There was an interesting discussion thread rumbling away in the Unofficial RSGB Members Facebook Group recently that I thought I’d share with you. As always, comments in the section below would be very welcome, if you’re interested in training.
The topic was the Foundation exam, asking “Why do so many people fail?”
Looking at the most recent numbers, 1,475 people passed Foundation in 2015, with a pass rate of 84.5%. A pass means completing the Foundation practicals, and getting 19 or higher in a 26 question multiple choice test. So why, in 2015, did 15% (over 330 people) fail?
One poster in the Facebook group has suggested that it could be for a combination of reasons: Perhaps some candidates lack the ability, fail to put in the study required, or stuck in the ways and habits of CB? Alternatively, could it be that some clubs failing with the level of training provided?
It’s led to some lively, and ongoing, debate. I’ve only been in the hobby for 6 years, and for 5 of those years, I’ve been involved in training. I’ve already had my say on Facebook, and thought I’d share a few thoughts here. They’re a little random, so please bear with me.
Why do 15% fail?
Perhaps some of the suggested reasons are true, and in my time as a trainer, I’ve seen people walk away from Foundation without pass. There are lots of possible reasons, including:
- Lack of preparation: I run an online Foundation course, and it’s clear that with effort, comes reward. I’ve seen candidates shoot through what’s intended to be a 5-hour course in under an hour, then spectacularly fail the mock at the end. The content at Foundation is actually pretty basic, but you do need to review all of the material, and try a few mocks to get a feel for the wording and style of the questions
- Nerves: I took my exam aged 40, which is “young” in ham radio circles. For many sitting their Foundation, they’ve not sat an exam since school
- Over-confidence: More rare, but still an issue. When I got started in amateur radio, I was lucky that I’d had a good grounding. I’d done some basic electronics, had worked in broadcast radio, and had dabbled with CB in the 80s. Much of the syllabus was familiar. That could have easily made me over-confident, and likely to fail due to the weighing of the questions towards the ham radio licensing rules, which were new to me, and made up 9 of the 26 marks.
It ain’t like it used to be…
This is a position I’ve seen mentioned many a time. Until the early 2000s, the way to get your licence was the RAE, the Radio Amateur Exam. These were held up and down the country twice a year at City & Guilds examination centres. As I understand it, you’d self-study using books, attend up to six months of evening classes, or learn with the help of a mentor or radio club. The paper was multiple choice, and it was all theory – no practicals.
The heydey for the RAE was in the early 1980s (perhaps due to interest sparked by the CB boom?). In 1982, 8,476 people passed. Happy days.
Fast forward twenty years to 2002 and the world had changed. Mobile phones and home Internet were common, making personal and portable communication much easier. In 2002, only 366 people got an amateur radio licence – a very significant reduction.
Something clearly had to be done, and so was born the three-tier Foundation > Intermediate > Full scheme that we still use today.
As an aside – imagine if that hadn’t happened? 366 people is not a lot, and over the next 10 years, we’d see the adoption of smartphones, Skype, social media and the mobile Internet – all comms gamechangers. Working on the same scale, we’d be looking, ten years on, at potentially under 50 new amateurs a year.
The syllabus changed, and we now have to do practicals. Today, to get started, candidates have to build a station, make some QSOs, tune a dipole and try some basic Morse. To get over 10 watts, they have to demonstrate their ability to solder safely, make a patch lead, construct a kit, use a multimeter and calibrate a VFO in front of an assessor. Far more hands-on than the RAE, and much of the practical stuff is of actual use to an active amateur.
Comment has been made that the supply of reference material (such as the band plan, and in the Full licence, a list of common formulas and a copy of the full Ofcom licence) in some way “dumbs down” the process of becoming a ham. In the RAE days, it seems that you had to hold this little lot in your head- although how anyone could reasonably be expected to memorise the fine detail of the frequency schedule and band plans.
