After over five years of work, the RSGB released its new syllabus for Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced on the 15th of August 2018. See: RSGB Syllabus 2019
At 72 pages, this is a large document to digest. Essex Ham’s focus has always been on getting newcomers into the hobby, and our efforts at the moment are on looking at how the new changes impact Foundation, the entry level to our hobby. (See also – 2019 Syllabus Intermediate Changes).
Initial Impressions
A sizeable amount of new material has been added – far more than is outlined in the RSGB’s 3-page summary. The current syllabus has around 130 items, and the new one has over 250.
Some of the changes may present challenges for classroom teaching as well as for online teaching, and will likely involve many clubs and trainers having a re-think in how they deliver content.
Foundation will still be a 26-question multiple choice, but the material will likely require more time to teach, and additional resources to support the practical changes. There will be one less “technical aspects” question, but one extra “safety” question.
Given the drop in numbers of candidates taking Foundation, and the RSGB’s 2022 Strategy goals, the RSGB’s decision to make Foundation more technically complex with a greater focus on electronics, is interesting.
The overwhelming feedback from the 300 amateurs who took part in our 2017 syllabus survey and tutor’s poll, was for keeping Foundation simple. Many tutors and clubs will now be reviewing the documentation to see if that’s what the RSGB has delivered.
Morse / Data Practical
The Morse Appreciation has been the subject of controversy amongst trainers for some time, and the RSGB has listened – Trainers can now choose between asking candidates to take the Morse Appreciation, or a Data Mode practical.
The specification for the data mode practical highlights some issues that trainers need to consider before adopting, notably:
- The specification states that the candidate must “type and send all information in real-time” – My assumption is that JT65, JT9 and FT8, are therefore not permitted. SSTV would be out too
- The QSO must be on-air – therefore requiring another station to be set up using the same data mode, operated by another volunteer
- Setting mic gain and computer levels is part of the practical – which can be a complex exercise in its own right for data modes
Realistically, PSK31 is the mode that most likely meets the requirements (odd that the most popular modes are excluded!), but even PSK31 relies on macros and codes – it’s also a mode that’s decreasing in popularity. From a Tutor’s perspective, I’d personally rather stick to the short CW appreciation, than have to deal with setting up two PSK31 stations, PTT/CAT and soundcard setup, plus the vagaries of Windows COM ports and software setup in front of a group of trainees.
Required Knowledge
Candidates will now have to have slightly improved maths knowledge at Foundation, due to the following two new requirements:
- Multiple and sub-multiple units from micro to Giga
- Conversion of numbers from 10-3 to 109 to/from decimal.
Licence Condition
Remains at 6 questions – but there are 10 additions to the syllabus, including:
- Vessels at sea, Aircraft operation, optional suffixes, testing “from time to time” – all previously Intermediate
- Addition of re-validate every 5 years, Ofcom’s right to revoke, and Ofcom’s right to mandate logging
- Requirement that only a Full licencee can supervise Foundation course QSOs (which will impact training at some clubs)
- Requirement to identify station when there is a change of supervisor, protocol or RSL
Technical Aspects
Previously this was called “Technical Basics”, but the addition of 18 new items here justifies this no longer being “basic”. Drops from 4 question in the exam, to 3.
Syllabus changes include:
- Current in series and parallel circuits
- More on resistors – Conversion of energy to heat, current across all components
- Requirement to remember the RF range (below 30kHz to over 3,000MHz)
- Digital signals – (stream of finite values at a specific sampling level), processed by computers and software
- A-to-D and D-to-A converters
- Primary vs secondary battery properties
Transmitters & Receivers
Stays at 3 exam questions, but with the addition of 8 new syllabus items, including:
- Introduction of sidebands and SSB operation (previously at Intermediate)
- Mic amplification and frequency limiting
- 5 new requirements for software-defined radios including that a “mathematical operation enables signals to be sifted to separate frequency components”, and SDR filtering
Feeders and Antennas
Stays at 3 exam questions. The 3-page summary from RSGB indicates no changes to this section, but we have found 20 new syllabus additions, including:
- Additional technical detail on feeder: balanced, equal and opposite signals in twin feeder, energy converted to heat, loss in long feeder runs, increased loss in higher frequencies
- Antenna radiation patterns
- Polar diagrams for dipole and Yagi
- Directions of maximum and minimum radiation
- More on gain (expressed relative to a half-wave dipole)
- ERP calculation, given input power and antenna gain (dB conversion table will apparently be provided)
- SWR much greater than 2:1 may damage a transmitter
- Addition of SMA and N plugs (in addition to BNC and PL259)
Propagation
Stays at just 2 questions. The 3-page summary from RSGB indicates no changes to this section, but we have found 6 new syllabus additions, including:
- VHF/UHF pass through the Ionosphere.
