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 Sunday afternoons we have a Club net on 145.475 Mhz at 15.00pm, if the frequency is clear. 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 25 watts.

The next licence is the Intermediate. This licence lets you transmit up to 100 Watts.

Once you have the Intermediate you can study for a Full licence and transmit up to 1000 watts. 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.