What inspires young radio amateurs to get licensed?
If you are a young person and interested in becoming a radio amateur, read our interview with Henry, age 17, and hear how he got started..
Name: Henry
Age: 17
Call sign: M0KUQ
About me:
I’m currently studying A-level Physics and Computer Science at Sixth Form. I enjoyed studying for the Foundation licence so much, I went on to study and gain my Intermediate licence and then the Full licence within seven months.
What inspired you to get into amateur radio?
Pure accident – I was looking for a new computing and technology magazine, and picked up Practical Wireless thinking it was about computing. It was only when I got home I realised it was actually about amateur radio. I started reading and soon found myself wondering how to get started in amateur radio.
How did you study for your exams?
As soon as I discovered I needed a licence, I immediately enrolled on the Foundation course with Essex Ham online. It’s completely free, easy to follow, and isn’t too time consuming.
For the Intermediate licence, I studied using a course created by Billy, GM6DX. However, when it came to finding a course for the Full licence, I couldn’t find anything suitable, so decided to self-study using “The RSGB Full Licence Manual for Radio Amateurs”.
How did you meet other radio amateurs?
I joined my local amateur radio club, the Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club, which has been really helpful. As luck would have it, I was also introduced to Martin Atherton, G3ZAY who is the Honorary President of Cambridge University Wireless Society (CUWS).
Both groups have been supporting my ongoing learning within the hobby and have helped me try out contesting. I enjoy the fast pace and spontaneity that it brings and have been involved with some Field Days and other competitions with CUWS. I also recently took part in the CQWW SSB Contest.
What are your top tips for other young people thinking of joining the hobby?
- Start studying for the Foundation licence exam as soon as possible, as you can do most things with just that
- There are lots of free resources available to help you study, so it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to get started
- Join your local radio club: from experience, everyone is very friendly and more than happy to give advice
- I highly recommend trying to participate in a competition even if it is just to gain some experience
What’s next?
Discovering amateur radio has inspired me to apply for Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses at university. I want to carry on learning more theory, as well as about the assembly and construction of radio equipment. I also plan on joining the university amateur radio society.
Category: Your stories