- Introduces “troposphere” and its position below the Ionosphere
- Ionisation is caused mainly by UV rays
- Introduction of Skywave and the concept of “open” bands
- Introduction of Sporadic E and atmospheric ducting to increase VHF/UHF range
- Snow, ice and heavy rain can attenuate signals at UHF and above
Electro Magnetic Compatability
Stays at 3 exam questions. Adds 11 new syllabus items here, including:
- 5 new items about radio in vehicles including: vehicle management systems, tell insurance company, testing when static, interference from car systems
- 3 new items regarding neighbours and logging
- A ‘plug’ for RSGB EMC literature and the EMC committee
- Use of dummy load for EMC testing
Operating Practices and Procedures
Stays at 3 exam questions. 19 new syllabus items added here, including:
- Meaning of “Centre of Activity”
- 3 items on logging (what to log, why to log, and logging in UTC)
- 2 items on band plan – location of narrow bands, avoid beacons,
- Shared spectrum with other users
- More on repeaters: time-out, reset tone and the rather vague “voice procedures”
- RST code becomes examinable
- 6 items around Digital Voice & Digital Data: Modes, embedded callsigns, checking frequency “in use” by other modes
- 2 items on use of amateur satellite frequencies
Safety
Increases from 2 to 3 questions, and a whopping 31 syllabus items are added here. This increases from 17 items to 48 in the new syllabus. Additions include:
- Earths: non-removal and need to consult DNO (PME reference removed)
- 2 items on fuses
- RCBO – including 30mA trigger level and L-N / L-E shorts
- 3 items on batteries and chargers
- 2 items on tools and drill swarf
- 3 items on soldering (which is introduced at Intermediate)
- 5 items on ladders and working at height (inc 4:1 ratio), from Intermediate
- RF dangers including body heating and eyes
- Bodies responsible for guidance on RF radiation (PHE and ICNIRP)
- Waveguides (introduction and safety)
- Lightning and local authority advice
- 5 items on working portable (inc need for risk assessments)
Practical: Voice QSO
Some minor changes:
- Requirement to tune in to a VHF/UHF voice and data signal (8e.1), HF voice signal and HF CW signal (8e.3) and to read signal strength, all appear to have been dropped
- Requirement to use volume control (8e.2 and 8e.4) appears to have been dropped
- Requirements to use the RIT, RF Gain and an ATU (8e.4) appear to have been dropped
- Requirement to include “location” in both VHF/UHF and HF QSO has been added
- Logging the QSO has been added as a requirement
- As mentioned above, only a Full licence holder can now supervise Foundation course QSOs (Licence Conditions 1B1)
Practical: Antenna Tuning
A few changes here, with possible implications for trainers:
- A transceiver or transmitter plus an SWR meter is explicitly specified for antenna tuning. Many trainers currently use an analyser for this, but now it needs to be a twin-meter SWR meter or a rig’s SWR meter plus a transmitter – 10A4
- Antenna SWR matching now needs to be done on two bands (previously one) – 10A5
- Antenna SWR matching now requires a manual AMU – 10A5
Practical: Station Setup
Some minor changes:
- The power supply now must be mains – 10B1
- Microphone or PC interface is now included – 10B1
- An “external item” is now included (VSWR, AMU or filter) – 10B1
Practical: Morse Assessment
As mentioned earlier, trainers can go for Morse or another non-voice mode (such as data). If sticking with Morse, the only noticeable change is a ‘relaxing’ of the exchange. The wording “No residual errors are permitted” (10a.1) has been replaced with “sufficient correct code must be exchanged for the contents of the message to be understood” (10A1)
Oddities
A quick scan of the first release of the new syllabus highlighted a few oddities. Some of these have now been addressed (since we pointed them out):
- It appears that the requirement to convert frequency to wavelength been dropped from Foundation. It was a requirement in the old syllabus (“use a graph to convert…” – 3c.3), but that sentence has been removed (See 2E7 of the new syllabus). Oddly, 2E7 implies the chart will still be provided in the exam, even though it appears to no longer be examinable. The conversion moves from Foundation to Intermediate (Intermediate syllabus 2E7 states “Calculate frequency or wavelength given the other parameter”)
- “Recall that tuning of a receiver is carried out in the first stages of the receiver” has been removed.
