Trailer Mast
*[[Project:Mast SCAM-12|Clark SCAM-12 Mast]] – 12M Clark SCAM-12 Mast
* Encourage more active licensing of atypical amateur radio enthusiasts (younger demographics, women, minorities) - it's a multicultural world, after all.
* Encourage more active licensing of atypical amateur radio enthusiasts (younger demographics, women, minorities) - it's a multicultural world, after all.
* Build a complementary bridge between other group efforts - encourage other regional radio clubs to link up with other hackspaces
* Build a complementary bridge between other group efforts - encourage other regional radio clubs to link up with other hackspaces
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* [[Amateur Radio/Wish List|Club Wish List]] - an equipment wish-list for the club - please consider donating / loaning equipment to the space!
* [[Amateur Radio/Wish List|Club Wish List]] - an equipment wish-list for the club - please consider donating / loaning equipment to the space!
* [[BaofengUV5R-TRRS]]
* [[BaofengUV5R-TRRS]]
*[[Project:APRS iGate|APRS iGate/Digipeater]] - because APRS coverage in London sucks
* [[Project:Packet Radio|Packet Radio]] is cool again.


== Informative ==
== Informative ==
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=== UK Specific Discussion Boards, Exam Prep, and Official Info ===
=== UK Specific Discussion Boards, Exam Prep, and Official Info ===
*[http://www.transmission1.co.uk Transmission1 Amateur Radio Web Forum]
*[http://www.transmission1.co.uk Transmission1 Amateur Radio Web Forum]
*[http://www.codeplugcentral.co.uk Code Plug Central - program your DMR/VHF/UHF radios with these UK-specific codeplugs]
*[http://www.opendmr.net/ OpenDMR/PHOENIX digital amateur repeater network]
*[http://www.bm-dmr.uk/dashboard/ BrandMeister DMR UK Network Dashboard]
*[http://www.hamtests.co.uk/ HamTests - practice your knowledge with the various tests available]
*[http://www.hamtests.co.uk/ HamTests - practice your knowledge with the various tests available]
*[http://spectruminfo.ofcom.org.uk/spectrumInfo/licences Ofcom WTR Spectrum Info]
*[http://spectruminfo.ofcom.org.uk/spectrumInfo/licences Ofcom WTR Spectrum Info]
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=== General News, Info & Discussion ===
=== General News, Info & Discussion ===
Current
* [http://www.southgatearc.org/ Southgate ARC Amateur Radio News]
* [http://hackaday.com/tag/amateur-radio/ Hackaday Amateur Radio Highlights]
* [http://hackaday.com/tag/amateur-radio/ Hackaday Amateur Radio Highlights]
* [http://reddit.com/r/amateurradio Reddit /r/amateurradio forum]
* [http://reddit.com/r/amateurradio Reddit /r/amateurradio forum] or [https://www.reddit.com/user/molo1134/m/hamradiomulti aggregated 'hamradiomulti' filter]
* [http://www.dmr-marc.net/ DMR-MARC Worldwide Digital Amateur Radio Network]
Historical
* [http://n5dux.com/ham/files/pdf/ N5DUX Ham Articles PDF Archive]  & [http://n5dux.com/ham/pubs/ N5DUX Ham Magazine PDF Archive]
* [https://archive.org/details/73-magazine 73 Magazine Archive 1960-2003]
* [http://hamcall.net/cq CQ Magazine Archives (up to 24 months ago)]


=== Rigs ===
=== Rigs ===
*Useful resource for the [http://www.uv3r.com/uv5r.html Baofeng/Pofung UV-5R] and [http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/ Miklor UV-5R (and derivatives) Documentation]
* [http://www.yaesu.co.uk/files/FT-450D_OM_USA_EXP_EU_EH024H250.pdf Manual for the Yaesu FT-450D]
* Useful resource for the [http://www.uv3r.com/uv5r.html Baofeng/Pofung UV-5R] and [http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/ Miklor UV-5R (and derivatives) Documentation]
* UK-built and designed [http://sdrplay.com/ SDRplay] receiver capable of receiving from 100khz to 2Ghz
* Easy and cheap USB dongle receiver [http://www.rtl-sdr.com/ RTLSDR] - cannot do much in LF/MF/HF but does very well in VHF and above
* Another popular SDR Transceiver [https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/ HackRF One] by Great Scott Gadgets.  Lower cost 100% compatible variants at [http://www.hackrfblue.com/ HackRF Blue]
* Powerful SDR Tranceivers by [http://www.ettus.com/product Ettus Research] can also be very interesting - often paired with [http://openbts.org/ OpenBTS] cellular telephony software.
* [https://rad1o.badge.events.ccc.de/ CCCamp 2015 rad1o Software Defined Radio Badge] given out to participants. Using similar API stack to the HackRF One.
  [[Category:Amateur Radio]]
  [[Category:Amateur Radio]]


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* [http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Ham_Radio NYC Resistor] - Brooklyn, NY USA
* [http://wiki.nycresistor.com/wiki/Ham_Radio NYC Resistor] - Brooklyn, NY USA
* [https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Amateur_Radio_Committee Dallas Makerspace] KD5MS- Dallas TX USA
* [https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Amateur_Radio_Committee Dallas Makerspace] KD5MS- Dallas TX USA
* [http://www.sp9kgp.org/ Kraków Hackerspace] - Radio Club "Ryjek" SP9KGP - Kraków, Poland
=== Available Resources ===
* [[Radio_Programming_Cable_Library|Radio Programming Cable Library]] - Looking for an obscure radio programming cable? Maybe a member owns one.
* [[Project:Packet_Radio/TNC_Pool|Packet Radio / TNC Pool]] - Looking to get into Packet Radio? We have some TNCs available to get you started.


