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THE AMATEUR RADIO LICENCES

   There are now three Radio Communications Exams (RCE)  

  • FOUNDATION                 introduced January2002
  • INTERMEDIATE              introduced 1991 as the Novice Licence
  • ADVANCED                    was full  Radio Amateur Exam (RAE) revised January 2004 and is the name of the new Full Licence

Morse is no longer a requirement for the RCE since July 2003, but an appreciation is included as part of the Foundation requirements.

 WHAT DOES AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM MEAN?

 Everyone entering the hobby from January 2004 must progress through each stage in turn.  It is no longer possible to become a radio amateur by passing a purely theoretical examination – there are practical tests at Foundation and Intermediate levels.

 There are no exceptions to this rule and even a BSC in electronics has to go through the stages and must be able to demonstrate suitable skills in licence conditions, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and use of amateur equipment.

 NO COURSE IS REQUIRED AT ANY LEVEL, although many candidates will want to be taught by an experienced registered instructor.  They will however have to complete the practical tests and have them assessed by an approved registered Trainer/Instructor

 WHAT ARE THE CALLSIGNS ALLOCATED TO EACH CATEGORY?

 This is an easy question to answer now  

  • All calls beginning with  ‘G’, ‘M0’, ‘M1’ and ‘M5’ are Advanced
  • All calls beginning with  ‘2’ are Intermediate, e.g. 2E1IOW
  • All calls beginning with  ‘M3 ’ are Foundation and M4 will follow when combinations of letters run out

There is also a regional locator added to the callsign for different parts of the British Isles, which you will learn at Foundation level.

 Distinction between the three licences

 Foundation Licensees are restricted to TEN Watts power using commercially manufactured equipment and with the exception of the 10 metre band can use bands from 160 metres to 70 centimetres (1,8 Megahertz to 432 Megahertz) and use satellites. They are limited in other ways; for example, they may not supervise other operators.

Intermediate Licensees have access to virtually all amateur bands with a power of FIFTY Watts.

They may make and modify their own equipment, can use satellites and work with User Services.

Advanced Licensees can use 400 Watts and have all the bands available.  This includes the possibility of operating Maritime Mobile and abroad in certain countries.                                                                       

What is this about operating abroad?

Please note only Advanced Licensees may operate abroad.  This includes operation under the CEPT agreement (for Europe and the USA among other places) and also in getting a reciprocal licence.

Foundation and Intermediate licensees who go on the air from the Republic of Ireland or France (for example) are operating illegally – they may jeopardise their UK licence as well as risking prosecution abroad.  Of course it is legal to access a repeater, which happens to be in a foreign country as long as you remain in the UK.

 What are the exams and assessments at the three levels in summary?

 Foundation amateurs must show their ability to operate correctly within the amateur bands and deal with safety and EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) issues.  They must know how to put up efficient antennas, and have enough theory to cope with the low power level allowed.

  They have to pass an examination in licence conditions and radio basics.

   At Intermediate level. An amateur must have a good knowledge of radio theory, as well as learning much more material relating to EMC, safety and licence conditions. This is commensurate with a licence that permits the construction and use of their own transmitters and receivers etc.

One of the practical assessments is that a candidate has to build a small piece of radio related equipment, and get it working to the satisfaction of the assessor.  By the time candidates get their Intermediate Licences, they will have undergone around a dozen tests of their practical abilities.

 

The Advanced Licence requires a fairly detailed understanding of radio theory, and involves a serious examination.  The questions relating to licence conditions are ‘open book’.  The knowledge that amateurs require to reach the ‘top of the tree’ is similar to before, in the days of the RAE.  The practical tests at the lower levels involve additional work.  Most amateurs do not find these tests onerous; because they simply reinforce projects and ideas they have already worked on.

 

How is the training and examination system being administered now?

 City and Guilds, which had run the RAE since 1946, has withdrawn from the examination of radio amateurs from December 2003.  The RSGB in conjunction with OFCOM is now carrying out registration and examination of candidates for the RCE (Radio Communications Examination)

 Foundation assessments and examinations are available at ‘short notice’ (10 working days).

 Intermediate assessments and examinations are held at the end of each month (10 working days required), it is hoped that this can be increased to ‘short notice’ soon.

 Advanced examinations are held every two months.

 Radio Society of Great Britain, RCE department, Susan Lloyd Examination Supervisor.

3 Abbey Court, Priory Business Park, Bedford, MK44 3WH Phone 0870 904 7373

  E-mail RSGB.  rce.dept@rsgb.org.uk or for general information the website  www.rsgb.org/

                                                                           The above information was compiled by G3PZB for the Isle of Wight Radio Society from information in the RSGB Radcom Magazine February 2004 plus updates.

 

PDF file from Ofcom giving more info of the three licences.

www.radioauthority.org.uk/radiocomms/ ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/Licences/samplelicence07.pdf