- The dangers of using home-made filters or fitting things to mains wiring, have both been removed – are these no longer a safety risk?
- “Recall the frequency bands for HF, VHF and UHF” appears twice – Questions 8 and 22 (2E2 and 7B2)
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Syllabus 2019 – Foundation Changes Quiz! Just for fun, can you answer 12 questions? Foundation Syllabus Quick Quiz |
Background Stats
This graph shows that the number of candidates sitting Foundation is at its lowest in 10 years. This should be of concern to RSGB, and many feel that toughening the entry requirements to the hobby and lengthening courses to accommodate the new content, may not halt the decline.
As part of our submission to RSGB on the consultation in 2017, we polled 276 amateurs. 66% disagreed with proposed changes to increase the level of technical difficulty at Foundation.
As part of our submission to RSGB on the consultation in 2017, we took a straw poll of tutors, who were also generally opposed to many of the changes in the final syllabus. Here is a summary of what the tutors wanted to see changed:
Related links
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- RSGB 2019 Syllabus
- RSGB Syllabus Overview
- Essex Ham’s views on the changes at Intermediate
- Survey – How has the syllabus review been handled?
- Draft Foundation Syllabus – Essex Ham’s Review
- Draft Foundation Syllabus – Essex Ham’s October 2017 Update
- Essex Ham’s Submission to RSGB: Syllabus Consultation – Changes to Foundation (July 2017)
- Essex Ham’s Submission to RSGB: Syllabus Consultation – Tutor Straw Poll (July 2017)
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Your thoughts?
Please let us know what you think. We’re particularly interested to hear what trainers have to say!
So basically it’s harder. I can kind of understand why there’s been a practical added, it goes some way to relieve pressure on the gaining practical knowledge before the intermediate however, I agree to it potentially causing issues for trainers in that more equipment needs purchasing etc. This could drive up the overall cost of foundation which is in some cases a put off for new interested persons. Having said that, it does allow for activities to be put on at skills nights and RED events where people can have their practical introductions made, ready for the classroom.
Very interested to see responses from trainers.
Best 73s Sarah 2E0ISJ – Suffolk RED Chairman
Thanks Sarah – Need to allow some time for trainers to review the impact, but an increase from 130 to 250 examinable points is quite a jump, and will have an impact.
Pete
Glad I put my Toe in the water of a Hobby (HOBBY) I SAY AGAIN HOBBY!!!!! Last year and started
with YOU(thanks Pete) on line for a pass at Entry level through distance learning (Broken back etc etc) and exam at
ML&S.(Thanks Steve Venner)
Doing same with Wythal Club through Chris Pettitt for Intermediate.And again very gratefull for
opportunity and the time spent by both of your clubs in “encoraging people to get on the air” At 62
I want to get on with my new hobby as is defined! Self Learning! I agree there are basics for Safety
and not “messing around” on bands(Tell that to Italy when a Contest is flooding the 20m Band)
Do I expect NEXT a Full C.W.(I am learning!!) Exam at 30 w.p.m.!!!! to enter– AH!! DER GOOD OLD DAYS!!!
If I was to apply now it would seem too much of a Grind just for foundation and I wouldn’t bother.
Perhaps the”Greys” don’t really want people like me anyway in their Club and perhaps I don’t want to be in such a Club!!!!!! End of Rant M6NQK
Thanks for the kind words Tony.
