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 fuss is about, it is worth knowing about. This is effectively the Olympics of amateur radio contesting, and it came to our back garden.

What is WRTC?

The World Radiosport Team Championship is held every four years and brings together the best contesting operators on the planet to compete on an equal footing. Teams of two operators are each given identical antennas and equipment, set up in the same geographic area, and let loose on the HF bands at the same time. The only variable is operator skill. No fancy antenna farms, no high power — just the ability to work as many stations as possible in a set time period.

It is, in short, the purest form of competitive radio operating there is. Previous championships have been held in Slovenia, the United States, and Germany. In 2026, it was our turn. The RSGB served as an official partner throughout, with volunteers on site all week and coverage appearing on BBC News Online and local radio.

Why should a Foundation licence holder care?

Fair question. As an M7 holder you are probably not entering international contesting championships just yet. But events like WRTC matter to all of us for a few reasons.

First, they bring attention to amateur radio as a serious, skilled activity. One of the quiet frustrations of being a new operator is explaining to people that this is not CB radio. WRTC makes that case better than any shack conversation — international competition, years of training, mainstream media coverage. It legitimises the hobby in a way that sticks.

Second, contesting is one of the most accessible ways to get on the air when you hold a Foundation licence. You do not need to win. You do not need sophisticated equipment. I made my first contest contact as M7RJJ with ten watts and a wire strung out of a window. The goal for a beginner is simply to call CQ contest, exchange your callsign and a serial number, and log it. Every contact counts.

Getting started with contesting as an M7

The RSGB runs a packed contest calendar, and many events are perfectly approachable for a Foundation holder. The 70MHz Activity Contests, which run on Thursday evenings through the summer, are a relaxed starting point if you have any VHF capability at all. Simple rules, local contacts, manageable pace.

If you want to try HF, look out for the RSGB IOTA Contest at the end of July. Islands on the Air is one of the more forgiving formats — you are working stations associated with islands, which are plentiful around the British Isles, and even a handful of contacts feels rewarding. Foundation holders can operate on HF within their permitted power limits, and nobody expects a rate of 200 contacts per hour from someone who is new to this.

The key thing is simply to try it. Put in a few calls. Log what you work. You might be surprised how far ten watts gets you when propagation is on your side.

Following the results

If you want to find out who took the WRTC 2026 title, the official site at wrtc2026.org has the full coverage. The RSGB’s news pages at rsgb.org are also worth checking — they have been posting regular updates throughout the week.

It is genuinely good to see amateur radio making the mainstream news for the right reasons. WRTC in the UK is a reminder that this hobby spans everything from a nervous first QSO on two metres to a world championship on HF. There is a place in it for all of us.

73 de M0LGI