Foundation Practicals - an RSGB guide for new licensees

[@sccjono]

I passed my foundation exam yesterday and whilst the practicals have now been removed all together, this video has been really helpful in getting me stated. Thank you.

[@TheRSGB]

Congratulations on passing your Foundation exam! We're pleased you found this video useful and wish you well as you enjoy exploring more of amateur radio. We have a number of other practical videos which you might find useful as you start to gain experience - take a look at our "Useful Practical Skills" series which has its own playlist on our channel - kzbin.info/aero/PLmtHS6LSBybZimFeIejq4nsPmY4VkZiZh

[@sccjono]

@@TheRSGB Thanks folks, more videos and my membership are in hand.

[@MrBillUp]

Really nice of Prince William to show us how to match an Antenna, and Chris Lintott to show us Morse Code. Thanks guys 😁

[@johnm7723]

Appreciate the videos, there is always something useful when your are this ' green'.

[@sircompo]

It's hard to believe *anyone* could be that green. I wanted to watch the whole thing but after 1m 13s I felt like I was in primary school and had to stop it!

[@sapereaude391]

@@sircompo What an unfortunate attitude you have. Did you read the title of the video? I was a radio mechanic in the Fleet Air Arm for 10 years but still had to start at Foundation level like everybody else. I watched this video out of interest to see what level of practical information is taught at Foundation level, i.e. people with no prior knowledge of radio. I just hope you aren't a teacher in any subject as your students would probably be scared to ask questions in fear of looking stupid.

[@sircompo]

@@sapereaude391 Don't worry, I'm not a teacher. The only people that suffer from my wisdom are those that are unfortunate enough to read my KZbin comments! My rationale was that people getting into amateur radio generally have a technical background or related hobby/interest. Clearly I'm wrong about that, and on reflection I can think of many examples where viewers would indeed be as green as #00FF00.

[@simonj48]

This series is very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@Hector-bj3ls]

A good thing to know about tuners is the tuning doesn't affect the actual SWR of the antenna. It just affects what the radio thinks the SWR is. So the reflected power is still reflected, it's just handled by the tuner and doesn't damage the radio. It's still a useful thing to have since it means you don't have to be quite so thorough with your antenna set up. Which may be out of your control due to available space etc.

[@Sandman.68.]

Fantastic 😁 I'm hoping to get a full license, seems my CB experience from moons ago ( and dad being an ex navy RO ) will stand me in decent stead 👍👍

[@TheRSGB]

Glad you found it useful! We have other practical skills videos in our KZbin library and on our website if you'd like to learn more - see www.rsgb.org/practical-skills

[@Peter-sm2rs]

Excellent very useful. I have my foundation exam this month. trying too cram as much information down as I can. These videos are great, lots of practical information in them. Well presented and clear and concise. Thank you for the time and effort put into them

[@rustledjammies8769]

This is excellent. I wish this existed for when I did my Foundation a decade ago!

[@synkuk]

Thankyou very much for this excellent video! just passed foundation .. loving it so far

[@TheRSGB]

Great to hear you are enjoying the hobby 🙂

[@AdamKDean]

Great video in lieu of being able to get to a local club, thanks all

[@jakedillingham]

Excellent video.

[@tonypoloney8721]

Thank you. Excellent post.

[@K88MUD]

Some great content guys.....soon to be taking my foundation exam online and looking forward to my first QSO....73's

[@GregoryFenton_UK]

Good luck with the examination and enjoy the hobby :) de M0ODZ Greg, RSGB ESRG

[@Deano-Channel]

Hi remember from an old ham it's 73 NOT 73's. Good luck with the exam 👍

[@FredBear101]

Excellent, I really enjoyed it and learnt from it.

[@TheRSGB]

Glad you enjoyed it and found it useful. Take a look at our Useful Practical Skills videos too - www.rsgb.org/practical-skills

[@ronnierush9379]

Very interesting and well explained video Thank You 🙂

[@SciPhi]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@paulbrown9874]

A very professional and well presented guide, many thanks!