There are many, like you, who agree that the true learning starts when you’ve got your licence, and that learning unnecessary theory before you can use a commercial radio is a barrier to entry.
There are others who feel that today’s new amateurs have it easy, and too many people are allowed on air when they don’t know how to calculate resistors in series & parallel
The old amateur radio exam used to be a formal qualification, but now it’s merely an entry point to a hobby. Some people clearly feel that the RSGB may have lost sight of that…
Pete
I took my foundation August 2017 but would of preferred to have taken this more up to date one
Will reading the new handbook be a help or can I retake my foundation exam using this new format?
Will essexham be running their brilliant course for the new exam?
Retake?? Its all about self learning through clubs or friends.
Hi Dwarfy yes I do agree I do mix and learn from the older experienced guys this has led me to experimenting building my own antennas
I do Qrp and test the antennas whilst out and about
Gordon
Oh Gawd!!!
Like Me you’ve become an antenna ADDICT!!!
Ideas and examples(I can build that!!!) are great ways to prove or disprove those videos on you tube!! For QRP have a look at “qrp guys” site
Cheers 73
.
Hi Gordon,
There’s no need to retake Foundation. You have your licence, and amateur radio is about ongoing learning, so you’re free to learn as you go along.
We are currently assessing the impact to our online training. Too early to tell at this stage.
Pete
Thanks Pete
I just thought the new syllabus contains more useful things in today’s radio world
I do find experimenting beneficial especially when it comes to antennas so fine, I will keep on and wait until the training for the intermediate licence becomes available
Gordon
Looks like im still stone age so appologies to all that want more in exams as long as it encourages more people to “Get on the air”
Nobody is immune from change so bring it all on for computer aided radio!!
Horses for courses I will stick to Q.R.P. What a Challenge!!!
Otherwise every time on air to be assured of a “QSO” I have a smarty phone!
Lots of changes as a trainer this will be very hard for our club to hold courses. It now removes the ability to self study for an entry exam. I’m now sitting thinking how I will change the current delivery method to suit these changes along with do I really want to be bothered with this needless work increase as a “hobby”
Hi Billy,
Having similar thoughts here. The extra time needed to deliver this may kill weekend and some fast-track courses, and book/online study will also be impacted (esp teaching the new electronics content, which is hands-on in nature).
I suspect some trainers are weighing up the value of giving up their time to deliver material that (according to our poll), most amateurs and trainers think is unnecessary at entry-level.
Yeah but they introduced the foundation to try to get more peop!e into the already dyeing hobby of amateur radio now their trying to kill it again by making it harder to pass it seems a little bit silly to me just for the sake of a few old timers who don’t like the foundation licence holder best 73 M6PDJ
no peter the London wireless club ( a.k.a the RSGB Ltd ) pushed for this because the declining numbers of amateurs where hitting their finances and membership – and by making it a graduated entry /qualification with a relatively simple “in ” they hoped to get lots of new potential members – and revenue too – well the internet and mobile tech came along just at the wrong time to interest today’s youngsters on the whole – as they want instant gratification – not to have to study to get into a hobby that most people in society know little about – or even what it is (I have to explain it or its not CB most times I’m out /p ) – and where virtually guaranteed contacts don’t exist ( unlike Skype – sms etc etc ) – also, of course, there is the question of cost – planning – interference levels etc that can put some off – so lets not lay the blame on the “old timers ” – most of whom , like this exercise where never consulted about the changes because they where not members or don’t want to finance a vested interest group – /company ( who IMO do NOT and never HAVE represented the views of the larger amateur radio community !! ) – so sorry – the blame for the present situation lies FIRMLY at the door of the london wireless club ( aka rsgb ) – not those of us who studied for and passed our exams without the input of help of the RSGB – and who have continued learning and financing the hobby ,likewise without their assistance
G6URM opined thus
There is no doubt the new Foundation syllabus far exceeds that required for an Entry Level Licence but the same was also true of the old syllabus.
The UK has never had an Entry Level Licence that just met the minimum requirements laid down by the ITU in Recommendation M.1544. Other countries have introduced such a licence (with about 7 hours tuition and 20 minute 20 question Rules/Regs/Operating exam) and there’s no reason why UK couldn’t do the same.
