Australian Foundation Licence due for Review

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The 10th anniversary of the new entry level licence in Australia has seen a great turnaround with Amateur Radio being made more accessible to a greater number of people.

When the entry level ticket was proposed as part of the Australian Communications Authority "Big Review", the Foundation Licence was embraced by radio amateurs as the way forward for Amateur Radio.

“...with a decline in the number of candidates, more needs to be done to promote the hobby and review the attractiveness of it as the entry point”
— WIA News

The Foundation Licence has transformed the numbers of active hobbyists from a worrying declining interest in Amateur Radio, to one of growth with new people entering the hobby and most upgrading to the Standard or Advanced levels.

Since 2005 over 5,000 Foundation Licence assessments have held, but with a decline in the number of candidates, more needs to be done to promote the hobby and review the attractiveness of it as the entry point.

Wireless Insitute of Australia - http://wia.org.au/

 

Irish Amateur Radio Course Guide

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The national society in Ireland, the IRTS have made available an online course guide for the amateur radio licence examination

Irish_Amateur_Radio_Course_Guide

The guide has been designed by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society to assist individuals prepare for the exam and also to act as a template for those organising classes.

In Ireland there is only one class of amateur radio licence, this is regarded by Ofcom as being equivalent to the UK Full (Advanced) for reciprocal licensing purposes.

Unlike the UK licence system there are no practical assessments there is just a single 60 question exam paper which is in two parts.

  • Section A covers Amateur Radio Regulations & Related Topics (30 Questions in total)
  • Section B covers Amateur Radio Theory & Related Topics (30 Questions in total)

Two hours is allowed for the exam and the pass mark is 60%. Holders of this HAREC qualification are able to apply to Ofcom for a Full M0 reciprocal licence.

IRTS Course Guide - http://www.hamradio.ie/course-guide/intro/course_guide.html

SARL Assist Zambians with the Licensing of Amateurs

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The SARL (The South African Radio League) will assist the Radio Society of Zambia with the licensing of amateurs in that country.

SARL_Assist_Zambian_Licensing_Amateurs

In accordance with the requirements of the ITU, the Zambian authorities require a harmonised amateur radio examination certificate (HAREC) before issuing a license.

In the past this certificate was provided by the UK's City and Guilds after Zambian candidates passed the City and Guilds Radio Amateur Examination.. This arrangement is no longer in operation.

The Radio Society of Zambia has approached the SARL to conclude an agreement whereby the Zambian candidates can write the South African examination. Under the new agreement, set out in a memorandum of understanding, Zambian candidates will in future enter for the South African examination. For this purpose, a SARL examination centre will be registered in Zambia and the Radio Society of Zambia will provide the venue, invigilators, security arrangements and cover all costs.. The answer papers will be returned to South Africa and will be marked here.

HAREC certificates will be couriered to the Radio Society of Zambia for those candidates who pass. The Zambian authorities have already agreed to accept the HARECs issued by the SARL.

Zambian candidates who are members of the Radio Society of Zambia qualify for SADC members of the SARL.

This arrangement is similar to the arrangement the SARL already has with Namibian Amateur Radio League.