The Foundation licence is the gateway to amateur radio. The Foundation course and exam that leads to the licence provides you with an introduction to the hobby while also teaching you the required skills and giving you the valuable experience to get you started.

Your Foundation licence is recognised by the UK communications regulator Ofcom and entitles you to take a unique identifier called a call sign. This will be used to identify you when you are transmitting. This is also suitable for the Scouts & Guides to automatically get their Communicators Badge.

The Foundation course takes place locally in a friendly and informal environment and candidates are not rushed. The course usually starts with an introduction to the club for the prospective candidate and the filling in of all of the necessary forms. This is so we can book the exam giving at least 3 weeks before the exam date. We would like at least 2 candidates and preferably more for the course as it makes it more interesting for the candidates.

Most of the training is practical and taught in combination with the Foundation Licence training book to give an easy and relaxed learning experience. There is a small amount of radio and electronics theory but only enough for you to appreciate things like using the correct fuses in your equipment and how to build an antenna to get the most out of your radio station and ensure you won’t damage your equipment.

Don’t be put off by the thought of having to do an exam. The Foundation exam is very straightforward and consists of 25 multiple choice questions which you have 45 minutes to answer. The exam is performed using a laptop and you will get your results as soon as you click finish so there is no long wait to know whether you have passed or not. Our experienced Trainers have had a very successful pass rate for this course.

Your next step is to claim your Foundation licence call sign with the UK communications regulator Ofcom, who are responsible for issuing amateur radio licences. If you apply for your Foundation licence on the Ofcom website, your licence is free of charge. Allow at least two weeks before contacting OFCOM as there can be a delay in processing your examination result.

Once you have your Foundation licence and have chosen a call sign, you are ready to make your first radio contact on the amateur radio bands; an exciting moment. You are now free to operate on the amateur bands, without supervision, up to a power of 10 watts. This does not sound like very much power, but once you have acquired experience operating your radio you will find it is enough to communicate anywhere in the world. We also hold a weekly club net which is the perfect opportunity to practice on the air with people you know.

The cost of the course including exam fees in £45 but this fee may vary in the current climate. The club has a stock of course books available for £5 which is needed for successful completion of the course

To find out more about the Foundation Courses at Lincoln Short Wave Club all you have to do is to complete the form below and we will get back to you.

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