The Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club (LADARC) meets Tuesday evenings from 7.30 p.m. usually at Glenmore Community Centre, Thorpe Road, Shepshed - map at LE12 9LU - but see the programme for details of any variations, especially in the summer, and for any additional events at weekends.
Meetings are formally organised with lectures, demonstrations, visits to places of interest and, usually in the summer months, some outdoor events.
The Club takes its membership from the north west part of Leicestershire encompassing Loughborough, Shepshed, Coalville, Whitwick and Castle Donington.
We welcome visitors who may like an introduction to our hobby, or who already have an amateur licence.
The Club has two callsigns, G3RAL and G7RAL. Any licensed amateur can call us on 145.425 MHz FM on Tuesday evenings after 7.30 pm. There are sometimes nets at other times.
Zoom meetings, which started during the Covid-19 lockdown period, are still held on some Monday evenings, and WhatsApp is also used for communication.
The club is affiliated to the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), and to the Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society (RAFARS 4192). Each year, the club tries to do at least one special event activity for the local community and at the same time promote the hobby of amateur radio. It has put on a station at International and Regional Scout and Guide camps, anniversary celebrations for WW2, and at local summer functions, including at Shepshed Water Mill and Hough Windmill (nr Swannington).
Members of LADARC have also provided security cover, by setting up a control station and numerous mobile checkpoints, for local scout groups on overnight cross-country hikes. In the past, direction finding events were held during the summer months.