Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G6Tanuki · 14th Nov 2023, 8:32 pm

Radio and electronics magazines from the 50s through the 70s invariably included ads for various technical-training correspondence courses [examples from 1961 shown below].

I wonder how good these were? Back then there was no equivalent to Tripadvisor or Google Reviews to help an aspiring technician choose the best course, or to differentiate between the good ones and the rip-offs.

I wonder, did any of you here sign up with such course-providers? And were they any good?

John10b · 14th Nov 2023, 9:16 pm

I did a home study course with ICS in the fifties. The correspondence was always on time and the tutor would mark and write various comments on my work, which I had to submit regularly, however there was no phone calls etc, which I can say was definitely a negative, some times I just wanted to ask some questions to clarify certain points. I think I still have my certificate somewhere.
John

G6ONEDave · 15th Nov 2023, 6:53 pm

A Dutch radio station offered a radio course by post some 52 years back. I think the station was called Hilverson. That was a long time ago and I would have been in my young teens at the time.

Dave

G6Tanuki · 15th Nov 2023, 6:57 pm

That would have been Hilversum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_...ands_Worldwide

Joe_Lorenz · 15th Nov 2023, 8:57 pm

Almost 50 years ago I did a home study course "Radio and TV Service Technician" at SGD Studien Gemeinschaft Darmstadt Germany. It took more than a year, was very good. The tutor gave much response. Yes, it was costly but worth the money. I did it while working full time three shifts. SGD is still in business, but no more courses on valved radio equipment, regrettably!

http://www.sgd.de/

Joe

lesmw0sec · 15th Nov 2023, 10:19 pm

I did a brief BIET course prior to enrolling at college. It was not at all bad. I seem to recall that the maths included quite basic methods of obtaining the likes of roots by successive division. Calculators had yet to be invented...

John10b · 15th Nov 2023, 11:54 pm

Certainly no electronic calculators in my days only my slide rule, which I regrettably sold many years ago.
John

G6ONEDave · 16th Nov 2023, 12:01 pm

Thanks for the spelling correction of Hilversum, it was a long time back.

Dave

Ed_Dinning · 16th Nov 2023, 9:34 pm

Hi Folks, I have a copy of The Bennett College "Wireless Telegraphy " course, Vol 2. Looks to be dated from the 30's. Covers the electrical and electronic side of things, from sparkgaps to valves

Anyone want it for £8 posted

Ed

Chris55000 · 24th Nov 2023, 5:13 pm

There's the British National Radio and Electronics School course that was in every Construction Magazine up until 1986 where you built a very simple uncalibrated "oscilloscope" and then you could do experiments with it – I managed to get all the Oscilloscope Assembly Notes for the Mk. II Transistor Oscilloscope and the Theory and Experiment Books, but not anything for the Mk I Two Valved Oscilloscope – there's Members who say they have these, how about scanning them please?

I managed to get most of the B.N.R.E.S. Mk II Assembly Notes scanned before my employer sent me home on eyesight grounds, but they really need my Employer's high speed Ricoh scanner to finish them because of the sheer quantity of them!

(Search "Learnakit Mk II" on this Forum for them!)

Chris Williams

14th Nov 2023, 8:32 pm	#1
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,467	Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. Radio and electronics magazines from the 50s through the 70s invariably included ads for various technical-training correspondence courses [examples from 1961 shown below]. I wonder how good these were? Back then there was no equivalent to Tripadvisor or Google Reviews to help an aspiring technician choose the best course, or to differentiate between the good ones and the rip-offs. I wonder, did any of you here sign up with such course-providers? And were they any good? Attached Thumbnails __________________ I played a blank tape at full volume. The mime-artiste who lives next door complained.

14th Nov 2023, 9:16 pm	#2
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,690	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. I did a home study course with ICS in the fifties. The correspondence was always on time and the tutor would mark and write various comments on my work, which I had to submit regularly, however there was no phone calls etc, which I can say was definitely a negative, some times I just wanted to ask some questions to clarify certain points. I think I still have my certificate somewhere. John Last edited by John10b; 14th Nov 2023 at 9:17 pm. Reason: Info

15th Nov 2023, 6:53 pm	#3
G6ONEDave Octode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,538	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. A Dutch radio station offered a radio course by post some 52 years back. I think the station was called Hilverson. That was a long time ago and I would have been in my young teens at the time. Dave __________________ Quote "All is hyperthetical, until it isn't!" (President Laura Roslin, Battlestar Galactica)

15th Nov 2023, 6:57 pm	#4
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,467	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. That would have been Hilversum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_...ands_Worldwide __________________ I played a blank tape at full volume. The mime-artiste who lives next door complained.

15th Nov 2023, 8:57 pm	#5
Joe_Lorenz Hexode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 397	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. Almost 50 years ago I did a home study course "Radio and TV Service Technician" at SGD Studien Gemeinschaft Darmstadt Germany. It took more than a year, was very good. The tutor gave much response. Yes, it was costly but worth the money. I did it while working full time three shifts. SGD is still in business, but no more courses on valved radio equipment, regrettably! http://www.sgd.de/ Joe

15th Nov 2023, 10:19 pm	#6
lesmw0sec Octode Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Carmel, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey, UK. Posts: 1,464	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. I did a brief BIET course prior to enrolling at college. It was not at all bad. I seem to recall that the maths included quite basic methods of obtaining the likes of roots by successive division. Calculators had yet to be invented...

15th Nov 2023, 11:54 pm	#7
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,690	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. Certainly no electronic calculators in my days only my slide rule, which I regrettably sold many years ago. John

16th Nov 2023, 12:01 pm	#8
G6ONEDave Octode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,538	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. Thanks for the spelling correction of Hilversum, it was a long time back. Dave __________________ Quote "All is hyperthetical, until it isn't!" (President Laura Roslin, Battlestar Galactica)

16th Nov 2023, 9:34 pm	#9
Ed_Dinning Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK. Posts: 8,021	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. Hi Folks, I have a copy of The Bennett College "Wireless Telegraphy " course, Vol 2. Looks to be dated from the 30's. Covers the electrical and electronic side of things, from sparkgaps to valves Anyone want it for £8 posted Ed

24th Nov 2023, 5:13 pm	#10
Chris55000 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK. Posts: 2,760	Re: Radio/Technical correspondence-courses. There's the British National Radio and Electronics School course that was in every Construction Magazine up until 1986 where you built a very simple uncalibrated "oscilloscope" and then you could do experiments with it – I managed to get all the Oscilloscope Assembly Notes for the Mk. II Transistor Oscilloscope and the Theory and Experiment Books, but not anything for the Mk I Two Valved Oscilloscope – there's Members who say they have these, how about scanning them please? I managed to get most of the B.N.R.E.S. Mk II Assembly Notes scanned before my employer sent me home on eyesight grounds, but they really need my Employer's high speed Ricoh scanner to finish them because of the sheer quantity of them! (Search "Learnakit Mk II" on this Forum for them!) Chris Williams __________________ It's an enigma, that's what it is! This thing's not fixed because it doesn't want to be fixed! Last edited by Chris55000; 24th Nov 2023 at 5:19 pm.