Foundation licence
Upcoming foundation licence training courses & assessments
Foundation licence training & assessments are held at Box Hill North once a month.
• F-Troop questions & answers - 24/9/07
• F-Troop net celebrates its 1st birthday - 26/5/07
• Getting radio into schools initiative - 6K PDF 6/8/06
• F-Troop - 7/7/06
• Young Ham's net - 6/4/06
• Foundation licence - 2006 - 3/1/06
• Foundation licence manual - 5/12/05
• Foundation syllabus 42K PDF - 24/10/05
• Practical assessment explained - 18/10/05
• AOCP(F) qualification overview - 15/9/05
• Foundation licence frequency bands
• What is amateur radio?
• Foundation licence FAQ
F-Troop net celebrates its 1st birthday
F-Troop Photo Call at the Centre Victoria RadioFest, April 2007
The first net saw 27 callsigns including 12 Foundation Licensees taking part. Also joining in was a mix of license assessors, class instructors, and mentoring-inclined experienced radio amateurs.
Foundation Licensees asked questions about the Internet Repeater Linking Project and some useful information was provided on the spot.
The inaugural controller for F-Troop net was Ross Pittard VK3FCE who continues in that role shared by others.
The aim is to provide Foundation Licensees and other less experience radio amateurs an opportunity to participate in and talk about their new hobby.
The F-Troop net can be heard at about 11.40am straight after the Sunday morning broadcast
callbacks, and using the wide area coverage Mt Macedon 2-metre repeater VK3RMM 147.250 MHz.
26/5/07
F-Troop
This weekly Sunday net for Foundation Licensees and others is going strong.
It is a welcoming, friendly and helpful on air session conducted by knowledgeable class instructors or assessors and often it is one of the first times new Foundation Licensees get to experience a net type operation.
F-Troop is held at about 11.40am straight after the Sunday morning
broadcast callbacks, and using the wide coverage Mt Macedon 2-metre
repeater VK3RMM.
7/7/06
Young Ham's net
This is now each Wednesday at 8pm on 3.590MHz minus QRM. Look for the net
control VK3SAA and join in, everyone welcome.
6/4/06
Foundation licence - 2006
An average of 120 a month new amateur radio stations are expected to be
licensed during 2006 as the entry level Foundation Licence gains momentum.
A sample of the first 150 to qualify for the licence finds a mix of those
who had some previous hobby radio communications interest (CB, 4WD,
Scanner Listener) and others who are attracted to ham radio for the first
time.
It is an interesting and stimulating hobby enjoyed by millions worldwide. What's changed in Australia, Britain and Belgium is that that it no longer takes about six months of study to get a basic licence.
Gone too is the requirement to pass Morse code tests to get a licence capable of long-distance communication, although this method of transmission remains popular throughout the world.
The decision to make the move and enter amateur radio is really easy - do
something different in 2006, became an active radio amateur.
3/1/06
Foundation licence manual
The study and operational practice guide book for the new Foundation
Licence is available from Amateur Radio Victoria.
Mail orders are being accepted with the cost including pack and post being
$19.50 for delivery to anywhere in Australia.
Mail orders may be placed with Amateur Radio Victoria, 40g Victory
Boulevard, Ashburton 3147, Fax (03) 9885 9298 or
or
5/12/05
Practical assessment explained
A number of email queries have been received about the "Practical Assessment" that is part of new three tier licence structure.
The Foundation, Standard and Advanced Licences all require a Practical Assessment. Those who have an amateur licence before the new three-tier structure begins will be exempt from the assessment, on the basis of their experience as a radio amateur.
For example, a Standard Licensee which to upgrade to the Advance Licence will be exempt. Likewise, a Foundation Licensee seeking a higher licence will also have an exemption.
Anyone seeking their first licence, whether it be Foundation, Standard or Advanced, will need to meet the requirements of the Practical Assessment. So what will it include:
The practical assessment is to be confined primarily to Section 8 of the Foundation Syllabus. Questions/assessment task can be drawn from sections 2 and 9 - licence conditions and safety.
The Standard and Advanced syllabi have corresponding and identical practical section.
A summary of the Practical Assessment requirements appear below:
A- Identification of common transmission lines types. Using physical examples or photographs or diagrams of common coaxial and parallel transmission lines provided. The candidate need to identify correctly three types of transmission lines as coaxial orparallel line.
B- Identify balanced and unbalanced transmission line Using physical examples or photographs or diagrams of common coaxial and parallel transmission lines provided to candidate. At least one type of transmission line must be "balanced" and the other "unbalanced". The candidate identifies the types of transmission line as "balanced" or "unbalanced".
C- Identification of common coaxial connectors. Using physical examples or photographs or diagrams of three types of coaxial connector. The candidate identifies at least two of the three types present. Example PL-259, BNC, N-Type.
D- Demonstrate how to conduct a continuity check on a coaxial cable which is terminated with RF connectors on both ends. This is a physical skill test using a provided Ohmmeter and terminated coaxial cable. Or Oral questions and response on how the test procedure would be conducted and results interpreted. Using an Ohmmeter. Low loop resistance test with one end short circuited and high resistance open circuit test. Or an oral description of the test and interpretation of results of test.
E- Identify antennas physical examples or supplied (standard) assessors diagram of five antenna types. Candidates need to identify correctly at least four of the five antennas.
F- Construct an RF choke Oral question. Physically demonstrate or fully describe how an RF choke is constructed (of a type used for RF interference suppression). Simulated construction using a provided Ferrite toroid or Rod and cable or wire. Candidate will physically simulate construction of a simple RF choke.
