Licensed hams visiting the UK

Using your radio in the UK

You may or may not have the priviledges to operate in the UK. Please check your license for reciprocal agreements and also visit the R.S.G.B website. For amateurs visiting from the U.S. I believe you can operate with full U.K. priviledges if you hold an Advanced or Extra licence. You can operate Mx/your_call for a temporary period but if staying for an extended period of time in the UK it is easy to pass the UK licences. The x is a regional locator if you wish to use it. The U.K. regulatory body for communications is Ofcom who can be contacted at spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk.

A good site to visit for free tutorials is the EssexHam website. Here you can study for the Foundation licence which will give you access to most bands with a power of up to 25 watts. Limitations are generally for VLF and SHF, you're allowed voice on all HF bands with the exception of 30m. You could probably study for this exam outside of the U.K. and take the remote exam which is carried out by the R.S.G.B.

For the Intermediate and Full licences (100 watts and 1kW respectively) there is a practical element to the exam which is held at registered clubs.

Band plans are listed on the R.S.G.B. website.

Local clubs are listed on the R.S.G.B. website.

University clubs are listed on the R.S.G.B. website.

The U.K. repeaters are listed on the UKrepeater website. Here you can download the repeater listings in CSV format for importing into your radio memories with suitable programming software.

University of Warwick Amateur Radio Club

The Unversity of Warwick Amateur Radio Club has not been active for a number of years. It is about a 3/4 hour journey by bus or bicycle to the Coventry Amateur Radio Society located on the east side of the city. The club has a HF, VHF and UHF station.

The University is within range of a number of repeaters and gateways accessible with a handheld transceiver (depending on location on campus):

Coventry located on one of the highest tower blocks

GB3CV Output frequency: 439.3625 MHz RX Frequency: 430.3625 MHz, FM CTCSS: 67.0 Hz

Leamington Spa located on a block of flats in an area called Lillington

GB3MW Output frequency: 433.2500 MHz RX Frequency: 434.8500 MHz, FM CTCSS: 67.0 Hz

GB3WK Output frequency: 145.7750 MHz RX Frequency: 145.1750 MHz, FM CTCSS: 67.0 Hz

GB7YJ Output frequency: 439.5875 MHz RX Frequency: 430.5875 MHz, Brandmeister DMR colour code: 3

Kenilworth located at my house

MB6KW Simplex Gateway 431.0875 MHz

D-Star MB6KW-B and Brandmeister DMR time slot 2 colour code 5

G1KEA Simplex Gateway 144.8875 MHz

D-Star G1KEA-C

Repeaters further afield but accessible locally depending on location:

GB3EM Output frequency: 145.7625 MHz RX Frequency: 145.1625 MHz, FM CTCSS: 77.0 Hz

GB3EH Output frequency: 145.6875 MHz RX Frequency: 145.0875 MHz, FM CTCSS: 67.0 Hz

GB3ME Output frequency: 433.1500 MHz RX Frequency: 434.7500 MHz, FM CTCSS: 67.0 Hz

GB3XX Output frequency: 430.9125 MHz RX Frequency: 438.5125 MHz, FM CTCSS: 77.0 Hz and Yaesu Fusion