I Passed My Amateur Radio Foundation Licence - Tips I Found Useful

[@ourfrugallife]

I was on AM CB back in the late 70s then went onto FM. Recently played around with PMR446 on handheld radio. I bought a Baofeng uv-5r recently but haven't heard anything on it apart from pmr frequencies on a sunday night and the local polypipe factory. Its just dead, im pretty disappointed. I have my foundation booked for the end of may. When i went online to book it i could have done it within 2 days so obviously not many people taking it. Im going to a local ham rally next week so hope to make a few contacts there. Its a shame its not got more of a following, but as my friend says, everyone has mobile phones nowadays.

[@cheesedoff-with4410]

Yes Essex Ham are very helpful. They've got me to knuckle down. (Exam' is 11th Jan 22). With any luck I'll be at the microphone shy stage very soon. I'm considering data modes on a SDR using one of those dongles.

[@brettrob1980]

I've a bad stutter really want to do this but I can see it being real Charlie foxtrot

[@MrApolloTom]

Essex Ham have given me the final nudge to go for it. It's also great that they're promoting Baofengs and other modernising techniques.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Essex Ham were great for me when I was revising. Go for it!

[@Bad-wolfe]

Starting my Essex Ham course on Sunday :)

[@greenmoss]

Absolutely clear and genuine advice. Many thanks. KD

[@SoulDamnFunky]

So I'm intruged as to how and why people are doing the foundation if they have no previous two way radio experience. Most have already been on CB or PMR446 and or have a background, I'm hearing similar stories quite a bit. I do think it's good that people are getting on the air, but be good if you all also came to CB and PMR as we need more folk on there too.

[@RSCOZZY]

Fantastic honest video. I so wish other youtube video makers were the same. All too interested in fancy editing and chipmunk music. Again, many thanks for taking the time to record this, it has given me even more reassurance that I want to do this. I have been a CB operator on and off for many years, have dabbled in PMR and have recently bought a Baofeng uv-5r. I have always been an avid radio enthusiast, so I have the basics of a good foundation to build on. I will start to swat up on the course and references needed very soon. Many thanks, once again for the video, and the very useful links. Big congratulations on passing! 🍻

[@RustyRocketProjects]

That's such a kind comment to leave, thank you! Good luck with your studies.

[@snopeak]

Great, straight forward, no frills video. Congrats on passing your test. I've had DMRs for years (for work) and recently bought the Foundation book and hoping to get focused and take the test in the not to distant future 😎

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Thanks for your kind comment, I'm glad you found it helpful. Go for it and best of luck!

[@RealWorldNLPAndHuna]

A brilliant video and fantastic advice. Congrats on passing the exam. I’m going to book mine on Monday. I’m working this weekend. Thank you.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Thank you, I'm glad you found it useful. Good luck with your exam.

[@sccjono]

Wow, a super helpful video thank you. I have a UV-5R and a cheap SDR dongle as well but I don't often hear any chat. There doesn't seem to be any clubs nearby and so I think I'm just going to take your advice and sig-up to the Essex Ham course.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Hello! Thank you for commenting. Yes, definitely give the Essex Ham course a go. I'm sure you'll find, as I have, that it starts opening up different avenues of the hobby. Good luck!

[@sccjono]

@@RustyRocketProjects Thank you. I've joined their Discord too. Thanks again.

[@BobMellor1954]

Hi, thanks for the video, Congrats on passing your Foundation Licence. I've just signed up with Essex and my course starts 7th Nov. I'm recently retired so needed a hobby, think this one will work out just fine. Looking forwards to the start date, but have been studying using on-line information, there is a lot good info around.

[@novemberfive]

Thanks Bob. Essex Ham were so so helpful and their course and live chat is really useful. Good luck!

[@nickmoss2356]

Great video - thanks for the incentive

[@cooldad4]

Just starting my Foundation course; wanted to do this Years ago but was put off by CW and went the easy option CB . Thanks for the encouragement . update end of course mock exams 25/26, booked with rsgb for Thursday! update, I passed and waiting for my letter.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Go for it! The best of luck with the Foundation.

