Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazz4CQJ
Does the UK Intermediate Licence actually forbid the use of home-made coils; I would certainly hope not!
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Well for a start off, you don't need any kind of licence to build and operate a receiver.
The Foundation licence (the only 'complete 'stand-alone' licence) permits the use of commercial transmitting equipment up to 10 Watts output. It also permits the use of 'approved kits', which isn't defined as there is no approval system, but Tim Walford (Walford Kits), for example, produces quite a range of high quality low power transmitting kits and receivers which would give no concern to Ofcom. The FL does not permit the use of modified ex PMR equipment, but that's a thing of the past anyway.
The Intermediate licence, which bolts onto the FL, allows home-brew and up to 50 Watts output. In any event, both courses involve some practical work, such as building a VFO, which hopefully encourages some candidates to have a dabble at homebrew. All in all, a far better grounding in the hobby than the old essay style RAE I took back in 1974 - what a let down that was. No practical work, and no on-air assessment.
The Full Licence bolts onto the other two, and also permits homebrew should anyone wish to engage in it, and up to 400 Watts PEP on SSB, which is a bit academic, because most amateurs use commercial transmitters with solid state PAs which put out 100 Watts maximum. But because they have built-in ATUs which will limit the output into a mismatched antenna, it's unlikely that 100 Watts will appear at the feed point of the antenna.
QRP (low power), seems to be the last bastion of 'home-brewing'.
Search PW from cover to cover and you'll find lots of glossy full-page ads with equipment that can cost as much as a small car, but little technical content. (Even Tony Nailer doesn't write for PW any more). Contrast that with the G-QRP Club magazine 'SPRAT', which cover to cover, is home-brew. QRP is defined as up to ten Watts. Surprising what you can do with that. Many QRPers manage with less - there's a 'Million Miles per Watt' award.
Have fun!