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Yesterday I completed the foundation level amateur radio training day and exams. Scored 100% in the theory exam. The practical exam isn’t scored but just assesses some basic competencies. Overall it was pretty straightforward the only cost will be for the licence and call sign once the results have been registered with the ACMA. While I don’t have any interest in buying a lot of expensive equipment and spending a lot of time taking to people over radio, I am interested in the technology and particularly some of the digital data modes.

#hamradio #amateurradio

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Discussion

TBone 9mo ago

I got into it a few years back. In Australia, it's very regulatory-heavy and equipment is very hard to get and very expensive. It's really frustrating and I got angry.

phil 9mo ago

Some of the regulations seem to have been relaxed a bit recently. No yearly licensing fees anymore, just a once off payment. There are still limits on frequencies you can use and power output but foundation now allows you to use the data modes whereas previously it didn’t. There is also some very cheap equipment on AliExpress now that I’m told is good to start with so that is what I plan on buying initially just to experiment.

TBone 9mo ago

Good luck.

I'm pretty sure they'll be blocked and/or stopped at the border (for your safety).

phil 9mo ago

I had actually been worried about this previously when ordering some things from AliExpress but so far I haven’t had any issues so will see how it goes.

Brisket 9mo ago

I for one am keen to hear how you go.

Danie 9mo ago

Still annual payments by us, and then they also muck up the payments and forgot my credit owed back from last year.

FreedomTech 9mo ago

I just took a fundamentals of wireless communications class. Cellular, WiFi, etc.

It's crazy what goes into transmitting data at those speeds. Things like the doppler effect of moving cars, and recovering data with multipath reflection interference. It's a miracle it works at all, let along at those speeds.

phil 9mo ago

Yeah I used to do a fair bit of work with WiFi networks and did some training back then that covered some of those things. Definitely some very interesting technology!

Christopher 9mo ago

"Breaker breaker this is me good buddy, watch the road cause it sure looks muddy" 🎶👍🏻

Danie 9mo ago

Well done! I wish we could have got our actual marks as I'm sure I also scored well but we only only symbols. Hopefully we can make contact over RF one day. 73 ZS1OSS

phil 9mo ago

The foundation level exam here is designed so that it’s pretty easy to score well on if you sit the training run by the clubs. I think most people scored above 85% in the group I was in. The higher level licenses are more challenging though but I haven’t decided if I will attempt to do those yet.

It might be a while before I have something set up that will be capable of reaching you but hopefully one day!

Danie 9mo ago

Yes I also did club training, but we do a full theory and an HF practical assessment, and then get the full license. Club prep makes a major difference to getting through first time well.

I don't get good range on voice so mostly use VarAC on HF for long range but do hit North America and Northern Europe on only 30W. Lots of interesting stuff on VHF though inc Winlink, VarAC on VARA-FM, Echolink, and lots of voice chat.

We are a lot quieter here with fewer hams but you can listen in on my SDR receiver too on https://openwebrx.gadgeteerza.co.za to local VHF, UHF, air tower, APRS, etc.

Good luck and enjoy the journey of discovery.