If you’re looking at getting your UK amateur radio Foundation licence, you’ll be required to complete a number of short practical exercises. Typically, you’ll do these at a nearby amateur radio club, in front of a Registered Assessor (clubs may charge for this). When you have completed them, you’ll receive a form confirming you’ve done them, and you’ll need to present this form when sitting your multiple-choice Foundation exam.
The practicals are referred to as “assessments” – There’s no pass or fail, and you can complete these at your own pace – The assessor needs to be sure that you have the basic competence.
Here is a summary of what’s required, plus some short videos:
| Update: During the COVID-19 Lockdown, practicals are suspended and it’s possible to take exams online from home – See Exams and COVID-19 |
Foundation Practical: Station and Antenna Setup
You’ll be required to demonstrate that you can connect a radio to a mains power supply, microphone (or PC interface), another device (such as an SWR meter or filter), antenna and feeder.
You’ll also have to “tune” an antenna. This means moving the adjustable elements of an antenna known as a dipole, and measuring the SWR (standing wave ratio) value. You keep adjusting until a good SWR reading is achieved.
You’ll also need to use an antenna matching unit to match SWR on two bands.
Here is a video of a typical station setup and antenna tuning practical:
Foundation Practical: FM Radio Contact
This is one of two practicals where you get to try your first messages over amateur radio. The requirements are:
- Demonstrate correct operation of a VHF/UHF transmitter/receiver (change frequency & mode, adjust squelch and volume).
- Read the signal strength meter (where fitted).
- Demonstrate a CQ call, making a contact and initiating a change of frequency (making sure the frequency is not in use).
- Make a radio contact, and exchange signal reports and location.
- Log the contact
Here is a video example of the type of contact you’ll be required to make:
Foundation Practical: SSB Radio Contact
Making a different type of amateur radio contact, this time using SSB (commonly on HF). Requirements are:
- Demonstrate correct operation of a transmitter/receiver used for an SSB contact (change frequency/band and mode, adjust the volume and microphone gain)
- Make an SSB voice contact, and exchange signal reports and location.
- Log the contact
As this is more simple than the VHF QSO – we’ve not made a video for this one.
Foundation Practical: Morse Appreciation
At Foundation, you’ll be required to complete either the Morse Appreciation or to make a Data Mode contact. That choice is normally up to the training provider.
You no longer have to learn Morse code to get an amateur radio licence, but many people do go on to learn Morse. To introduce you to Morse, clubs offer an “appreciation”. Typically, this means working with the assessor to send and receive between 20 and 30 characters of Morse code.
There’s no time limit, and no need to rush. You have a printed sheet containing the letters, and can write it down one letter at a time.
The following video shows what’s involved – It’s pretty easy!
Foundation Practical: Data Mode Contact
At Foundation, you’ll be required to complete either the Morse Appreciation or to make a Data Mode contact. That choice is normally up to the training provider.
This involves having a two-way typed contact using a computer that’s connected to a radio. Requirements are:
- Tune the radio and computer to the correct frequency
- Selecting the right mode
- Setting the mic gain and computer audio levels
- A typed two-way exchange of callsign, signal report and location
(Video coming soon)
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I found this course very well presented now I am going to find a club to do my practicals and my exam.
I am disabled with limited movement at present. I live in Downend, east Bristol. What would be my best approache towards the Foundation Course and exam please?
JH
Hi John,
First off, it makes sense to contact one of the clubs in your area – you’ll likely need their help sorting out the practicals and an exam session.
See https://thersgb.org/services/clubfinder/ for your nearest clubs.
You’ll need to learn the exam material, which you can do with the help of a club, or through self-study (online course, books, etc)
Does that help?
Pete
South Bristol arc meets thurs in knowle , look under south bristol amateur radio club on net for QTH etc 🙂
I am a lorry driver and away from home 6 days a week, I would like to do my licence on line , I live in cwmbran, s. Wales. Is there a way of doing this please.
Hi. You can study online (and take mock tests, etc), but the practicals need to be supervised by an assessor, and the exams have to be sat at an exam centre.
Hi ,
i find this all very daunting and scary with all the stuff that i will need to know and learn , i have a really poor memory and it scares me , also i’m afraid to go out and meet people and especially don’t like being in groups hence why i want to learn ham radio so i can speak to other people , how would you suggest i get through this and learn it all , cb was a lot easier hahahaha
Thanks
Hi James,
There are several options:
1. Find a friendly amateur that can help you on a one-to-one basis
2. Go to a local club – I appreciate you may not like large groups, but some clubs only train 2-3 people at a time
3. Study yourself at home – You can use the RSGB book to read up on the material, take our online course, do online mock tests, or just watch our videos to see what’s involved.
Foundation is pretty straightforward, and the practicals are pretty easy.
Perhaps have a look at some of the videos, to see if it’s for you:
https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online-resources/
Any questions? Please ask.
Pete
I have registered for the on line foundation course. When will l get the first information email sat 6 January 2018 thanks
Hi Alan,
No record of your registration on the system for your email address. Did you complete the registration form?
https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/foundation-online/
Pete
can’t wait to get started what do i learn
Hi Alan,
Take a look at our video to get a feel for the sort of things you’ll learn as part of the Foundation licence course: https://www.essexham.co.uk/how-to-become-a-ham
Please help me out with morse code class and pratice test .within 35 miles of great Yarmouth Norfolk
Hi Rikki. Go to https://thersgb.org/services/clubfinder/ to find out which clubs can help with practicals and exams. Pete
What a fabulous website
I am coming back to Amateur Radio after a 45 year break. I never took my licence but have been involved in electronics for most of my life.
I am only interested CW and have been able to read/send at 15wpm although I will need to brush up a little! Please could you confirm that I have got these licencing facts correct.
To obtain a foundation licence (with the aim of communicating via morse code) I need:
1) Practical assessment
2) Morse appreciation
3) Multiple choice exam pass
Do I need a further morse test?
I live about 9 miles south of Newmarket.
Many thanks in advance
Ted Hayton
Hi Ted,
Welcome back. To answer your question, no, you do not need a Morse test. There are 5 practical assessments (VHF radio, HF radio, station setup, dipole tuning, and Morse appreciation), plus a 26-question multiple choice theory exam.
Pete
I contacted my local club who told me i have to do all my course work again in order for them to let me sit the exam at their club. Which has down heartened me so much.
Hi Abbie,
It’s the same material, so I don’t see why they’d do this. Which club was it, and what reason did they give?
Pete
Hello.
I plan to take the Foundation practical assessments and exam soon. I’ve studied the Foundation Licence Manual and I think I’ll pass the exam without any problem. It’s the practical assessments that I’m concerned about because I don’t have any “hands-on” amateur radio experience. Are the assessments really not pass/fail? If I’m reasonably technically astute, should I be able to complete the assessments satisfactorily without any previous experience of the equipment? If I got something wrong, would the assessor tell me what’s wrong and allow me to repeat it?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Phillip,
The practicals at Foundation are nothing to worry about. No experience is necessary, and the assessor will talk you through what needs to be done. Yes, you can repeat it during the session.
I am a cruising yachtsman at present in New Zealand. I regularly use SSB radio nets and have a maritime long range certificate. Is it possible to qualify for a ham licence totally on line or do I have to find a local assessor? I am British but do not expect to be back in the U.K. for a few years.
During the COVID-19, practicals have been suspended and you can take online Foundation exams. As Foundation is a UK-only exam and you’re not going to be in the UK for some years, I suspect it won’t be much use. More information here: https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/coronavirus/