Q. What is ANARC?
A. ANARC is the Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club
Q. Why choose the name ANARC?
A. We asked our first members to come up with a name and Tom, our Chairman, said “Angel of the North” and we all liked it.
Q. What is Amateur Radio?
A. Amateur Radio is a hobby enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide that allows anyone to learn about radio, wireless technology and electronics. A Radio Amateur is interested in the science of radio communication.
Q. Do you broadcast like the BBC?
A. No. Amateur Radio doesn’t make general broadcasts. It is for amateurs to talk to other amateurs. Anyone can listen in but the intention is to work rather like a phone call rather than to create radio programmes.
Q. Big companies like TV and SKY are the only people allowed to use the airwaves - right?
A. No. People have been experimenting with electricity, magnetism and the properties of these forces for close to 200 years. When Marconi made sent the first transatlantic radio signal over 100 years ago he was both a businessman and an engineer doing experiments. Ever since then most countries in the world have allocated space so that people can experiment with radio and learn what it can do. Amateur Radio is part of that tradition. Experiments conducted by amateurs filter into the commercial world of radio and many people working inside those industries are also radio amateurs.
Q. How do you become a Radio Amateur
A. You need to pass an exam to get a licence. It’s a little like getting a driving licence. The most basic exam ensures you can use a radio safely and within the law. You can read about our learning programme elsewhere - click here.
Q. Who organises the exams?
A. The exams are organised by the Radio Communication Foundation on behalf of the Radio Society of Great Britain. ANARC teaches courses and is a registered exam centre.
Q. Is the exam designed to make you a radio engineer?
A. No. The exam is designed as an entry point into understand radio. Efforts are being made to give exams a qualification status like an NVQ or GCSE but right now that is not what it is for. The exam tests whether you have a basic understanding of topics like safety, legal use of radio and basic principles of radio.
Q. A mate of mine says Radio Amateurs have to do morse code - is this true?
A. The modern Radio Amateur uses many modes of communication. This can include morse. However learning morse is not a requirement to become a Radio Amateur. The Foundation License does include a practical element called ‘morse appreciation’ but this is not about learning morse code but rather understanding what morse code is.
Q. What is the RCF, RSGB and OFCOM?
A. The Radio Communications Foundation (RCF) is a charity set up to promote learning about Amateur Radio. The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) represents all radio amateurs in the UK when they talk to government or international organisations. The RSGB does have members and joining does give you additional services however it represents all amateurs whether they are members or not. OFCOM is the government body whose job it is to manage all of Britain’s radio spectrum from TV to mobile phones and amateur radio.
Q. Are your course tutors CRB checked?
A. The CRB or Criminal Records Bureau check is designed to see that people working with young people or vunerable adults have not committed criminal offences. The CRB can be a bureaucratic process and often takes a number of weeks. The radio club is not specifically for children. Members can be of any age. Many courses are taught with only adult candidates. During our courses where a young person is attending we encourage parents to come with their son/daughter so that they can support the child through the course and the exam. We do not put our volunteer tutors in a position where they are alone with young people. However we are aware that standards of care are rising and we keep our position regarding CRB checks in constant review.