As an M6 for the past 4 years, I have decided to start looking at the Intermediate, which for my style of learning is quite difficult as I honestly have no tech background and still struggle with ohms law. I love the hobby and have never looked back and love QRP field portable operation. Nothing beats getting out into the field with my 817/857, homebrew resonant dipole for what ever band I want to operate, and a good battery and solar backup. Some people out there tend to lean on M6 and 7's as refined CB operators and feel the Foundation can be passed without any problems, and then blame them for blasting away with 100w radios in total disregard for their licence conditions, let me assure you, the ones I have come across as blatant bad operators are not the Foundation holders, but more the full licence holders. There are good and bad in all walks of life and that includes amateur radio.
Great comment. Strange but I have just posted a video on working QRP with an FT817. We are all amateurs at the end of the day and Ican honestly say some of the best operating I have come across is from foundation licence holders. If you have the time and desire to progress then go for it. The difference in the knowledge requiored to progress isn't that great. Remember if we can help0 we will. Stay in touch. Keith
ohms law is easy, draw 2 piramids draw a line across the middle and a line up to the top now write VCR V at the top and C to the left and R to the right, and PVC in those 3 areas V = volts C = current Amps, R = Resistance. and P = power in Watts, V and C as before C times R = Volts, Volts divided by those below = the other
Just took an RSGB past paper and got 18 out of 26 (1 short!) I've been interested in radio since i was a boy. I've done short wave listening, cb and i love technology. I guess if i study it shouldn't be a problem to pass.
Ian, DO IT, study and get your licence. The summer months are just around the corner so loads of opportunities to enjoy radio and the sun while enjoying a glass of something cold. Go for it.
I'd been wondering about this. I've got a history of being able to get decent marks in exams without study. But I've got almost no ham radio or electronics experience, so I think it'd be pretty close to random. Perhaps I should at least try reading the manual first. The thing that puts me off is how boring hams seem to be. I'm excited by the hardware, somewhat repelled by the humans who operate it.
Hey I came here after seeing your comment on DX Commander's video. Good to have another amateur radio channel to watch. I'm American, so I'm not hugely worried about passing the RSGB exams, but I like seeing our hobby from the perspective of people from other countries. I look forward to your future videos.
Thanks for the light hearted and informative videos. I am a dual citizen UK/USA and have my Technician license in the States, but find myself living back in the UK for the foreseeable future. My foundation test is on the 31st of August, Cheers, and keep the videos coming. 73's KD9PBT Drew... UK call to follow soon!
Just sat the Mock Exam on the RSGB site and got 16 out a 26 which I thought not bad for not even reading the manual for a 50 year old mechanic "But we did play with AM CB's back in the day :) Great channel keep up the good work
@@TheHamRadioJunkie All the videos I come across area 4 + years old !! Even my kids 20 and 23 call me a Nerd Cause I got the 4G broadband running and changed the download speeds from 8Mb down to 240Mb .. Does the HAM stuff still work ??
I did my foundation 6 years ago and did study and read the manual quite a few times if i had not then i would not have passed .The intermediate was a different ball game altogether i found the electronics part hard and just managed to pass by 3 points .The mock exams on the rsgb web site were a complete waste of time as well as the Intermediate exam sample question schedules, dont waste your time even looking at these as not one of the questions came up in the exam and loads of drawings are missing .If you are a new M7 then dont wait years before trying to move up get the intermediate manual after you pass and get help if you dont understand a lot of the electronic stuff .Clubs will be back in the future and it might help to join one .Im sure i read that over 2k people have sat the M7 licence mostly due to covid i bet but at least some will progress but i think a huge numer will just sit with the M7 and be happy enough nowt wrong with Qrp operating bit more of a challenge.I am sure the 2 big ham shops in the uk will be loving all these new hams ££££££ selling Yeasu 450,s and Icom 7300,s and they will all will keep the rf power at 10% yea right!!! .Plenty of G,s running well over 1kw .
Experience, SDR only as a toy to play with on an old laptop. Antenna, speaker wire. Managed 17 on paper one. Bit of reading and seems very doable but I'm more of a listener than a chatter 🙂Might be tempted, you never know!
I have some experience in electronics and associated radio. I tried the mock exam before I started studying and fell flat on my face. If you know ohms law and have some common sense, you'll get half right, but there are so many questions requiring depreciation knowledge about the licence terms study is essential. I never saw the earlier syllabus though; apparently that was far easier?
