Why Amateur Radio?
Why amateur radio?
I think the reason I got interest in Amateur Radio stems from my childhood messing about with walkie talkies and a desire just to learn about everything in the world. Amateur Radio isn’t just limited to talking on the radio but also data transmission, exploration of electronic and quite a large portion of the hobby is spent socialising and getting to know people.
For years I have struggled with both social settings and participating in spoken conversations. I decided to make the leap and go along to my local club one public holiday to try and tackle my issues head on. It has all definitely helped a lot. I find I am a lot more likely to talk to people face-to-face now and actively participate in discussions, rather than sit in the background and take on more of an observatory role.
My current interests in Amateur Radio are QRP (low power) SSB (single side band) communication, FM satellites and a desire to eventually learn Morse Code. My current licence permits me to only use low power, but I am currently studying to gain my Advanced Amateur Radio Licence, which will enable me to use high power, more frequencies and more modes.
I think once I upgrade, I would like to have a play with SSTV (Slow scan Television) as I find it quite interesting how a picture can be converted to audible frequency then decoded back into an image. I think I find this interesting as I play music and some of the SSTV signals can have quite a musical quality to them. I’m yet to decode a SSTV image broadcast from the International space station. However, I have listened to the voice downlink frequency during ARISS school contacts with astronauts.
The one exciting thing about amateur radio as a hobby is that it is really a hobby of hobbies. Whether you enjoy building electronic kits, building antennae, hiking, product design, general tinkering with anything and everything electrical or even just socialising; there will be something that will interest you.
If you wish to know anything about Amateur Radio, please leave a comment and I will get back to you.
Awesome that you made the effort to push your boundaries with communication!
Its interesting the different rules countries have for amateur radio. It looks like your entry level class has access to a lot of different bands, but you say your power is restricted? What is the max power you are allowed to run?
Here in the US, the entry level class "Technician" gets pretty much all privileges above 50MHz, and can run 1500 Watts PEP, but very limited privileges below that. We can only run CW on 80, 40, and 15M, and are limited to a very small portion of 10M for CW,RTTY, Data and Voice. The HF bands are also limited to 200 Watts.
The next class up (General) is allowed the full 1500 Watts PEP on HF (with a few restrictions, 100W on 60M, 200W on 30M), and much more of the HF bands are available (down to 2200M).
The third, and highest, class (Amateur Extra) gets even more of the band opened up to them (typically the bottom edge of each band/mode is restricted to Extra only). Power restrictions are the same for Extra (typically 1500W).
Hi Matt,
Sorry it has taken me a little while to reply. Still getting used to putting time aside for Steemit. It's quite hard for someone to do who hasn't been all that great at keeping up with Social Media in the past.
So, to get to your questions. I'm currently an Australian Foundation Licence holder with entitles me to AM, SSB and hand keyed Morse (no computer generated Morse) on 80m (3.5MHz-3.7MHz), 40m (7.0MHz-7.3MHz) and 15m (21.0MHz-21.45MHz). In addition to these allocations, I'm also entitled to use AM, SSB, hand keyed Morse and FM on 10m (28.0MHz-29.7MHz), 2m (144MHz-148MHz and 70cm (430MHz-450MHz). Currently due to this licence, I am limited to a maximum output power of 10 watts. Unfortunately, foundation licensees in Australia do not have access to any digital modes as of yet, even though many have argued that they would be perfect for this class of licence due to the restricted output power.
Next licence level up is the Standard Licence. Standard licence can use any mode not exceeding a bandwidth of 8kHz on 80m (3.5MHz-3.7MHz), 40m (7.0MHz-7.3MHz), 20m (14.0MHz-14.35MHz) and 15m (21.0MHz-21.45MHz). In addition to this, Standard Licence holders can use any mode not exceeding a bandwidth of 16kHz on 10m (28.0MHz-29.7MHz), 6m (52-54MHz), 2m (144-148MHz), 70cm (430-450MHz), 23cm (1240MHz-1300MHz), 13cm (2400MHz-2450MHz)and 6cm (5650-5850MHz). In regard to allowed power, standard licensees are able to use up to 100 watts output power on SSB and 30 watts on any constant carrier mode.
Finally, there is the Advanced Licence. Advanced Licence has the largest amount of privileges, as you would expect. Advanced Licence holders have access to the following bands. 2200m (135.7kHz-137.8kHz) and 630m (472kHz-479kHz) with any mode with a bandwidth less than 2.1kHz; 160m (1.8MHz-1.875MHz), 80m (3.5MHz-3.7MHz, 3.776MHz-3.8MHz), 40m (7.0MHz-7.3MHz), 30m (10.1MHz-10.15MHz), 20m (14.0MHz-14.35MHz), 17m (18.068MHz-18.168MHz), 15m (21.0MHz-21.45MHz) and 12m (24.89MHz-24.99MHz) with any mode with a bandwidth less than 8kHz; 10m (28.0MHz-29.7MHz) with any mode with a bandwidth less than 16kHz; 6m (50.0MHz-54.0MHz) and 2m (144MHz-148MHz) with a bandwidth not exceeding 100kHz; and finally without any mode or bandwidth restrictions; 70cm (420MHz-450MHz), 23cm (1240MHz-1300MHz), 13cm (2300MHz-2302MHz, 2400MHz-2450MHz), 10cm (3300-3425MHz, 3492.5-3542.5MHz, 3575MHz-3600MHz), 6cm (5650MHz-5850MHz), 3cm (10.0GHz-10.5GHz), 1.25cm (24.0GHz-24.25GHz), 7.5mm (47.0GHz-47.2GHz), 3.7mm (76-81GHz), 2.5mm (122.25GHz-123.0GHz), 2mm (134GHz-141GHz) and 1.25mm (241GHz-250GHz).
I think that is everything in regards to regulations. At the moment in Australia, I believe 1500 watts is only allowed with special permission. What modes to you operate most? Are you mostly voice or do you play around with digital modes?
Right now I am operating FM only, and only on the 2M and 70cm bands- due to equipment restrictions (that's all I own). I am hoping to get an HF rig soon. I was able to use an HF rig (remotely over the internet) to make contact with my off-road club while they where out on an adventure I was unable to attend. I also manned a special event station during my clubs "Route 66 On the Air" event last month, but it turns out there was a solar flare during my shift and I was only able to make one contact.
As for digital; One of the 'wants' I have to an HF rig is that it is easy to interface with a computer. I can always wire up an older radio using a rigblaster or signal link - or solder a mess of wires and connectors... but I'd like to have something clean and easy. One person in my club is really into FT-8- but i think I want something a little more 'conversational'. I am currently a 'General' class operator described in my last comment.