== Contact ==
== Contact & Keeping in touch ==
Please get in contact with us!  We have many forms of communication.  
Please get in contact with us!  We have many active forms of communication.  


*[https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/lhs-radio Mailing list] - general inquiries and radio related chatter.
*[https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/lhs-radio Mailing list - general inquiries and radio related chatter.]
*Internet Relay Chat ([[IRC]]), [[https://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=lhs-radio '''#lhs-radio''' on '''chat.freenode.net''' with link to web browser IRC client]).
*Internet Relay Chat ([[IRC]]), [[https://kiwiirc.com/nextclient/irc.libera.chat/#lhs-radio '''#lhs-radio''' on '''irc.libera.chat''']] - (link to web browser IRC client).
*Twitter, [http://www.twitter.com/M0HSL @M0HSL]
*Twitter, [http://www.twitter.com/M0HSL @M0HSL]
*[[Amateur_Radio/Callsigns|Member's Callsigns]] – Hackspace members' callsigns
*[[Amateur_Radio/Callsigns|Member's Callsigns]] – Hackspace members' callsigns

Latest revision as of 14:05, 22 January 2023

Amateur Radio
Amateur-radio-logo.png
When First Saturday of the Month, from 14:00
Members
Inside our current radio shack (Feb 2020)

Welcome to the London Hackspace Radio Club, established in 2013.

We're proud to be a part of the London Hackspace: the world's largest co-operative workshop (by membership).

In 2015, we won the prestigious Radio Society of Great Britain National Club of the Year

The call sign of London Hackspace is M0HSL.

The shack's Maidenhead locator is IO91UN.

What is Amateur Radio, Why Do it

It's the original 'nerd' hobby- building and playing with all sorts of communication over the airwaves! For those that are curious, more info available here.

Amateur radio complements many other interest groups in the space by providing a basis for the electronic and communications technologies that allow us to effectively explore and create cool stuff.

Radio Society of Great Britain Club Affiliation

London Hackspace are an RSGB affiliated club. This means we can enter RSGB contests, get news coverage in RadCom and GB2RS easily and probably get some general promotion for the space, generally good things.

Meetings, Events & Radio Shack Availability

Meetings are monthly and normally held on the first Saturday, at 14:00 (usually preceded by brunch in a pub).

The radio shack is available to members of the amateur radio club (and supervised guests) 24 hours a day. Use of transmission facilities is restricted to licensed UK/CEPT/HAREC amateurs only. Access is restricted to those who have completed an induction to the shack.

We have created some guidelines for shack operation - please study if you intend to transmit.

Study Courses & Exams

There are three levels of licensing in the United Kingdom: Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced. One new radio enthusiast's testimonial of acquiring all three licenses at another club is here.

As the London Hackspace community tends to be familiar with the basic concepts of electronics involved in the amateur radio qualifications, our courses are self-study for the theoretical portions of these exams. There are usually assessors around during meetings who can handle practical assessments on an ad-hoc basis. London Hackspace is a RSGB registered exam centre. Exams are run as needed, based on demand and on the availability of invigilators (who have to give up several hours of their undivided attention).

If you're interested in doing your amateur radio qualification at London Hackspace, let us know on our mailing list.

Our training team consists of:

  • JJ - instructor, accredited assessor
  • Nigle - instructor
  • Marrold - Exam Secretary
  • mich181189 - instructor, accredited assessor

...and anyone we've forgotten please add yourself or consider volunteering in the future!

Projects and Goals for the Club

  • Activities Master Spreadsheet via Google Docs - contact another member for edit access
  • Hacktenna
  • Morse Code
  • Clark Trailer Mast – 30M Clark Trailer Mast
  • Encourage more active licensing of atypical amateur radio enthusiasts (younger demographics, women, minorities) - it's a multicultural world, after all.
  • Build a complementary bridge between other group efforts - encourage other regional radio clubs to link up with other hackspaces
  • Antennas - Mount and install a variety of antennas on the shack (Rebuild the Yagi, install the 2 m Diamond antenna, rearrange cables in shack)
  • Participate as a club/team in some contests and possibly field activities like SOTA
  • Explore more digital HF modes - digital data as well as newer digital modes like FreeDV/Codec2
  • More Intermediate (second-level) licensing activities
  • Club Wish List - an equipment wish-list for the club - please consider donating / loaning equipment to the space!
  • BaofengUV5R-TRRS
  • APRS iGate/Digipeater - because APRS coverage in London sucks
  • Packet Radio is cool again.

Informative

  • Repeaters that everyone can get to (even if it's RX only).
  • Getting Started. So you've got your Foundation licence and callsign, what now?
  • Heavens Above Amateur Radio Satellites passing above the Hackspace

Slightly out of date

Useful links

There are many places on the web for news about amateur radio, but one of the risks is that a lot of the information is outdated and incorrect. Here are some recommended sites for various bits:

UK Specific Discussion Boards, Exam Prep, and Official Info

General News, Info & Discussion

Current

Historical

Rigs

Other Hackspace Radio Clubs

Available Resources

Contact & Keeping in touch

Please get in contact with us! We have many active forms of communication.