Ofcom has released the results of the consultation into licence changes. Those changes are likely to come into effect from February 2024
In their statement dated 11th December 2023, Ofcom confirmed that they had received 1,443 responses (approx 2% of UK amateurs), including responses from the RSGB and Essex Ham.
All of the proposals have been provisionally agreed, some with some tweaks. These roll out in 3 phases. The following video summarises the changes:
Here’s what’s changing, and when:
| Ofcom Announcement released (21st February 2024). New licence conditions are now in effect! See Licence Updates – February 2024 |
Phase 1 – Implemented 21st February 2024:
- RSLs (Wales, Scotland, NI, etc) are now optional (Except for Intermediate 2x, where letter is mandatory)
- Those in England are now able to add an optional “E” to their callsign at Foundation and Full (e.g. ME7QQQ)
- Any suffix is now allowed after a callsign (e.g. “M7QQQ/Garden”)
- If a special prefix is allowed by Ofcom (as for Queen’s Jubilee), no need to apply for an NoV
- New applicants will only be allowed to hold one personal licence
- Power increases:
- Foundation: 25 watts (most bands) – the consultation was for 20 watts
- Intermediate: 100 watts (most bands)
- Full: 1,000 watts (primary bands)
- Airborne to be permitted to a maximum of 0.5 watts EIRP (primary bands)
- Supervision of unlicensed people at all 3 levels
- More flexibility for Beacons, Gateways and Repeaters
- Updates to remote and unattended operation
- New “Data Station” mode (mainly for machine-to-machine modes)
- Foundation licence holders can now build their own equipment/kits
- Foundation licence holders now have access to 2.4GHz and 5GHz (max 2 watts)
Phase 2 – Planned for “Later in 2024”
- Ofcom to cease issuing 2x Intermediate calls – to be replaced with M8 and M9
- Existing Intermediates will be encouraged (but not forced) to move to M8 / M9 callsigns
- Simplified rules for Special Event (e.g. GB) callsigns
- Restrictions to the number of callsigns held (one for personal use, up to 5 for clubs)
Phase 3 – Planned for before April 2025)
This is when a new licensing platform is in place.
- Revoking lower-class licences begins (one for personal use, up to 5 for clubs)
- Improved online validation
- The ability for amateurs to choose any available callsign
- The ability for amateurs to change their callsign once every 5 years
- Reissuing of old callsigns after a 5-year grace period
Essex Ham Submission
As many will know, we ran a survey about the changes. We had 461 responses, and comparing our results with the submissions Ofcom received, it looks like our survey was pretty close to that of the wider amateur radio community. It’s great to know that we can represent the views of UK radio amateurs with a high degree of accuracy!
Next Steps
A General Notice has been published, but there is still a chance to raise objections. Representations can be made to Ofcom by 5pm on the 22nd of January 2024. Final results will be published “no later than February 2024” with new licence conditions coming into effect from February 2024.
What do you think of the changes? Have your say in the comments below!
Generally looks like a positive step but I’ll be interested to see if there is chaos on 2m, with gateways popping up all over the show!
Seems like a well thought out consultation and result, I would have preferred to see power levels of 50 and 200 watts for the lower licences but there is something for everyone. The possibility for new licence holders to build their own equipment may be problematical if not monitored correctly.
Should be interesting with beacons and repeaters cropping up everywhere.
Good changes however,would’ve like to see a little bit more access to other bands,after foundation pass…the exam and all you read to pass teaches you more than you need or can do on 2m&70cm bands…you end up on a weak and widely unused band…in my opinion this is why many new licensees don’t progress further. Not all of us have the time and money to immediately progress up the licence tree. But as said…nice to see good changes…
Hi Keith,
Which bands are you talking about?
There are few bands that Foundation licencees cannot use. The main exception is 60m HF. Not the busiest of bands.
That leaves 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m, 30m, 40m and 80m.
Plus on VHF you have 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 1ghz. The new rules also open up 2.4ghz (which is great for QO100) and 5ghz.
There are also many microwave bands not available at Foundation, but the kit is hideously expensive and very specialist.
given everything…for nothing….tee hee
Agree thats why stupid questions appear on facebook…. question if late 2000 hams know ohms law or that transmitions travel at the speed of light hence 468/frequency gives you the lenght of a quarter wave in inches, or 300/frequency – velocity factor gives it you it in mtrs. Sick of hearing of audio reports on hubnet then silence, why do you want an audio report if you dont want to hold a conversation….