The US exam
Those of us in the UK may be interested in getting a feel for how our exams compare to those in another country. This is an eye-opener. I took my US Technician (entry-level) exam at the RSGB convention a couple of years back. Boy – what a difference. No practicals, half the price of the UK exam, and a lower pass mark. Instead of 26 questions, there are 35, but all of the answers are publicly available. Not being familiar with the FCC licence conditions, I downloaded an app that steps through all 400 questions as a huge mock. The ones I got wrong would come round again until I got them right.
I took my US Technician (entry-level) exam at the RSGB convention a couple of years back. Boy – what a difference. No practicals, half the price of the UK exam, and a lower pass mark. Instead of 26 questions, there are 35, but all of the answers are publicly available. Not being familiar with the FCC licence conditions, I downloaded an app that steps through all 400 questions as a huge mock. The ones I got wrong would come round again, until I’d memorised the answers. It’s possible to pass by remembering answers, with no actual understanding of the material.
I sat my exam and the paper was marked with me in the room. Unsurprisingly, I passed, and was handed the paper for the next level up, General. I’d not studied for this one, but winged it, and got a pass. I was then handed the paper for the equivalent of our full (they call it Extra). This I failed. Not a problem, as you can do an instant, and free, resit. In fact, for the single fee, you can take the exam over and over again in that same session, until you pass.
How different to the UK structure…
Did I mention the power limitation? At entry-level in the UK, we get 10 watts on 2 meters. In the US, entry level is a maximum of 1500 watts on 2 meters. At entry-level, you can’t exceed 200 watts on HF in the US. Scare yourself with a look at the ARRL Frequency Allocations.
Summary
In conclusion, I feel we have a pretty robust system. If we’d stuck with a six-month RAE, there’d be no-one new in the hobby. Today, at Foundation, we’re asking students to demonstrate basic competency with QSOs, station construction and antenna tuning – something which didn’t happen with the old RAE, and doesn’t happen in many other countries.
Yes, Foundation isn’t perfect, and there’s a strong argument for swapping the Morse appreciation for a different practical – but Foundation is seeing a lot of newcomers get into the hobby. Generally, the material you need to learn at Foundation is pretty straightforward and doesn’t present many with too much of a challenge. For me, Foundation seems about right, and the upcoming RSGB syllabus review will hopefully iron out a few of the minor issues reported by some of the tutors.
I’d love to get your thoughts on Foundation, and how well it’s working for amateur radio today. Please add a comment below…
Pete M0PSX
As you know I recently passed my foundation exam, I think that the practicals were/are ideal, the Morse is what I personally think of as a great practical. If I go back to the time when I first became interested when I was given a radio and yes the days of Tony Hancock I did not want to take the exam because I knew full well that the Morse would let me down big time, however technology has changed all of that. You can now get apps for the PC, Smartphone, Tablet etc to aid with learning (at your very own speed) and you actually get the chance to try your hand at it in the practicals. 2M and HF contacts are extremely important as is setting up an antenna and station. I was lucky I knew a lot about patch leads, inputs and outputs, and because of Hamsphere I was quite used to chatting over the airwaves, however the 2M and HF contacts are still an invaluable asset to the practicals. With regards to the questions I felt that what was asked were extremely important issues, okay a couple of questions I thought “where did that come from, I never read that” but for a station that is only legally allowed to transmit upto 10 Watts of power the questions were totally relevent.
I have heard people saying that the Foundation is not a real licence and that shall we say “older hams” won’t talk to us but they must remember this, For anyone to become a Full licence holder they have to go through two other stages, that is obligatory. Foundation might not be perfect but it is key to anyone coming into the hobby.
I passed foundation April 2016, is it ‘too easy’?…I think not as many have failed and I really have to presume this is down to lack of study due to some saying it is an exam that 10 year olds pass with ease although my own ‘problem’ was multi choice answers, luckily I had seen multi choice before so knew what to expect and made sure I did plenty of mock tests to get used to how the questions would be laid out (something I tell everyone to do if they are thinking of taking the foundation), there is a lot more to the exam than just reading the book, especially for some older candidates who have never seen multi choice.
