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Click here to download a newspaper article of Amateur Radio Society member Philip Mathews (radio call sign G7CDI) Hawk flight from RAF Finningley in the 1990's.
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”AeroVenture Amateur Radio Society” and Radio in General
”AeroVenture Amateur Radio Society” and Radio in General
I have been asked by Jim to write an article about “Amateur Radio” and how it began.
Amateur radio may have begun in the 1800’s, indeed “Captain HB Jackson RN (1855-1897) actually built a Wireless Transmitter in 1897. The object was to use Wireless Telegraphy in Warships. The first experiments were held on the deck of HMS Defiant during the early months of 1896.
Amateur Radio has come a long way since the first experiments were made by men like Marconi and Captain Jackson.
Most people will have a knowledge of Radio in one form or another so I won’t waste time dwelling too much on the past. The main questions I am asked are: - what is “Amateur Radio” and why have it at an Aircraft Museum.
I shall try to answer these questions in a manner that can be understood by those who do not have the least idea what Amateur Radio is all about. It is NOT Citizen’s Band Radio or CB, as it is known. Amateur Radio is more complex than that. Applicants for an Amateur License have to pass a City and Guilds Examination before a License is issued to them. They are then allocated a Call sign. This Call sign is unique and can only be used by that person.
Why have Amateur Radio at an Aircraft Museum?
Well mainly because Radio is a means of Communication, which was and still is, used by aircraft. Also during WWII there were Radio Amateurs who had the job of designing, building and testing Radio etc for the Services including the “Royal Air Force”. In addition to this, these people had to fly with the RAF to test the equipment. According to the records some even got shot down whilst doing so. Radio Amateurs were also involved at Alexandra Palace of BBC fame, in monitoring and jamming broadcasts etc. In fact they made a very large contribution to the War effort.
The first Amateur Radio Station to be set up at the Museum was when the Museum was situated at Firbeck Farm, Nr Maltby during one of the Museum’s open days. Contact was made Worldwide during this event and the Station created so much interest that the Museum Committee asked if we would set up a permanent Radio Station at the Museum, which we did. Due to the move from Firbeck to Doncaster there has been a long delay in setting up the Station, however it is now open and transmitting to the world again.
Everyone is welcome to come along and see what it’s all about, talk to the operators and even use the equipment (under supervision) and to send messages of greeting to any contacts that are made worldwide to certain countries. I have tried to put in this short description of the where’s and why’s of Amateur Radio as much information as possible. The best way to find out more is to come and see us at the museum, talk to us and have a look at what we have to offer.
Amateur Radio is not just for adults, there are children as young as 8 years old transmitting worldwide on their own radio equipment having passed a fairly simple exam and doing it very well too.
Radio Amateurs also work in close co-operation with the local authorities during any emergencies by providing communications between Police, Ambulance and Rescue when called on to do so by the Emergency Planning office in the area.
There are many and varied means of communicating available to the Radio Amateur including satellite television and computers to name a few.
If you would like any more information about being a Radio Amateur please contact me, Vic Lowe at AeroVenture on 01302 761616 or call in at the museum. The Call sign allocated to the museum is “GB2AIR”.
Vic Lowe, G1IND
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