Background

What Is Amateur Radio?
From the very early days of radio, individuals have been investigating and advancing the various aspects of the hobby.

Radio amateurs are licensed to carry out a broad range of communication experimentation. From operating satellites to bouncing signals off the moon, you will find Amateur Radio operators involved.
In times of natural disaster, Amateur Radio operators are able to provide high quality, reliable communications between remote locations.

Recently, a group of amateur operators from various parts of the world went into operation to provide emergency communications for the international space station during a difficult docking procedure.

What to Do with an Old Space Suit?

It probably isn’t something that most of us would think about, but equipment does wear out, even in space. Recently, the astronauts on the International Space Station were faced with the problem of disposing of an old Russian space suit that had come to the end of its operational life.

Like many people in key technical positions, many of the astronauts and engineers involved in the space program are Amateur Radio operators. The result was a project to build a space suit satellite- suitsat was born.
Suitsat did not have all of the capabilities of a purpose built satellite but it did carry a small radio transceiver & was capable of sending signals back to earth.

A History of Amateur Satellites

  • Amateur Radio satellites are nearly as old as space travel itself. From the late 1961, privately built satellites have been orbiting the earth. The first amateur satellite was OSCAR 1. Oscar stands for Orbital Satellite carrying Amateur Radio. Oscar 1 was a little larger than a shoebox and transmitted a constant morse code signal down to earth. Can you guess what signal it sent? The answer was a laugh used in telegraphy, the letters HI.
  • OSCAR 1 was battery powered with no facilities for recharge. The satellite was designed to operate for two weeks, beaming its telegraphic laugh to stations on earth until the batteries were exhausted. Like many satellites, OSCAR 1 burnt up on re-entry to the earth’s atmosphere.
  • Follow the link to AMSAT ( Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation) to hear recordings of OSCAR 1. www.amsat.org/amsat/features/sounds/firstsat.html
  • There are a number of modern Amateur radio satellites currently in orbit around the earth. These satellites are in polar orbit, travelling from the North to the South pole. Amateur radio satellites are made to provide communications for all amateur radio stations around the world. All parts of the earth are serviced every day.
  • One of the satellites available for use by the school radio station is OSCAR 51. This device orbits the earth in low earth orbit. The satellite is solar powered and computer controlled. It can provide communications on both FM voice and packet digital. It transmit in the VHF, UHF and SHF bands.


Radion Station Call Signs

  • All licenced radio stations have a callsign. Callsigns are like number plates used on cars, they provide a unique way of identifying a radio station.
  • Ever wondered what the three letters that are used with commercial radio stations are used for- they are the station’s callsign.
  • Australian amateur stations have a callsign that commences with VK. The next number is their state the station operates in. The final three letters are used as the identification of the station.
  • Our school station is VK2EHS. This means Australian Amateur, licensed in New South Wales.

    Country State
    VK ACT
    NSW
    VIC
    QLD
    SA
    WA
    TAS
    NT
    Lord Howe Island
    Antarctica

How to Become Licensed?

  • Amateur radio licences are available in a number of grades, from foundation to advanced grades. Licensing requires a study of communications theory and international radio regulations and are tested with an examination.
  • A foundation licence has recently been introduced. This licence requires an introductory knowledge of theory and regulations and is designed to allow interested individuals to become licenced easily.
  • Foundation licences are an excellent starting point for students. Although the available power is limited, foundation licence holders are able to become actively involved in this ever growing hobby. The ability to operate the equipment makes it much easier to study and progress through the higher grades of licence.
  • Once you have passed the required examinations, you will be able to apply for an Operators Certificate of Proficiency. For most people, this is a qualification they will keep for life.
  • Once you have an operator’s certificate of proficiency, you can apply for your own station licence and callsign.
  • The Wireless Institute of Australia has details on becoming an Amateur operator www.wia.org.au
  • The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) also provides details about radio licensing. www.acma.gov.au