Secondly, although it benefits us by offering all bands I do feel that the foundation should be a little more restrictive, maybe offering the 2/70 along with the 10 meter band in which case the 10 watts power would be more than ideal…I think this would help the 2/70 bands to get more users and add an extra incentive to move to intermediate which could offer all bands with the 50 watts allowed.
I think the exam is really quite easy. The 15% fail rate in my opinion is a combination of lack of preparation, and perhaps a percentage caused by those with other learning requirements that can not be adequately met by the current training system. 85% is a high pass rate. Compare this with the 45% pass rate of the driving test. We don’t hear anything regarding the driving test being too hard though, do we? For obvious reasons, it is hard, because lowering standards will cost lives. However, no one will die (hopefully) by not being trained enough to use a low power radio, granted, but there’s still no reason to suggest the foundation is too hard, or even hard at all: Young children pass it regularly. It’s not difficult. It’s unfortunate that 15% do not pass, but so what? Just do it again… study harder… read more. If you’re genuinely passionate about radio, then you’ll pass. If not, you won’t, but then do we really want operators that aren’t really bothered about radio on the radio?
I agree with M6GYS’s point however: It gives too much, too soon, and doesn’t provide much in the way of inspiration to progress. Too many band privileges for my liking. Let’s be honest, if you can use almost every popular band on a foundation license, where’s the incentive if you think you’re going to find it hard to achieve the full license? The power limitation is a joke – far too many just abuse that, and there’s no way to police it. Band restrictions however, and breaches of those privileges would be obvious when they occur.
The RSGB are just worried about scaring people away and keeping numbers (and hence subscriptions) up. Personally I don’t see why the FL shouldn’t be restricted to above 30MHz like the old B license used to be. You’ll get on the air; you’ll get experience, and you’ll learn a great deal while studying for the next step.
The problem, ultimately, is everyone wants everything NOW!… no one’s prepared for the long haul any more.
When the FL first came out as m3 & 10w with hf access It was a complete insult and pisstake to full class B licence holders restricted to above 30MHz & above and the Rsgb let this go on for a good few years before letting us on hf new people were doing FL & getting on hf with 10w while us full class b’s stuck on vhf & to had further insult had to go do a FL to use hf at 10w this is the kind of stupidity that goes on in this hobby because common sense doesn’t always grow in the rsgb garden so a very sore subject the old class b licence
What is this nonsence from class b licence holders sour grapes if you ask me, i hold a foundation licence and would love to move up the food chain, but due to major qrm on the hf bands at my qth its impossible to use, its taken me months of attempting to resolve this but have now come to the conclusion that i am not ever going to use hf and thats that. I am stuck on uhf and vhf that no body seems to want to operate on these days in my location. So what do i do the easy answer would be to move to a possible country side cottage miles from civilisation but that isnt going to happen, and as far as moving up the food chain WHY BOTHER i would just gain 40 watts that at uhf and vhf means nothing to me as i like qrp operation anyway, mind it would have been nice to work some HF long distance as a low power qrp station. MW6ZAN 73 da de da
my issue with getting a foundation license is no qrm it’s
confidence
> due to major qrm on the hf bands at my qth its impossible to use,
SOTA is your friend https://www.sota.org.uk/
HF QRM is down and the VHF takeoff is to die for. Views ain’t bad, either ;)
i’v watched many foundation candidates fail because they have difficulties in gamma, or find books hard to understand, not everyone’s an electrical minded person or into maths, there should be more on practicals, show the newbies how to be on air, etiquette, the use of radios, filtering , tuning antennas etc etc, most people can learn more shown not reading a book which makes no sense to the under average. The hobby is dying yet it is been made harder to get into. makes no sense.
Go to a good active radio club, get tuition from experienced club registered Tutors and you will understand most facets of amateur radio and you will pass.
