The RSGB’s new syllabus for 2019 was finally released on the 15th of August 2018, after 5 years of planning and implimentation.
We have already completed a detailed breakdown of the changes at Foundation (See Syllabus 2019 – Changes at Foundation), and following requests from tutors, we’ve had a look at Intermediate. The new exams start from August 2019.
Summary
The addition of extra theory (dropped down from Full), plus digital content, was largely expected. What’s less expected is the changes to the Intermediate practicals.
Trainers will no longer require a stock of mains plugs or diodes, but may apparently need hairdryers (*), new kits, mutiple HF rigs (or a spectrum analyser), and something to hit an oscillator with (*). Plus, as with Foundation, they’ll need to find significant extra teaching time and a host of new training material.
(*) Note: Suggesting that trainers buy hairdryers, or hit radios with hammers, was not to be taken literally – some people apparently did not appreciate the humour. Apologies to those who thought I was seriously suggesting that the RSGB would actually ask trainees to hit transmitters with hammers. Apologies too to those who were concerned after the comments about “raining cats and dogs” on our group’s net recently – no falling canines or felines were harmed in the making of that point. Pete
Intermediate Theory
Some significant additions, with a lot of material dropping from Full to Intermediate (which we expected), plus new content on digital transceivers and SDRs. If there’s desire, we’ll provide a detailed breakdown, but as our focus here at Essex Ham is ‘Foundation’, this is not a priority for us.
Given the complexity and additional tutoring needed for this toughened Intermediate, we’d strongly recommend that anyone considering getting their Intermediate licence, aims to pass the exam before August 2019.
Intermediate Practicals
Some significant changes here, likely with cost, time and resource impact for clubs:
Removed: “Demonstrate that a diode will only conduct in one direction” (10d.5)
Removed: “Fit a 13A plug top a piece of 3-core mains cable” (10d.8) – Odd choice to remove this one. Yes, plugs are moulded, but us hams use a lot of second-hand kit, or make extension leads, etc.
Enhanced: 10B3 – The simple circuit for Intermediate has been updated. “Battery, resistor, LED, lamp and switch” has now changed to “power source, switch, at least two resistors and two LEDs or bulbs.”
Enhanced: 10B4 – The requirement to “Demonstrate that a transistor can be used as a switch in a simple DC circuit.” has been extended, and now includes “Measure base and collector currents and calculate gain” (A significant increase in effort and knowledge)
Added: 10C1 – The syllabus’s apparent obsession with series and parallel continues with a new requirement to “Measure DC potential difference and current in series and parallel circuits”
Added: 10C3 – “Determine the value of at least two resistors using measured values of V and I and compare with the marked component values”
Added: 10C4 – “Demonstrate that a crystal oscillator is stable when subjected to reasonable temperature changes and mechanical shock” – This took some thought and discussion. Perhaps an oscillator kit being heated and cooled with a hairdryer and Freeze spray, and thumped or dropped (Discussion – See our Post 02 in our Syllabus 2019 Group)
Added: 10C5 – “Demonstrate that a variable frequency (LC) oscillator is not very stable when subjected to reasonable temperature changes and mechanical shock”. As above – Hairdryer, Freeze spray and a thump. (Discussion – See our Post 02 in our Syllabus 2019 Group)
Added: 10C6 – “Find at least the 2nd and 3rd harmonics from an RF oscillator by using either a receiver or spectrum analyser” – Again, some team discussion on this one. If using the amateur bands, this would seem to require an HF rig (or a kit) transmitting on 7MHz, with a spectrum analyser (and of course, we all have access to these for training), or a second HF rig looking around 14MHz and 21MHz
Added: 10C7 – “Demonstrate the reduction in harmonics by using a low pass filter or AMU, measured using either a receiver or spectrum analyser” – Again, requires clubs to use a transmitter, and either a spectrum analyser, or a second HF rig.
Oddities:
As part of our high-level review, here’s what we’ve noted so far:
- General Reception (1C1) would appear to be a progression of Foundation 1C3, so may be in the wrong section
- 9C1 states a requirement that candidates need to “recall the resistor colour code”, followed by a note stating “Note the resistor colour code will be provided”. If the colour code is supplied in the exam, why is there a need to recall it?
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Syllabus 2019 – Foundation Changes Quiz! Just for fun, can you answer 12 questions? Foundation Syllabus Quick Quiz |
Related links
- RSGB 2019 Syllabus
- RSGB Syllabus Overview
- Survey – How has the syllabus review been handled?
- Essex Ham’s Review of Foundation Changes
- Draft Foundation Syllabus – Essex Ham’s Review
- Draft Foundation Syllabus – Essex Ham’s October 2017 Update
Your thoughts?
Please let us know what you think. We’re particularly interested to hear what trainers have to say!
I know this will make me sound like just the kind of keyboard crusader NIMBY that I hate, but after hearing about these changes, I have to speak out.
If the information is to be believed, a secret group within RSGB has worked in isolation for 5 years, had a consultation (but not shared it’s findings), and approved the changes prior to sharing with the tutors, other groups and even the board.
The bulk of the changes are to increase the electronics knowledge up-front, decided by a handful of unnamed RAE academics, in secret.
Questions to RSGB are ignored, or swatted away with ”if you think you can do better stand for election at the AGM”
We will be stuck with the fallout from moving from a radio to an electronics hobby for the next 10 years, whilst the RSGB plays the fiddle and watches the increase in SKs and the decline in new blood.
