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New HF frequency available, details on the Central & East section of Bader or contact your Wing Radio Officer.

Khaki Badger

On Saturday 22nd May, Cdt Ryan Borhara and Sgt (ATC) Sarah Cotton from 487 (Kingstanding & Perry Barr) Sqn attended the Khaki Badger - Clansman Radio conversion course at 1289 (Stratford) Sqn, for a lesson in how to use the VHF Provisional and Full skills in a practical setting, using Clansman 350, 351 and 352 radios.

The day started off with an introduction to the course by Sgt Caine, with a brief for what was going to happen on the day. With the sun blazing and the mood high, we got to work with the radios.

First lesson was a hands on introduction to the 350 Clansman radio, learning about it’s component parts and how to set up the radio to function correctly in the field. This day was a large learning curve for some of the staff in attendance, so the introduction was eye opening to say the least.

Once familiar with the set-up of a 350 Clansman we moved onto the 351 parts and functionality, including the contents of an ancillary bag, how to use each part and how they were connected to the main radio. Once familiar with the first two radios, we quickly learnt that a 351 and 352 radio are very similar, so looked at how to set up the radio for each configuration.

After a brief lunch, we headed out into the scorching sunshine to carry out some practical exercises with the radios in our groups. Each group headed out to their own spot (in the shade!) and proceeded to set up the radios in the assigned configuration, erect a GSA antenna and carry out a radio check between all call signs.

After some hands-on experience with trouble shooting on the radio, we carried out some communication exercises using the VHF Provisional skills the cadets already had.

The day wrapped up with a demonstration of how to erect an elevated GSA antenna which was 25ft tall and took 6 cadets to put up.
Cdt Borhara enjoyed the day and found it interesting to see the difference between achieving his full VHF license and putting it into practice with real radios out in the field.

Sgt Cotton, having never seen a Clansman radio before, learnt valuable radio skills which she is sure will be put to good use on the next Khaki Badger exercise later on in the year.

by: Sgt (ATC) Sarah Cotton 487 (Kingstanding & Perry Barr) Sqn - W&B Wg

26 May 2010                                                                                                                                                                                                          Back to top of page

Nottingham Airport's Exam Successes

At 2425(Nottingham Airport) Sqn's recent presentation evening, two members of staff were presented with their certificates for passing the Amateur Radio Foundation Licence Examination in December 2009.

CI Sharon Woodier and Flight Sergeant (ATC) Adam Street are pictured with their instructor CI Tony Wardle, call sign G4XZA. Flight Sergeant Street, now call sign M6AAS, said: "I find radio communications a fascinating subject and I hope to attain my Full licence in due course".

2425 Squadron currently has seven members with a Radio Amateur Foundation Exam pass and five serving cadets with the ATC Communicator Badge, the Corps highest radio/comms award.

Image: CI Sharon Woodier, CI Tony Wardle and Flight Sergeant (ATC) Adam Street.

by Phil Greg Sqn MCO 2425(Nottingham Airport) Sqn - South & East Midlands Wg

1 Feb 2010                                                                                                                                                                                                          Back to top of page

Stalham Go Radio Active

For the past year, 6 cadets of 1132 (Stalham) Sqn have been training to obtain their Communicators Badge and on 26th Aug the cadets received their Communicators Certificates and Badges.

Officer Commanding, Flt Lt Tony Russell and CI Terry Owen, Radio Officer, congratulated all the cadets who obtained the Certificate and Badge. To obtain this award took quite a number of hours training on the VHF/UHF and even more on the HF SSB

The ATC National Radio Net goes live on Sunday mornings with practical radio exercises and cadets have to be fully conversant with ACP44, the radio equipment and international radio procedures.

Last month the squadron also had 6 cadets pass their Amateur Radio Foundation course.

Image: Cdt Sgt Joe Stacey, Cdt Cpl Kerry Mason. Cdt Sgt J Edwards and Cdt Ben Herrick with the squadrons radio operating bench in the background.

by: CI Terry Owen Radio Officer & Sqn MCO 1132 (Stalham) Sqn – Norfolk & Suffolk Wg

8 Sep 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                          Back to top of page

Stalham's First Amateur Radio Foundation Course.

Seven cadets from 1132 (Stalham) Sqn have recently passed the Amateur Radio Foundation Course. The next task is to try and get the squadron Staff to take the course and in time staff and cadets from other Squadrons in Norfolk and Suffolk Wing.

By obtaining an Amateur Radio Foundation Licence, the Stalham cadets have now obtained one of the seven grades required to enable them to obtain their ATC Radio Communications badge (spider).

Image: Back row L/R Alec Eyre M0PUD Instructor, Cdts Guy Westbrook M6GUY, Ben Herrick M6G6AST, Cdt Sgt Joe Stacey M6NIL, Cdt Sam Hampshire M6SMG. Front row L/R Cdt Penny Goodhand M6M6WXK, Sqn CO Flt Lt Tony Russell, Cdt Cpl Kerry Mason M6KLM and Terry Owen G4PSH Course Examiner. Not shown Cdt Sam Root G6SAM.

by: CI Terry Owen Radio Officer 1132 (Stalham) Sqn - Norfolk and Suffolk Wg
 

27 Jul 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                          Back to top of page

Hello all stations this is ………..

Over the weekend of 20-21 June, 51 (Orton) Sqn hosted a Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing Radio Communications Course held at their Orton Longueville HQ.

43 cadets attended over the weekend, which is the first part of their training package to achieve their communicator’s badge. The aim of the weekend was to familiarise cadets with radio equipment, the phonetic alphabet and radio procedures.

Sgt (ATC) Darren Smith from 51 (Orton) Sqn, Plt Off Luke Smith from RAF Wittering, and cadets qualified in Communications from 51 (Orton) and 115 (Peterborough) Squadrons were on hand throughout the weekend to ensure that the highest standards were maintained.

They adjudicated over some interesting, fun and interactive practical exercises including “Blindmans water buckets”. This saw team mates guide friendly call signs, (cadets) blind folded to a bucket of water in a field to retrieve. Some combinations do not to go together, Cadets and water buckets do not mix very well. All cadets had a great time over the two days, even if a little wet.

All cadets who attended over the two days can now look forward to part two of their training, which will include more fun and interesting practical exercises, based on codex, base stations, logbooks and radio messages.

Image: Faces of concentration” All cadets grew in confidence as the day progressed, getting to grips with equipment and procedures.

WO (ATC) Chris Bone 51 (Orton) Sqn - Beds & Cambs Wg
 

2 Jul 2009                                                                                                                                                                                                   Back to top of page