It’s my view the foundation and intermediate exams are about right. I’m a newcomer to amateur radio and have taken and passed at both levels. The full licence can wait for a month or two while I get my breath back! I’m a member of my local club (not in Essex) and worry that the average age of members at my club is probably somewhere in the mid sixties. Of course I hear from my elders how easy we newcomers have it when it comes to training and exams, but I’m afraid it does go in one ear and out the other – after all, when was it ever the case that the older generation did not think that the youngsters coming up after them have an easy life compared to them? It’s one of those cyclical myths as far as I’m concerned. I’ve read that there has been some discussion about a new licence, below the level of Foundation, that will simply allow young people to get on the air (in a restricted way of course). I’m all for this, as attracting new members from the young, must be right and the way forward.
I have to agree with you Donald, we need to attract younger members to the hobby. I laughed at it going in one ear and out another, as what a lot of these older generation Ham users don’t tell you or seem to forget is that there was only 2 categories an “A” and a “B” and G1, G6, G7, G8 license holders where not full license holders, and in 2003 when licensing conditions changed making it not compulsory to take Morse, all these operators with the callsigns above were given a full license without having to take any exams, so actually they are the ones that had it easy as there was only 2 exams, and the callsigns above were even luckier as they only took 1 !
Full details are here : http://www.g7syw.co.uk/amateur-callsigns-explained/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CG%E2%80%9D%20series%20of%20amateur%20licences%20was%20first,G2%20%2B%202%20letters%3A%20issued%201920%20%E2%80%93%201939
Mick
Time for an update?.
Having been a “social” sailor for many years, my Wife and I decided it would be fun to do a “bare boat” charter in either Turkey or Croatia.
Problem. you must have a short VHF marine certicate.
Due to being off work with spinal problems, I took the short VHF and passed.
I then thought, if I can pass this, why not go for the Foundation.
I was hooked.
Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
Foundation October ’17
So no electronic or maths or physics knowledge (apart from secondary school) (too many years ago).
Dive in, get a good tutor, and apply, apply, apply, Learn, Read and Learn some more.
Intermediate May ’18
Breezed it due to study and application.
Follow the material you are given, but search further!
I am nearly 60, and loving every minute of amateur radio.
NOW.
FULL LICENCE.
Study, Read. Study, Read, Listen to your peers, Study, Study.
I did over 2000 questions, on a mock exam site, averaging 80 – 90 % (not bad for a guy with no electronics, physics, maths, see above)
See the 80-90% above.
I opened the Advanced paper and felt sick, I just wanted to go home.
Battle through.
I was convinced I’d failed, and the letter came from OFCOM
The first word I saw was “Congratulations” JOB DONE
I have just taken the online exam and failed !
17/26
I revised really hard, read the foundation book from cover to cover 5 plus times. Did many online mock exams from RSGB and iOS app. Downloaded and studied syllabus questions, regularly hitting the pass mark every time. Took the exam and what the hell ??? Many of the questions didn’t seem to be even on the syllabus. Or the questions asked didn’t seem clear as to what the answer would be. One of the questions regarding troposphere. Where in the foundation book does it mention troposphere ? Ok it mentions it on the syllabus but what is the troposphere, no real explanation so I knew I would at least get that one wrong. I found that some of the questions were worded in a way that any of the answers would be relevant and it would be pot luck if you picked the right one. For an exam to get in to a hobby, I am so disheartened. I can understand if it was an intermediate or even full, exam but for people trying to get in to the hobby I can see why people just give up. I know that’s the way I am feeling at the minute.
I have emailed my concerns to RSGB and even the invigilator said that I wasn’t the first person to mention that the questions were extremely hard and wasn’t relevant to the syllabus.
Sorry to hear that, Darren. But please don’t give up…..I’m retired and my last studies of any physics and maths was 50+ years ago, together with some SWL-ing at school, using an ancient valve set probably dating back to Marconi himself. Actually hearing Radio Moscow was considered an achievement……All forgotten during a subsequent non-scientific career.