Not a lot of what you said made any sense to me mate.
I think this was handled extremely well. The feelers being pit out by ofcom and rsgb and feedback considered by Essexham.
Since the bluelight services and military went up into the Gigillion Hertz in terms of communications. I dont think our toys are a threat to them now in respect of interference. Therefore they have opened it up a lot more for us . I also feel they are relaxing the policing of the bands , equipment , and “bringing upto date” simply as a means to reducing their workload.
Ofcom remain focused on commercial companies and the big payers take precedence over us and our allocations.
As some of the other guys have said it will be ‘interesting’ to say the least with regard to gateways and repeaters appearing all over the UK online and offline like whackamole .
I hope it works out i really do. Is there any news on the exam content being more tailored to actual use Pete?
Hi Rab. Nothing firm as yet. The RSGB exam report came out a few weeks ago with a cryptic note that “various bodies” want to delay the next major syllabus update “for a few years”…. whatever that means!
Our concern is that some “bodies” may be keen to toughen the Foundation syllabus to include construction theory.
So what bands are foundation licence holders allowed on can they use 80 meters and 40 meters ect.
Foundation can currently use quite a few bands: from 160m right up to 10GHz (including 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m, 6m and 4m)
I’m only foundation licensed and I’m extremely happy with what I’m allowed to use and access.
2E0HDQ, when using a magnetic loop antenna on 25 watts, circulating currents can be lethal therefor I feel that increasing technical knowledge for foundation is vital.
Antenna and RF safety is already covered as part of the Foundation syllabus
Sad that you will only be allowed to hold one licence, We worked for each licence and callsign and some of us are attched to them.
Hi Glyn, Agreed. I excpect that there are quite a frew people who passed the old CW test and ended up with two licences, what used to be the old class B and a class A, now both considered to be Full licences. I have both a G6*** and a G0*** , who will decide which one I have to lose?
Anyone any thoughts?
Chris K.
Ofcom has stated that the lower-level licence will be the one that is revoked. I guess the safe answer is to surrender the one that you don’t want to keep, to ensure that Ofcom don’t revoke your preferred callsign.
Hi Pete, very good point, Must confess i have got very attached to G6LRY I would be mortified to lose it, I’ve had it so long.
Regards, Chris
P.s. doing a great job Pete.
you wouldn’t be so happy if you had to pay for all three…..
The ability to hold several personal licences at once is an anomaly caused by an error made by Ofcom, so it’s no surprise that they are seeking to correct what was an administrative mistake. Other errors, such as allowing the issue of callsigns with 2 letter suffixes, are also being corrected. A good thing.
The effort made to achieve each level of licence is baked in at each progression, no one is going to lose any recognition.
Some of us have only ever had one personal callsign and see no need for more, or indeed the ability to change it at any interval, short or long. However it appears that this will become possible in the near future so we’ll have to get used to a new idea of callsign resurrection like it or not.
The ability to hold several personal licences at once is an anomaly caused by an error made by Ofcom, so it’s no surprise that they are seeking to correct what was an administrative mistake. Other errors, such as allowing the issue of callsigns with 2 letter suffixes, are also being corrected. A good thing.
‘The effort made to achieve each level of licence is baked in at each progression, no one is going to lose any recognition.
Some of us have only ever had one personal callsign and see no need for more, or indeed the ability to change it at any interval, short or long. However it appears that this will become possible in the near future so we’ll have to get used to a new idea of callsign resurrection like it or not.’
biggest error is not having a radio ham working for ofcom…just a load of silly boys….anyway we should all have our names or initials in our callsigns just like our motors…tee hee
I hope they won’t revoke the 2-letter call signs. I’m quite attached to mine, plus I had to pay for it!
73 de M5PM Patrick
1. No point in representation to OFCOM, what they actually want to happen will take effect anyway.
2. I hate the prevalent attitude towards electronics theory and practice. I want the “bar” raised not lowered. Amateur radio is not like fishing or other popular hobbies. It should require study, knowledge and expertise.
3. I don’t care about the walkie-talkie frequencies.
4. Allowing any suffix is just stupid. How about /TAS? (Taking a sh*t)
Question. What does “The ability for amateurs to choose any available callsign” mean? Could an intermediate choose an old “G” call? Or a foundation choose an M0?
