About the Foundation licence in Australia
The Foundation licence is the entry level of the three Australian amateur qualifications, followed by Standard and Advanced. Foundation licensees can operate on parts of 80m, 40m, 15m and 10m on HF, plus 2m and 70cm, at up to 10 W PEP. The assessment covers the licence conditions, basic electronics, transmitters and receivers, antennas and feedlines, propagation, interference and safety, and practical operating. Many clubs run courses and can arrange the assessment, and the WIA's website explains the current arrangements.
These questions are written for this site to help you check your understanding. They aren't official assessment questions, so use them alongside the Foundation licence manual.
How to use the quiz
- Practise a topic at a time when you've just studied it, then mix all topics together as the assessment gets closer.
- Read every explanation, even when you get the answer right.
- Do the sums by hand. The Ohm's law calculator and wavelength calculator let you check your working.
After you pass
Once you've qualified, the ACMA issues your callsign, and you can operate under the amateur class licence. The Australian HF band plan and VHF and UHF band plan show where to operate, and the Q codes and phonetic alphabet pages will help with your first contacts.
Questions
Are these the real assessment questions?
No. They're written for this site to cover the same topics.
What power can a Foundation licensee use in Australia?
Up to 10 W PEP.
Which bands can Foundation licensees use?
Parts of 80m, 40m, 15m and 10m on HF, plus 2m and 70cm. 6m and 20m need a Standard licence.
Do I need to learn Morse code?
No. Morse isn't required for any Australian amateur licence.