Alex Discovers Amateur Radio

29 Getting started in Amateur Radio The Foundation Licence The Foundation licence is your gateway to amateur radio. The course and exam that leads to the licence provides you with an exciting introduction to the hobby while requiring an acceptable minimum level of skill and experience. Your Foundation licence is recognised by the UK communications regulator Ofcom, and entitles you to take a unique identifier called a callsign which will be used to identify you when you are transmitting. The Foundation Course The Foundation courses take place locally in a friendly and informal environment and are conducted by experienced radio amateurs, usually at a local radio club. Most of the training is practical, there is a small amount of radio and electronics theory but only enough for you to appreciate things like using the correct fuses in your equipment and how to build an antenna to get the most out of your radio station. Your course will take 10 to 12 hours to complete, and can be spread out over a few weeks or weekends. You can find more details of the Foundation Level Course at: http://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/for-students/foundation/ and of local clubs via the link on the back cover of this booklet. The Foundation Exam Don’t be put off by the thought of having to do an exam. The Foundation exam is very straightforward and consists of 26 multiple choice questions which you have 55 minutes to answer. Some of the Quiz questions in this book are taken from actual exams. Your exam paper is checked by the invigilator straight after the exam so there is no long wait to know whether you have passed or not. For the Foundation licence course exam there is a fee of £27.50. What happens after the Foundation Exam? If you have passed the Foundation exam you will receive a certificate and your candidate number in the post from the RSGB Examinations Department. The next step is to log on to the Ofcom licensing system to apply for your licence. If you apply for your Foundation licence on the Ofcom website, your licence is free of charge. Details at : http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio/ Once you have your Foundation licence and have chosen a callsign, you are ready to make your first transmission on the amateur radio bands; an exciting moment. You are now free to operate on the amateur bands, without supervision, up to a power of 10 watts. This does not sound like very much power, but once you have acquired experience operating your radio you will find it is enough to communicate anywhere in the world. To find out more call the RSGB on 01234 832 700 and choose option 5 for Amateur Radio Enquiries. Our advisors will be pleased to answer any question you may have about obtaining a Foundation licence. The RSGB wishes you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a licensed radio amateur.