Ham Radio.........Give CB a miss.
Submitted: Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:06
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Praxis1
Hello Fellow Communicators.
Just wanted to let you all know that ACMA has approved a new license level for Ham (Amateur) Radio called the Foundation License. It only takes one weekend of study and one of testing to pass it successfully.
Its not for 10-4 Rubber Ducky brigade or people who swear like a banshee, its for people who want to communicate with others easily and with some form of civility. We have access to many bands on HF/VHF/UHF/SHF frequencies and even include satellite access.
They have the travellers net every day on 14 Mhz and 21 Mhz for those of us who love travelling the length and breadth of this country. I was talking to the guys on 21 Mhz from Thailand on a Boat!!!!!!!!!!!!
It allows local and international communications from your vehicle,
shack or boat.
Contact your local ham radio club or look up the WIA website (Wireless Institute of Australia) for more info. This is one great hobby, infact my wife just did her license.
Cheers and wish you all the best
Geoff
VK6NX ( My Callsign)
Reply By: Richard Kovac - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:42
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:42
What do you mean "my wife just did her license" don't you got It?
Richard
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Praxis1 - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:57
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:57
Yes we both have our licenses. And her dad too!!!
Cheers
Geoff
FollowupID:
454788
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:01
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:01
Sorry but did as to getting it are different (I think)!
Do you just apply or do you have to site an test?
Richard
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Praxis1 - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:48
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:48
Yes Richard you do have to sit an exam. But the new foundation license is much easier, but we are also finding many who already want to sit the standard or advanced license as
well.
In Essence if there is an emergency in your area (Tsunami or Storm surge etc) and you lose all normal forms of Communication like hurricane Katrina, you will be able to help people from all walks of life get access to the outside world as
well as call for specific help from Emergency
services.
Its a great hobby.......and it can be a lifetime hobby for many.
Cheers
Geoff
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:30
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:30
Thanks Geoff
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:34
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:34
I also need to check my typing got is meant to be get
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Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:45
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:45
Hi Geoff. Thanks for the publicity. A search of the archives here will reveal a few posts on this topic, including a partial list of those with callsigns.
AnswerID:
196522
Follow Up By: Member - Mal B - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:55
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 21:55
got the paper work looks like the way to go. have a coden n g t should work ok save driveing mal b
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Reply By: dj Patrol - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:17
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:17
Any site link avaiable would help.
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Follow Up By: Praxis1 - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:43
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:43
www.wia.org.au/foundation/
This should give you the information you need. Most accredited australian clubs are listed with the WIA as
well.
Let me know if you need any more
Cheers
Geoff
FollowupID:
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Reply By: _gmd_pps - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:25
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 22:25
yep... if your not braindead the way to go.
CB still has its place for short distance communication in various situations...
have fun
gmd
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Mad Dog - Vic - Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 23:02
Monday, Sep 25, 2006 at 23:02
What a shame the foundation license doesn't allow digital communciations. APRS is a very pratical use of Amateur Radio for us who like to get out and about.
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Follow Up By: Praxis1 - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:32
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:32
Well I have to say Ray, that my wife is even doing her morse code, just to prove to those who bagged it and got it taken out of the curriculum that is not as hard as they make out.
She did 9 words per minute last night and the next step is 10.
She is also going to sit her Standard and possibly advanced license next year. That will give her access to the digital modes.
Cheers
Geoff
VK6NX
FollowupID:
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Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 00:36
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 00:36
So tell me, does my BOCP/TVOCP count towards a "Foundation Licence??
(Broadcast operators certificate of proficiency/Television operators certificate of proficiency, the tickets you need to sit on top of
Mount Dandenong and Mt Coot-tha and the rest of them, operating the 50-100 kW transmitters the Radio and TV stations have)
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:42
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 01:42
It may, take a look here:
Site Link
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Follow Up By: Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 07:32
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 07:32
How about an ancient 'FRTO' (Flight Radio Telephone Operator) :-))
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 07:48
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 07:48
You mean on those old clockwork radios? :)
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Follow Up By: Troop-a-dour - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 08:39
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 08:39
I'm still 'dipping the valves' on the good ole Kenwood TS520..
Even if the newer solid state jobs have the same horsepower(100w)- I think the valve jobs have more torque (grunt) and nicer fuller modulation.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:15
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:15
A lot to be said for RF valve output stages - many people speak of a "warmer sound" (although how they can tell with the bandwidth of SSB is beyond me :) and they are more robust against high SWR, although the fold back protection in solid state stuff is very good these days. Excellent set the TS520, I almost bought one for my son recently, my base station is a Kenwood TS440 (solid state) with auto tuner, lovely radio.
A friend of
mine has been lugging his Yaesu model XXX??? valve radio around Oz in his 4WD for many years over some very tough stuff and the valves have taken it all without complaint - much to my surprise! :)
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:23
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:23
Hi Mike, 'Clockwork' - almost, have you come across a whistle stop tuneing system? The hf trailing antenae was a wind up aerial that you let out like a fishing line and you had better remember to wind it in again before landing!
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:37
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:37
Nope, I hadn't heard of it, very interesting:
Site Link
(search on "whistle")
That would be the old Zep antenna (of Zeppelin airship fame)?
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Follow Up By: Praxis1 - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:39
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:39
Hey Mike,
Have you suffered the famous TS440 VCO problem yet??
Cheers
Geoff
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:43
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:43
It did but the self correcting system repaired it :)
Honest! About two years ago I got the "dots" on the 24MHz band VCO and thought "Oh no, I'll fix it some other time because I don't use those bands much". The dots lasted for about 3 months and then disappeared and I haven't seen them since so... sssssshhhhhhhssssss :)
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Follow Up By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:53
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:53
Guys I have been through the entire WIA website but can find no determination of max power allowed for the Foundation License - what is it? I'd consider going down this route as I will be fitting a Codan NGT in a few weeks (please no comments about cheaper gear - my wife must know how to use HF in an emergency and would be unable to comprehend the use of a VCO, etc). I think I still have a copy of my tech exemption at home when I toyed with the idea of getting my Novice a few years back. By the way, I'm an ex-Communications Technician/Radio Mechanic so the techo stuff doesn't bother me.
Cheers,
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:58
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:58
Foundation Licence is 10W on SSB and less on other bands, but I think the regs will be changed to raise the other bands before long.
10W may not seem a lot but with a decent antenna you can work the world with it.
Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Member - Craig D (SA) - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:59
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 09:59
QRP - cool!
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Reply By: RedGibber - Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 19:07
Tuesday, Sep 26, 2006 at 19:07
Hey Troup-a-Door,
I cut my teeth (so to speak) on the ole TS-520S and also had a Kenwood 6m transverter for a few years with a 400W PEP homebrew linear back in the late 70s.
Hehe...those were the days!!!! ;-)
Cheers
Red VK6OX
AnswerID:
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