m3php.com

This morning I woke up to find not only had RSGB Radcom arrived but a letter from the RSGB, on further inspection it turns out that the RSGB Board have awarded myself and Paul (M0TZO) the ‘Kenwood Trophy’ for our significant contribution to training in providing the HamTests UK website which offers mock questions for all levels of licences.

We are of course very proud to be awarded the Kenwood Trophy and will be attending the RSGB AGM which takes place in Bristol on the 19^th April 2008 and commences at 11am.

If you are going to the AGM do say hello you can’t miss us, and of course checkout www.hamtests.co.uk

I’ve been sat wondering whether or not to post this all day, because of the fact I kept thinking of the negatives of what might happen this being failing the exam. But I’ve decided to go ahead with my idea of blogging my experience in taking the plunge to upgrade my amateur radio license

I better fill in some background gained my foundation license back in February 2002, when it first got launched by the Radio Communications Agency (Now Office of Communications) I took the training course with the Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society and at that time Alan G4PSU was leading the course.

I was 14 years old, and I can clearly remembering being worried about the whole weekend and the failing aspect, but to my delight I passed along with my Dad, as we were one of the first to gain a foundation licence we where lucky enough to be able to pick a callsign! I decided to go with M3PHP and Dad decided to pick M3JFM and I’ve pulled his leg for picking that ever since, saying it’s so he can’t forget it! As its January, February, March.

In the 6 years I’ve learned lots about operating, building antennas with the help of local radio amateurs. I guess my Elmer was Barry (G4AZN) who was always there to offer encouragement and advice and still is to this very day! (Thank you Barry )

Looking back I think its now time to take the next progressive step and upgrade my licence to what is the Intermediate Licence, first thoughts are that I’ll fail and make an utter fool out of myself, but I think its time to overcome the fear and do it!

I’m not sure when I’ll be taking the actual exam I guess it depends when I feel I’m ready but I’m setting myself a deadline of doing it before the end of 2008 I hope this isn’t unachievable. I’ll be blogging about what I’m learning about on a weekly basis, with my thoughts and most likely asking for suggestions’ along the way. Many will think its utter pointless and sad but I think it might prove useful to others who are thinking about upgrading.

Apologies for the lack of posts for the last week and a bit, I’ve been busy with University work trying to make decent progress with my final project which is to be handed in just after the Easter break with is drawing closer by the day.

I’ve not been as active on the radio as I’d have liked,  but I did manage to attend the Harwell Radio & Computer Rally in Didcot which is short train ride from home with Dad, although I didn’t actually pickup anything at all.

Dad managed to get a few things he needed (USB Printer Cable, DVD, Prefix Map) although not many of purchases where radio related, we had a good time meeting up with friends and chatting up on the news.

I hope to be able to put in some time on the radio during the next week, as there’s no lectures so the pressure is off slightly, so look out for the radio logs appearing soon.

Today I was again back on 40m, as I didn’t get up till lunch time, needed to do some shopping and also had some university work to do researching game development environments, by the time this was all done it was just coming up to 8pm!

Not to worry after Saturday I was getting hooked on 40m night time operating, so I was ready to go! Started off calling CQ on 40m which I found pretty hard going although I worked YO2MHD, IK6EUH, IW6DRH/M after that I decided I’d move to PSK31 this seemed a much better idea worked a number of UR, I*, R* but the best station was SU1KM in Egypt! Who came back to my CQ!

Called it a night at 10:30pm with 17 QSOs in the log!