I just stuck at the study, mainly via the Essexham course, the book and as many on-line mock questions as I could find. And the full RSGB syllabus is actually very helpful, worth printing out and reading carefully, as it seems to cover some points more fully than the book and from a slightly different angle.
My own view of the exam was similar to yours in the sense that, overall, some questions seemed to be harder and differently worded to the mocks and to have, at first glance, more than one answer which “could” be relevant. I had been recommended to read every question VERY carefully, and to use the full hour to reread and recheck any doubtful ones again and again, and, IIRC, I did alter a couple of answers after further thought.
I got two wrong…..one I admit I didn’t know the answer, and the other I don’t know why my chosen answer was wrong !
Good luck next time…..you got 17 right, that’s not far off a pass !
Unlucky with your exam Darren,
without rubbing salt in your wounds i passed my exam on the 29th June on my second attempt. I fully understand what you are saying about the way the questions are worded and that some if not all the answers could be the right answer, and i also commented to the invigilator that the way some of the way the questions were worded was almost like trick questions, and on my second attempt i made sure i fully understood the questions and didn’t just pick the most obvious answer. After i failed on my first attempt i was aware that just a mention of something in the syllabus may well be a question in the exam, like the troposphere, which enables sporadic e under certain condition on UHF and VHF. I realized reading and learning the Foundation License Manual was not enough as i like you red and re-red it. I took the Essex ham fast track course and the information and videos on the course helped me so much, and taught me about the troposphere. So don’t give up, use all the resources available, DX commander does a series of foundation courses on youtube going through the modules one video at a time or better still enroll in a Essex ham foundation course its all free and you will get and take in so much more information than just studying the manual.
good Luck
Mick
I passed yesterday, without the high mark I was expecting. Although much of what I learned recently was relevant, I was unprepared for exam questions which seemed to have a question with TWO POSSIBLE correct answers.ie: “during hot weather..a) Ducting can occur on VHF. b) On HF there is increased Sporadic E. I originally ticked the ducting box, then changed it to the Sporadic box, after looking over them again. The third reply was ridiculous, so could be ignored.
There were more examples like that.
The four-page EX 307 info sheet was virtually unused: with one question about the non-use of some UHF frequencies within 100kms of Charing X memorised already, and one other about a band plan, but nothing that required the use of the EX 307 extensively.
Interesting stuff!
> Nerves: I took my exam aged 40, which is “young” in ham radio circles. For many sitting their Foundation, they’ve not sat an exam since school
I’d say it’s a big thing for many people, One of the lads in our club, he’s in his 20s so not so far out of formal education, but he really wanted to get his M7. So (pre Covid) I pressed a 2m HH in his hand and gently had him answer a QSO him using the club call (under supervision)
From that hesitant first QSO he progressed, but exam nerves did for him a couple of times, but we managed to get him over the edge to try again.
He’s now frequently on air at home, /M and /P and probably now a better voice op than I am, I passed the RAE over 40 years ago. A lovely success story who just needed some encouragement and persistence in the early days.
Well done to all the M7s for their hard work, well done Essexham, the RSGB and the amateur community in general for seizing the day. If I hear a M7 CQ and they don’t get a reply I try and get back to them. It’s great to hear new people in the air.
Hi Richard.
Interesting as I have not been able to make any contacts since getting my foundation licence over one month ago despite calling CQ and CQDX for hours at a time. Even replaced radio as I thought I had a fault. Both Xeigu 90’s.. Bought new end fed long antenna to replace home brew inverted V dipole. What band and frequencies do you listen on so that I can keep trying to prove that I am TXing.
Thanks
Doug
73
MM7DSA
Doug
I had never heard of a Xeigu 90 so looked it up.
I assume you are monitoring the VSWR on a meter so can see if you are radiating .
The Xeigu 90 has a built in ATU so I would assume you have used this.
Can you hear anything???
