communication

[Ian]

All welcome. I totally agree with Metatron, the foundation exam is just a walk through. Attend the course and they will teach you all you need to know, no prior knowledge or skill needed. OFCOM insist that all license holders are trained and have proof of their knowledge by sitting a formal exam.

Everybody reading should have a go and pass even if they never intend to use the license, the course will extend their knowledge and it really looks good on a CV. I know several employers who give time off and pay for the course as part of their investment in their staff. Probably worth asking.

[Rosesandtea]

If you know nothing, nothing at all about radio, you can pass a foundation in an afternoon. I've seen 12 year olds pass. People like to make the hobby sound harder than it is, to make themselves feel smarter I'd guess, bit like IT. Intermediate licence requires some basic skills, if you can solder already you could pass is directly after the foundation. Passed that if you feel like getting a advanced licence would take maybe a week to get ready for.

It's really not very hard.

I think you're right, Metatron. I really knew nothing and am not scientifically inclined, and passed after a weekend course, even though I had some physical difficulties (pain) at the time. My husband found it very easy (being a scientist and already knowledgeable about many aspects of the course) but I had to pay attention to take it all in, and I managed to pass without difficulty. There was quite a young lad, maybe 12 or 13, with some learning difficulties (maybe dyslexia) and he passed too!

For me, I would have done better with an 8-week course, learning more slowly but I would have retained more instead of learning for an immediate exam and then forgetting everything straight after! We belong to the local club but the monthly talks are about all sorts of things except basic skills and the shack nights are centered around various competitions and dh and I are loathe to interfere and be a bother when people are trying to do competitions. However we should go try it anyway.

We've not been able to afford the kit although perhaps in the new year our budget will stretch to one. We do have a couple of handhelds but haven't really got to grips with them. We think radio will come in handy if other types of comms go down, which is why we went and took the course.