# Foundation Amateur > Your gateway to UK ham radio > Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.3, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [News and Views](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/blog/): A range of thoughts, news and views on Amateur radio from Rich - M0LGI, the founder of Foundation Amateur - [Build Something This Week: The RSGB Maker Webinar and Your First Home-Brew Radio Project](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/build-something-this-week-the-rsgb-maker-webinar-and-your-first-home-brew-radio-project/): Most of us come into amateur radio through a handset and a licence, but sooner or later a different itch appears: what if I built that myself? If you have felt it, this is a good week to scratch it. On Monday 5 October the RSGB's Tonight@8 webinar series welcomes Tom Wardill (M9TWM), the Society's - [Milton Keynes Calling: RSGB Convention 2026 and What It Means for New Licence Holders](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/milton-keynes-calling-rsgb-convention-2026-and-what-it-means-for-new-licence-holders/): If you've only just got your Foundation licence in your hands, the amateur radio calendar can feel like it's suddenly speeding up. This week it certainly has: tickets for the RSGB Convention are down to their last few days, the AMSAT-UK Colloquium is gearing up alongside it, GB2RS's Tonight@8 slot is back on the air, - [Your First Rally: A Foundation Licence Holder's Guide to the National Hamfest 2026](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/your-first-rally-a-foundation-licence-holders-guide-to-the-national-hamfest-2026/): There is a particular kind of nervousness that comes with your first amateur radio rally. You have passed your Foundation licence, your callsign has landed in the Ofcom portal, and now you are standing in a field surrounded by several hundred people who all appear to know exactly what a roller coaster ATU is and - [Coding Week for Radio Amateurs: Making a micro:bit Send Morse (and Why Foundation Holders Should Try It)](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/coding-week-for-radio-amateurs-making-a-microbit-send-morse-and-why-foundation-holders-should-try-it/): There is a particular kind of moment that hooks people on this hobby for life. For some it is a first contact across the Atlantic. For others it is the day a bit of code they wrote made a radio do something on its own. National Coding Week runs from 14 to 20 September this - [New RSGB Contest Rules Are Coming: Why Foundation Licence Holders Should Start Contesting Now](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/new-rsgb-contest-rules-are-coming-why-foundation-licence-holders-should-start-contesting-now/): Earlier this month, the RSGB quietly announced something that has got the contesting community talking. From 1 January 2027, eligibility to enter RSGB contests will be open to all appropriately licensed radio amateurs, regardless of nationality or location. It's a significant moment for the hobby, and one that got me thinking: if you hold a - [The RSGB DMR Youth Net Is Back: Your Beginner’s Guide to Digital Voice](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/the-rsgb-dmr-youth-net-is-back-your-beginners-guide-to-digital-voice/): September is just around the corner, and with it comes a welcome return for one of the most beginner-friendly initiatives in UK amateur radio. The RSGB Youth Committee’s DMR Youth Net is back after its summer break, meeting every first Tuesday of the month at 7pm BST — and if you’ve recently passed your Foundation - [From Canals to Airwaves: Why BIWOTA Is the Perfect Bank Holiday Radio Adventure for Foundation Licence Holders](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/from-canals-to-airwaves-why-biwota-is-the-perfect-bank-holiday-radio-adventure-for-foundation-licence-holders/): If you're a Foundation licence holder looking for a reason to get off the sofa this August Bank Holiday weekend, the British Inland Waterways on the Air event might be exactly what you need. Running from Saturday 29 August through to Monday 31 August 2026, BIWOTA is one of the UK's most distinctive amateur radio - [500 Lighthouses on the Air: Why the ILLW Is the Perfect Summer Event for Foundation Licence Holders](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/500-lighthouses-on-the-air-why-the-illw-is-the-perfect-summer-event-for-foundation-licence-holders/): If you've got your Foundation licence and you're looking for a fun, low-pressure way to get on the air this August, I've got just the thing for you. The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) is coming up on 15 and 16 August, and it's one of my favourite events on the amateur radio calendar. - [RSGB Convention 2026: Why Foundation Licence Holders Should Grab a Ticket Now](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/rsgb-convention-2026-why-foundation-licence-holders-should-grab-a-ticket-now-2/): With