Alex Discovers Amateur Radio

31 / 40

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:
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
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.