I got 1 question wrong on my Foundation without any revision. I got a pass on my Intermediate without revision. I got 33/58 for my Full exam so that was a fail. This was all without revision in 2020. My grandfather was a Full Licence holder since I was born so I already knew a lot about amateur radio. I now have my Full exam again at the end of this month and I have revised so much and joined an online course but I feel so lost and not ready now than I did when I did no revision! I'm still only scraping by on my mock tests. But hopefully on the day I get all the questions that I have worked on and manage a pass mark
I stumbled into cb 7 weeks ago. Started chatting to some knowledgeable chaps who suggested the Foundation licence. I went to the RSGB web site and took the mock exam...I have no experience of radio or electronics at all lol...I actually got 12 questions right. I then ordered the booklet and studied it for 3 weeks on and off and re took the mock exam, this time I got 22 right. I found a lot of the questions I got right were common sense. I obviously struggled with frequencies and diagrams initially. I'm hoping to sit the exam in the coming months.
For some people for sure off the cuff its easily possible but that purely depends on prior knowledge of related subjects and also how recently you renewed such knowledge. My friend mid 60s recently took and passed the foundation exam coming only from previous long time back 15th edition holder. It took him only a couple of weeks but only after he worked out guessing it wasnt going to get him a pass. From a background of non related knowpedge it could certainly take some months of study to pass it. So much help available from your local clubs and Essex Ham and the RSGB foundation printed paperback.
My BaoFeng/new toy arrived from amazon this week, and like many others got prodded towards the EssexHam course. Bit of googling (like any other hobby) taught me what the buttons do, about CHIRP, repeaters, how to setup duplex channels, tones etc etc I'm 99% sure I could be a functioning menace the moment I press that PTT button. The idea I like about the foundation qualification (and the community that seem very keen to help me) is that it's an easy hurdle to cross to check that I'm being 'civil' to the existing community. I'm not taking the course to pass - I'm taking it ensure I'm (for want of a better phrase) "not being a dick" and disrupting others. To take a hypothetical, if the legal hurdle to play with a £25 radio was insurmountable, I might not have bothered. By making it reasonably achievable and reaching out to new radio owners to help them, I have no excuse not to be part of the community.
i have no background in radio not done any studying just stumbled across this video then went to a mock on RSGB website. Got 22/26... I do have a degree in electrical electronic engineering which might be advantageous.
I am preparing to take the course , and have "passed" a couple of the mock exams without reading the whole of the book and before the course has started so officially I have not studied BUT , having said that I had in the past set up CBs in olden days wired stuff up in cars and soldered BNC and PL plugs etc , and have had have owned all sorts of radios receivers from scanners to HF and cobbled together my own aerials over 40 years . Still I would not be overly complacent about passing the exam , because in the mock exams I tried, some of the questions I got wrong were basic stuff because I had not read either the question or the multi choice answers properly. Some times multiple choice answers can actually introduce the element of doubt if you don't really know for sure and try an educated guess .This is where the course will help, particularly with the licence conditions etc .
@@TheHamRadioJunkie Thanks Keith 👍 Wish I done it years ago but never looked into it properly. Had the misconception for a time that it required A levels in physics and electronics to get into !
Interesting. I think it very much depends on the background of the person. I took the exam for fun before I did any studying and got 18 correct, so very close to a pass. I have a background in computing, some *very* basic electronics experience and used to have a CB back in the day though. I also had previously been doing SWL as a hobby and had read about RF propagation looking into WiFi etc . So if I had only studied the licencing I would have passed.
Studied for the foundation licence, the foundation manual is a must, another book i would recommend is the Exam secrets for Amateur radio. It contains useful information and at the end of each section are mock question for that category. At the end of the book is a mock exam too. The book covers all three licence so well worth the investment. Dont forget online too, the amount of relevant information is mind blowing. An hour a day with your head in a book will pay dividends in the long run. Last but not least, join an online Amateur radio course, most are free and will really help you absorb the knowledge, Essex ham do a foundation course so dont hesitate. If you struggle to retain the information write the question and correct answers down, just the act of writing it you will take in more than you know. Good luck people, dont hesitate, just do it. 73's.
Keith - you didn't say how many you got! I did pass without studying, but that was 1989. I thought it would be a good hobby to take up in retirement, and I now have!
