This message is addressed to the new generation of emerging engineers and scientists who are interested to take up a new technical hobby.
Opportunities for taking radio amateur training are offered at rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/for-students/online-training-resources-for-students.
Following the training, a short, online, multiple-choice exam can lead to a transmitting licence, which allows for some experimentation.
For those who prefer to dive in with some listening experience there are many software defined radios available online (websdr.org) and you can download and save snapshots of data from some of them to undertake your own data analysis projects.
If you want to collect your own data you can do so very easily with a computer dongle and lots of freely available software.
A new group is being set up to promote Amateur Radio and wireless activities in universities – southgatearc.org/news/2019/november/uk-university-amateur-radio.htm#.X5AU1XhKiL9.
While take-up of the radio amateur hobby is currently extremely popular there is also an emerging group of radio amateurs who are also professional engineers and scientists in their own right.
Many of these meet up regularly through online conferences such as HamSCI (hamsci.org).
This amateur and professional merger seems like a new phenomena but delving into the history of the Cambridge Wireless Society shows us that there is a strong tradition of some very well-known figures, including Nobel Prize winners, who were also radio amateurs.
Taking this inspiration from history – Amateur Radio: a modern hobby with a 100 year history (2-page/213KB PDF) – we encourage you to take up this hobby and to join the world-wide community of radio amateurs.
More information about getting started in amateur radio is available at rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/what-is-amateur-radio
If you have an idea for getting involved and you need some funds to help you, please contact the RCF to ask for assistance.
