Amateur Radio
Welcome to the activity of Amateur Radio, a multifaceted and easy to learn communications hobby, through which you can meet other like-minded people and have fun. It has become very diverse and is shared by three million people throughout the world.
It almost entirely involves the radio transmission communication between radio amateurs by voice, digital techniques, Morse code, pictures and video signals.
Amateur Radio has kept up with the times to remain an enjoyable leisure time activity. Solid-state equipment adopting the latest technology has replaced its bulky predecessors. At the same time it has never been more accessible for the individual, male and female of all abilities, young or not so young, family members or workmates..
New Amateur Radio
A revival of modern communication and experimentation occurred in 2005 with the end of mandatory proficiency tests of Morse code, and the creation of the ‘Foundation Licence’. This is a most popular entry point into Amateur Radio, being taken up by many young people, and others who in the past would never have made the first step.
The modern radio amateur is a person whose life has seen the impact of Television, Internet, Mobile Devices and the Space Age. Each of these technologies is reflected in Amateur Radio, through digital radios and modern communication methods, while still retaining the classic appeal of the ‘wireless’. It is a hobby that has survived the Industrial Age and the Information Age and continues to grow with a unique appeal through this digital era.
Experimentation
It is the only hobby which allows you to communicate and experiment, and learn new skills in the process, while learning the ‘art’ of radio communications. Some advanced radio amateurs experiment with digital communication, use computers and radio to complement each other by harnessing the power of the Internet. Many radio amateurs are involved in some kind of ‘home brew’ or DIY projects. Others join a local club and keep themselves busy with club activities. They organise and take part in field events and ‘sporting-type’ activities. Something that can interest them and find endless rewards from being part of a reasonably inexpensive hobby which has no age barriers.
Increase Your Knowledge
This unique hobby also helps to develop personal abilities and achievements in many ways. It can increase knowledge of geography, science and mathematics, and better understand the technologies used in a modern society. No better hobby suits those who want to learn basic skills, enter a technical vocation, or who are already employed in such a field. It falls into the community expectation of life-long learning through exploring the art of radio communication, networking and sharing. Communicating with people of different cultures overseas available through Amateur Radio leads to greater understanding and friendship.
(Courtesy Wireless Institute of Australia)
Radio Amateurs – Ordinary people with more than ordinary interests.
We are at first sight, just ordinary citizens, including some of your neighbours or work colleagues, and people in more than 100 countries. We are radio amateurs – also known as ham operators, or amateur radio operators.
Amateur radio is a knowledge-based hobby and amateur operators must demonstrate levels of knowledge to be allowed to operate our radio stations.
We are people who are interested in communicating and interested in experimenting and learning about modern technologies involved in the burgeoning fields of information and communications. We are ordinary people with more than ordinary interests. We are people who see ourselves as part of an international community of more than 3 million amateurs around the world, and part of the Australian national community of some 20 000 licenced amateur operators. We are people who are willing to devote our hearts and minds to community service when the need for communications can best be met by the amateur radio service. We are people who lend our knowledge to the training and education of others…we are indeed ordinary Australians with more than ordinary interests and more than ordinary skills developed through amateur radio.