Some thoughts on a new Entry Level Licence are at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/june/could-a-new-entry-level-licence-boost-vhf-uhf-activity.htm
73 Trevor M5AKA
Mmmm, very unnecessary changes – and more to the point with no extra reward for the extra work involved! If they are going to implement this making it harder then why not give greater rewards like 50w power allowance for foundation & 100w for intermediate? At least then the extra hard work is rewarded appropriately, After all let not forget you can now operate legally with 12w ssb on CB radio with test/exam requirements at all!!
Let’s not also forget that the three tier system was introduced in the 1st place to address the issue of no new comers to the hobby….. HOBBY mmm interesting point – how many other hobby’s do we know whereby a very involved training course and (for some) stressful test is required before you can enjoy your chosen hobby!! it seems to me that the few remaining old timers (with a huge chip on their shoulders) may have been involved in this decision somewhere along the line, sad really as I personally think we had a lot we could learn from them but it seems they are more interested in keeping Amatuer radio an exclusive old boys club and not interested in introducing new blood, Sad but true.
I personally am currently due to sit my intermediate exam on the 29th of this month after being an M3 licenced user for the last 14 yr or so.
Agree 100% Shaun(Wish id wrote that!!)
Yes at 62 ive been told by a very posh old voice that as a Novice I obviously don’t know my equipment
very well!No advice or helpful tips given, So I cut the contact short as I was obviously not the type he wanted to talk to,didnt wish him 73 either!
An article in RadCom referred to clubs “churning out “Foundation Licenses. “old boys club”to be sure.
Cheers 73 to you!!(sitting my 2eo Nov.)
as one of the moaning “old timers ! ” who took the C&G qualification – ( for it is recognised as such ) let me say this – the “old timers ” of my day thought to go from written to multiple choice was making it too easy – so you are going to get people always saying thus – just deal with it – not worth stressing over
at the end of the day – you are entering a hobby – yes hobby – a pastime – not a matter of life and death or making a living ( tho some seem to have forgotten one of the purposes of AMATEUR radio vis: WITHOUT PECUNIARY INTEREST ) that can cause interference to “other services ” some of them critical to life – so yes you should know a reasonable amount – and anything worth doing is worth working at – and making it a bit harder will maybe encourage some of those “I’m bored with this after a few weeks ” types who stick at nothing from entering – you are after all getting an “in ” to a hobby that can last you a lifetime – is that not worth a bit of effort ?? – AND it still can give you “in’s ” to the world of work etc – to say nothing of how you may find that being a member of the “club ” – can sometimes give you unexpected personal contacts and opportunities – any way just my opinion
G6URM opined thus :
Hi, Brett,
Thanks for the reply, Yes I don’t disagree with you your analysis indeed some things are very important to know like how to deal with interference etc but I still feel I make some very valid points, and have experienced the lack of respect (for want of a better word) on many occasion from the – shall we say seasoned operators, I’ve been interested in radio since my school days and I’m now 52 but as with a lot of guys out there I was put off doing the RAE exam because of the intensity of it, and thought the three tier route was the best way into the hobby when it was introduced, making it harder again just doesn’t seem to make sense at all we don’t all want to build or repair our radios and become electronics experts etc, we just want to operate and make contacts, as I said I felt as an M3 foundation license holder that I could learn a lot from some the older guys but all I got was negativity and off hand remarks, as we have both said It’s a hobby but unfortunately there just seemed to be unnecessary barriers put in the way, I think proper operating procedures some knowledge about antenna construction and related practicals like building baluns, chokes and transformers and an understanding of RFI & EMC as well as general safty procedures are all that’s necessary to know, should you then wish to improve on this and go forward that then is your choice to do so, making it more difficult again will only serve to start the number of new operators to dwindle once more.
As also mentioned in other posts here let’s not forget the extra costs, time and effort the clubs and tutors will need to put in … as I say I appreciate what you had to do to get through your exam and how difficult it must have been & hats off to you for getting through it but I feel the 3 tier system is the better way but should not be so hard one the foundation course as to put people off again , it serves no purpose.
Shaun
The arrogance of the RSGB on this is amazing.
