Founded in 1937, the Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG) has a long history of being the focus for amateur radio in Ayr and South Ayrshire. Over the years the group has participated in many public events and has helped promote the local area worldwide. In particular, AARG members were responsible for setting up the now highly acclaimed International Lighthouse radio week-end, where, over the period of a preset week-end, some 350 amateur stations are set-up throughout the world on lighthouses and lightships. As part of this event, our local group operates from Turnberry lighthouse and promotes Turnberry and South Ayrshire to a broad international community

Membership of AARG is strong with presently thirty five full members and twenty seven associates. Participation is open to all and there is a broad base of ages ranging from twelve to seventy nine, with both male and female members. The group meets regularly every two weeks, with a programme of member and public activities and educational presentations scheduled throughout the year.  All of the group’s activities are aimed at spreading awareness within the local community of the benefits of amateur radio, and at developing the technical and operational knowledge and capabilities of its members, plus of course having some fun.

Every year we prepare for the delivery of various educational events designed to draw people into the hobby.  We have pilot courses leading to the Amateur Radio Foundation licence examination, which in turn are followed by the Intermediate and Full license training courses. These events have proven to be a great success in the past and we intend to run them continually.

Whilst encouraging new entrants to the hobby is one of our prime goals, the club finds difficulty with various aspects of running these events.  The cost of course is always the main issue, but equipment and other technical and support facilities can certainly be challenging for us as well. Assistance through contributions from commercial or private sources that appreciate the difficulties involved with activities such as these is always greatly welcomed, appreciated and openly acknowledged.

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) forms a focal point for amateur radio in the UK and provides representative views of British radio amateurs to the Radio Communications Agency (the UK Government radio authority) and various international radio bodies, such as the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union).  Whilst the Ayr Amateur Radio Group is a member of the RSGB, it is an independent organisation with its own constitution, management committee and financial structure.

In recent times the Radio Communications Agency (in accordance with international practice) has changed and relaxed the licensing requirements for becoming an amateur radio operator. These amendments were aimed at encouraging more enthusiasts into the hobby, especially from amongst the ranks of younger people. New radio technologies have also helped facilitate these changes. The measures implemented have been successful and have resulted in a new influx of enthusiasts over the last few years to the amateur radio hobby. We now strive to maintain this growth in interest.

Whilst the entrance requirements have been relaxed, there is still a technical and operational examination to pass before a person can be licensed to use a radio transmitter. The overseeing body for this purpose being the Radio Society of Great Britain on behalf of the Radio Communications Agency has developed a training programme that prepares candidates for the exam. This training is delivered by approved trainers throughout the country by local amateur radio clubs, such as our Ayr Amateur Radio Group.

The club has also started to deliver "What is amateur radio?" open days at a local school. This is benefiting the pupils by showing them exciting uses of communications and electronic technologies, and is encouraging those amongst them who are particularly interested, to become involved more deeply with the hobby. More of these events will be held in forthcoming years, and we want to build our base of equipment to assist with the demonstrations and presentations on the various topics we cover during these events. 

A snapshot of our members:

• A seventy-three year old man who has always been interested in radio
• A fifty-nine old man who is interested in Amateur Radio when used in emergency situations and public events
• A man of fifty-three who is new to the hobby and wants to fully participate
• A forty-five year old man interested in the use of Amateur Radio at sea
• Two female teachers (fifty-two and twenty-five) from a local primary school where an Amateur Radio Station has been set up – they want to be able to teach aspects of communications technology to the pupils
• A thirty-five year old man who has become interested through the encouragement of his father
• A twenty-seven year old man who has recently become interested in Amateur Radio
• A boy of twelve who wants to follow in his dad’s footsteps as a Radio Amateur
• A nine year old boy encouraged by his older brother who is a licensed Radio Amateur.

Such diversity is quite typical on a course and it adds positively to the experience over the time it runs.

In summary, the Ayr Amateur Radio Group has the goal of stimulating interest in communications, electronics and science-based activities throughout the local community and to ensure methods of technical development for its members. We believe that the promotion of respectable, challenging and positively developmental activities within the community is our responsibility to assist with, and that we make whatever contribution we can to the enhancement of the quality of life for the technically aware.

The Ayr Amateur Radio Group – May 2008