Amateur Radio Foundation Licence

Hull & District Amateur Radio Society

www.hadars.currantbun.com

What is theFoundation Licence?

The amateur radio foundation licence scheme provides an easy way to attain an amateur radio licence, opening the door to world-wide communication, via radio. The foundation licence allows access to the majority of the HF bands, for global communication, as well as some V/UHF bands, for more local working. It is aimed at people of all ages, there is no upper or lower age limit. Our youngest student passed at the age of eleven, & persons even younger have attained an amateur radio licence.

If you are interested in developing your knowledge & experience of radio, the foundation licence may be for you.

Attaining the foundation Licence:

The foundation licence assessment consists of a written (multiple choice) exam, and a practical assessment. In order to pass the written exam, and practical, a short training course is usually necessary, in order to make sure that the syllabus for the exam and assessment is covered. It is currently intended to run the training course on a Saturday & Sunday of one weekend, with the practical assessment and written exam on the Sunday of the following weekend. After the exam, you will find out if you have passed, almost immediately.

The assessment:

The assessment is designed to ensure that licencees know how to operate their equipment safely, and without causing nuisance or interference to other services, or other radio amateurs.

Practical:

The practical assessment consists of operating, and making contacts on a V/UHF transceiver, and a HF transceiver, tuning an antenna, and a morse assessment. Training will be given both before, and throughout the practical assessment, to ensure that all candidates successfully complete the practical. The practical must be completed before the written exam.

Written exam:

The written exam is a multiple choice exam consisting of twenty questions, to be completed in 30 minutes. The pass mark is 15 out of 20. On successful completion of the written exam, you will be issued with your foundation licence pass certificate. Everything that may be in the exam will be covered in the training course.

If you do not pass the exam the first time, you can usually have a second attempt on the same day.

How much does it cost?

Currently around £26. (August 2002). This includes membership of the Hull & District Amateur Radio Society for the current year, all exam fees, and the course booklet (optional, but recommended).

What else will I need?

Pen & paper, for taking notes. A calculator is optional, but by no means essential. All other materials will be supplied. On the day of the exam, you will require some form of identification, e.g. passport, drivers licence etc. This will be discussed further before the day of the exam.

Where and when does the training/assessment take place?

Training is usually run at local radio clubs around the country, or at schools or colleges. Contact these establishments for details.

Hull & District Amateur Radio Society run a course, usually over 1 ½ weekends, at the Walton Street Leisure Centre, behind the Brickmakers’ Arms. This venue is accessible by the disabled.

The next course is scheduled to start on Saturday, September 14th, 2002. Further courses will be run as and when required, subject to availability of instructors. There is currently a maximum of 12 places per course.

Who to Contact?

Application is through the Radio Society of Great Britain, or direct to the Lead Instructor;

Mr. J Day, 61 Ancaster Ave, Fairfax Ave, Hull HU5 4QP.

Tel (01482) 493425.

What next?

Get yourself a rig and get on the air! The power & frequencies permitted by the foundation licence should enable you to make contact with fellow radio amateurs from several different countries. If you have any technical problems, there are usually people in the society who can advise.

After the foundation licence, you may wish to progress to the intermediate, or the full Amateur Radio Licence, to enable you to use more frequencies, higher power, and extra modes such as amateur Television. Courses for the full licence are run as and when required, by schools, colleges or local radio clubs. The Hull & District Amateur Radio Society runs courses for the full licence, subject to demand. The courses for intermediate & full licences are approx. 30 weeks. For these licences, the exam is set only twice a year, usually in May & December. The exam can be taken at the club premises. The dates of the exams are set by the City & Guilds of London Institute.

The next course for which there are still places, is scheduled to start on Saturday 9th November, for two weekends, with the exam on Sunday 17th.