Birmingham City University students share FM kit building experience

In March 2026, students from Birmingham City University took part in the Society’s British Science Week activity and were sent a number of FM radio receiver kits to build.

Following their success with the activity, they have been sharing their experience with others and developing the activity into a wider project. Jon Isaacs from the School of Engineering and the Built Environment sent us this update:

“We set up a mini project at the University’s Innovation Fest in May to get visitors (both external and members of other faculties) to build FM radio kits and listen to some content specifically generated by our arts and media students.

We streamed content via our own broadcast radio studio and transmitted locally using low power FM transmitters. The idea being to demonstrate that this 100-year-old technology is actually quite simple, robust and accessible, and by investing a little time to build the circuit, you can access some unique content that cannot be heard elsewhere.

We used the same kits that the RSGB introduced to us via British Science Week recently, and we have just ordered a load more to use at a variety of summer events including the RAF Cosford Airshow.”

“Thank you for the introduction to these kits and to Kanga – you are really helping inspire our students and we’re looking forward to taking this project out on the road!”

Category: University Corner stories