Do you have an interest in Radio Communications?
Youth oriented introductory video produced by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).
Amateur radio is a multi-faceted hobby with many exciting things to try! (Courtesy of the RSGB)
No matter your age, Amateur Radio is a multifaceted hobby that’s easy to learn with a community of over 3 million members worldwide.
You can experiment with global radio transmissions between other amateurs using voice, digital modes, Morse code, pictures and television. The hobby has kept pace with modern technology, and despite the internet and mobile devices Amateur Radio has grown with the electronics age and continues to grow through the digital era.
Amateur Radio allows you to communicate and experiment, learn new skills, ‘home brew’ radio equipment and antennas, use computers and radio together, socialise and increase your knowledge of science, mathematics and geography.
Licencing Requirement
You must hold a licence from the ACMA in order to become a radio amateur. This involves some study and examinations to obtain your ‘Amateur Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency’.
There are now 3 levels of Licences:
- Foundation (10W max power, limited bands, equipment and modes – weekend course)
- Standard (120W max power, more bands, all modes – multi-week evening course)
- Advanced (400W max power, all bands, all modes – multi-week evening course)
Knowledge of Morse Code is no longer a requirement for any grade of licence.
The Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club conducts courses and assessments regularly for all licence grades.
Foundation Licence
The Foundation Licence is an excellent entry into the hobby with the course and assessment all held over a single weekend.
To obtain your foundation licence we recommend you purchase the ‘Your Entry into Amateur Radio’ Foundation manual from the club (or direct from the WIA) and have a read of the manual. You should also download and familiarise yourself with the ACMA LCD (Licence Conditions Determination) which document our operating regulations.
Then come to one of our weekend courses and sit the combined Theory, Regulations and Practical Assessment. You will be given the results of the assessment on completion and you can apply for a licence on the same day (which takes around 6 weeks to process).
The foundation licence assessment consists of a 25 question multiple choice paper exam and a hands-on practical assessment. A pass is 70% correct answers.
Standard and Advanced Licence
Standard and Advanced licences require three separate assessments:
- Radio Theory (choose Standard or Advanced Level)
- Regulations (same for both Standard and Advanced – only needs to be done once)
- Practical Assessment (same assessment as foundation – only needs to be done once)
The Standard or Advanced Theory licence assessment each consist of a 50 question multiple choice paper exam. The regulation assessment is a 30 question multiple choice paper consisting of questions relating to the ACMA LCDs. A pass is 70% correct answers. The hands-on practical assessment is not needed if you have already completed it as part of your Foundation Licence.
A typical upgrade path may be:
- Obtain Foundation Licence – complete foundation assessment and practical assessment.
- Obtain Standard Licence – complete standard theory and regulations (skip practical).
- Obtain Advanced Licence – complete advanced theory (skip regulations and practical).
In practice many people skip the standard licence and opt to go straight to advanced by completing the advanced theory – there is a great deal of overlap in the standard to advanced theory questions.
How much does it cost?
Courses run by the club are free and candidates who obtain their licence are granted a complimentary membership to the club for the remainder of the financial year.
- All exams are now free to take, but you can only sit for each exam once in a 3 month period – this is because the ACMA only updates the exam papers on a 3 monthly basis, and you cannot resit an exam until the exam paper is updated.
- Upon passing an exam the ACMA will charge you $45.20 for a ‘recognition certificate’.
- The ACMA no longer charges a yearly licence fee under the new ‘class licence‘ (from 19 Feb 2024)
- A callsign costs $30.15 for the next available random callsign (or)
- choose a ‘vanity’ choose-it-yourself callsign – between $41.45 and $52.75 dependent on state of issue & callsign length (2 or 3 letter call).
Callsigns are assigned on an ongoing basis, with the ACMA checking in with you every 5 years to confirm if you still wish to hold your callsign(s). Callsigns can be reserved, transferred or surrendered as needed.
Please note that costs listed above are subject to change by the relevant authority (updated as of August 2024).
Licence Resources
The ACMA is responsible for Australian Amateur Licensing
WIA – About Australian Amateur Licencing
ACMA – Public List of Callsigns (pick your callsign!)
WIA – Purchase ‘Your Entry Into Amateur Radio’ Manual
ACMA – Amateur Radio Resources
ACMA – Foundation Licence Syllabus
ACMA – Standard Licence Syllabus
ACMA- Advanced Licence Syllabus
WIA – Foundation Licence Online Assessment (Sample Exam)
Please contact the club for further information about upcoming courses and assessment days.