ARV

Who is Amateur Radio Victoria

Formed in 1911, it continues to play an important role in amateur radio affairs. Since the nationalisation of the Wireless Institute of Australia, it is now more focussed on state matters, but remains committed constitutionally and through its membership of the WIA to the continued access to radio spectrum by its members.

It has a proud history of advocacy including participation in government inquiries including those on television and radio broadcasting and also a review into the response of the Ash Wednesday disaster and discussions concerning municipal planning laws.

Helping to grow the hobby of amateur radio and increasing positive public awareness of it remains among its major goals.

Licences
There are three grades of Amateur Station licence in Australia for which individuals can qualify, allowing them to set up a station in their home, or operate on the move from a vehicle or while a pedestrian.

The three licences are Foundation, Standard and Advanced. In addition, there is provision for unattended Repeater and Beacon stations and Club stations for instructional and other purposes.

Until 1955 the only licence available was the Unrestricted licence, often called the "Full Call" by radio amateurs. In the early 1950s the WIA asked the then Postmaster General's Department, to create both "Technician" and "Novice" - similar licences had already at that time proved very popular in the United States.

The arguments used were that the new entry level licences would encourage Amateur Radio activity and increase experimentation in the VHF bands, while also allowing an entry level for any disabled persons who were unable to learn or use Morse Code.

Responding to the WIA on its request for a Technician licence, the PMG's Department in 1955 introduced the Limited Licence, so-called because it restricts holders to the VHF, but it eventually included the UHF and Microwave bands.

The PMG did not then accept the need for a Novice licence - that took another 20 years to achieve. In the early 1970s the CB.

Radio movement gained strength in Australia, leading to a dramatic increase in interest in Amateur Radio. After negotiation by the WIA with the PMG's Department, the Novice licence was introduced.

Originally this grade required fixed-frequency crystal controlled operation, and a one then two year tenure before holders were required to upgrade to either a Limited or Full-Call licence. In practice most Novices do upgrade, although many people are satisfied with the operating privileges and remain Novice licensees.

The Novice licence required a simpler theory examination than the Limited licence, and Morse code at 5 wpm. The Morse speed for the Unrestricted licence was originally 14 wpm, but during this period it was reduced to 10 wpm.

For administrative purposes, it became logical to issue a "Combined" licence to those amateurs who passed Novice level Morse in addition to meeting the requirements for a Limited licence.

In 1995, licensing underwent further changes, creating a new entry level licence - the "Novice Limited" which had first been proposed a decade earlier. The "Combined" licence was renamed the "Intermediate" and holders gained an increase in operating privileges.

The "Novice Limited" requires Novice level theory but no Morse code, and permits operation only on sections of the 2 metre and 70 cm bands, using voice and computer packet data transmission.

That's the history of it all! In October 2005, the licence system was restructured into a three tier structure. All existing Unrestricted, Intermediate (Combined) and Limited became Advanced Licences, the Novice and Novice-Limited translated into the Standard Licence.

For information about how to qualify for a licence, see the educational resources section of this website.

WICEN
The Wireless Institute of Australia Civil Emergency Network (WICEN) is recognised as an organisation in its own right. WICEN operates under the State Disaster Plan (DISPLAN) to provide supplementary and support communications for combating authorities, support agencies and a service to the community when no other communications facilities are available.

WIA members who join WICEN have the opportunity to participate in training exercises and become proficient in the use of mobile and portable equipment. This provides an opportunity to meet other amateurs and enjoy another aspect of the hobby.

Some events that WICEN provides Safety and Logistic Communications for include: