Ham Radio In Cork

Skywave Amateur Radio Club was established in 2018 to cater for like-minded amateur radio operators interested in the technical and fun aspects of radio operation. We represent the interests of radio enthusiasts in the Cork region and beyond. Our aim is to generate an interest in amateur radio and to introduce newcomers to our hobby while enjoying the benefits of group and community activities.

We are a non-profit organisation and use our unique hobby of Amateur Radio as a focal point, to interact with the public and promote our hobby in a fun and visually technical way. We are proudly affiliated with and insured under the European Radio Amateurs' Organization, (EURAO).

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Club Activities 

Participating in club activities fosters a sense of community, teamwork, and personal growth. It's a fantastic way to meet new people, learn new skills, and have fun. 

See some of the activities we take part in every year

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend - ILLW

The International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend, ILLW, came into being in 1998 as the Scottish Northern Lights Award run by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group. The ILLW usually takes place on the 3rd full weekend in August each year and attracts over 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. It is one of the most popular international amateur radio events in existence.

International Marconi Day - IMD

International Marconi Day is a 24-hour amateur radio event held annually to celebrate the birth of Guglielmo Marconi on the 25th April 1874. The event is an opportunity for amateurs around the world to make point-to-point contact with historic Marconi sites using HF communications techniques similar to those used by Marconi.

Jamboree-on-the-Air-Jamboree-on-the-Internet - JOTA/JOTI

JOTA-JOTI is the world’s largest digital Scout event on the Internet and over the airwaves. Held every year,  the event connects millions of young people around to promote friendship and global citizenship. JOTA-JOTI enables young people and volunteers to participate in fun and engaging group activities over the Internet and amateur radio focused on developing 21st century skills through Scouting.

WCA - World Castles award

The International Award program “World Castles Award – WCA” devoted to work on the air from castles, fortresses and other fortification works. It was founded on January, 14th, 2009 by group of Russian radiohams, members of RZ1CWC Radioclub under the aegis of the International Organization “Castles On The Air – COTA”.

Club Membership

Membership of the Skywave Amateur Radio Club is open to anyone with a genuine intrest in the hobby of amateur radio and all it encompases and a genuine intrest in the goals of thr club. Membership carries an annual subscription fee.

To become a member of the Skywave Amateur Radio Club bring written application form with subscription fee to any meeting or by paying directly via PayPal choosing one of the options below. (application form to be signed and handed in later).

Our club is run entirely voluntarily and relies solely on membership fees and donations for day-to-day operation. If you would like to support the club, please sign up as a member or feel free to donate. It will be gratefully appreciated.

ADULT

€25

1-year membership.
(inc. EUARO Insurance)
Renewal date January 1st

Pay with PayPal

FAMILY

€35

1-year membership.
(inc. EUARO Insurance)
Renewal date January 1st

Pay with PayPal

DONATIO​NS

Thank you for your donation, it helps keep our club running.

Donate via PayPal

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Getting Started

Amateur radio is a hobby that lets radio enthusiasts talk to each other locally, and around the world. Radio amateurs complete a short training course and exam, and then get a licence to transmit on special radio frequencies.

Radio amateurs learn about radios, frequencies, aerials, the legal aspects of transmitting and some of the technical basics that help with general understand of things like voltage and how to be safe. It’s an ideal hobby for the technically-minded, and is suitable for everyone of all ages, Ryan Morrison EI8KW is currently the youngest Ham Radio Operator in Ireland.

First thing to do is make contact with a local club and talk to the members, they will be more than happy to talk to you about what's involved. Most people study for the exam by taking a short course through the radio club and at home using the low-cost study book and online course guide.

Once you passes the exam, you will be able to apply for a lifetime licence and be issued a ‘callsign’ that allows you to start talking to other "hams" around the world. You will also need a radio and an antenna. You will learn about this on the course, but in summary, there are 2 common types of amateur radio frequencies that amateurs use. VHF/UHF and HF, see a breif description of these further down, and a few other things.

Check out this short video from essexham.co.uk explaining what ham radio is all about.

Check out some of the things you can do!

VHF/UHF

Depending on the height of the aerial, distances of up to 50 miles are possible. Many get started with a battery-powered handheld radio (€30+). These come with a short antenna that can be used over a fairly short range (a few miles), and are typically used outdoors.

They can be connected to better antennas for better range. If your youngster wants to transmit from indoors, they can use their handheld connected to a better antenna, but will ideally want a “base station”.

The best results will come from a rooftop antenna. This will be connected to the “base station” via coax cable. If you can’t get an antenna on the roof, an antenna placed high in your loft is an option. In some cases, an antenna close to a window or hung securely out of the window will work too.

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IRLP/EchoLink/Digital

Using as little as a Vhf/Uhf hand held radio you can connect to local “repeaters”, which are connected to the Internet. This means that from a handheld radio, it’s possible to talk around the world.

While IRLP uses standard anologue signal, in recent years digital radio equipment has come along in the form of   DMR    FUSION   and   D-STAR  . 

While they operate simularly to IRLP the signal and audio is more clean and crisp.

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HF

Radios for HF are more expensive but allow users to talk around the world. HF radios require a power supply unit and sometimes need an antenna tuning unit depending which model HF radio you purchase, some HF radios have this built in.

HF frequencies require larger antennas, which can be as simple as a long length of wire between 5 and 40 meters. Antennas are ideally set up in the garden, but loft antennas can be effective too.

If you can’t set up an HF station at home, you can consider IRLP/EchoLink. Radios are usually handheld, and so need antennas like those mentioned under “VHF/UHF”

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Space Contacts

Using a handheld radio and a D.I.Y. homemade antenna it is possible to make contacts around the world via amateur satellites in orbit or even make contact with astronauts on the international space station.

The ISS also transmits pictures via SSTV which can be received and decoded using free apps abd software.

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PMR 446

Without even realising it you might already have an intrest in radio. Those "cheap walkie talkies" that you bought in Aldi/Lidl/Tesco for your camping trip or just for the kids to play with are infact PMR446 (personal mobile radio, 446 MHz) radios. They operate in part of the UHF radio frequency range that is open for use without licensing for business and personal use in most countries of the European Union.

PMR446 is ideal for small-site, same-building and line of sight outdoor activities. Depending on surrounding terrain range can vary from a few hundred metres (in a city) to a few kilometres (flat countryside) to many kilometres from high ground.

So dig out those PMR's and give a call, you never know who might call back.

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(SDR) Software Defined Radio

An RTL-SDR is a small USB dongle that connects to your PC or Laptop with free SDR software and used to listen to the invisible world of radio communications. From as little as €10 you can get a noname USB dongle, or spend €25 - €500 and select from mid range to top end products.

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Just have fun and enjoy the hobby of radio.........There is something for everyone

There is something for everyone, no matter what your age or level of interest.
Learn morse code if thats your thing or build your own radio transmitters.
The hobby can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it.

You don't have to buy new, lots of equipment inc. radios, antennas, and other
accessories can be got second hand, or even borrowed from the club.

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