just over two months to go until the RSGB Convention 2026, tickets are on sale and the programme is taking shape — and if you hold a Foundation licence, this might be the best year to make your first trip to Milton Keynes. I know what you're thinking. "Isn't the RSGB Convention for the - [RSGB Convention 2026: Why Foundation Licence Holders Should Grab a Ticket Now](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/rsgb-convention-2026-why-foundation-licence-holders-should-grab-a-ticket-now/): With just over two months to go until the RSGB Convention 2026, tickets are on sale and the programme is taking shape — and if you hold a Foundation licence, this might be the best year to make your first trip to Milton Keynes. I know what you're thinking. "Isn't the RSGB Convention for the - [From Meshtastic to MeshCore: The Off-Grid Mesh Radio Taking the Amateur Radio World by Storm](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/from-meshtastic-to-meshcore-the-off-grid-mesh-radio-taking-the-amateur-radio-world-by-storm/): If you've spent any time in UK amateur radio Facebook groups or forums lately, you've probably noticed a word appearing over and over again: Meshtastic. And more recently, MeshCore. These two pieces of open-source firmware are powering a quiet revolution in off-grid communications, and for Foundation licence holders, there's a lot here worth understanding. Let - [Space Radio This Weekend: What EMF Camp 2026 Means for Foundation Licence Holders](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/space-radio-this-weekend-what-emf-camp-2026-means-for-foundation-licence-holders/): This weekend, thousands of curious people descended on Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire for EMF Camp 2026 — the Electromagnetic Field event that brings together geeks, makers, and technologists for four days of talks, workshops, and experimentation. And right in the middle of it all, flying the flag for amateur radio, were three brilliant - [WRTC 2026 Came to the UK — What It Means for Amateur Radio Here at Home](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/wrtc-2026-came-to-the-uk-what-it-means-for-amateur-radio-here-at-home-2/): Something rather special happened in the UK this week. Between 8 and 13 July 2026, the World Radiosport Team Championship — WRTC for short — touched down on British soil. If you have never heard of WRTC, you are not alone. But if you hold a Foundation licence and you are wondering what all the - [WRTC 2026 Came to the UK — What It Means for Amateur Radio Here at Home](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/wrtc-2026-came-to-the-uk-what-it-means-for-amateur-radio-here-at-home/): Something rather special happened in the UK this week. Between 8 and 13 July 2026, the World Radiosport Team Championship — WRTC for short — touched down on British soil. If you’ve never heard of WRTC, you’re not alone. But if you hold a Foundation licence and you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, - [From M7RJJ to M0LGI: My Long Road to a Full Amateur Licence](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/from-m7rjj-to-m0lgi-my-long-road-to-a-full-amateur-licence/): A personal account of one operator's (this site's owner's) 5-year journey through the UK Foundation, Intermediate, and Full amateur radio licence exams. - [FT2 Explained: Beginner's Guide to Amateur Radio's Fastest Mode](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/ft2-explained-a-beginners-guide-to-amateur-radios-fastest-digital-mode/): Discover FT2, the new amateur radio digital mode with 3.8-second cycles and -23 dB sensitivity. A beginner's guide to how it works from Foundation Amateur - [Morse Code in Amateur Radio 2025](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/morse-code-in-amateur-radio-2025/): Discover why Morse code (CW) thrives in 2025 amateur radio. - [Amateur Radio Satellites: From OSCAR-1 to Modern Digital Networks](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/amateur-radio-satellites-from-oscar-1-to-modern-digital-networks/): Amateur radio satellites represent one of the most ambitious and successful grassroots efforts in space technology. For over six decades, radio amateurs worldwide have designed, built, and operated dozens of satellites that have advanced both space science and global communications. These miniature spacecraft, often built on shoestring budgets by volunteers, have pioneered technologies later adopted - [Getting Started with FT8: A Foundation Licence Holder's Guide to Digital Communication](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/getting-started-with-ft8-a-foundation-licence-holders-guide-to-digital-communication/): FT8 (Franke-Taylor design, 8-FSK) has revolutionized amateur radio digital communication since its introduction in 2017. - [The Radio Society of Great Britain: A Century of Amateur Radio