Foundation Exam & Call Sign Info

[M6PAP]

I've been linked to radio for over 30 years, but now with time on my hands will be taking the foundation exam ASAP.
What I would like to know is how often are foundation exams held, and can you chose your call sign?
Been trying to find out what the latest calls are at the moment.
Done a mock exam while eating my lunch the other day and got 18/25 so must have picked up something over the years, could have got two more had I read the questions properly!!
Going to a local club in about three weeks time, but thought I would see if I could get some info now. (getting itchy)
Thanks in advance for any help.

[2e0sql]

What I would like to know is how often are foundation exams held

Its to my knowledge radio clubs can hold foundation licence courses whenever, there's no set dates just depends on when a clubs running one.

and can you chose your call sign?

Yes you can! either an M3 or M6 for foundation as long as its not already been issued once you pass the ofcom online system will guide you!

P.S moved the Topic to this sub forum as it was more appropriate then the general "amateur radio" one.

[M0TZO]

Yes you can! either an M3 or M6 for foundation as long as its not already been issued once you pass the ofcom online system will guide you!

Most of the M3 callsigns have been issued with only a few starting M3Zxx remaining, if any.

[M6PAP]

Thanks Guys.
Should get the one I want as it starts with P, had I done it when I first thougt about it would have been an early G1.
That would have been about 1983/4 but something called work and young family got in the way!!
Will let you know how I get on.
Very good forum.

[m0bov]

Good to see someone from Tangmere, I visited it with my Dad a couple of years ago. Dad was taken back by your flight sim, so much so he now has one at home. Just been replaced by a dedicated PC with lots of add ons.

[M0HAK]

Done a mock exam while eating my lunch the other day and got 18/25 so must have picked up something over the years, could have got two more had I read the questions properly!!
Going to a local club in about three weeks time, but thought I would see if I could get some info now. (getting itchy)
Thanks in advance for any help.

A lot of the real questions need to be read carefully, too.

I don't know when your local club has an exams scheduled, but we are doing an course and exam in Bracknell on the 17th and 24th April.

[M6PAP]

M0BOV, time you had another visit, lots of up dates such as touch screens, and dvds.
Should you feel brave I'm there on a Wednesday!!

M0HAK,
Sorted with exam Worthing & Distric ARC on March 27th / 28th.
The old home town (Bracknell) had been spotted spent 30 years living there moved here about 4 years ago soon after Baldocks Garage closed down, needed work!!
I am running an event with the motor club that weekend or you would have heard from me, as would my son for B & B!!
Was back in 1985 a member of School of Electronic Engineering Radio Club G3IHH at Arborfield Garrison until the army kicked out the civvies, just the radio club nothing to do with work, my electrical skills are changing a light bulb!!
And since about 1977/8 been on CB as Pony Express more recently as Circuitmarshal.
My wife has just said you will be reading this and saying Oh NOT him!!

[M6AEI]

I seem to have missed out here by deciding this was the time of year to go for a foundation licence.

It seems no-one anywhere is doing any more courses before autumn.

That said my local club does them "on demand" with a min of 4, so I wonder if I should get the missus and kids to take foundation licences?

[M0TTB]

I seem to have missed out here by deciding this was the time of year to go for a foundation licence.

It seems no-one anywhere is doing any more courses before autumn.

That said my local club does them "on demand" with a min of 4, so I wonder if I should get the missus and kids to take foundation licences?

Yep, there's often a bit of a summer lull.... pity you didn't see the LEFARS (Loughton & Epping ARS) notice a few weeks ago on here, their FL course is this weekend... so you could've been on the air with a M6 callsign on wednesday if you had spotted that. The Whitton club seems to be a veritable production line these days, I'm sure they'll have an FL course lined up for the near future.

[M6AEI]

Y. The Whitton club seems to be a veritable production line these days, I'm sure they'll have an FL course lined up for the near future.

I'll keep an eye out for a club doing one, I could do without the course bit though.

This is something I keep meaning to have done for years and years, I have been around radios and electronics most of my life, but never got round to getting a licence.

Now that I am in a position to really go for it, my impatience is getting the better of me.

[M0TTB]

I'll keep an eye out for a club doing one, I could do without the course bit though.

A course is pretty much compulsory with most clubs, as the practical assessments are combined with it all... so it makes it far easier for clubs to do it all together. 2 days isn't much to endure? For the IL and Full you can simply do the exam (my own club does the IL practical assessments seperately on a sunday without any course)

[M6AEI]

A course is pretty much compulsory with most clubs, as the practical assessments are combined with it all... so it makes it far easier for clubs to do it all together. 2 days isn't much to endure? For the IL and Full you can simply do the exam (my own club does the IL practical assessments seperately on a sunday without any course)

I realised the practical assessment can't be skipped, I don't mind doing that, it's just the course, this really isn't meant to sound arrogant , I know the coursework itself already, and the first day would just bore me to tears.

[M0TTB]

this really isn't meant to sound arrogant , I know the coursework itself already, and the first day would just bore me to tears.

Don't worry, we hear that one all the time, I was one of them many of us were in the same boat and would just like to have taken the full exam straight away with self study, but unless you're extremely forutnate you're not going to avoid some sort of fl course.

You definitely need to go through a club, as you need the paperwork in hand... notably the practical assessment sheet. You could then get this ticked off prior to the exam by a helpful tutor, enabling you to simply sit the exam.

It's a lot of messing around to find a club and tutors willing to go out of their way... just do a weekend course and get it over with, from a good club tutor you WILL learn things you didn't know before, these things may not be part of the fl exam but they may be part of the IL or more likely the full. Always presuming that you wish to progress?

[M6AEI]

Always presuming that you wish to progress?

All the way, that's my intention anyway.

What I tend to do is find a level I am comfortable with and stop there.

As a hobby I realise if you are not careful and check yourself you could pour untold amounts of money into it, I used to live near a Ham and would often look in his shed, £1000's worth of rigs, used for 30 mins every couple of months if that.

[M6AEI]

Just a quick update, I have found a fully qualified tutor who is going to let me sit the test as soon as I get the paperwork sorted.

[2e0sql]

Fantastic News! keep us posted on how your getting on

[M6AEI]

Time to update this, I passed my foundation last night with 100%.

Just waiting for Ofcom to get the paperwork now.

[M6PAP]

Well done let us know what call you get!

[M6AEI]

I strongly suspect M6TIT, M6SEX & M6HAM won't be available lol

[M6FAX]

Nice one WUB nice to know you got all your training sorted..Just wish I could find a tutor near Halifax to train me so I can take the FL exam..Once again well done mate