Alastair, I’d love to say I took the test and got 100% but as a researcher I decided to remain neutral! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking too it. I took my test back in 1985 and studied hard to pass the old City & Guilds Radio Amateurs Exam. I like to think I’ve continued learning ever since then. Glad to hear you are spending retirement well by taking to the air. Hope to catch you soon. Keith G0FEA
Have you ever done a video going threw the questions in a mock test?? Would that be aloud?? Or would that be considered helping people to cheat?? Also how close are the mock questions to the real questions?? And finally is it possible to take all 3 tests at the same time?? Thank you for your time..... I am considering taking the ham test.... I think I could pass the foundation without study.... I might try as an experiment..... But I have been fascinated by radio since I was a child.... And I've been around alot of radios and radio people..... And I watch alot of videos about radio..... I have been thinking of taking the exam for years.... But I have heard that they do it online now so that simplify's things...... But is it true that if you take the test online that they require 2 webcams going with 2 different angles?? Seems a bit over the top if it's true..... But I suppose the testers are amateur radio people....
Most people who are considering becoming a "ham" will already have an interest in radio communication (why else would they want to be a "ham" ?) and therefore they will probably have some prior knowledge. I took one of the online mock-exams and passed with only one wrong answer.....I didn't do any studying at all before taking the test but I had previous experience from both my military service (trained as a radio-operator) and CB radio so I found most of the questions easy.
Philip, you may be surprised that despite having prior knowledge people do still think that the test is just a formality. They undertake no study then fail. This video is just encouraging people to think about doing a bit of study before taking the test.
i did the mock foundation test on the RSGB site , got 19 out of 26 ( pass ) ..........without any studying or training .......but , i have been into CB in the past ...lol
Great stuff. The issue is not everyone has prior knowledge of electronics, electricity or radio. I encourage everyone looking to take their test to study. It only takes a couple of tricky questions and you fail. So are you taking the ticket?
@@TheHamRadioJunkie yeah im thinking about it ..... i dont have much free time to join a club , but i would like to get a FL ....10 metres looks interesting
I want to get my foundation licence but I'm worried about my dyslexia. I can read and write. Can't do maths but have 25 years of electronics, CB and basic comms
Don't let that put you off. The exam team at the RSGB will offer you assistance. Contact them at exams@rsgb.org.uk and ask them about arrangements for dyslexia. Don't let anything stand in your way. Catch you on the air. Keith
@@aidanbrennan7389 the Irish exam is different. Much of the content is similar. If you go to the IRTS.ie site you can download the exam manual for free.
Kieth mate, i need your help, can you please reply to this message? i want to get my licence, and i watched prob 20 vids... but none of it makes sense.
It is possible but with a proviso; you've got some limited knowledge about the subjects covered in the syllabus from other interests/experience. I passed all mock exam questions before looking at the Foundation manual however this helped me to know my weaknesses - mostly operating and licencing conditions. Having brushed up on these I got 25/26 in the actual exam, with the one I got wrong being what I would consider a "trick" question where it was worded as if it was what a Foundation licencee could do between low and high tides on a beach - however careful reading would have revealed it was actually about which callsign you use when using someone else's rig when on foot . My background - mostly computers but with a strong interest in early television history and other radio things - I just didn't do anything formal (not even CB apart from the early '80s, chatting with school friends) with the interest until I did my Foundation at the age of 47 (and intermediate 6 weeks later, with a similar pass result). From experience though, I don't think most people would be able to just trounce in and get a pass on the Full exam - I had to study (hard) for that, but I did get a pass the first time I tried (much to my surprise as I was convinced I'd failed and spent the entire time available re-reading and correcting answers). MW0TEP
Interesting idea that i was just thinking about. Always been interested in electronic things and saw some questions the other day and thought i knew the correct answers to all of them. So, perhaps someone with the right interests would have sufficient background information to complete it correctly without specific study.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie I agree but I have seen the SOPs explained in an awful lot of youtube videos but I do sense a different accent on them between UK and US practice. I suspect also the most neglected area of practice is possibly the RF radiation precautions. I've seen an awful lot of videos on hf antennas for small houses. gardens etc and it never seems to be considered yet the RSGB site seems to have quite cautious guidance on it that would suggest it really needs more consideration.
Even if you know the right answer It's easy to pick the wrong one if you don't read the wording of the question or the answer carefully, which is what i found when trying the mock papers.
@@richm2835 yes i've since done a mock and found its easy to jump to an answer but on second reading notice a word that changes the meaning when considered more carefully
Damnation. I am half way through my study course and was hoping for some better news :) . As a recruitment tool the Foundation course seems a bit too much based upon experienced hams knowledge and not enough on a series of rules and procedures to hook new recruits in ? I would give the new licence seekers a very tight schedule of frequencies that they need to know for their own use (rather than dumping the whole schedule on them) together with exercises they need to complete on a continuous assessment basis online on the use of equipment and put all the more involved learning into a separate stage. Fishing is always best done with a well baited hook. Just my two pennies worth . 73's
John, certainly the foundation course may no be perfect but as a starting point it has enabled lots to take up the hobby who may not have bothered. If you compare it to the old B class licence which gave U.K. Hams access to only 144 MHz and above, the radio amateurs examination taught everything. It was very theory heavy and seldom had any real practical elements. It culminated in two city and guilds exams which put a lot of people off. Glad you are half way through your study and will enjoy working you with your new call when you pass, which you will. Keith
Can you pass the RSGB amateur radio foundation licence exam without studying? Well i can answer that one for you with a big fat YES!!! 25 OUT OF 26!! i should of studied!! but ill take it.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie Yes but i am a very long standing electronics engineer with years of experience in transceivers. So getting questions wrong at my level is bad lol.
Foundation license is the new CB radio. The course is almost impossible to fail if you put in about 12 hours of study. Once you pass you are able to run a maximum of 10 watts to your 1kw linear ( This allows for lossy coax ) You can then talk about your twig & swaaar meter while causing as many problems to others as you can. 27.555 will obviously be the calling frequency of choice together with any other clear frequency the wide band transceiver will tune to. There is no need worry about getting caught, Nobody checks any more.
Graeme, I replied to a similar comment sent into Radcom. Some of the worst operating I have experienced has come from hams who have older G call signs. Along with their poor practice was their statements of running well over 400 watts and laughing about it. Conversely I have witnessed some fantastic operating from foundation licence holders. The aim of us 'older' hams is to support our hobby and assist new operators to be the best they can be.
I agreed their is good & bad operating on both sides of the licence spectrum. Some older hams have some kind of entitlement idea that gives the the right to behave badly & ignore correct practice. Many newcomers are just inexperienced & ignorant of the correct way to do things. The foundation should be just that, Somthing to be built on but should be time limited like a motorbike CBT. I have heard good foundation licence operating, I have also heard a few operating using a linear amplifier. Who is going to check ?
Graeme sadly the only people who can really keep to licence rules and regulations are operators. Alas only when operators interfere with others does something get done, but even then it is rare.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie The 10 watt limit should be scrapped as near all new radios come with 100 watt output and to expect m7;s to keep the radio set at 10% is a joke .100 watt for foundation and 200 for inters and 400 for full .The amount of time i here stations saying they are running 1kw is huge and i am talking about uk stations .Running a 705 Icom on 10 watts from my van 20ft from the sea is a great buzz when i get 5/9 report and the guy at the other end is running a beam and 1kw .
saltire546 sadly whatever limit you set people will abuse it. Not to sound like an old boy but with the old licensing system all operators got 400w but only A class licences got full use of the bands. Now I'm not saying I necessarily agree that we have a system like that but sadly it's all gone too far now for change.
I was under the imp[ression that the Foundation and the Intermediate license were a stepping stone for going for the full license, those who don`t should rescind their licence,
Brian, the foundation licence is the entry level licence with the intermediate next. The hope is that people take the foundation exam, pass then find their feet before move on. However there is nothing forcing anyone to progress pass foundation level. I have to say some of the best operators I have worked have been foundation holders.
so by your logic , anyone with a driving license should be working their way to a HGV and PSV license .or they should rescind their driving license .... snob
@@TheHamRadioJunkie exactly ...so many tech snobs on there , they build their own sets from balsa wood and tinfoil and fluff and it gives them a massive head
I passed it today, after two weeks studying . Got 1 question wrong
AWESOME, welcome to the wonderful world of ham radio.
As an M6 for the past 4 years, I have decided to start looking at the Intermediate, which for my style of learning is quite difficult as I honestly have no tech background and still struggle with ohms law. I love the hobby and have never looked back and love QRP field portable operation. Nothing beats getting out into the field with my 817/857, homebrew resonant dipole for what ever band I want to operate, and a good battery and solar backup. Some people out there tend to lean on M6 and 7's as refined CB operators and feel the Foundation can be passed without any problems, and then blame them for blasting away with 100w radios in total disregard for their licence conditions, let me assure you, the ones I have come across as blatant bad operators are not the Foundation holders, but more the full licence holders. There are good and bad in all walks of life and that includes amateur radio.
Great comment. Strange but I have just posted a video on working QRP with an FT817. We are all amateurs at the end of the day and Ican honestly say some of the best operating I have come across is from foundation licence holders. If you have the time and desire to progress then go for it. The difference in the knowledge requiored to progress isn't that great. Remember if we can help0 we will. Stay in touch. Keith
ohms law is easy, draw 2 piramids draw a line across the middle and a line up to the top
now write VCR V at the top and C to the left and R to the right, and PVC in those 3 areas
V = volts C = current Amps, R = Resistance. and P = power in Watts, V and C as before
C times R = Volts, Volts divided by those below = the other
Just took an RSGB past paper and got 18 out of 26 (1 short!) I've been interested in radio since i was a boy. I've done short wave listening, cb and i love technology. I guess if i study it shouldn't be a problem to pass.
Ian, DO IT, study and get your licence. The summer months are just around the corner so loads of opportunities to enjoy radio and the sun while enjoying a glass of something cold. Go for it.
I'd been wondering about this. I've got a history of being able to get decent marks in exams without study. But I've got almost no ham radio or electronics experience, so I think it'd be pretty close to random. Perhaps I should at least try reading the manual first. The thing that puts me off is how boring hams seem to be. I'm excited by the hardware, somewhat repelled by the humans who operate it.
Great video very informative, I just started the foundation training course with Essex Ham, also you gained a new subscriber ;)
Hey, great stuff. Essex ham offer a superb course and I'm sure you will ace the exam. Can't wait to catch you on the air.
Hey I came here after seeing your comment on DX Commander's video. Good to have another amateur radio channel to watch. I'm American, so I'm not hugely worried about passing the RSGB exams, but I like seeing our hobby from the perspective of people from other countries. I look forward to your future videos.
Daniel, glad that you came across and had a look at the video. You never know when you may wish to sit the exam!
@@TheHamRadioJunkie if I move to the UK I definitely will.
Thanks for the light hearted and informative videos. I am a dual citizen UK/USA and have my Technician license in the States, but find myself living back in the UK for the foreseeable future. My foundation test is on the 31st of August, Cheers, and keep the videos coming. 73's KD9PBT Drew... UK call to follow soon!
Cheers Drew. Catch you on the air.
Just sat the Mock Exam on the RSGB site and got 16 out a 26 which I thought not bad for not even reading the manual for a 50 year old mechanic "But we did play with AM CB's back in the day :) Great channel keep up the good work
Thanks for the great comment. I think having done any sort of radio work before certainly helps.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie All the videos I come across area 4 + years old !! Even my kids 20 and 23 call me a Nerd Cause I got the 4G broadband running and changed the download speeds from 8Mb down to 240Mb .. Does the HAM stuff still work ??
I did my foundation 6 years ago and did study and read the manual quite a few times if i had not then i would not have passed .The intermediate was a different ball game altogether i found the electronics part hard and just managed to pass by 3 points .The mock exams on the rsgb web site were a complete waste of time as well as the Intermediate exam sample question schedules, dont waste your time even looking at these as not one of the questions came up in the exam and loads of drawings are missing .If you are a new M7 then dont wait years before trying to move up get the intermediate manual after you pass and get help if you dont understand a lot of the electronic stuff .Clubs will be back in the future and it might help to join one .Im sure i read that over 2k people have sat the M7 licence mostly due to covid i bet but at least some will progress but i think a huge numer will just sit with the M7 and be happy enough nowt wrong with Qrp operating bit more of a challenge.I am sure the 2 big ham shops in the uk will be loving all these new hams ££££££ selling Yeasu 450,s and Icom 7300,s and they will all will keep the rf power at 10% yea right!!! .Plenty of G,s running well over 1kw .
Great comment 👍
Thank you Andy UK.
Experience, SDR only as a toy to play with on an old laptop. Antenna, speaker wire. Managed 17 on paper one. Bit of reading and seems very doable but I'm more of a listener than a chatter 🙂Might be tempted, you never know!
Great just purchased the Foundation manual
Awesome, I look forward to working you on the air with your callsign.
I have some experience in electronics and associated radio. I tried the mock exam before I started studying and fell flat on my face. If you know ohms law and have some common sense, you'll get half right, but there are so many questions requiring depreciation knowledge about the licence terms study is essential.
I never saw the earlier syllabus though; apparently that was far easier?
I got 1 question wrong on my Foundation without any revision. I got a pass on my Intermediate without revision. I got 33/58 for my Full exam so that was a fail. This was all without revision in 2020. My grandfather was a Full Licence holder since I was born so I already knew a lot about amateur radio. I now have my Full exam again at the end of this month and I have revised so much and joined an online course but I feel so lost and not ready now than I did when I did no revision! I'm still only scraping by on my mock tests. But hopefully on the day I get all the questions that I have worked on and manage a pass mark
Yes. I never failed any of the mocks I took before even opening any of the RSGB study material.
It really depends on your prior knowledge I suppose. Keith
Thanks. Very entertaining. Informative also.
Thanks Paul for your nice comment. Regards
I stumbled into cb 7 weeks ago. Started chatting to some knowledgeable chaps who suggested the Foundation licence. I went to the RSGB web site and took the mock exam...I have no experience of radio or electronics at all lol...I actually got 12 questions right. I then ordered the booklet and studied it for 3 weeks on and off and re took the mock exam, this time I got 22 right. I found a lot of the questions I got right were common sense. I obviously struggled with frequencies and diagrams initially. I'm hoping to sit the exam in the coming months.
Awesome, be good to have you on board. Good luck.
For some people for sure off the cuff its easily possible but that purely depends on prior knowledge of related subjects and also how recently you renewed such knowledge. My friend mid 60s recently took and passed the foundation exam coming only from previous long time back 15th edition holder. It took him only a couple of weeks but only after he worked out guessing it wasnt going to get him a pass. From a background of non related knowpedge it could certainly take some months of study to pass it. So much help available from your local clubs and Essex Ham and the RSGB foundation printed paperback.
certainly is an individual thing.
My BaoFeng/new toy arrived from amazon this week, and like many others got prodded towards the EssexHam course.
Bit of googling (like any other hobby) taught me what the buttons do, about CHIRP, repeaters, how to setup duplex channels, tones etc etc
I'm 99% sure I could be a functioning menace the moment I press that PTT button.
The idea I like about the foundation qualification (and the community that seem very keen to help me) is that it's an easy hurdle to cross to check that I'm being 'civil' to the existing community.
I'm not taking the course to pass - I'm taking it ensure I'm (for want of a better phrase) "not being a dick" and disrupting others.
To take a hypothetical, if the legal hurdle to play with a £25 radio was insurmountable, I might not have bothered.
By making it reasonably achievable and reaching out to new radio owners to help them, I have no excuse not to be part of the community.
James, yes do it. You will find there is lots to keep you interested.
i have no background in radio not done any studying just stumbled across this video then went to a mock on RSGB website. Got 22/26... I do have a degree in electrical electronic engineering which might be advantageous.
That would have certainly contributed to your success. Now take it for real and get on the air.
I am preparing to take the course , and have "passed" a couple of the mock exams without reading the whole of the book and before the course has started so officially I have not studied BUT , having said that I had in the past set up CBs in olden days wired stuff up in cars and soldered BNC and PL plugs etc , and have had have owned all sorts of radios receivers from scanners to HF and cobbled together my own aerials over 40 years . Still I would not be overly complacent about passing the exam , because in the mock exams I tried, some of the questions I got wrong were basic stuff because I had not read either the question or the multi choice answers properly. Some times multiple choice answers can actually introduce the element of doubt if you don't really know for sure and try an educated guess .This is where the course will help, particularly with the licence conditions etc .
Good luck with the exam Rich, hope to catch you on the air. Keith
@@TheHamRadioJunkie Thanks Keith 👍 Wish I done it years ago but never looked into it properly. Had the misconception for a time that it required A levels in physics and electronics to get into !
Interesting. I think it very much depends on the background of the person. I took the exam for fun before I did any studying and got 18 correct, so very close to a pass. I have a background in computing, some *very* basic electronics experience and used to have a CB back in the day though. I also had previously been doing SWL as a hobby and had read about RF propagation looking into WiFi etc . So if I had only studied the licencing I would have passed.
Studied for the foundation licence, the foundation manual is a must, another book i would recommend is the Exam secrets for Amateur radio. It contains useful information and at the end of each section are mock question for that category. At the end of the book is a mock exam too. The book covers all three licence so well worth the investment. Dont forget online too, the amount of relevant information is mind blowing. An hour a day with your head in a book will pay dividends in the long run.
Last but not least, join an online Amateur radio course, most are free and will really help you absorb the knowledge, Essex ham do a foundation course so dont hesitate. If you struggle to retain the information write the question and correct answers down, just the act of writing it you will take in more than you know.
Good luck people, dont hesitate, just do it. 73's.
Good advice Mat
Passed foundation with very limited study but do have electronics onc and physics degree, in my history
On with intermediate now
Keith - you didn't say how many you got! I did pass without studying, but that was 1989. I thought it would be a good hobby to take up in retirement, and I now have!
Alastair, I’d love to say I took the test and got 100% but as a researcher I decided to remain neutral! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking too it.
I took my test back in 1985 and studied hard to pass the old City & Guilds Radio Amateurs Exam. I like to think I’ve continued learning ever since then.
