Foundation Licence FAQ

[M5GWH]

Hi everyone.

Lockdown has caused an upsurge in interest in those wanting to gain their Foundation Licence (probably because you can do it without the Practical assessment and outside of a club).

I've put together a FAQ document at https://tinyurl.com/ukflfaq/ and its being updated on a regular, sometimes daily basis.

Everything is covered from the buying the book, online courses and revision resources to applying for the exam, pre exam meeting and what happens on the day.

Please share with anyone interested and, if you're going for the exam - good luck!

Leigh M5GWH

[Mitch]

Link doesn't work, try this


Any Full licence courses online?

[stanogs68]

i know you can do your foundation with a web cam but what about the practicals for the higher courses

[MorseMan]

Just do the foundation online, Absolutly no construction needed.
It's doubtful if you need any kind of knowledge at all really.
I know a guy who took the test absolutely pi**ed out of his head & still passed with flying colours.
If he can do it anyone can.
About 12 hours of casual study should ensure a pass.

[Mikel]

By the way, as a reminder if you want to do any of the online exams, you must have either a Windows computer (Windows 7 and above) or a Mac (Mac OS 10.8 or later).

So no Linux or similar derivatives allowed unfortunately.

It would have been no good for me, as all my machines are Linux, and have been for a number of years. No crashes, no blue screen of death, no virus problems etc with Linux Mint, YMMV but for me it has been a vast improvement and I will never go back to Windows.

[Transwarp]

Are you saying you like Linux or Windows?

[Mikel]

Are you saying you like Linux or Windows?

I like Linux and would not go back to Windows if I could help it, that is why I stated:

all my machines are Linux, and have been for a number of years. No crashes, no blue screen of death, no virus problems etc with Linux Mint, YMMV but for me it has been a vast improvement and I will never go back to Windows.

I think that the RSGB should have engaged an exam provider that produced examination software for Linux users.

I have no particular axe to grind with the RSGB, and I think they do some good work, but I think in this particular instance they have been narrow minded in their outlook.

[Ant]

I don't think they've been narrow minded. They're not going to have something developed for an OS a small percentage of computer users use, for an exam to be taken by a tiny percentage of the population.

[Mikel]

I don't think they've been narrow minded. They're not going to have something developed for an OS a small percentage of computer users use, for an exam to be taken by a tiny percentage of the population.

Yeah you're probably right, I suppose it all boils down to money at the end of the day, what with the RSGB being a “not-for-profit” organisation etc.

I am not one of these people who likes to criticise the RSGB every chance I get, I think they are a force for good and hey, where is the alternative to them?

If the truth be known I am just having a moan, as I am unable to do the full license even if I wanted to, because you need 2 Windows computers to sit the exam and I am 100% Linux here. I might be able to borrow one Windows computer but not two and i'm not going to splash the cash just to sit an exam

Saying that mind you from my strictly anecdotal, experience a higher percentage of radio enthusiasts are Linux/Ubuntu users compared to the general population, but I accept that my experience may not be typical