Excellence](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/the-radio-society-of-great-britain-a-century-of-amateur-radio-excellence/): The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) stands as one of the world's oldest and most influential amateur radio organisations. ## Pages - [Welcome to Ham Radio](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/): Amateur radio is a great hobby, and taking your first steps with a UK Foundation Licence will give you a grounding in electronics as well as radio technology. - [How to study for the UK Amateur Radio Foundation Licence](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/how-to-study-for-the-uk-amateur-radio-foundation-licence/): Studying for the UK Amateur Radio Foundation Licence opens the door to the world of amateur radio. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare effectively. - [Foundation Licence learning resources](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/foundation-licence-learning-resources/): There are many sources of help available online, but most share the same starting place - The Foundation Licence Manual for Radio Amateurs by Alan Betts G0HIQ. - [Explaining Amateur Radio Antennas](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/explaining-amateur-radio-antennas/): Amateur radio antennas are the interface between radio equipment and the electromagnetic waves. Different sizes and designs exist such as long wire or Yagi - [Amateur radio contesting and radiosport](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/amateur-radio-contesting-and-radiosport/): Amateur radio contesting and radiosport involve competitive activities where operators make contacts within a defined time frame or under specific conditions. - [Morse code (CW) in amateur radio](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/morse-code-cw-in-amateur-radio/): While it may seem uncool to Foundation Licence holders, CW (or Morse Code) remains popular among many amateur radio operators for several reasons - [Amateur Radio data modes used in the UK](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/understanding-amateur-radio-datamodes-in-the-uk/): Amateur radio data modes are an exciting aspect of the hobby, offering a variety of digital communication methods that provide different capabilities - [Main points of the OFCOM Foundation Amateur Radio Licence](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/main-points-of-the-ofcom-foundation-amateur-radio-licence/): The Foundation license is the entry-level amateur radio license in the UK, regulated by Ofcom. It is designed to be accessible for beginners. - [UK OFCOM amateur radio licences](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/understanding-uk-ofcom-licences-for-amateur-radio/): Amateur radio operators in the UK must obtain a licence from Ofcom to operate. Here's a breakdown of the different types of licences offered by Ofcom. - [How is amateur radio modulated?](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/how-is-amateur-radio-modulated/): Amateur radio enthusiasts use various modulation types to transmit information over the airwaves. Here are some of the common ones that you will use on HF radio - [High Frequency (HF) amateur radio](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/high-frequency-hf-amateur-radio/): High Frequency (HF) applies to radio frequencies between 3 to 30 MHz. UK foundation licence holders can use these long-distance communication frequencies. - [Understanding VHF and UHF Amateur Radio in the UK](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/understanding-vhf-and-uhf-amateur-radio-in-the-uk/): Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands are components of UK amateur radio, take a look at their characteristics and applications. - [VHF and UHF radios for Foundation Licencees](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/vhf-and-uhf-radios/): Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios are amongst the most common in use. The Foundation icense allows you to use these frequencies. - [HF radio kit for amateur radio foundation licencees](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/hf-radio-kit-for-amateur-radio-foundation-licencees/): If you are looking for High Frequency (HF) radio kit for amateur radio foundation licensees, there are some great products to get you on the air inexpensively - [What is amateur radio?](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio/): Amateur Radio, often called "ham radio," is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics, and communication together for UK Licence holders - [Foundation Amateur - UK amateur radio advice & starter kits](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/home/): Foundation Amateur aims to help you understand amateur radio and the OFCOM Foundation Licence. We’ve also put together details of starter ham radio equipment. ## Categories - [Uncategorised](https://foundationamateur.co.uk/category/uncategorised/)