Foundation licence course
Everything in the RSGB Foundation syllabus, in 16 short lessons, then 5 full mock exams to check you're ready.
16 lessons11 worked calculations130 mock questionsLifetime access
The Foundation exam has 26 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, and you need 19 correct to pass. The lessons follow the syllabus section by section, with more time where the exam asks more questions.
Section 1: Licensing and station identification
6 of the 26 exam questions.
- 1Your Foundation licence: what it allows, call signs and locatorsWhat the amateur licence is for, where it applies, the three licence levels, your call sign and regional locator, and keeping your licence valid.
- 2On the air: identification, supervision and who you may talk toHow and when to give your call sign, who may use your station, who you may talk to, and why messages must never be secret.
- 3Interference, logs, EMF and Schedule 1What Ofcom can require if your station causes interference, when you must keep a log, the EMF safety rules, and how to read Schedule 1 in the exam.
Section 2: Technical basics
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 4Electricity: current, circuits, Ohm's law, power and batteriesConductors and insulators, what a circuit needs, Ohm's law, power in watts, polarity and batteries, with simple calculations.
- 5AC, frequency and wavelength, analogue and digitalDirect and alternating current, the frequency ranges of mains, speech and radio, HF, VHF and UHF, working out wavelength, and analogue and digital signals.
Section 3: Transmitters and receivers
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 6Transmitters: modulation and the transmitter block diagramHow a transmitter puts information onto a radio carrier, AM, FM, SSB and CW, the stages of a simple transmitter, and how to avoid causing interference.
- 7Receivers and software defined radioHow a receiver recovers information, the stages of a simple receiver, and how software defined radios do the same job in software.
Section 4: Feeders and antennas
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 8Feeders, connectors and matching: coax, baluns, SWR and the ATUCoaxial and twin feeder, why feeders lose power, baluns, connectors, and how to check and correct the match between your antenna and transmitter.
- 9Antennas: types, polarisation, patterns, gain and ERPWhat an antenna does, polarisation, the common antenna types, radiation patterns, gain, and how to work out ERP.
Section 5: Propagation
2 of the 26 exam questions.
- 10Propagation: how far signals go, from HF to UHFHow radio waves travel, how the ionosphere carries HF signals around the world, and what sets the range at VHF and UHF.
Section 6: Electromagnetic compatibility
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 11EMC: how interference happens and how to cure itWhat EMC and immunity mean, which modes cause most trouble, how RF gets into other equipment, and the cures, including the dummy load test.
- 12A good neighbour: antenna siting, RF earths, vehicles and complaintsSiting antennas to avoid interference, why a station needs an RF earth, fitting radios in vehicles, and handling a neighbour's complaint.
Section 7: Operating practices
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 13Making a contact: listening, calling, phonetics, reports and logsHow to find a clear frequency, make a CQ call, use the phonetic alphabet and suffixes, give a signal report, keep a log, and behave on air.
- 14Band plans, repeaters, digital modes, satellites and going abroadReading a band plan, sharing the spectrum, using repeaters, digital voice, connecting other equipment, satellites, and operating abroad.
Section 8: Safety
3 of the 26 exam questions.
- 15Electrical safety: mains, fuses, RCBOs and batteriesThe dangers of high voltage and high current, wiring a mains plug, fuses and RCBOs, working inside equipment, what to do after an accident, and battery safety.
- 16A safe station: tools, soldering, antennas, height, RF exposure and working outdoorsUsing tools and soldering safely, putting up antennas and using ladders, RF exposure, lightning and power lines, and safety when operating outdoors.
Before you buy
Is RadioPrep an RSGB course?
No. RadioPrep is independent. The courses follow the RSGB's published exam syllabus and Ofcom's licence conditions, but they aren't affiliated with or endorsed by the RSGB or Ofcom. You book the exam itself through the RSGB.
Is it up to date?
Yes. The courses follow the RSGB syllabus version 1.6b (March 2026), the Ofcom licence conditions of February 2024 and Ofcom's guidance of October 2025, including 25 W for Foundation, 100 W for Intermediate, 1000 W for Full and the current call sign formats.
How are the mock exams like the real thing?
Each paper has the same number of questions, the same time and the same pass mark as the RSGB exam, with the questions spread across the syllabus sections in the same proportions. The questions are our own, not copied from RSGB papers.
What about the calculations?
Every lesson with maths has a 'Work it out' step: try the calculation yourself, then reveal the working one line at a time. The same worked examples are on the printable revision sheet.
How long do I have access?
For as long as we run the course, with no subscription. If we ever close a course, we'll give you at least 12 months' notice.
Can I get a refund?
You can cancel within 14 days. Because the course is digital content, the right to cancel ends once you start the lessons, and we ask you to confirm this at checkout.