What a waste
I think the above is somewhat harsh on the people who have invested vast amounts of their time and energy in preparing the new syllabi. Amateur radio is broad hobby and we should not denigrate those who follow paths different to our own.
Having said that, the amateur radio licence provides a clear distinction between those who wish to operate radios with little or no technical knowledge or interest and those who wish to acquire and develop such knowledge and interest.
In summary, if you want to just operate a radio then try CB. If you want a technical hobby which (often but not always) also involves communicating with others by radio, then you should expect to pass a technical exam which is appropriate to the level of privileges granted. It is something that can be tackled by anyone who has the interest and an enormous amount of help and supprt is available.
Syllabi??? Harrow no doubt!!!
Russell,
If you re-read my post, my issue is not with the people doing the work, or the effort involved – it’s with the framework, visibility and context of the project.
You and I will have to agree to disagree on the impact the changes will have. We won’t know which of us is right until the exam numbers are released next year.
I really hope that you are right, and that the changes result in a significant uptake in the hobby, and a reversal of the current drop in numbers. I can’t see it myself, but we shall see in a year or so.
David
Imagine you wanted to take up metal detecting as a hobby, and you were told you weren’t allow to touch a metal detector until you could measure the current in one of the components of the controller inside the detector?
Great for the 1% who may want to make their own metal detector one day, but not for the 99% looking to get into and explore a new hobby.
Making things as is said into an Electronics Hobby rather than Ham will clear some of the Bands
and hopefully cut off power to 20w max.
Ha Ha Ha !!!! Q.R.P. and Ernst Blofeld Strike back!!!
You won’t see a rush of people moving from Foundation this year, you will see a drop off of 2E and M6 next year. The RSGB has just put the final nail in the coffin. I don’t want to build radio’s I just wish to operate black boxes. Bye Bye Amateur Radio,
Adam Hicks
I agree with you totally i’m a foundation license holder and was revising for intermediate all i want is more power for more contacts i have done ok with 10w but would like that little more i myself are not to much into the building side of things just contacts so i guess i’ll be skipping the intermediate until some very later date guess i’ll be sticking with foundation for some time yet.
What about if you are rubbish at maths, what happens now?
Is this really a hobby where I would just buy radio equipment or an electronics hobby which I have no interest in and I will never build a radio.
This has put the intermediate licence well outside my grasp and puts the foundation well below the standard to make any decent contacts at only 10w.
So now we have a foundation licence with unrealistic power levels which discourage and frustrate new armatures to complete failure and a intermediate that will now be well outside most peoples interest and ability.
RSGB, what have you done. It’s going to be a “hobby” for the old boys club.
You will be restricting radio to those that will transmit on the amateur bands no further than a DMR handheld on low power into a DMR hotspot link into the internet.
This is what it is becoming.
I wanted to do HF but with the current useless foundation restrictions and the completely unachievable intermediate licence, for those that have jobs and family’s and other hobby’s that take our time. You are completely turning amateur radio into a part time elitist and restrictive past time.
Well done :-(
Presumably the tutors teaching the courses will demonstarte how to do all the practical things needed before the pupils need to show that they can do it? Isn’t that how teaching works?
I passed my Foundation a couple of months ago and will shortly be taking Intermediate. In addition, I’ve looked closely at the RSGB ‘Advance’ book and find it extraordinary just how much in-depth technical knowledge will be required just to be able to transmit 400W from a boat, or operate my rig abroad. :-/
Compare this to getting a driving licence. How many people on the road today actually have a clue about what goes on underneath the bonnet of their car? Very few I imagine, but it has no impact on their ability to drive safely.
Far from encouraging more people into Amateur Radio, the technical requirements for a Full Licence seem designed instead to deter all but the most dedicated and technically minded from taking part.
I was expecting a radical alteration of the syllabi and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the small changes that were actually made. No great shakes. All this “we’re all doomed” debate is a waste of time. As ever, those who want to learn will. Twas ever thus.
I’m just scratching my head as to how on earth my club will get people to demonstrate the oscillator remaining stable in extremes of temperature and physical movement !! ;-)
The Advanded is tough enough and I am crap at maths. Still passed it though as there were only 6 maths questions in total. The correspondance course via BATH online was the best move. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.
Those who are drawn to radio will put the work in. It is so much more than just black box operating and so much more than building circuits from scratch.
I think it’s generally accepted by everyone (including the RSGB) that the Intermediate does become significantly harder with the new syllabus. Anecdotally, it’s claimed that ten years ago, Ofcom thought the Intermediate pass mark was too high, so dropping chunks of theory from Full would decrease the pass rate at Intermediate.
Yes, you’re right that those keen to study will just get on with it – the minority who go on to get Full will be unaffected as it matters little whether they learn, say, semiconductors, inductance and tunes circuits at INT or FULL.
Maybe you’re right and the new syllabus will be a big hit, with loads more people passing exams and progressing to the Full licence… Let’s hope so! However, at a time when numbers are in decline, many question the strategy of making exams more difficult. If the aim is to drop the pass rate at Intermediate, that means more “fails”, more people not progressing and sitting at Foundation, and potential new amateurs being put off by the increased emphasis on electronic theory.
We are where we are, and in a year, we can look at the numbers and see if you’re right that these changes will have little impact on passes and progression
73, Pete