Tune to the SSB (J3E) portion of the 40M (7MHz ) band and listen……….
If someone is calling CQ answer them……..
if there is a conversation finishing break in at the end.
Good luck
73 Nick
G1BVI
If you fail the foundation licence [Offensive remark removed by Admin, following complaint received on 17-Feb-21].
You just have to listen to the current neanderthals on HF and even on the local CB, i mean 2mtr channels
and you can clearly hear a lot of them foundation licence holders must have paid for their licence in more ways than one,
and yes the same can be said for some 2E0 and M0 licence holders.
how some of them passed make you wonder how many back handers were being passed about.
Just read John’s comment “If you fail the foundation licence you may as well slash your wrist’s. you have no purpose in life and the sooner you are gone the better”.
Comments like that although I’m assuming you’re meaning it in jest, really don’t help if someone is lacking in confidence. They also don’t help if you suffer with mental health issues, as I do, and just want a new hobby to provide a positive point of focus.
I’ve literally just taken my Foundation exam today and missed out on a pass by one mark 18/26! I’m really annoyed with myself as I broke my own golden rule of “read the flipping question properly!”
There are many reasons why people fail – perhaps being a bit more supportive of those that do fail will mean this hobby grows more and you will have less neanderthals to talk to might be a better response? Maybe give that some thought?
I will resit the exam and I will pass, as I know where I went wrong and I’m man enough to admit it. If, however, I had read your comment first and not all of the far more helpful and informative observations I may well have felt differently.
Like I say, I will assume you were joking and not being serious? If that’s the case then I will use it as additional reasoning to bolster my self determination to pass and to pass well. I will also go on to pass the intermediate and full exams with the same determination. Its my hope that I can then pass on my knowledge and determined attitude to anyone who needs help, as not everyone knows it all and some just need a helping hand once in a while.
Take care and 73.
Dear John,
Who, or what gives you the right to make the suggestion, that someone should “May as well slash your wrists” What a disgusting comment and attitude from someone, holding “A REAL AMATEUR LICENSE”. What the heck is “A REAL AMATEUR” LICENSE? So HF is so bad that you monitor the 11M band. Really, A REAL AMATEUR, listening on the CB band. First of all People on 11M could probably teach you a few things about manners. I started my radio journey on 11M and i have NEVER, EVER had a bad experience on the 11M band. I guess your still bitter that the UK got 11M 12W PEP SSB in 2014. I would rather contact an 11M Call than speak to you, on your own private “NET”. Maybe you OWN the Frequency, you can be found on.!!! As for buying my license, I more or less trained my self and had to travel 80 miles to take my exam. My QSO work and setting up a station, tuning an antenna was easy as i had learnt most of it, 35 years ago, for 11M. I got 23/26 and i was disappointed at missing 3 questions.Don’t think I am going to let you off the hook with just these comments. I am going to put in a complaint to the Essex forum moderator. Any person that promotes another to commit suicide, should not be in a “HOBBY” that is trying to attract young people or people with learning difficulties. If anyone should have their CALL revoked, it should be you. If I could identify you and your “REAL AMATEUR” callsign, I would be sending a request to the RSGB and Ofcom. I hope I NEVER have the chance to either meet you personally or Answer your Call on the frequencies. Stuart, M6PGG,
You failed to tell us how you are helping these operators to improve their skills. Don’t be shy, you had the courage to point out what was wrong, use that courage to inform the rest of us how you are helping so that we may follow your examle!