Yes basically you would be able to choose G5RV if it was dormant
(Updated after checking the document)
It looks like 2 letter signs like G5RV won’t be recycled and available in the pool (See 3.66 of the document). Regardless, Full callsigns would only be available to Full licence holders. Stephen was asking about Foundation or Intermediate getting a dormant Full callsign… which won’t be allowed.
I’m going to suggest only ANAAA callsigns will be available to choose from. They want to standardise do ANAA won’t be an option.
You’re correct Stephen. Reading 3.66 of the document, I see that callsigns with only 2 trailing letters will only be issued to the original callsign holder, so ANAAA only, by the looks of it.
It isn’t. It’s our club callsign! :D
Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society
Interesting comment on “raising the bar”. The hobby is about self-training, so those with an interest in diving into the theory are actively encouraged to progress to Full, but it has to be acknowledged that unlike decades ago, most people don’t design and build their own rigs any more – the hobby has moved on. It’s worth mentioning that the syllabus has been getting progressively harder over the years (resulting in a drop-off in people progressing to the higher levels).
The old RAE is roughly equivalent to today’s Intermediate exam, and the UK exam is regarded as one of the more tough exams in the world now.
As for your last question – No, as explained on page 24 of the document.
What’s to be achieved by making it even harder and having even fewer people joining the hobby?
Thanks for the answer to my question, obviously I haven’t read the full document, TL;DR. Actually I am pretty dubious about choosing calls. I think it just encourages the “personalised” number plate types and that is not a good thing.
I know my opinions aren’t popular but I want the exams to be harder, I hate the “I don’t like it because it is too hard.” attitude. Actually I don’t care if the hobby does wither away and die due to lack of interest. If making exams hard discourages those who think that they can buy all the latest flash gear with the “on trend” badge and then be respected because of what they have rather than what they can do.
I haven’t taken the full exam and now I don’t have any incentive to do so. But I do know the difference between a Colpitts and a Hartley oscillator ;-)
Personally, I was against the changing callsigns suggestion too, and said so in my personal response. 58% of those submitting responses to Ofcom were in favour, citing various reasons. I assume you had your say in the consultation?
I still can’t get my head around the logic of wanting to make the exams increasingly more difficult, so that only a tiny elite group can take up the hobby. Presumably you started out as a beginner once, and have got a lot of enjoyment from amateur radio. Why deny others from having the same experience? The hobby is broad enough that there’s room for everyone, so those who want to build and design can do so whilst letting others get on with the parts of the hobby that happen to appeal to them.
Ofcom’s closing date for objections is 22nd January 2024
Actually I did not respond. I think the decisions were/are already made. Minor changes announced are just for show. In my opinion.
There is no “logic” to my argument but I don’t accept it is elitist. Or that only a tiny group of people are capable of understanding the difficult stuff. I do not have a physics degree and I’m not an electronics engineer. I am still learning and I just think that understanding circuits and the theory of radio propagation is more worthwhile than QSOs in a competition.
That’s my point though – there’s enough room in this hobby for everyone. You prefer circuits and propagation, others may prefer contesting. So what? Live and left live. There are a few aspects of the hobby that don’t particularly interest me personally, but I don’t think that they should be banned, their enjoyment of the hobby should be stifled, or they should be deterred from getting a licence. Neither do I hope that a hobby dies just because not everyone thinks as I do.
tee hee well said !
No consideration for the disruption that will be caused by the changes in regional identifier to all awards schemes like dxcc and the problems of loggers resolving the correct country from the prefix.
Don’t expect QRZ to be able to provide the correct information 100% of the time or any other on line lookup system.
Seems we also need the cope with /AM (Aeronautical mobile as well
Yes, this is controversial, but to be fair, they did consider this (see page 21). They also stated that they’re not forcing the removal of RSLs, just making them optional. They don’t want the hassle of trying to enforce RSLs.
Quote from the Ofcom document: ” We do not believe that rules for such contests should override our spectrum management duties or require Ofcom to impose mandatory conditions in the licence to support this”.
I suspect that people entering awards will continue to use RSLs, just as people continue to use optional suffixes
Competitions will cope with this by insisting on RSL if you want to take part
It the unlikely event UK organised contests insisted on an RSL then that means stations in England must use an “E” RSL to enter
Alternatively people can simply continue not to use the E RSL unless they are a 2* licensee.
I’m sure it can easily be worked around for those that insist on standards.
England will be able to use E so why can’t Scotland use S ? …
Scotland can use the RSL prefix ‘S’ – it’s the prefix for a club station operating in Scotland.
Because you already have M?