Neither Ofcom, nor the trainers have asked for these changes, and this is clearly a move to pacify the old boy network who complain that the ease-of-entry dilutes their elitist hobby.
Supporting the old guard, and therefore shafting the army of trainers, is massively short-sighted. That the RSGB has such little respect for its volunteers, comes with consequences. Less new amateurs means less income.
I’ve now fully reviewed the document. Our club runs Foundation and Intermediate, and the amount of effort needed to get people through is now too much, and there’s no justification for these changes. I’ll be ceasing training next year, and I won’t be alone.
RSGB’s attempts to justify as ”Ofcom-mandated” are downright dishonest, and ”modernising” doesn’t wash either, as demonstrated by the new electronics practical.
Whoever at the RSGB Exam Committee thought that forcing students to play with batteries, resistors and LEDs, needs to be ”retired” as a matter of urgency. This is a pointless exercise, unwanted by tutors and Ofcom, and nothing to do with radio. Is it there to ”encourage construction”? Sorry, but it’s a joke, and the trainers will have to buy the kit and play along with this. ”What did you learn on your course at the weekend, dear?”. ”I learned how to use a battery to make a light light, and that there’s a way to dim it”. 21st Century much?
Lovely RSGB hat trick: make it harder and more expensive to get a licence, demotivate your volunteers, and make yourselves look silly – and it only took 5 years to decide on that course of action. Well done RSGB. Cigars all round?
Well said David & I totally agree – sure it’s important to have good operating standards, to have an understanding of RFI & EMC and how to combat it, construction of antennas and associated components (baluns, chokes, transformers) But we all take from the hobby different things – I personally have no real desire to built service and repair my own main equipment and why would I when there’s a plethora of nice shiny black boxes for sale at the various emporiums up and down the country? Yes for some I can see the appeal and by all means if that floats your boat then go right ahead and enjoy but that route is not to everyone’s appeal, as long as the important things are covered learnt and put into practice then the rest should be at the operators discretion and not mandatory… as for messing around with bulbs and batteries…. well!
As mentioned in my previous post you can now operate LEGALLY with 12w SSB on CB radio with no prior training or exam required – a whole 2w more than a foundation license holder… perhaps it’s time review that before making things more difficult with no extra reward especially given the current poor band conditions which make it quite difficult to make contacts on a10w allowance.
Shaun (M3 FMG)
It would be interesting to see how the technical part of the exam compares to the level of knowledge expected for an Electronics GCSE? I think we are reaching a stage where the only people that will be joining the hobby are those either professionally involved in it or aspiring to be, which is a shame. I am a G4 of the late 70s era that went on to work in the industry at a graduate level. If I was young and looking for a hobby I don’t think I would choose Amateur Radio now, it would be building robots or computing for me.
The RSGB need to be realistic. Amateur radio is not a main stream hobby and will never be. Not many in society know what it is or care what it is and the hobby will only attract the occasional nerd or someone that already has roots in radio.
There is too much technology available in today’s world and a world where people have limited spare time. Back in the day before we had mobile phones many took an interest in radio because they relied on radio because it provided essential communications and when you rely on something you spend money on it even if you don’t have that money to spend.
You know what I am saying is the absolute truth, Back in the day within a 20 minute car journey you would see base station antenna’s and you would see cars passing with odd looking antenna’s attached to them some cb and some ham.
These days you can drive all the way to Cornwall and not see one car with a mobile radio set up. This also explains why there is so much aggravation with councils and planning because the new generation have never seen a ham radio set up before let alone know what ham radio is and all they can relate a big antenna too is cb which normally has a lot of bad press so straight away they have a negative view.
My son was grammar school rated and is very smart and he sailed through his foundation, The other night he sat on the computer and had a go at the 12 mock questions regarding the new syllabus and he could not answer most of the questions. Being a hobby do we really want to frighten people away before they even step in the door?
I could not agree more if this syllabus was for the intermediate as people are already in the door and those interested will spend time and money on the hobby but there is only a small percentage what will do that.
