I've caught a bug

I haven't yet received my documents for my Foundation licence and am already looking at the syllabus for the Intermediate exam. It seems to be focused on the technical side of things, looks like I will have to try to recall some of my O level physics, last thought about 40 years ago. I have the time and can think of far less rewarding things to do with my time and money, just need to wrap my head around a few formulas for resistance and inductance. I have made some progress with resistors in series and parallel today. Fairly slow progress, but I want it to sink in.

I may even go for the full, just to gain the knowledge, there is little point in me taking it for the extra power levels with my indoor setup. I really seem to have gone down with a nasty case of examitis.

When i passed my foundation i bought the book on the intermediate.
I was so happy with all the bands i could work and contacts i made on 10w.
The book is still in the sealed package it came in 2.5 years later.
To old to stress myself and still very happy on my 10w.

Just simply enjoy yourself with whatever you've chosen to do Mark.  

More importantly is to let others enjoy their choices also.


Whether 'Foundation', 'Intermediate', 'Full' or otherwise some historical notion of 'Advanced' it's all a licence to get on air and enjoy each others transmissions.

The trick is to simply work out what level you need for your own requirements, and then never let anyone tell you you should do different just because they think you should.

Some great advice and words of wisdom from your post repliers Mark. I don't think I can add any more than they have said, I agree with all.

Re the intermediate, I didn't publicise but I obtained recently. Like you, for the same reasons, the extra power privileges are of little use to me at home and, apart from one Jeremy Clarkson power moment to just to try the 50w, my station stays at 10w or less. You can do so much with that power level, look at Alan's QRZ page just as an example... 37,000+ QSOs!!

If you want any tips on taking the next one I am happy to help. If you want any advice on understanding concepts, I will try, but I'm letting it be known that I did not pass with flying colours.. there's a lot I clearly didn't fully grasp.

Just a tip if you do want to put yourself through the stress, and yes I was stressed leading up to and all through the exam, I would get some operating experience under your belt using your foundation licence. There were things I learned through operating that helped me answer some of the questions of which I never saw the answers to in the intermediate manual.

Oh you sneaky b*gger Neal, just noticed your 2EO! Flipping well done mate!  
(Kept that one quiet.)

I'm still far too happy at 10 Watts doing everything I could've imagined at the moment.

Well done Neal.
Didn't realize the 37k i just update every day lol.

Guess what arrived in the post today? Am now an M7, my big old cat was called Morpheus, MOR had gone but EUS was available, so M7EUS it is.

Just printed out the reference data for the Intermediate exam, and it has all the formulas on it. I know how to use them, it was just remembering the equations themselves. That is one less thing to worry about, and can concentrate on the rest of the syllabus.

Great to hear Mark.

Enjoy yourself on air with your new privileges.


(I was going to add you to my list of CT members that now have Ham call signs....it got so big I've lost it! Wonderful to see so many expanding their radio interests.)

Thanks Victor and Alan. I'm with you Victor, as I said despite the new call I am still running 10w or less. I love what I have managed to achieve with that power level and still keep getting surprised often with new things I manage. I think my local club expected me to join the 50w 2m VHF contest level last night, but I entered the 10w one again and had a couple of great contacts that really made my evening. Isle of Wight and one down in to Cornwall with just the 10w into a bit of wire in the loft...



Mark, really happy for you that you've now got your call! I am sure you'll have a blast, as you can see from above and other threads on here like the 10m challenge ones and various band contact threads, 10w will get you around the world and even out of it. I will listen out for you. I am reading the Full manual at the moment.. flicked through and the formulas look like Klingon to me, I'm stressed already and only on page 6.

Just a quick thanks to the CT group while I'm at it. If I hadn't joined here I'd probably still be sat on youtube in my spare time watching others get back into CB and into ham radio and not doing anything about it myself. You all are inspirational and encouraging in your own ways. It's a great group!

One of my best contacts was with M7VIC.

I'll concur with you there Neal in that you Charlie Tango lot are a bad influence....ahem a positively inspiring group. ( )

Like you I would probably have been left reaching out to see if CB was still a thing and never attained a Ham licence but I've never been so happy thanks to the Charlie Tango group and all it's wonderful members. Bringing people together with similar interests is always a winner.  

Oh, and I agree that even though QRP is essentially enforced upon Foundation level I find it such a thrill with the activities and contacts I can achieve at those diminutive powers. Well done you for doing so well with those QRP virtues despite progressing on. (I need to shift my butt back to some VHF/UHF action!)



Alan mate - I've punched fists into the air when I've made far flung QSO's. (I can hardly leap can I?! )
But I'd be the first to admit that the contact giving me the biggest smile on my face with a sense of satisfaction was by getting you in the log.

Well done on the new calls.

I still remember getting my G1 back in 84, really exciting.

Enjoy!

Congratulations on your new ticket!

Please don’t be like so many mike-shy M7s and tap a keyboard for the duration of your new hobby.

I still get a buzz when someone answers me on HF phone, even if it’s only a local.

10 watts SSB on 10 Metres into a wire or vertical in the next few years will get you around the world, and it’s so much more personal than tapping a keyboard!

Hope to catch you sometime on 40 or 10.

G0DNV, Barnstaple