Redhatter’s Web Blog

Well… I’ve done it. I can now add “amateur radio operator” (or HAM radio operator) to my skillset. I’ve kept pretty quiet about this thus far, but needless to say, I’ve been curious about radio for a very long time. Longer than I’ve been into computers.

It’s only recently that I’ve bothered to do anything about it. Having learned about the various modulation techniques (SSB, FM, PM, VSB, DSB) work, I’ve been keen to put some of these theories to practice and actually get a real-world understanding of them. Well, I’m now an amateur operator on a foundation license — this doesn’t give me the ability to build my own transmitters, but the plan is I’ll stick with this for a year, then I’ll upgrade to an advanced license (ditching the rather awkward F in my callsign) after some study. I figured I’d start with the basics that I knew I could achieve, while for the advanced license, there are some gaps in my knowledge that I’d like to fill in first.

Scratching the itch…

If you’ve got the itch too, like I did… this is what you do to go scratch it. This applies to those in Australia only.

1. Get the Foundation License Manual

The Wireless Institute of Australia sell a softcover book entitled “Your Entry Into Amateur Radio — The Foundation License Manual”. Get it, and have a good read. It covers all the basic principles of radio transmission sufficient to pass the Foundation license exam. Much of what’s covered will be familiar to those who have done 2nd year Electrical Engineering at university.

Once you’ve read through it, and made sure you’re clear on the regulations, and how to connect transceiver, SWR meter, ATU and antenna together, and the procedure for tuning the assembly, you should be set for the next step.

2. Do the exam

This may be organised via the local radio club — the exams are set by the Wireless Institute of Australia. To sit the exam, you must first book in advance — if you’re not affiliated with any radio club, you can usually contact one of the group leaders and they can often refer you onto someone who organises the bookings.

You’ll need the following organised for the exam:

1. Government issued photo ID: Either a driver’s license, passport, or 18+ proof-of-age card*
2. A passport photo (dimensions: 35mm×45mm) to be sent with the license application
3. About $100 for the examination, and to cover the cost of licensing (payment made in cash, cheque, credit card…etc)

(* For minors without a passport, guardians can certify a child’s identity, but must bring their own photo ID)

The exam for the foundation license consists of two parts:

• a practical examination, where you’re asked to identify basic electronic schematic symbols, types of cable/connector, how to hook the station up, and basics such as Q-codes and how to give signal reports.
• a 25-question multiple-choice written examination, where you’re asked about basic theory and regulations (the latter, mostly common sense!). Pass mark is 18/25.

Note you won’t need to know about morse code, but you’re welcome to learn about it if you wish. It’s no longer a requirement.

The exam paper will be marked shortly after the exam, and you’ll know that day if you passed or not.

3. Application and Payment

If you’re unlucky enough to fail, there’s no charge, just go back to step 2 and try again. Otherwise, you’ll be able to fill in the forms to actually apply for a license and callsign, the licensing and exam cost is about $100 (a little less, so bring about $10 in change to cover if you’re paying in cash).

The photo you provide will need to be signed in permanent ink across an area of the photo that doesn’t obscure your mugshot. And make sure it’s the right dimensions (35mm×45mm) — I made the mistake of signing a larger one, and had to rush a correct-sized version to the post office to be sent via express post to the WIA in Victoria.

4. The wait

This will be sent to WIA’s exam service in Victoria for processing. This takes a few weeks (limited resources). The WIA will notify you via post when they forward your details onto the ACMA to assign you a callsign.

In my case, my exam happened on the 16th of December last year. On the 14th of this month (Monday) they forwarded my details onto the ACMA, with this notification arriving in the post today. The ACMA were particularly fast in my situation, looking up my surname in their Register of Radiocommunications Licenses revealed that my license had been approved, that my callsign had been assigned, and was valid from now until the 15th January, 2009.

The ACMA apparently send you a license in the mail, about a week after it appears on the site.

Catching me on-air

If you’re up for a QSO, there are a few repeaters in my area (two of them IRLP nodes) that I should be able to access. Sadly, I can only participate on the 2m and 70cm bands, as I lack transmission equipment for HF (the Kenwood TH-F7E I use can receive, but can’t transmit on HF… and I’m not sure where I can string 20m of cable up in the air in our yard). The repeaters I listen to:

• Mt. Glorious Repeater — 147.000MHz FM: This one is geographically closest to me, and I should definitely be around Wednesday evenings when the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club have their weekly net.
• VK4RBA UHF Repeater — 438.950MHz FM: This is the club repeater operated by the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club. Not sure whether this is accessible from my home location, but I may be able to pick it up when I’m mobile.
• VK4XH IRLP Node 6139 — 146.450MHz FM: This one is located on the South side of Brisbane, thus I may be able to pick it up when mobile.
• VK4ACN IRLP Node 6406 — 146.575MHz FM: This is one is geographically close to where I live in Brisbane.

I’m not sure what other repeaters are in my area… I dare say I’ll learn of their existence over time. I’m rather new to all of this, having just recently joined the community… but as I say, I’m happy to meet up with people on the amateur bands, now that I’ve got my license.