This hobby like any hobby needs money investing to keep it going, When people pass their foundation they invest by buying equipment. We have already seen with the closure of W & S that less and less is being spent on the hobby. Even before they closed the last few years on a visit there it would not be uncommon to see a quiet showroom, 10 years ago a very different story.
Harder exam, Less newcomers to the hobby which means less revenue, More existing trainers backing out because they can’t commit to spending 3 times what they already give. I could go on but I don’t think I need to.
Why are the RSGB who are meant to be there for us are driving the final nail in the hobby?
No newcomers no new blood and us old ones are not immortal!
Seems we all pretty well on the same”band” here.
Where are the comments defending the changes?
Or are we in for a landslide of carefully composed diatribes in the language of “RadCom”?
That would send us scurrying back to our infant classes where some people think we belong
To,as you say “play battery and Bulbs”!! 73
Sorry,Forgot Reasons for changes will only be posted in the Letters page of the “Times”!!
I have been following this with considerable interest. But what to do about it?
If tutors have truly been ignored, the consultation was a sham, and it was a done-deal before the board got to see it, then that’s bad enough. If this will curtail new blood and result in fewer training opportunities, then that’s Game Over.
Time to for a petition calling for a review and greater transparency? Vote now!!!
Ok a Moral Parable,(Will try and be brief!!!)
1978,seen Cousteau, fancied a go underwater.
When to local B.S.A,C. pool night and found Hairy Diver in charge,expressed wishes.
Into pool for “A” Test.(Deep end 12FT)
30 min of sadistic torture retrieving rubber brick,breath holding,treading water with hands over head
Underwater knitting,Ironing, etc.etc.
Ok you’ve passed,Come Club,Drink Beer,Join!!!!
Right of Passage Passed!!! Becoming Hairier every Dive!
Accepted by Old Guard!!! Drink More Beer!!! Even more hairy Dive Trips!(How much Deco. for Titanic etc.)
Then along came a rival from U.S.A. called P.A.D.I.(look it up) Very little Hair,And worst of all Family Friendly.No “A” Test or like to join!!!!
In water lot quicker!!!
Oh how we hairy Divers Slagged them off.
People could now be “Scuba Divers” only on holiday or when it suited them.
Time passed-B.S.A.C. membership declined drastically
Still Hairy,Drinking more Beer-Who cares!!!
Attention of National Committee-Old Hairy Guard don’t want to move-Then revolution-Old guard dismissed and new training and Family friendly system brought in.
Young Women now appearing on club Nights!!!! Start Shaving but still drink Beer!!!
Club even smells better!!
B.S.A.C. now thriving amongst many competitors and viewed as the best training in the world!!!
Now less hairy, drink less beer but I did benefit from changes.
Here endeth the lesson
Substitute any Club System for the above,but it looks to me that R.S.G.B. is going in reverse and only one outcome!!!!
Cheers 73 to all
I just knew there would be comments about “if you just want to transmit go C.B.”
and here they come!!!
Regarding the quiz question:
When are you required to identify your station?
The correct answer given is: “On a change of supervisor”.
Surely not.
That’s correct – See 1A5 of the new syllabus. Odd, isn’t it?
It makes no sense Pete.
The same appears to be true of the answer to the Question:
Q. In an SDR, what enables signals to be sifted into separate frequency components?
Given Answer is: “A mathematical operation”.
Surely its an ADC, which is one of the choices stated to be incorrect. I mean, it’s not as if one sits around with a calculator, computing these “mathematical operations” is it? No, it’s a device.
Is this some kind of smug pedanticism, an exercise in sophistry? Are these, in reality, trick questions, whose given answers are intentionally ambiguous – even outright wrong? What’s the heck is the point?
Agreed.
3M1 of the new syllabus, taking about SDRs states:
“Recall that a mathematical operation enables all the signals to be sifted into separate frequency components”
Those entering the hobby from next August will need to know this stuff if they want a licence. RSGB’s call, not Ofcom’s…
One wonders why Ofcom does not impose rather more rigour and discipline on the RSGB with respect to these too-smart-by-half abuses – which seem syly calculated to “trip up” those who seek to enter the hobby. This kind of policy in exam design is old school, counterproductive – even hostile – to Amateur Radio tyros. At best, it’s some lame and misguided attempt to “tighten up standards”. At worst, it is cynical, disingenuous and unworthy of respect. Pats on the back, back at HQ? I think not.
