Norfolk Amateur Radio Club
The Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is pleased to offer courses and exams for people wishing to obtain a amateur radio license. Amateur Radio now covers much more than just radio, because as well as traditional communications using Morse and Voice, you can send and receive data, slow scan television, normal fast television, GPS tracking of your location, even link to amateur stations around the world using radio linked to the internet! You do not need to know anything about electronics or radio to take an Amateur Radio License course - our recent candidates included a restauranteur, coach driver, scouts and a physiotherapist! It is now easier than ever before to obtain a radio license because there are now three levels of license (Foundation, Intermediate and Advance License) which you do in sequence and virtually anyone of any age from 8 years can take the Foundation License and get on the air in the wonderful world of radio. You do not have to be a member of the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club or any other club or organisation to attend a course or take an exam. However we suggest that you consider joining a club either before or after getting a license as there you will meet other like minded people of similar backgrounds who will more than be pleased to help and advise you on how best to get started in the hobby.
The Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meets alternate Wednesday evenings at Eaton CNS School in Eaton Road Norwich and prospective members are invited to come and visit with no obligation. Details of our meeting place are in our About Us section. There may also be another club nearer to where you live - for more information ask the Exam secretary below or check on the internet, the RSGB (www.rsgb.org.uk) or your local library.
The Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meets alternate Wednesday evenings at Eaton CNS School in Eaton Road Norwich and prospective members are invited to come and visit with no obligation. Details of our meeting place are in our About Us section. There may also be another club nearer to where you live - for more information ask the Exam secretary below or check on the internet, the RSGB (www.rsgb.org.uk) or your local library.
How much will the course cost?
The courses and exams are run at no charge by members of the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club and course fees are mainly to cove the cost of hire of the premises and will depend on the number of people who attend.
The courses and exams are run at no charge by members of the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club and course fees are mainly to cove the cost of hire of the premises and will depend on the number of people who attend.
An Amateur Radio license is now free for life as long as it is applied for online and validated by you at least once every five years (see www.ofcom.org.uk) so the only other cost is some equipment, with a basic single band radio (or ‘rig’) starting at around £50 second hand or £100 new plus an aerial which you can make or buy.
When are the courses run?
We try and run courses relating to demand, so when there are enough people waiting for a course we arrange it. This means we fill the courses to optimum numbers and people wait as short a time as possible.
The courses are generally run on Saturdays at the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meeting place at City of Norwich School in Eaton Norwich. The initial Foundation Course is typically 2 weekend days, including a 1 hour multiple choice exam on the last day. The Intermediate course generally takes 5 days with the exam, again generally at weekends. The Advance course is a longer course over 8 days spanning many weeks and additional dedicated home study is also required on the Advance. From 2023 you can now also take a ‘Direct to Full’ exam which takes you to a full license in one exam. The courses typically have 6-15 people maximum and are friendly and informal. We recommend that you order/purchase the course books just before the course (make sure they are the latest editions) so that you can relate the coursework to the syllabus in the book - these are available from RSGB bookshop, Amazon.co.uk etc.
We try and run courses relating to demand, so when there are enough people waiting for a course we arrange it. This means we fill the courses to optimum numbers and people wait as short a time as possible.
The courses are generally run on Saturdays at the Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meeting place at City of Norwich School in Eaton Norwich. The initial Foundation Course is typically 2 weekend days, including a 1 hour multiple choice exam on the last day. The Intermediate course generally takes 5 days with the exam, again generally at weekends. The Advance course is a longer course over 8 days spanning many weeks and additional dedicated home study is also required on the Advance. From 2023 you can now also take a ‘Direct to Full’ exam which takes you to a full license in one exam. The courses typically have 6-15 people maximum and are friendly and informal. We recommend that you order/purchase the course books just before the course (make sure they are the latest editions) so that you can relate the coursework to the syllabus in the book - these are available from RSGB bookshop, Amazon.co.uk etc.
Please note that since 2020 you can take the Amateur Radio exams online from your own home - you do not need to attend a formal course although there are several good online courses as well as club training. See the National society who represents the hobby for more details: www.rsgb.org
Examination Centres used by NARC:
Norfolk Amateur Radio Club
c/o
Sixth Form Centre (details supplied with course confirmation)
City of Norwich School (RSGB Centre Number NF424)
Eaton Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR4 6PP
Eaton Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR4 6PP
David Palmer G7URP (Exam secretary and course address (RSGB Centre ref NF142)
DCP Microdevelopments Limited,
Bryon Court,
Bow Street,
Great Ellingham,
Attleborough,
Norfolk,
NR17 1JB
DCP Microdevelopments Limited,
Bryon Court,
Bow Street,
Great Ellingham,
Attleborough,
Norfolk,
NR17 1JB
email G7URP
How do I apply?
A booking form is available from the exam secretary and will be emailed to those on a waiting list when the course is announced. Please note that the RSGB examination fee is non-refundable if the examination is not attended. Also note that you will need to bring photo-ID with you on the day of the examination.
Contact Information
Examination Secretary
David Palmer G7URP (by email please - this keeps administration efficient and the courses free of charge)
Examination Secretary
David Palmer G7URP (by email please - this keeps administration efficient and the courses free of charge)
How to get on a course:
To register on the waiting list for the next available course please send an email with your name, course required and your phone number to G7URP
To register on the waiting list for the next available course please send an email with your name, course required and your phone number to G7URP
US License examinations
We are fortunate to have one of the very few authorised ARRL examiners for the US radio ham license exams in the UK within our club and Vic G0FEI/N0FEI has kindly offered to help us organise and invigilate US license examinations and help with queries like US address requirements etc.
For more information please discuss with Vic G0FEI (details on QRZ.com) or contact through David G7URP as above.
Norwich Amateur Radio Club and the Koblenz Amateur Radio Club in Germany have maintained a monthly radio sked since 2004 as part of the City Twinning arrangements between Norwich and Koblenz. The sked is usually on the second Saturday of each month at 10.00am local clock time on 7.135MHz. To assist local Norwich stations to join the sked a listening watch will also be maintained on 145.250 VHF. So if you have difficulty in joining the net please call G3PDH (Malcolm) or G3LDI (Roger) on VHF. 