Post date: Nov 1, 2018 10:44:21 PM
An unlicensed amateur asked on reddit what the experience was of getting a Foundation License in Australia and how to go about learning and what the exam involved. Here's what Onno VK6FLAB wrote:
First of all, great, welcome, nice to have you here.
As for the test and preparing for it, anti-climactic is a good sentiment. It seems daunting, but in the end, for me, it was essentially a weekend of watching power-point slides, learning some stuff about the practical aspects, connectors, operating technique, etc. and a multiple choice test the following weekend. There is a practical exam as well, essentially show that you know how to operate a radio, plug in the bits into the right holes and know how to troubleshoot - all of it covered within about 20 minutes of instruction.
My experience aside, some training organisations knock the whole thing off in a day, others do it online, etc. If you're living remote, there is the opportunity to have remote examinations etc.
The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is the authorised body that manages the process. Within that there are training providers and authorised examiners, the structure of that is too complex to get into here, but essentially, the WIA manages this on behalf of the regulator, the ACMA.
There are on line resources and apps, including video courses, trial exams, drills etc:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hamradiocourse&hl=en
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amateur-radio-foundation-course/id1077291042
This isn't complicated, we have had nine year old's pass this exam and be active on air.
#exam #course #resources #learning #vk6flab #reddit