BTW I’m curious: how is policy made by the RSGB?
The ADC takes the received analogue signal, and converts it to a digital one (hence Analogue to Digital Converter). This is still in the Voltage against Time domain, it’s just in a digital format which can be processed by digital devices.
Devices usually use Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs) to convert between the Voltage/Time and Amplitude/Frequency domains, this happens in some form of processor. Exactly what device depends on the radio. It could be a computers GPU, dedicated DSP, or in high end kit an FPGA or ASIC.
This is a ‘mathematical operation’ and it does NOT happen in the ADC (though the ADC and DSP can be located in the same device).
Should you really be required to know this to pass an amateur radio exam is a different question.
If there was a change of supervisor, surely there would / could be a change of call sign?
Therefore that would be correct.
If you look across to the Full Licence Syllabus you will see ‘change of operator unless under supervision’ which suggests it’s the call sign which is now changed
73 de M0JKB
I see the logic, however, the obvious exception would be if using a club callsign (under supervision of a club official, perhaps on a training course or field day). If the supervising official changes (loo-break), there is a change of supervisor, but no change of callsign. Another option would be where I supervised someone on my Full callsign, and then decided to supervise that person under my Intermediate callsign – the callsign would change, but not the supervisor.
Specifying “on change of callsign” would be a better catch-all, as a change of supervisor and callsign is pretty edge-case.
Regardless – there is nothing in the licence about identifying on change of supervisor, and nothing in the current syllabus, so it’s an odd change.
Pete
Another load of piffle from the old Guard who come from a different era and still think modern radios use valves, fact is the entire test from top to bottom is a joke, Paul M0DVD has it spot on, I often wonder are the old Boys trying to kill it off so Vodafone can get the airspace ? The RSGB make me laugh, they claim to be modernising but that website of their is awful, the text is so small you cant even see it, its designed for 640×480 res, stone age just like them !
I emailed them about it but nothings changed, terrible.
As a M6 who tried amateur radio who was only interested in HF. I brought all the kit which cost me nearly £1000.
However, with the limited power I had available as a foundation level, is unable to compensate against the significant amount of equipment I would need to buy to operate successfully at the power restrictions.
Because of power restrictions I became frustrated at the impossibility of getting any contacts on HF at 10w or less.
Many of you will say, I’ve being doing QRP for years. But QRP is easier when you have years and years of experience, have a higher lever of qualification and have refined your QRP kit.
As a foundation licence holder having a 10w power restriction does not encourage advancement to the next level, it actually makes amateur radio outside of rag chew an almost frustrating impossibility.
To really make radio interesting to encourage advancement don’t make it harder to get a licence with a power limit of 10w, people will get frustrated very quickly and enjoyment will go.
I would rather have started at Intermediate level and have a fighting chance to get some HF contacts.
If you make foundation harder then a minimum of 20w power seems a more sensible option.
Honestly, a foundation licence is only good to legally use handheld radio simplex at the local fate or to use with a handheld DMR radio with a hotspot linked to a mobile phone.
Honestly, the foundation allowances make it untenable in real world use.
I would like to do intermediate but want to do it online as university, family, work make going to a club every week to do a course an impossibility. Until this changes to allow flexibility for people busy lives, I will continue to be a foundation licence holder that does not do radio.
Make a foundation level at least 20w then I might come back.
Just wanted to add my 2 cents, as someone who’s due to take the foundation exam…
With cheap radios/SDRs flooding the market, an easy process of obtaining a foundation license is surely a MUST. It would encourage people to understand and appreciate the power of what is now becoming ubiquitous cheap equipment…
If costs of an overcomplicated exam and training is far greater than that of a radio, people would chance it, perhaps oblivious to the possible impact they may have on emergency services etc, and we shall have what we have with drones nowadays…..
I feel for those that have been in this for decades, and had to fork out Thousands upon Thousand of £ for elaborate kit and antennas, I do. But being Full license holders, they are still demigods of their domain of expensive RF gear… SO what will it hurt the elite if more of us can get a basic license?