[@TheRSGB]

We're glad you found it helpful

[@redwolfden7930]

thank you, i loved te video especially the morse code!

[@esuohdica]

Great resource Thanks! I'm just starting out on the online foundation course.

[@TheRSGB]

We wish you well with your studies and your exam! Once you pass, our other video suite for new licensees will help you too - 'Useful practical skills' kzbin.info/aero/PLmtHS6LSBybZimFeIejq4nsPmY4VkZiZh

[@dafyddr8678]

What a great video and a welcome to Ham Radio. I was wondering if there is a video for the 'programming our first radio' or something similar? that would be the icing on the cake. Once again thanks. Dafydd M6ULU (Salford)

[@VoidNapster]

Hey I'm new to this and find these videos very useful!

[@TheRSGB]

Hi Kyle - welcome to amateur radio! We're glad you found the videos useful. Another series to look at would be our Practical Skills videos - rsgb.org/practical-skills

[@TheRSGB]

If you subscribe to our KZbin channel you will also receive notifications when we release new content. We hope you enjoy learning more about amateur radio :)

[@VoidNapster]

@@TheRSGB I'm just doing that now!

[@mcdirt9115]

Great idea and very much appreciated 73 de M7CEN

[@GregoryFenton_UK]

Thanks Chris, and welcome to the hobby :) de M0ODZ Greg RSGB ESRG

[@pilotboy]

very good series, learnt a lot, 73 de ZL2EDH

[@TheRSGB]

We're glad you found it helpful

[@misterbubonic]

Excellent video, many thanks. I have passed the Foundation exam and have ordered a Yaesu FT-DX3000 transceiver and multiband end-fed antenna. Is it worthwhile to buy an antenna tuner & SWR metre since these are both already built into the rig?

[@Stealthbird97]

Depends. Builtin tuners don't tend to have very good SWR matching capabilities Maybe upto 5:1. I'm not familiar with the DX3000 (thats one beefy radio for a first radio) but you might want to wait until after you have your antenna up and test to see if the built in tuner is sufficient to match your multiband antenna on all the bands you want.

[@misterbubonic]

@@Stealthbird97 Hi Cori. The DX3000 arrived yesterday & the antenna went up this afternoon. Been looking at the receive functions today and will check out the SWR readings tomorrow. Yes, it's a beefy rig for a Foundation Licence holder but tried the FT-450D in my practical assessment (prior to Covid) and found it too small for my big hands. Was looking at the Icom 7300 and Elecraft K2 but the three antenna sockets and superb noise reduction on the DX3000 sold it. I'm presently learning morse code and want to aim for Intermediate level next year. Was in the hobby forty years ago but as a listener / DXer. 73, Rob.

[@mickg8070]

Why get them to put an swr meter and atu inline?

[@simonm0sys652]

Great video! Simon M0SYS

[@scarecrow243]

why is the tuner set on balance line wire when you have the antenna in coax 1

[@Deadonkey85]

Why bother with the separate SWR meter, there is one on the matching unit.

[@techtinkerin]

Trying to book an exam in Manchester seems like an impossible task, it's totally unclear. I thought it would be like booking a driving theory test, turn up, pass, job done but it's a nightmare of poor amateur websites and guess work. At this stage I don't know how to actually get an exam booked, you should sort this issue out.

[@TheRSGB]

Hi. You can book a remote invigilation exam easily on our website, no matter where you are in the country - go to rsgb.org/exampay and follow the booking process.

[@brian.7966]

I was under the impression the Foundation and I intermediate licence are a stepping sone for the full license nothing more,

[@M7DEU]

Typical G

[@brian.7966]

stepping stone I should have said.

[@TheRSGB]

The Foundation and Intermediate licences are important in their own right. Each give different levels of access and responsibility to radio amateurs, so it is possible to enjoy discovering new aspects of amateur radio at every stage. Some people are happy to stay with the Foundation licence and gain as much enjoyment as they wish without moving onto the Intermediate or Full licences.

