What is Essex Ham?

Essex Ham Podcast LogoEssex Ham launched in 2011. It originally launched as a website to help new Foundation licence holders to get on-air, but thanks to input from many Essex-based amateurs, Essex Ham has been expanded to help promote and support the amateur radio hobby, as well as becoming a handy place to gather and share information.

Essex Ham has three main aims:

  1. Promote: To raise awareness for the amateur radio hobby, and encourage people to take part
  2. Support: To offer help, advice and information to those getting started in amateur radio, and to amateur radio clubs.
  3. Share: To share information about amateur radio activities, clubs and training in Essex.
Essex Ham at Raspberry Jam Essex Ham with Essex Air Ambulance Essex Ham at Chelmsford Ideas Hub
Essex Ham at Basildon JOTA Essex Ham at Galleywood Common Essex Ham at Springfield Fair

Essex Ham is an RSGB-affiliated amateur radio club, often referred to as a “virtual” amateur radio club.

What Essex Ham offers:

Essex Ham continues to evolve, based on suggestions from our regular visitors, supporters and contributors. Here’s a summary of what we do:

  • Monday Night Net: A regular get-together of amateurs, normally on the GB3DA repeater in Danbury, Chelmsford
  • Essex Ham Forum: The place to discuss amateur radio in Essex – our little online amateur radio community
  • Foundation Online: Distance-learning for the entry-level licence, with videos and an online classroom
  • Essex Ham Podcast: Video and audio reports from events in and around Essex
  • Amateur Radio training material: including Foundation slides and content
  • Getting started: Information on how to get into the hobby and get a licence
  • Field events: On occasions, we run informal field events, and the occasional Special Event Station. When we do these, it’s not as a traditional club event, but usually for a specific purpose, or for training & mentoring.
  • Help and advice: Pages of information on various aspects of the hobby

Supporting local clubs:

As well as providing a free service to amateurs in and around Essex, we also support clubs in the area:

  • Event Reviews – Where possible, we visit local events and report on the activity on our site, in some cases with video reports – We’ve covered events for local groups including CARS, DHARS, Essex CW Club, Essex RAYNET, SEARS, Suffolk RED, TAARC, TARG, and several others – we’ve been referred to at the online hub for amateur radio activity in Essex
  • Online Training – We’ve trained several thousand people using our FREE online Foundation training course, which can be used stand-alone, or to support a club’s existing training
  • Training Material – We have a full set of up-to-date Foundation training slides, handouts and videos. Our material is free, and is being used by clubs in Essex and around the UK
  • Support for amateur radio clubs – Guides, resources, help, videos and more
  • Web services:  Essex Ham has provided hosting services and online surveys for local amateur radio groups.

If you run an amateur radio club in Essex – perhaps we can help? Contact us


One of our videos – See Essex Ham videos for the full list

If you have a question, comment or a suggestion, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch

Related Links

Essex Ham – Supporting Amateur Radio in Essex