| Overview of Amateur Radio |
What
it's about
Amateur Radio is the use of radio communications in all its
forms as
a hobby. There are almost fifteen
thousand licensed operators in Australia and about thirty times that number
internationally.
* What is the difference between Amateur
Radio and C.B.?
There is a great difference between the two;
C.B. radio gives reliable communication from only 10-15 kilometres with
many restrictions on the type of equipment used, whereas a licensed amateur
operator can operate with a wide range of equipment including television
and radio teletype with much higher power levels on up to twenty different
bands from broadcast stations to microwave frequencies.
* How far will you get with Amateur Radio?
Different bands have different ranges at various
times of the day, the operator considers how far and when he wishes to
communicate and selects an appropriate band to transmit on. In this fashion
fairly reliable contact can be made anywhere in the world.
* Must you have a big antenna to operate?
Not necessary, antennas come in all shapes and
sizes for any given band, though a good rule is the higher the frequency
you operate the smaller the antenna becomes and the less range you have.
For most overseas communication large rotatable antennas are used as they
give best performance.
* What else can you do with Amateur Radio
other than talk?
Talking to other operators is only one aspect
of the hobby, operators are permitted to experiment with and construct
their own equipment in many fields. Some examples are:
-
Radio Teletype: Usually called RTTY this mode allows
communication by the typewriter keyboard using readily available ex-commercial
telex machines, or personal computers with appropriate modem and software.
-
Amateur Television: The transmission of colour or
black and white television both direct and via repeaters is an increasingly
popular pastime.
-
Repeaters: For operators on the road a system of
over one hundred repeaters on mountain tops across Australia receive and
retransmit signals to greatly extend the range of mobile operation.
-
QSL Cards: Upon making contact with distant or rare
stations it is often custom to acknowledge contact by sending a personalized
type of postcard called a QSL card. Many operators make a hobby of collecting
these cards from all over the world.
* How do you become an Amateur Operator?
To become an Amateur Operator you must obtain
a licence from the Department of Communications by passing a combination
of radio theory, regulations and Morse Code examinations dependent upon
which of three classes of licence you wish to obtain.
Exams are conducted by independent adjudicators
on behalf of the Department of Communications.
There are many courses run by Clubs and Schools
to assist with studying for these exams.
The GGREC offers an examination
service on a regular basis. Depending on demand the GGREC also offers
an intensive study session usually of 4 weekends.
Once established the Amateur can play as active
a part in the hobby as desired, there is no way of knowing where this exciting
pastime may lead. |
TS120
10-80m 100w PEP, circa 1975