Peter, Biggest problem I can see is that someone somewhere will try running 1KW into a vertical antenna in a garden the size of a postage stamp and that will upset the neighbours. Be that out of ignorance for the physics or just because the licence will say you can, the result will probably end in bad press for the hobby. By all means give the hobby 1KW, but please please put some checks and controls in place to ensure that the power is used responsibly. As for Gateways and beacons all over the place on 2m and 70cms, although the bands are underused, I would hope that common sense prevails and that again there is some form of control that segregates beacons and gateways in the way we have now.
Finally, I wonder if the annual publication of the band plans by the RSGB (traditionally published in January) will be held over until after the implementation of the new licence conditions in February for 2024 and to coincide with the addional release of privilages in the subsequent year?
Hi Mark. Yes, that’s certainly a valid concern, and 1kW is more than most of the local commercial radio broadcast stations have! Ofcom’s rationale is that other countries have higher power for their HAREC than us… but we are a tightly-packed population, so there is potential for problems. Of course, stations will still have to comply with the EMF assessment rules, which I guess imposes some kind of checks and controls?
Yes, potential for a free-for-all with beacons and gateways, but the limit of 5w ERP might at least limit this, I guess. The document talks about those running beacons/repeaters having to demonstrate non-interference, with using RSGB ETCC to coordinate this as their suggested way of doing this. I guess they’re just not interested in regulating in-band issues, and are happy to let the community self-police.
No idea on the band plan, but I reckon you’re right and there will be a delay. There’s also discussion about training timescales as there’s not much time to get new books printed and exam questions written – there used to be a buffer to let exams and trainers get ready, but timing on this one is tight.
It’s really unfortunate the timescale for all the changes has slipped significantly but I’m not surprised there is a massive amount of work involved.
As far as the licence T&C’s is concerned it looks like Ofcom have listened and made some worthwhile changes to their original proposals – Foundation now 25 watts instead of 20 and on 2.4 and 5 GHz they’ve now got 2w instead of the 1w proposed
Have the timescales slipped? Looks like they’re sticking to the dates in the June 2023 consultation document.
They are saying April 2025 for the final part, I was certain they originally said early, I’ll have a read of the doc
That caught me out too. For the final part, they said (and are still saying) “later in the 2024/2025 financial year” (page 7). Their financial year runs to 31st March. This phase needs them to bring in a new IT system, hence being pushed out. Phase 3 is mostly about changing callsigns – the fun stuff is all Phase 1.
its nice to see that ofcom have noted the hams comments, regarden going to higher levels I school I went to in the 50s in chelsea didnt know aljebra so not worth trying any more , Im happy as a M3 so will continue building and testing, check my QRZ PAGE regards ken M3ZKB
Im happy as a M3 so will continue building and testing, check my QRZ PAGE regards ken M3ZKB
Oh dear what a shambles …..
Some people are wedded to elitism, gatekeeping and snobbery, unfortunately. In some ways this is why CB & PMR seem more attractive.
For me, communication is my motivation in radio. I’m not interested in endless study and learning now – I’ve an MA and that is learning enough.
Furthermore, my disability these days, makes in-depth study of ‘new stuff’ more difficult than before. I also now live in a home situation that precludes the putting up of prominent antenna(s) – so is there no place in the Ham Radio fold?
So I am restricted to HTs and DV modes – this is fine by me, even if it fails to pass into the HF world.
Sorry for the ‘rant’!!
Hobby being further trashed…..
Alternatively, sensible changes being made to allow sensible people to experiment to the benefit of themselves and potentially others.
I do like the changes to allow Intermediate a higher than 50W (to 100W) as i always felt the 50W limit was kinda low for someone who is an Intermediate licence holder (like myself). Not going to comment on the other stuff as it seems very controversial.
One thing i do dislike is: Foundation licence holders will be able to build their own equipment / kits could end up bringing a lot of issues as the Foundation course does not cover as much as the Intermediate course.
73% were in favour, 26% against. Cited reason: “building equipment is beneficial for Foundation licensees, as it can encourage band occupancy and activity. It would also encourage Foundation Licence holders to experiment. Others noted that it could increase the appeal of the hobby to non-radio amateurs.”
Some people did raise exactly the same concern as you (I guess you were one of those?) Ofcom’s response: ” Given that all amateur radio licences apply a blanket requirement to not cause interference, we consider that this provides an adequate safeguard to other users.”