G- Identification of electronic symbols. Candidates need to identify at least five Australian Standard electronic symbols from a supplied sheet, two much be the antenna and earth symbols.
H- Equipment inter-connection. Demonstrate safely the connection of a transmitter/receiver (transceiver), ready for powering up. Physically connect a transceiver to a power source, an antenna (or dummy load). Connect an external SWR meter and antenna tuner. All interconnecting cables and equipment supplied and in an appropriate uncluttered environment. The candidate must connect up the station in a safe manner with the devices in correct order.
I- Frequency band identification. Identify amateur radio bands for the Foundation Licence (or Standard or Advanced if the candidate is attempting that assessment). The candidate will be supplied a copy of the appropriate Licence Condition Determination. They need to correctly identify (using the LCD) the band limits of any four bands chosen by the assessor.
J- On-air operating protocols. Demonstrate the protocol(s) required prior to commencing transmitting. Candidate is provided a tuned, ready to use Amateur Radio station on HF and VHF or UHF. No tuning or adjustments necessary. Candidate needs to demonstrate the requirement to listen on frequency prior to transmission and may include increasing the receiver gain or opening mute for weak signal detection. This task should be repeated up to three times and may be incorporated in other elements of competency.
K- Calling procedures. Demonstrate making on-air calling procedures for HF and VHF or UHF Candidate is provided with a ready to use Amateur Radio station. Candidate needs to demonstrate preferably the procedure for make a call on HF and VHF or UHF.
L- Signal strength measurement. Demonstrate how the signal strength meter is used in conjunction with a signal report. Using an amateur radio station on HF and VHF or UHF the candidate demonstrates the use of a Signal Strength meter.
M- Voice repeater operation. With the material provided demonstrate the correct use of voice repeaters with and without
• CTCSS
• DTMF
The candidate must demonstrates the need to identify the station before
transmitting DTMF tones.
N- Purpose of breaks in transmissions. By oral questioning discuss the purpose of and importance of breaks in transmissions on HF and VHF or UHF.
O- Change to another frequency (QSY). By use of an Amateur Radio station after making a contact with another station, the candidate needs demonstrate the correct protocol for changing to another frequency.
P- Q-Code and the Phonetic Alphabet. Use of plain language. By oral questioning only the candidate should be asked the purpose of the Q-code and the phonetic alphabet. Including the importance of standardised codes and signals over radio. Note- while not preventing such use- it is not a requirement for the candidate to use the Q-code or the phonetic alphabet in any part of this assessment.
Q- Transmitter power measurement and adjustment. Demonstrate the measurement of output power of a transmitter. Adjust the transmitter power to within legal limits. This may be done using an Amateur Radio station connected to a dummy load. Candidate demonstrates the ability to make simple power measurements and adjustment using a wattmeter.
R- Measurement of SWR. Preferably with the use of an Amateur Radio station connected to an antenna, the candidate should demonstrate the ability to make a simple SWR measurement. Candidate demonstrate the correct technique (including identification of transmission if conducted on-air) for making a simple SWR measurement. Candidate needs to be able to interpret if the reading is within acceptable limits (equal to or less than 1.5:1)
S- Correcting high SWR. Using oral questioning the candidate is asked on methods available to correct an antenna system that may have a high SWR. Examples, use an antenna tuner or correct an antenna fault or adjust the antenna . Specific adjustments or tuning are not required in this assessment task. Candidate orally describes what remedial action may be taken to rectify a high SWR problem.
T- Electrical safety. High voltage and currents Oral questions and responses from the candidate to ascertain that the candidate is aware of the dangers of high voltage (electric shock) and current (heat, burning and possibly fire).
18/10/05
AOCP (F) qualification overview
The practice by international treaty is that nations need to determine the
knowledge and skills of individuals before permit them to operate their
own amateur radio station.
The Foundation Licence is the entry level for those wishing to engage amateur radio after they gain the Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (Foundation).
Those wanting to gain this qualification will need to undergo competency-based training, learning and assessment. The knowledge and skills required are set out in the AOCP (F) syllabus.
That document reflects the level of knowledge, skills and experience required to assemble safely and operate without causing interference, an amateur radio station.
The knowledge includes a mix of the rules and operating standards, distress or emergency communications, safety, radio communication theory and electronics.
At first glance the syllabus may appear daunting, but with a little study and the Foundation Licence training session the AOCP (F), the average person should not no real difficulty in getting qualified and their own callsign.
The assessment for the Foundation Licence includes the testing of knowledge through a 25 question written paper covering both theory and regulations, the use of oral questions plus a practical assessment in setting up an amateur radio station.
There is no doubt that at the end of the process the Foundation Licensees
will be prepared to venture with confidence on to the amateur airwaves as
responsible new radio amateurs.
15/9/05
Foundation Licence Frequency Bands
Those interested in long distance communication (DX) will find the High
Frequency bands of interest. The distances achieved using them depends on
the time of day, season of the year and an 11-year Sunspot Cycle.
During high and peak cycle conditions the 21MHz and 28MHz will provide international radio contacts. The 10 metre band can also come have some surprise openings due to a phenomeum known as sparadic e propagation.
3.5MHz (80 metres) night and local day
7MHz (40 metres) night and local day
21 MHz (15 metres) local and long distance
28 MHz (10 metres) local and long distance
144MHz (2 metres) local and medium distance
432MHz (70cm) local