[@mm3sgq]

Is this frequency in use??

[@GregoryFenton_UK]

Someone is always monitoring :P

[@G7VFY]

Step One. Go to a Ham radio store with £2000+.

[@GregoryFenton_UK]

Many thanks for your comment Stephen. We made the video using the equipment to hand on the day of recording, just as if someone went to their local amateur radio club to do the Practical Assessment. The radio is not the star of the show, the information contained within the video is.

[@PaulAnslow]

Or step 1A - Go to your local Radio club, boot sale, hamfest etc and look for good second hand equipment. My first HF transceiver I bought on returning to the hobby was a second hand IC706 Mk1 for $300AUD (about £166), which still gets used. Stay away from vintage equipment and find a experienced ham friend to guide you. Antennas you can make yourself. 73 de VK2APA

[@Smudgegs]

Or spend less than £20 online and buy a UV-5R... My first HF Radio was a Trio(Kenwood) TS-120V which I still have, and it was cheap!

[@cooldad4]

I'm concerned if their going to make this hobby look so expensive people wont part with their hard earned money; the equipment shown is thousands of pounds and foundation licence owners need encouragement. Running 10w Hf doesn't seem that practical.

[@cooldad4]

I don't understand the need for all that equipment; Foundation licence holders won't be interested in HF running 10w and VHF/UHF all you need is PSU a 2m/70cm transceiver rg8 or better coax and a factory tuned antenna mounted as high as possible! yes if your running HF then you'll need a SWR/antenna matcher. Connecting the power should be the last thing you do ; Accidentally keying the mike will kill the radio

[@mickclay-vx1sx]

Get ya sen a duel band 50 watts radio for the car and boom

[@M0WFC]

That is not so much what a foundation holder would have as gear. just saying and lol.

[@GregoryFenton_UK]

Hi Chris Thanks for the comment. Not too much emphasis was placed on the radios themselves. The aim was to demonstrate the methodology rather than recommending equipment to purchase. The principles remain the same whatever radio you may have. For me personally as soon as I got my Foundation radio licence I was super excited so I ran out and bought a Yaesu FT-847 and still have it to this day. Some people will do likewise, others will choose to take a different route. That's the fun part of this hobby :) Greg M0ODZ, RSGB ESRG

[@M0WFC]

@@GregoryFenton_UK I completely agree, On my foundation licence i went for the FT817 however i regret it as i feel i would have been better with an FT857 myself. That said the FT2 and now FT3 might well be a good starting point, antenna included and wires-x push one button through a local repeater. It may not be the best route as it tends to steer the operator away from Antenna construction and the HF bands which are needed to progress technically through the hobby. Chris M0WFC.

[@M7DEU]

You shouldn't judge what equipment other amateurs have. I own a car that'll do 130 mph it doesn't mean I drive it at that speed

[@MrMesospheric]

Whilst it's in the right direction, we're still relentlessly projecting an image of the hobby as white, older and male. I see no sign of any realistic attempt to change this at the RSGB over very many years.

[@TheRSGB]

Hi. We have many other videos and resources that highlight young people in amateur radio - have you seen those? Try the 'Practical skills' suite which you can find at www.rsgb.org/practical-skills and our social promo for young people which is on KZbin at kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpTSYWeMiNhql80 We are also doing a lot of outreach for young people including during British Science Week and YOTA, and we are bringing together schools, colleges and universities that have amateur radio clubs or are interested in starting one - take a look at our youth web section at www.rsgb.org/youth where you will find links to our School Zone and University Corner sections. We've also supported International Women in Engineering Day this year and have some great stories about girls and women of all ages who are either licensed or interested in getting their licence because of a career in STEM - see www.rsgb.org/inwed

[@g7npl]

To Gregory Fenton Radio hams are not thick so please stop if you treat a radio ham with respect you get respect back no one likes to be patronised DE G7npl.

[@g7npl]

Stop dumbing down radio hams are not thick shame On the RSGB DE G7NPL