The Foundation Qualification – a starting point
The Foundation Qualification is a stepping stone or entry point, giving you a real taste of Amateur Radio and the fun it provides.
It is for those wanting to enjoy Amateur Radio, to have the knowledge and skills to demonstrate a practical ability to put together a station from commercial equipment (or equipment you build yourself if you are really keen), and to operate it safely.
You will need to attend a course (or buy a course manual and study it yourself- see the WIA website-https://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/foundationmanual/) to learn the information you need to pass the exam in order to gain a Foundation Licence. This will allow you to perform a wide range of activities including:
- Communicate with others via analogue radio on multiple frequency bands
- Communicate with others via digital radio modes
- Experiment with transmitting your own Television images,
… and much more
There are also Standard and Advanced qualification levels that you can gain later if you decide you want to. Your course will cover things like;
- the radio spectrum
- licence conditions
- technical basics of electricity and electronics
- basics of transmitters, receivers, feed lines and antennas
- basics of signal propagation, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and electromagnetic radiation (EMR).
- what to say and how to say it