The QSL Academy Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Course is a complete, online training program designed to prepare students for the official ISED Basic Amateur Radio examination in Canada. Fully updated to match the latest Industry Canada (ISED) Basic Question Bank, the course provides everything required to earn your Canadian amateur radio certification with confidence.
Students can register and begin studying immediately. Lessons are structured directly from the official exam syllabus and question bank, with embedded exam-ready answers, interactive quizzes, section exams, and full-length practice tests. When practice scores consistently reach 80% or higher, students are well prepared to schedule their official ISED Basic examination and obtain their Canadian amateur radio callsign.
For licensed operators looking to upgrade, the QSL Academy Advanced Amateur Radio Course remains fully available and follows the same proven QSL (Question Specific Learning) methodology. It delivers deeper technical understanding, focused exam preparation, and a structured pathway toward earning your Advanced certification in Canada.
Developed by Don Rosberg, VE7DXE, QSL Academy combines real-world amateur radio operating experience with structured, online learning built specifically for Canadian certification requirements. Both courses are fully self-contained — no textbooks, no classroom attendance, and no additional materials required — providing an affordable and flexible way to earn or upgrade your ham radio license in Canada.
Log into your hamshack.ca account to access the QSL Advanced Course. Don’t have an account? No problem, request an account here. Good luck with your studies!
Learn the Rules That Govern Amateur Radio in Canada
Regulations and Policies – 001 covers everything new operators need to know about authorization , station identification, international agreements, and operating responsibilities. By mastering the regulations and policies that shape the amateur service, you’ll build a solid foundation for safe, legal, and effective radio operation — preparing you for both the Basic exam and real-world on-air confidence.
The Operating Procedures in Amateur Radio module is a cornerstone of the Basic Qualification curriculum, designed to teach the skills needed for effective communication on VHF, UHF, and HF bands. Covering essential topics such as repeater and simplex operation, the phonetic alphabet, Morse code, Q signals, and emergency procedures, this course equips learners to handle real-world communication scenarios with confidence and professionalism. Using the QSL (Question Specific Learning) methodology, the course combines theory with practical, scenario-based learning, helping participants master operating procedures, optimize signal reports, and prepare thoroughly for the Basic Qualification exam. This hands-on approach ensures learners are ready to complete the Basic exam.
The Station Assembly, Practice, and Safety module covers how transmitters, receivers, power supplies, and antennas work together in a safe, effective amateur radio station. Using the QSL approach, it blends core theory with practical examples to prepare learners for both the Basic Qualification exam and real-world operation.
This section introduces the essential circuit components that power amateur radio. From resistors and capacitors to diodes, transistors, FETs, amplifiers, and even vacuum tubes, you’ll learn how each part works and why it matters. With clear explanations and practical examples, you’ll build the knowledge needed to recognize these components, understand schematics, and apply them in real radio circuits.
Basic Electronics and Theory – Learn the core principles that power every circuit. This section introduces Ohm’s Law, power, resonance, impedance, and measurement, giving you the tools to understand, design, and troubleshoot real radio systems.
Section B-006 – Feedlines and Antenna Systems gives learners a practical understanding of antenna fundamentals. Covering dipoles, verticals, Yagis, wires, and loop antennas, the section explains how dimensions, impedance, gain, bandwidth, and construction influence real-world performance. Students come away with the knowledge to match antenna types to their operating goals, from simple multi-band wires to high-gain directional arrays.
Hamshack.ca’s “Radio Wave Propagation” course dives into the science of how radio waves travel, reflect, and refract, covering ionospheric layers, solar activity, and propagation modes like Sporadic-E and ducting. Through the QSL (Question Specific Learning) methodology, learners engage with practical examples and scenarios to simplify complex topics, from understanding ground wave communication to optimizing signals during sunspot peaks. This course equips you with the knowledge and confidence to excel in the Basic Qualification exam and your amateur radio journey.
The Interference and Signal Quality section explains how to recognize and prevent unwanted emissions in amateur radio. From harmonics and spurious signals to splatter and key-clicks, operators learn the causes of interference and how to control them through careful transmitter adjustment and the use of filters. This knowledge ensures clean signals, protects other stations, and promotes good operating practices.
Hamshack.ca provides original, Canadian-focused amateur radio training through its Basic and Advanced Courses, along with new courses currently in development. All instructional text, explanations, diagrams, illustrations, quizzes, assessments, and related materials have been developed exclusively for Hamshack.ca learners and form a complete proprietary educational system.
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