Dear John,
Who, or what gives you the right to make the suggestion, that someone should “May as well slash your wrists” What a disgusting comment and attitude from someone, holding “A REAL AMATEUR LICENSE”. What the heck is “A REAL AMATEUR” LICENSE? So HF is so bad that you monitor the 11M band. Really, A REAL AMATEUR, listening on the CB band. First of all People on 11M could probably teach you a few things about manners. I started my radio journey on 11M and i have NEVER, EVER had a bad experience on the 11M band. I guess your still bitter that the UK got 11M 12W PEP SSB in 2014. I would rather contact an 11M Call than speak to you, on your own private “NET”. Maybe you OWN the Frequency, you can be found on.!!! As for buying my license, I more or less trained my self and had to travel 80 miles to take my exam. My QSO work and setting up a station, tuning an antenna was easy as i had learnt most of it, 35 years ago, for 11M. I got 23/26 and i was disappointed at missing 3 questions.Don’t think I am going to let you off the hook with just these comments. I am going to put in a complaint to the Essex forum moderator. Any person that promotes another to commit suicide, should not be in a “HOBBY” that is trying to attract young people or people with learning difficulties. If anyone should have their CALL revoked, it should be you. If I could identify you and your “REAL AMATEUR” callsign, I would be sending a request to the RSGB and Ofcom. I hope I NEVER have the chance to either meet you personally or Answer your Call on the frequencies. Stuart, M6PGG,
I remember when I did my Foundation exam I was convinced that I would not pass but I was determined and worked hard studying. There were a lot of trick questions plus a few questions I did not understand let alone know the answers. I past my exam some years back and all the other people on the course also past theirs.
I have encountered quite a few Hams who assume a Foundation licence holder came into the hobby from CB and those who rubbish Foundation licence holders but that says more about them than it does about Foundation licence holders. There are many Foundation license holders that come from all different backgrounds that have been, or still are in all kinds of professions. Somebody assumed that I couldn’t solder because I was a foundation licence holder and I’d never forget that. I have been soldering since I was 10 and I’m very good at electronics.
I take my hat of to those who are doing there Foundation online I imagine its much harder than going to a club to do it. I wish everybody good luck. We need as many people as we can get to keep the hobby alive.
I’m just about to start my Foundation course on Sunday, which I’m really looking forward to.
I know that if I had read this Johns comment before today (although I haven’t “actually” read it) I honestly think I would have just given up even trying.
I have enough barriers in life being severely sight impaired and registered blind, and I hope that with taking up amateur radio, it will give me more confidence.
Hopefully this guy has either left the club or been removed, because comments like his could be enough to finish some people off.
Keep your fingers crossed for me as I start my journey into ham radio and the learning aspect too.
Take care all
Charlie
Don’t worry Charlie – this kind of thing happens all over the Internet – it’s called trolling – don’t let one negative comment from someone not brave enough to identify themselves out you off. Over 4,000 people have got their licence in the last year or so, far more than in previous years, and it’s great that so many new people are getting into the hobby. On the subject of barriers, please note that help is available – our short YouTube video gives a quick summary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzjywxWbnjM for a quick summary. Enjoy the course, and the hobby! Pete
I took the foundation course 5 times in 3 years just could not get passed module 5. Found it got boring just going over the same thing so I gave up .lost interest .. definitely not doing it again . boring .
Sorry to hear that Sam – mind you, taking the same course over and over again would get repetitive – why did you take it 5 times if you found it so boring? There are other ways to study – training at clubs, self-study, Zoom groups, etc – perhaps they’d be more suited to you?
Most people tend to take a course once (approx 6 – 8 hours of their lives), then be able to get a licence for life. Sure, not all of the material you need to study for a licence is interesting to everyone – when I was studying, I found some of it a bit dull, and some interesting – same as when I was studying at school.
I’m glad I put in the 6 hours of study needed to get my first licence, but I appreciate that not everyone can spare 6 hours of their lives to go through some pretty basic information about the hobby.
I did my Foundation Licence course with Essex Ham found the course intersting and quite Straight forward.. However i didnt pass the final mock exam..
Left it for a couple of weeks then read through the RSGB Foundation Licence study manual once to refresh my memory,
Last Friday i took my Foundation Exam Online and i passed it first time just waiting for my confirmation from RSGB to come in the post then its off to the Ofcom website to apply for my Licence and Call sign.
Many Thanks to all at Essex Ham whose initial training course helped me a lot..
Keith Ambler