I remember years ago one would buy big bore kits to increase engine power; now you just buy a new car ! most of us are not technically minded and there’s a safety issue here; electric bite’s!
So what bands are foundation licence holders allowed to use are they allowed to use 80 meter and 40 meters
Foundation can currently use quite a few bands: from 160m right up to 10GHz (including 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m, 6m and 4m)
What chance have we got on the air waves of getting contacts when some country’s Hams are using half their National Gride to power their stations. With limitations to what power we are allowed to use in the UK there will always be some that tweak the limit they can use somewhat.
I assume you had your say in the consultation Terry? Ofcom seemed of the opinion that as other countries had higher power limits for their HAREC licence, there was no reason for the UK to lag behind Europe. Pages 32 and 33 cover the reasons for this, and Ofcom reminds us that we are not required to operate at maximum levels – for many, the challenge is QRP. Ofcom’s closing date for objections is 22nd January 2024
I’m glad about the power of 10w to 25w; my radio only has 5,15,25w; not sure about building my own transceiver? And making the syllabus harder will discourage people! The 1000w should be limited to certain bands and every full licence holder in the world should have a level playing field! Even now on 40m during competitions they’re using some 1000+w into a yagi, making that band a no.
I echo all your saying Paul.
Can a foundation licence holder use 80 meters and 40 meters band.
Yes
Yes Bob, this has been answered for you now multiple times.
THE SYLLABUS SHOULD BE MADE EASIER,REDUCTION OF ELECTRONICS AND MORE EMPHASIS ON OPERATING, EMF AND PRACTICAL PROBLEMS THAT DO NOT COME UP IN THE EXAMS.THIS HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS A AND B LICENCES AND THOSE WHO DID NOT MASTER MORSE WAS LIMITED TO 2 METRES,YET SAT THE SAME EXAM .IT IS ONLY A HOBBY AND THERE IS NO GREAT REWARDS FOR GAINING FULL EXAM OTHER THAN A FEW PERKS AND THERE ARE MANY OPERATING WITHOUT EXAM AND OTHERS HAVING TAKEN THE TEST FOR THEM.IT MAY BE THAT HAMS SHOULD BE CLUB REGISTERED AND MORE CONTROL THAT WAY AND BETTER HELPED TO HAVE FULL LICENCE.TIME OLD SCHOOL WAS UPDATED.
yes dumb it down to the minimum….tee hee
Too stoopid ray?
Hello , the power levels for the UK are lower than most of the EU , and the World , so we are not gaining much just catching up . Interference is also covered in your license conditions ( This includes repeaters ) , so whatever the power it is a part of your responsibility not to cause it . Now that old chestnut making the exams harder , if you check the older exam papers they are completely different to modern ones , so read a new manual , and then decide if they are to easy – you might be surprised how hard they are !
I think it’s time the exams were looked at. The intermediate now covers more than the old RAE.
As an aside I recently passed the Marine short range VHF licence. OK there was some overlap in the physics/ practical rf electronics of the course and exam but it was limited to 10 hours classroom, a mainly multiple choice paper and a practical exam. The main part was limited to the structure of the service, licensing and operating practices including digital messaging. There were no equations, power calculations etc.
It is interesting to see how different the emphasis is on the practical training rather than the electronics.
Remember that Marine radios are all type approved, so there is no need for the user to have a complete grasp of the physics involved.
I’ve already heard on air people asking about if they can start applying for their gateway /repeater, unfortunately I think this, initially at least, may actually reduce the effectiveness of what is already out there.
It would be a great shame if those that have gone to great expense to put decent gateways / repeaters up, are trampled on by 5w franstein radios in every home QTH hahah
Hi Rob, Not sure if you’ve read the detail in the Ofcom document, but there are requirements on those operating repeaters that might alleviate your concerns – see pages 43 and 44 of the Ofcom document.
Ofcom’s closing date for objections is 22nd January 2024
Hi Pete
Yep that makes sense on 70cm, but on 2m I think no coordination is required by ofcom as we are the primary user?
Perhaps ETCC will try to keep it coordinated, but it looks like it will be a “gentleman’s agreement”, much like the band plan is, rather than a licence condition, unless I’m mistaken.
