Get involved in Amateur Radio

Darenth Valley is a small, but friendly club, that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Crockenhill Village Hall starting at 8pm
Amateur radio is a popular technical hobby and volunteer public service that uses designated radio frequencies for the non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communications

Darenth Valley Radio Society is a small, but friendly club, that meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Crockenhill Village Hall starting at 8pm.

On the other Wednesday, we have Radio on the air and fault finding on members equipment. On non Club Wednesdays, we have a Club net on 145.475 Mhz at 8pm, if the frequency is clear and on every Sunday at 8am. Non members are welcome to join in.

During the year we participate in the VHF Field Day (first weekend July) and SSB Field Day (first weekend in September). In 2019 we came 2nd in the Multi Operator Single Band Section.

The Club is now a registered training establishment, for the Foundation and Intermediate licence.

What is Amateur Radio?

Amateur radio is a popular technical hobby and volunteer public service that uses designated radio frequencies for non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communications.

Amateur Radio is the only hobby governed by international treaty.

As a radio amateur you are able to transmit radio signals on a number of frequency bands allocated specifically to the radio amateurs.

Radio amateurs make use of their frequencies in a number of ways:

  • Contacting people all over the world by radio which often leads to developing international friendships
  • Competing in international competitions to test how effective your equipment is, and how good you are as an operator
  • Technical experimentation — many of the leaps forward in radio technology have been initiated by radio amateurs
  • Communication through amateur space satellites or with the International Space Station (which carries an amateur radio station)
  • Providing communications at times of emergencies and undertaking exercises to ensure you keep the capability to do so.

There is no better way to explore the fascinating world of radio communications than by becoming a radio amateur.

A 1910 announcement by the then HM Postmaster General licensed “experimental wireless”, which still uniquely gives radio amateurs the ability to innovate without commercial or statutory controls even in the closely regulated environment of the 21st century.

You do not need a licence to listen to radio amateurs, if you want to talk back to them on the amateur radio frequencies, then a licence to transmit is a legal requirement.

How do I get a licence?

You need to attend a training course at a registered training establishment.

There are three types of licence;

  • Foundation
  • Intermediate
  • Full.

The first licence you must obtain is the Foundation. This licence lets you transmit up to 10 watts.

The next licence is the Intermediate. This licence lets you transmit up to 50 Watts.

Once you have the Intermediate you can study for a Full licence and transmit up to 400W. It is possible to go from Foundation to a Full licence in a year or less.

More information can be found on our Training page.

Darenth Valley Radio Society Club Net

Frequency: 145.475 MHz
Wednesday: 19:00 UTC
Sunday: 0700 UTC

All members and non-members are welcome to join the club net. If you've never joined a club net then you can learn more here.

DVRS on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Upcoming Events

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram