We’re pleased to announce the launch of the HamTrain Foundation Study Guide, a new training book designed to help students prepare for the UK amateur radio Foundation licence exam.
The guide is based on the material used in the popular Essex Ham Foundation Online course, which has helped more than 14,000 people study for their first amateur radio licence. Over the years, many students have asked whether the course material could be made available in a convenient book format for revision, club training sessions and offline study. The HamTrain Foundation Study Guide is our answer to that request.
A practical guide for the Foundation exam
The book has been written with a simple goal: help students pass the Foundation exam and get started in the hobby.
Rather than being a dense technical manual, the guide focuses on the key knowledge required by the RSGB Foundation syllabus, presenting the information in a clear and practical format that mirrors the structure of the course material used by Essex Ham.
The guide covers all of the main topics needed for the exam, including:
- Basic radio theory
- Transmitters and receivers
- Feeders and antennas
- Radio propagation
- Licence conditions and Ofcom regulations
- Electromagnetic compatibility and interference
- Safety and good operating practice
- On-air operating procedures
Each section is written in a straightforward style aimed at beginners, making it suitable both for people completely new to radio and for those who prefer a concise revision guide before their exam.
Structured to match the syllabus
One of the strengths of the HamTrain course has always been its structured approach. The study guide follows the same structure, with chapters organised around the main syllabus areas used in the Foundation exam.
This makes it easier for students to revise individual sections, check their understanding of specific topics and prepare methodically for the exam.
To support revision, the book also includes:
- exam information and hints on passing the test
- a glossary of common amateur radio terms
- frequently asked questions from students
- a 26-question mock test to check readiness for the exam
The aim is to provide a practical companion to the online training material while also working as a standalone study guide.
Updated for the current syllabus
The HamTrain Foundation Study Guide has been created to reflect the current RSGB Foundation syllabus, including the licence changes introduced by Ofcom and the syllabus updates introduced in recent years. As with the Essex Ham online course, the material will continue to be reviewed and updated when changes occur, ensuring that students always have access to accurate and relevant information.
Because the book is published using modern digital publishing tools, updates can be released quickly across ebook platforms without the long delays typically associated with traditional publishing cycles.
Available in multiple formats
To make the guide as accessible as possible, it is available in several formats:
- Paperback edition – ideal for studying away from a screen
- Kindle edition – readable on Kindle devices and the Kindle app
- Apple Books and Google Books editions – for mobile devices and tablets
- Kobo edition – for Kobo eReaders and apps
- Audiobook edition – narrated by Pete Sipple M0PSX
This means students can choose the format that best suits their study style.
Part of the HamTrain training resources
The Foundation Study Guide forms part of the wider HamTrain training resources, which also include the Essex Ham online training course and the HamTrain Foundation Mock Tests book, designed to give students realistic exam practice.
Together, these resources aim to make the process of studying for the amateur radio licence clear, accessible and approachable for beginners.
For more information about the book, including links to the available formats, see:
HamTrain Foundation Study Guide
https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-study-guide/
If you’ve used the guide to help prepare for your exam, we’d always welcome feedback and reviews.