Glad to hear you are spending retirement well by taking to the air. Hope to catch you soon.
Keith G0FEA
Have you ever done a video going threw the questions in a mock test?? Would that be aloud?? Or would that be considered helping people to cheat?? Also how close are the mock questions to the real questions?? And finally is it possible to take all 3 tests at the same time?? Thank you for your time..... I am considering taking the ham test.... I think I could pass the foundation without study.... I might try as an experiment..... But I have been fascinated by radio since I was a child.... And I've been around alot of radios and radio people..... And I watch alot of videos about radio..... I have been thinking of taking the exam for years.... But I have heard that they do it online now so that simplify's things...... But is it true that if you take the test online that they require 2 webcams going with 2 different angles?? Seems a bit over the top if it's true..... But I suppose the testers are amateur radio people....
There is nothing to stop me posting questions and answers, many are already given on the web and in the UK licence books.
Most people who are considering becoming a "ham" will already have an interest in radio communication (why else would they want to be a "ham" ?) and therefore they will probably have some prior knowledge. I took one of the online mock-exams and passed with only one wrong answer.....I didn't do any studying at all before taking the test but I had previous experience from both my military service (trained as a radio-operator) and CB radio so I found most of the questions easy.
Philip, you may be surprised that despite having prior knowledge people do still think that the test is just a formality. They undertake no study then fail. This video is just encouraging people to think about doing a bit of study before taking the test.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie at least study the licence and operating procedures if nothing else.
i did the mock foundation test on the RSGB site , got 19 out of 26 ( pass ) ..........without any studying or training .......but , i have been into CB in the past ...lol
Great stuff. The issue is not everyone has prior knowledge of electronics, electricity or radio. I encourage everyone looking to take their test to study. It only takes a couple of tricky questions and you fail. So are you taking the ticket?
@@TheHamRadioJunkie yeah im thinking about it ..... i dont have much free time to join a club , but i would like to get a FL ....10 metres looks interesting
I want to get my foundation licence but I'm worried about my dyslexia. I can read and write. Can't do maths but have 25 years of electronics, CB and basic comms
Don't let that put you off. The exam team at the RSGB will offer you assistance. Contact them at exams@rsgb.org.uk and ask them about arrangements for dyslexia. Don't let anything stand in your way. Catch you on the air. Keith
got my foundation exam on friday i done my course with Essex ham
Have you taken it or are you taking it? If you are taking it best of luck Donny. Don't panic you've got this. Keith👍
@@TheHamRadioJunkie my exam date is friday 12th at 8am
Donny P awesome, take your time and read those questions carefully. You'll be fine.
Any links to mock exam papers? Cheers 👍🏼
Jonny, visit the RSGB website and you can download some from their. Have fun.
Does anyone know if the irish and uk exam materials are the same?
@@aidanbrennan7389 the Irish exam is different. Much of the content is similar. If you go to the IRTS.ie site you can download the exam manual for free.
Kieth mate, i need your help, can you please reply to this message? i want to get my licence, and i watched prob 20 vids... but none of it makes sense.
Take a look at my website and feel free to send me an email.
It is possible but with a proviso; you've got some limited knowledge about the subjects covered in the syllabus from other interests/experience. I passed all mock exam questions before looking at the Foundation manual however this helped me to know my weaknesses - mostly operating and licencing conditions. Having brushed up on these I got 25/26 in the actual exam, with the one I got wrong being what I would consider a "trick" question where it was worded as if it was what a Foundation licencee could do between low and high tides on a beach - however careful reading would have revealed it was actually about which callsign you use when using someone else's rig when on foot .
My background - mostly computers but with a strong interest in early television history and other radio things - I just didn't do anything formal (not even CB apart from the early '80s, chatting with school friends) with the interest until I did my Foundation at the age of 47 (and intermediate 6 weeks later, with a similar pass result). From experience though, I don't think most people would be able to just trounce in and get a pass on the Full exam - I had to study (hard) for that, but I did get a pass the first time I tried (much to my surprise as I was convinced I'd failed and spent the entire time available re-reading and correcting answers).
MW0TEP
I think you have hit the nail on the head. Keith
Interesting idea that i was just thinking about. Always been interested in electronic things and saw some questions the other day and thought i knew the correct answers to all of them. So, perhaps someone with the right interests would have sufficient background information to complete it correctly without specific study.
That is a possibility, although there is still the operating procedures to learn.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie I agree but I have seen the SOPs explained in an awful lot of youtube videos but I do sense a different accent on them between UK and US practice. I suspect also the most neglected area of practice is possibly the RF radiation precautions. I've seen an awful lot of videos on hf antennas for small houses. gardens etc and it never seems to be considered yet the RSGB site seems to have quite cautious guidance on it that would suggest it really needs more consideration.
Even if you know the right answer It's easy to pick the wrong one if you don't read the wording of the question or the answer carefully, which is what i found when trying the mock papers.
@@richm2835 yes i've since done a mock and found its easy to jump to an answer but on second reading notice a word that changes the meaning when considered more carefully
Damnation. I am half way through my study course and was hoping for some better news :) . As a recruitment tool the Foundation course seems a bit too much based upon experienced hams knowledge and not enough on a series of rules and procedures to hook new recruits in ? I would give the new licence seekers a very tight schedule of frequencies that they need to know for their own use (rather than dumping the whole schedule on them) together with exercises they need to complete on a continuous assessment basis online on the use of equipment and put all the more involved learning into a separate stage. Fishing is always best done with a well baited hook. Just my two pennies worth . 73's
John, certainly the foundation course may no be perfect but as a starting point it has enabled lots to take up the hobby who may not have bothered. If you compare it to the old B class licence which gave U.K. Hams access to only 144 MHz and above, the radio amateurs examination taught everything. It was very theory heavy and seldom had any real practical elements. It culminated in two city and guilds exams which put a lot of people off. Glad you are half way through your study and will enjoy working you with your new call when you pass, which you will. Keith
yes
😂Best comment yet. Keith
Can you pass the RSGB amateur radio foundation licence exam without studying?
Well i can answer that one for you with a big fat YES!!! 25 OUT OF 26!! i should of studied!! but ill take it.
Sadly, not everyone is that fortunate. But that said a pass is a pass.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie Yes but i am a very long standing electronics engineer with years of experience in transceivers. So getting questions wrong at my level is bad lol.
Foundation license is the new CB radio.
The course is almost impossible to fail if you put in about 12 hours of study.
Once you pass you are able to run a maximum of 10 watts to your 1kw linear ( This allows for lossy coax )
You can then talk about your twig & swaaar meter while causing as many problems to others as you can.
27.555 will obviously be the calling frequency of choice together with any other clear frequency the wide band transceiver will tune to.
There is no need worry about getting caught, Nobody checks any more.
Graeme, I replied to a similar comment sent into Radcom. Some of the worst operating I have experienced has come from hams who have older G call signs. Along with their poor practice was their statements of running well over 400 watts and laughing about it. Conversely I have witnessed some fantastic operating from foundation licence holders. The aim of us 'older' hams is to support our hobby and assist new operators to be the best they can be.
I agreed their is good & bad operating on both sides of the licence spectrum.
Some older hams have some kind of entitlement idea that gives the the right to behave badly & ignore correct practice.
Many newcomers are just inexperienced & ignorant of the correct way to do things.
The foundation should be just that, Somthing to be built on but should be time limited like a motorbike CBT.
I have heard good foundation licence operating, I have also heard a few operating using a linear amplifier.
Who is going to check ?
Graeme sadly the only people who can really keep to licence rules and regulations are operators. Alas only when operators interfere with others does something get done, but even then it is rare.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie The 10 watt limit should be scrapped as near all new radios come with 100 watt output and to expect m7;s to keep the radio set at 10% is a joke .100 watt for foundation and 200 for inters and 400 for full .The amount of time i here stations saying they are running 1kw is huge and i am talking about uk stations .Running a 705 Icom on 10 watts from my van 20ft from the sea is a great buzz when i get 5/9 report and the guy at the other end is running a beam and 1kw .
saltire546 sadly whatever limit you set people will abuse it. Not to sound like an old boy but with the old licensing system all operators got 400w but only A class licences got full use of the bands. Now I'm not saying I necessarily agree that we have a system like that but sadly it's all gone too far now for change.
I was under the imp[ression that the Foundation and the Intermediate license were a stepping stone for going for the full license, those who don`t should rescind their licence,
Brian, the foundation licence is the entry level licence with the intermediate next. The hope is that people take the foundation exam, pass then find their feet before move on. However there is nothing forcing anyone to progress pass foundation level. I have to say some of the best operators I have worked have been foundation holders.
so by your logic , anyone with a driving license should be working their way to a HGV and PSV license .or they should rescind their driving license .... snob
@@wackadakka3134 I think that was directed at the first comment not my reply. There is no requirement for anyone to progress unless they wish to.
@@TheHamRadioJunkie exactly ...so many tech snobs on there , they build their own sets from balsa wood and tinfoil and fluff and it gives them a massive head