[@seaninherts]

Congratulations. How is it all going now? I passed mine in August 2008. I’m afraid I don’t operate loads and I did find that when I popped back to the local club about two years ago, maybe longer, just before the pandemic, I found no one was really engaging with conversations with anyone other than their mates, so shied away from that slightly - abut just got a DMR hotspot so may do the 2E0 at some point - M6SPD btw so yeah could have had an M3 when I did it but went for the M6 for the initials I wanted. Good luck - as long as you put in some basic study (I’m not smart with electronics) you’ll smash it. Good luck all.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Thank you so much for your comment. It's going OK thanks, the 2m band are very quiet around where I live but have been looking at a virtual solution in the meantime to get some practice, such as Hamsphere. I've also reached out to a couple of clubs but they're not very close to me.

[@Kev_the-Brinklow-Kayaker]

Just on the start line for my foundation. Books i have and experience from AM and FM Dx'ing back in the 80's. Gonna be a breeze, NO 😅, im tackling this properly and joind a local club with great bunch of full licenses for HAM on my journey now 😊.... Mic shy yer been there but it's just the with people sitting with me on this new chapter of amateur radio, im old school and things are a little different. Only have old 80's rigs so im right at the infant stage of purchasing equipment and im gonna wait for guidance from the club before i buy on my own initiative lol. Anyway great video thankyou. Kev.

[@josuetorresaraque756]

Thanks for the video; looking forward to following the same path!

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Go for it and good luck!

[@syfynightmares]

Great vid thank you

[@mkdy218]

Thank you for that vid! The most useful I have seen so far! I have signed up with Essex Ham! Very excited ! PS I also have a Bass sat behind me 😁

[@RustyRocketProjects]

That is the nicest comment, thank you. Good luck with it all. Unfortunately the bass isn't mine, neither is the Chebacca onesie also hanging around behind me!

[@mkdy218]

@@RustyRocketProjects good man and a proper job done!

[@robertjames5511]

Thank you, just what I was looking for,down to earth

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Great! I'm glad that it's of use to you. Good luck if you're taking your exam soon.

[@ImranKhan-jt7xu]

I'm taking my exam this month so i can talk to international space station on my baofang! I am also taking the foundation exam.

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Good luck with your foundation exam. I've tried to listen to the ISS but haven't been successful yet.

[@ImranKhan-jt7xu]

@@RustyRocketProjects nice! Keep at it! The question book is still valid from 2022 to 2023? I might buy the question book!

[@johnhall3827]

the think that put me off was when i was going for it it had the morse code to pass. did not won't to do that

[@snopeak]

Same here, morse was the reason I didn't go for it years (decades) ago!

[@bungy490]

Excellent video, Like you, too many distractions = excuse not to do the exam. I will follow you advice. Thanks again

[@JohnSmith-wl8cv]

1 get a brown envelope 2 stuff 50 quid in it. 3 join a local Ham radio club. 4 ask a full licence operator if you give him 50 quid he will fill in the answers for you. 5do the same with for the intermediate and full licence 6 your on the seance band .

[@neilturner6654]

It might be worth buying a transceiver and just listening to conversations. You only need the licence to transmit.

[@davidargles]

Thanks - I've just passed my Foundation exam, but I found this most useful and encouraging, I can connect with it in so many ways. Obviously the "now I've passed" bits are particularly helpful to me at the moment. 73, David (haven't got my call sign yet)

[@RustyRocketProjects]

That's great to hear. Well done on passing the Foundation exam and thanks for leaving a comment. Jez, M7MCU

[@BritishBeachcomber]

You've been making KZbin videos for 10 years and you're still microphone shy! ;)

[@RustyRocketProjects]

Ha! True. I guess it's down to not being able to prepare in advance, and not knowing who's going to answer.

[@m3hnl]

really good advice good luck good dx 73 m3hnl