Amateur Radio is one of the most enjoyable and technical hobbies around today but before you can transmit on the Amateur Frequencies you must have a licence. Fear not! As a club we offer training courses to go all the way up to a full licence covering theory, practical assessments and the exam itself.
Courses can be tailored to suit your personal needs and abilities and designed for all ages and abilities. Indeed, South Lancs Amateur Radio Club take pride in tailoring a Foundation Course to suit children from the age of just ten years old helping the younger generation to be ‘on the air’ very quickly.
Our courses are delivered by Radio Society of Great Britain accredited tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience behind them. To find out more contact our Course/Exam Secretary using the ‘Contact Us’ section of this website.
Foundation Licence This course is run as required throughout the year and provides an insight into the technical basics of receivers, transmitters and antennas. How and where to operate with your new licence is covered in detail along with safety considerations and correct operating procedures. The exam is in the form of 26 multiple choice questions and, upon passing, will start you off on the air.
Intermediate Licence Building on the Foundation licence this course is for those seeking to upgrade their Foundation call sign. Usually held from May to July the course covers all elements of the Intermediate syllabus. The structure is in the same easy to understand style as the Foundation Licence and divides the syllabus into manageable sessions that contain both theory and practical exercises. We provide lots of helpful information including important safety advice and tips and how best to approach the written exam itself.
Full Licence This course contains all of the information required to move to the final stage of amateur radio licensing. The Full licence syllabus is broken down into logical sections to match the Advanced Licence manual published by the Radio Society of Great Britain. There are no practical assessments on this course but the theoretical aspects are akin to a further education level of study. ‘Advance! the Full Licence Manual’ is the ideal companion to our training course as it provides a useful reference source to many amateurs even after they have passed the examination.
Morse Communication Although no longer a requirement of the Licence, Morse code (also known as CW) is alive and kicking amongst radio enthusiasts and some of our members have been known to bash out the dits and dahs over the airways. Morse code can often get through when voice cannot and a cult following for this type of communication is still growing as amateurs regularly work the world on just 5 Watts of power! The club has resources and computer software available should you wish to try your hand at this method of communication with this informal approach.
Digital Modes
FT8, JT65, JT9, PSK31, RTTY, Hellschreiber, FAX, SSTV and don’t forget DV700! Digital modes of communication over the air, via repeaters and through the Internet can feel a bit overwhelming and difficult to get your head round. Not a training course as such but the knowledge and experience of our members will aid and help you to understand the new age of amateur radio communication formats and assist you to successfully connect your computer to your transceiver and join the digital revolution.
