Getting help – finding a local club
When you are first qualified one of the biggest worries may be that there is so much to learn. This is where a mentor or helper can make a world of difference.
Perhaps the best way to get help is to join your local radio club.
Throughout the UK there more than 500 local clubs and societies affiliated to the RSGB. These vary from small local clubs, through repeater groups to the large contest groups.
There are more than 500 amateur radio clubs in the UK.
It is very easy to find a club near you. This website has a club section where you can search for a club in your area – you just put in your location and choose what radius you wish to search.
It will then come up with a list of clubs in the area and the contact details.
You will no doubt be made more than welcome at any club and are bound to find someone who can help or advise you.
If you have a particular interest in a certain aspect of amateur radio, such as QRP, RTTY, or amateur TV, or perhaps you used to be a member of the armed forces, there is probably an affiliated society for you to join, such as the G-QRP club, British Amateur Radio Teledata Group, (BARTG), the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society (RAFARS) or the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society (RNARS).
Each has a regular newsletter or communication, plus many have regular on-air nets.
All of these societies are listed in the RSGB’s annual Yearbook or you can search for them on the internet.
If you are still in need of technical advice either join the RSGBTech forum at https://groups.io/g/RSGBTechnical where you will find people able to help – or contact your local Regional Manager.
Other pages in this section – First Steps:
