This page is where we’ve collate answers to some of the more common amateur radio questions that have been raised on our Monday Night Net,or submitted to the site by email. If you have a question to ask, please get in touch and we’ll add an entry.
Getting Started
How do I get started in amateur radio?
The best way is to attend a course held by an amateur radio club near you. The “Foundation Licence Manual” is a must, and you can also get a feel for what’s involved in our short “Getting Started in Amateur Radio” video.
Exams & Courses
Where do I get training?
There are a number of clubs in Essex that offer training. See our Amateur Radio Training in Essex section. You can find a list of UK clubs on the RSGB website
Can I study online?
Yes, we now offer an online Foundation course – See “Foundation Online“
What can I expect from the exam?
See our video: “The Foundation Exam“
I am dyslexic – Can you help?
There are various ways that local clubs can help, and also ways to learn that may help those with dyslexia – See: Amateur Radio & dyslexia
Passed your Foundation?
How do I get my callsign?
Once you have passed, you’ll be posted the Foundation Certificate by the RSGB – this should be around 6 working days after your exam. You can then apply for your licence and callsign on the Ofcom website. See: How to get your licence and callsign
What sort of radio should I buy?
If only it were that easy. You need to think about a number of factors, such as:
- Do you want VHF/UHF, or HF? You can get a cheap VHF/UHF handheld such as the Baofeng UV-B6 for £30, but HF rigs are in the hundreds
- Will you be operating from home, in a car, walking about, or on field days?
- What bands do you want to work? Some of the more basic rigs don’t support VHF/UHF SSB, or don’t offer access to bands such as 6 metres
- Will you be progressing? Sure, at Foundation, you only get 25 watts, but if you invest in a rig with low power, you may be disappointed when you get 100 watts and 1,000 watts as you move to Intermediate and Full
- Do you want to work with data at some point? Make sure your rig supports data,has suitable connectors, and that software is available
There are plenty of other things to think about, and your best bet is to chat to an existing amateur or two, to make sure you don’t make a mistake. Stuck for someone to talk to? Consider joining a local club, or ask for some advice in our Amateur Radio Advice Forum.
What sort of antenna should I get?
Another minefield. HF or VHF/UHF? Fixed or mobile? Vertical or horizontal? Budgets, space, partners, neighbours and practicalities all play a part. We’re putting together a Getting Started Guide on the subject at the moment, so keep an eye out for some helpful advice. Again, talking to an experienced amateur is probably the best source of advice there is.
A possible piece of advice worth considering is to get an antenna that will get you into your local repeater. In Essex, this is could well be the GB3DA repeater in Danbury, Chelmsford. With a cheap 2 metre handheld and an antenna costing no more than £20, most newcomers will be able to get into their local repeater, even if it’s mobile with a cheap mag-mount on the car roof. People are very willing to give help and advice, and this site’s Monday Night Net is a great place to start if you’re local to the Danbury repeater.
What do I do next?
If you’ve got your licence, and don’t know what to do next, here are some things to consider:
- Listening to your local repeater, and when you’re comfy, join in with the chat, call out for a contact, or take part in a net. Before you start talking around the world, try talking to people in your local area
- Get yourself an entry on QRZ.com – Most amateurs have a listing on there, and when you start using your callsign on-air, people will start looking you up. See our Setting up QRZ Guide
- Consider setting up an eQSL account, so you can get electronic QSL cards after you make contacts. It’s free – See our eQSL – The Basics guide.
- Consider joining a local club – you can also join the Essex Ham Community, which is a sort of online virtual meeting place with a forum, chatroom and email service ideal for those new to the hobby and comfy with using the Internet
- Consider joining the RSGB – You’ll get the monthly Radcom magazine, and other services such as the QSL bureau for sending and receiving QSL cards, plus a discount on RSGB books.
- Keep an eye our for local get-togethers, such as club nights, field events or local rallies. In Essex, consider going along to the Canvey Rally organised by the South Essex Amateur Radio Society each February. See our Essex Amateur Radio Events Calendar for upcoming gatherings.
- Above all, don’t be afraid to ask for help, either from your local club, one of your trainers, a fellow amateur (or trainee), or members of the Essex Ham site.
I’ve got my first radio, and I can’t hear anything!
Not uncommon – See our guide: Getting Started – Your First Handheld for some guidance
Getting back into the hobby
I’ve not been active for a while. What’s changed, and can you help?
That’s one of the joys of this hobby – you can put it down and pick it up again – and there’s always something new to learn. Here are links to two sections of the site that might help:
Other Questions
Can I operate overseas / In the US?
- Full licence holders can operate in a number of countries – See Operating amateur radio overseas for more information on this
I need some technical help!
You’re welcome to use our forum to ask your questions or start a discussion. There’s also a discussion group called RSGBTech that may be able to help
More questions?
Got a question we haven’t answered?
Try our Getting Started Guides section, ask in our forum, or add your question in the comments section below.
My license has lapsed many years ago, I have moved several times and have lost all the info, my old license, cert, and morse pass info too. I have my call in the RSGB call book from some years ago. Will this be enough proof to obtain a new license?
best Regards,
Paul Coles ( G0XAF)
Hi Paul. Yes, a photocopy of your entry in the RSGB Yearbook is normally OK. there is a £20 fee. Details and form: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/amateur-radio
hi re pc cloning boafeng etc i have always used the ftdi cables see miklor for me they always work with chirp etc.
programmed a 5ura today,
got my cable and drivers from technofix.
Barrie kissack
g3mtd in devon
hey pete
are there plans afoot to allow a licence holder to pick their own call-sign ?
Yes.
Currently, when you pass an exam, you can pick the last 3 letters of the callsign (provided someone hasn’t already got it.
It’s likely that from later this year or early 2025, Ofcom may allow amateurs to change their callsign to another available callsign.
Hi can someone tell me … is there a chance to do the intermediate exam with Essex Ham ??? or is this just for foundation???
We only offer a Foundation course at this time.
On this website it mentions constructing transmitter kits for HF, I thought Foundation licence holders couldn’t construct transmitter kits
Hi Stephen,
That’s not quite correct. Look under section 7(2) of the licence. This states:
“Foundation Licence holders may also use Radio Equipment constructed using commercially available kits which satisfy IR 2028”
Hope that helps,
Pete
I need to do my full licence radio exam I have my foundation intermediate I need help with the exam I have dyslexia 2e0gzz
OK. There are several ways you can get help:
1. From your local amateur radio club
2. From a course (if one is available) – after COVID?
3. From a friendly local amateur who’s willing to help
4. Self-study – if books aren’t for you, there are plenty of videos online, plus audio versions of the syllabus material from RAIBC
For the actual exam, you may be able to get additional help, such as more time, or someone to read the questions to you.
full licence 2e0gzz
I also need to go over the syllabus for the intermediate foundation 2e0gzz
Several options: Clubs, friendly amateurs, videos, books, slides, audio files, mock papers, or the PDF of the syllabus itself.
my local club is not doing exams at the moment mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society
No-one is offering the Full exam at the moment, as the UK is on lockdown, clubs aren’t training and the Full exam is not being offered currently
I also need help setting up a DMR radio on a ddr licence
Several options for help with DMR radios: Clubs, friendly amateurs, online guides, videos, forums, Facebook groups, etc
if we could talk on zoom that would be very helpful
hi
i am thinking of psk31
using my ubitx i can work wspr with only a couple of cables and no interface. i do not need ptt control cos i just use a switch on the ptt line and switch to transmit when i want to transmit
can i do the same with psk31 ie just switching the ptt line manually before going into transmit mode on the software page
thanks terry gm4dso
I’m trying to get to grips with DMR I am an anolog user mainly but I fancied a bit of digital. I thought I had mastered it all but I’m struggling to get my Hytera PD785 DMR radio to hear all the talk groups that I programmed into the radio and I’m missing a lot of traffic. I’m struggling to get my head around it. I could really do with a DMR code plug that I could clone to the radio that has everything on it.
Hi, passed my foundation a few weeks back, this might sound a bit silly, but I`ll ask anyway.
Can you use a cb SWR meter when testing the SWR on 2m / 70cm. I have a friend with one but didn’t want him to send it to me and then find that it was no good for the job.
Cheers
Andy M7CMI
Almost certainly not. The CB meter will be designed for use on 11m, not 2m/70cm, so you’ll have a mismatch and inaccurate readings.
Thank you, I had a feeling that it would not work, but wanted to make sure before buying a meter.
Hi Pete. Thank you for your help with the Foundation Online course. Fantastic. We all passed. Is it possible to change a callsign once it’s been allocated? Nick M7UTH
Hi,
I’ve just passed the foundation exam (thanks to your course). Is it too soon to start thinking about moving onto intermediate or would you recommend operating at Foundation level for a while first?
thank you.
Can i let my partner who is NOT licenced use my call sign and transmit on my station under my supervision? Im a foundation licence holder!
No, that’s not permitted at Foundation.