Ham Radio - UK proposing change to getting licensed

Analoguesat

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Currently here in the UK aspiring ham radio operators have to go through 3 seperate sets of exams to gain the Full licence

Foundation (max power 10W)
Intermediate (max power 50W)
Full (max power 400W)


RSGB is now proposing to have a "direct to full" option which is currently in consultation (ends 14th March 21) This would likely be an online multiple choice exam much like the Foundation exam has been for the last year.

 
Damn, I thought I was limited to 10W with the intermediate.

I even had a power amp lying about for the day I make advanced.
 
There's a relevant & interesting letter in the Letters section of the latest issue of Practical Wireless that questions the relevancy of the content of current & proposed syllabuses for the Intermediate and Full licences.
 
@Channel Hopper

I tried - the Forum software removes what it considers to be superfluous spaces: Divide it thus

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They need to do something - there are major problems with the set up of the system at the moment. I passed my Foundation last summer simply because the practical element had been removed. I never bothered to get my licence beforehand simply because it wasnt practical to get to the sessions for the practical part. The nearest clubs that did them were in Edinburgh or Newcastle & there is no way I was ever going to drive an hour and a half each way for an hours session on a foul autumnal or winter night after a long day at work for an hours practical.

As soon as the exam went online only I did the studying & sailed through. Having had a look at the Intermediate & Full there is a lot of what is basically irrelevant stuff in there. Hardly anyone is going to build their own rigs these days so the building & electronics theory can all go immediately. Modern day practise where you can go and buy a cheap Chinese rig and get on air with no building - concentrate on licensing & good operating practise..
 
....As soon as the exam went online only I did the studying & sailed through. Having had a look at the Intermediate & Full there is a lot of what is basically irrelevant stuff in there. Hardly anyone is going to build their own rigs these days so the building & electronics theory can all go immediately. Modern day practise where you can go and buy a cheap Chinese rig and get on air with no building - concentrate on licensing & good operating practise..
That's basically what the writer of the letter I mentioned above said about the syllabus as it currently stands.
 
By all means keep an extra exam for anyone who wants to build their kit but ffs bring the relevance of the licensing into the 21st century, From what I understand the on line only Foundation exams have been a great success - many hundreds of people took advantage of no practical work last year to get their M7 ticket.
 
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