Welcome to the web site of TORBAY AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY 
Torbay Amateur Radio Society Training Page
YOU really want to be a RADIO HAM ? read on!
To apply fora course go to the bottom of this page and download the application form
The full Amateur Radio Licence is gained by progressing through the Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced levels of the Radio Communication Examinations.
When entering the hobby you must go through the Foundation Stage before attempting the Intermediate Stage and finally the Advanced Stage, which is the highest level of licence you can obtain.
The Foundation Licence is your entry into Amateur Radio.
This licence was introduced in 2002 and is designed to allow you to get involved in Amateur Radio as quickly as possible.
We usually run this Training Course over one weekend.
The Foundation Licence Training Course is mainly practical, but includesa small amount of radio and electronic theory, and rules & regulations for holding a radio transmitting licence.
This course is run by experienced Radio Amateurs and will take about 10 to 12 hours to complete.
At the end of this course you will sit a 25 multiple-choice question examination.
As the exam papers will be marked on the spot
should you by any chance have failed the exam, you will have the opportunity to re-sit the exam after some reassurance
and a short break.
Once you have received your Pass Certificate you can apply for your own M6*** call sign, and you will then be able to operate on all amateur bands without supervision, but you will have a power restriction to a maximum of 10 Watts.
The Intermediate Licence will be your aim once you have gained some experience with your Foundation Licence. Here the permitted power levels increase to 50 Watts.
The training course for the Intermediate Licence is longer than the Foundation Course, and practical tasks like soldering, building a small project and various other exercises are included to build on the knowledge you gained as a Foundation Licence holder.
After completing the course, you sit the Intermediate Licence Examination once again in a multiple choice format, based on what was taught at the course, including the basic concepts of radio operating on the amateur bands and of course licence conditions.
Once passed, the Intermediate Licence can be obtained.
The Advanced Licence is the highest level of amateur radio licence you can obtain, and to gain this, you must pass the Advanced Radio Communication Examination.
This again covers radio theory and licence conditions, but at a much higher level than the Intermediate Licence requires. As this licence allows you to use 400 Watts output power, subjects like EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility), Safety Issues and Antenna Design are also covered in depth.
When studying for the Advanced Licence there isn't any requirement to take a formal training course at present, as the examination is Theory Based, with no practical syllabus.
Therefore it would be possible for you to study for the Advanced Licence at home, however, the Torbay Amateur Radio Society is getting ready to run courses especially for the Advanced Licence.
NEXT TRAINING COURSE
Intermediate - 17/18 October & 24/25 October
Details from training@tars.org.uk
At the Foundation Exam taken on 14/15 June 2008 6 candidates took the exam and passed
Seen: from L to R
Simon Jakes;
Garry Veale;
David Richards M6ADX;
Andrew Burridge
& Garry Stevens
Barry Lovius M3XVU is missing from the photo
RSGB Books
You will find these books helpful to ensure that you pass the examination of your choice, by clicking on the picture of one of these books you will be taken to the web site of the Radio society of Great Britain, where you will be able to order the book you require
Are you interested in getting started with the Foundation Course and Licence,
then
if you are,then click here for a Sample
Foundation Licence Examination Paper
How did you get on?
Either way, don't worry, the course should get you through,
click on this link for the
Application Form for the Foundation / Intermediate Licence Course NOW!