Devil’s advocate, i.e. What could anyone do if somneone decided to setup a 5w gateway on top of a mountain on 145.500? :)
Hi Rob,
From the Ofcom document: “the licensee would need to demonstrate how they have addressed the risk of interference to other radio users. We said that we would not stipulate how this must be done, but coordination via the ETCC process would be one way of achieving this” and “There remains an obligation on licensees to demonstrate how they have addressed the risk
of interference to other radio users, and the RSGB do develop band plans which may support coordination. We also note that the overall response from radio amateurs signalled strong support for the proposals as set out in the consultation”
Yep, that makes sense. I guess we will have to wait to see what affect, if any, it has on the current status-quo.
73
Climb up there armed with a lump hammer.
The EMF calculator over at https://rsgb.services/public/software/emccalculator/ gives pleasing results:
At foundation
2 m FM
31 W peak power at the transmitter
(Short run of high quality / low loss cable)
24.5W peak power into the antenna (6.5 dB gain after losses)
109.2W peak EIRP (vs 42.3W from 12 W at the transmitter)
This is a generous and really welcome change.
I will be happily operating at or below this limit until I progress to the intermediate license.
Plug in the figures for the new intermediate and full power limits and the numbers get scary:
352.4W for intermediate and a staggering 3523.7W at full (subject to EMF).
Essex/Danbury is well covered by repeaters (thanks in no small part to you guys) but over here in Brighton we have no analog FM repeaters and only C4FM and DMR, with limited D-Star, and no APRS coverage at all. The 2M/70cm bands are dead. I for one will invest in terms of money and effort in putting this to rights ! To the naysayers I will add that I will research and document coverage and frequencies to avoid interference and I will consult with the other two repeater operators, who I am sure will only be too pleased to help/advise. I do know that it only takes couple of idiots to mess things up. The majority of people that have taken the time and effort to pass the exam are in all liklihood going to be sensible, and as others have mentioned the onus is on people to ensure no interference etc.
Extremely happy with the changes, as a foundation holder I can do a bit more and play around with some more power. I have no idea why people would think negatively about the changes.
The hobby needs new entrants – this is going to help with that.
If people wanted to break they rules they’ve always been able to. This just lets most people that do play by the rules feel like they can get more done on the first rung of the ladder.
That all seems quite measured and sensible really. Largely happy with the changes.
I agree that the foundation level might be better to be an “easy entry” to the hobby / activity, rather than making it more difficult due to the inclusion of construction theory. It could be more sensible to make construction theory a separate “add on” to the foundation licence with a totally separate exam. That would then make construction an optional route for those who wish to go in that direction. I would hazard a guess that MOST amateurs use off the shelf kit, rather than building their own at any level.
To exclude construction theory at every level and offer it as an optional exam, might be the way to go. Not everyone wants to get out the soldering iron.
Yes an excellent set of changes.
I disagree with the concept of imposing an additional exam to allow amateurs to do construction, I’d far rather see them learn for themselves at their own pace using the wealth of online material and in some cases the support of local club members – Self-training in practical skills rather than Rote Learning just to get through an exam.
As we have seen from the recently published draft Foundation Syllabus for the updated exam expected from May?? the RSGB and Ofcom did not think it necessary to add any additional items covering construction and that was the right decision.
For the past 22 years Foundation holders have been permitted to build and use transmitter or transceiver kits which can be nothing more than a PCB and circuit diagram.
The proposed change simply means they are no longer restricted to transmitter kits which gives a bit more flexibility. I know of one Foundation licensee who built a very effective station for 2.4 GHz, of course at the time of construction the licence didn’t cover its actual use in that band, however, the February licence will resolve that issue when 2.4 GHz is added and that station can be used. I hope to see more Foundation holders experimenting in that band
well all the above is great and as an M7 I’m looking forward to the 25w increase but does anyone actually have a date for the change or is it all hear say?
We can expect an annoucement from Ofcom on the 21st or 22nd of this month (Feb 2024)
Looking for a good revision book for Intermediate. Should I wait until the new rules are in place or are the current books around fine to use ?
The new exams (covering the new licence conditions) kick in from 1st September 2024, so if you’re taking your exam before then, the existing book will be fine.
After a long wait Ofcom have finally released the General notice of decision to vary Amateur Radio licences.
Giving Foundation and Intermediate holders very much improved licence conditions
https://ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0029/278345/amateur-radio-general-notice-decision.pdf
The changes, which mean Foundation can run 25 watts, supervise unlicence people on air and design, build and use on-air their own transmitters and also modify existing equipment (e.g. PMR) for amateur use , come into effect today
so if i am a 2e1 will i be a m9 is that how it works?
No, you will have the choice to change the call sign, however anyone passing the exam after the cut off date will have to follow the new m8/9 format.