Guides

Short, practical guides for the people who usually ask us first: parents, teachers and group leaders, and anyone who spends their weekends outdoors.

A guide for parents

Is it safe? Is it expensive? Can a ten-year-old really pass the exam? What your child actually gets out of it.

A guide for schools and clubs

Running a licence class, setting up a club station, and the Scout and Trail Life programmes that already use radio.

Ham radio outdoors

Camping, hiking, kayaking, off-roading - communications where there is no cell signal, and a reason to go out.

Why we wrote these

Amateur radio explains itself badly. It sounds like a hobby about equipment, when for most people it is really about a group activity, a bit of self-reliance, and having a way to reach someone when nothing else works. These guides answer the questions each group actually asks, without assuming you know any of the jargon.

Getting started What is ham radio?