The Australian Regulator, The Australian Media and Communications Authority (ACMA), has recently implemented a new Legislative Instrument for Amateur Radio. It is referred to as the Class Licence. You can read more about it here: Amateur radio | ACMA As a result, there are some changes to the way callsigns are assigned and used in Australia. AThere have been some changes to how VK prefixes are allocated and used. If you plan to visit VK, either for a casual mainland holiday, or to operate a DXpedition, please refer this news item - and contact us should you have any queries at info@vkradioamateurs.org VK Regulations for DXpeditions for International Visitors – The Radio Amateur Society of Australia Inc. (vkradioamateurs.org) Some other relevant info is included which may be helpful regarding bands and power limits. Sincerely, Chris Chapman VK3QB / VJ3N vk3qb@vkradioamateurs.org The Radio Amateur Society of Australia www.vkradioamateurs.org
If everyone here in the USA had a 400 watt power limit, there would less qrm, fewer people trying to out do everyone else, and the hams running low power, qrp would have a fair chance at the DX. When you hear a station in a pile up with a 60 over s 9 signal wiping out everyone else, it's not fair at all. The DX stations only listen for the strongest stations. If everyone ran the same amount of power as in Austriala, everyone would have a fair chance. I know of other hams feel the same way as I do.
I suspect that a lot of people would exceed it. I think the problem is less the power limit but more "all knobs to the right" culture. People use 1500W to ragchew with their neighbor even though the FCC rules say you're supposed to use minimum necessary power. Sometimes the extra power is really needed to make marginal conditions work. Its just those that feel the need to run it all the time screw it up for others. That said, I don't think that is very relevant to the thread topic.
A bit of dreamland sneaking into the hobby and think of the harm it would do to experimenters they deserve to be allowed to progress their dreams or are we hams heading towards a nanny state , I couldn't give a damn if some guy down the street wants to run a couple of kw rag chewing to his mate thats called freedom and he can't do it 24/7/365 now can he ? self regulation is the only answer so would you object to me using 10 kw on 12ghz ??? theres no such thing as a fair chance as everybody's qth is different and everybody has different antennas different abilities etc so common sense is the only regulator not govt interference in a fine hobby
Back to the topic at hand: From the list here https://www.acma.gov.au/overseas-amateurs-visiting-australia My US Extra translates to AUS Advanced. I can operate for 365 days, then I need to get an Australian license. Cool! Southport here I come again.
Seems to be, that the changes are for to lower the costs and having a reduced bureaucracy, like in the CEPT countries too.
Oh, and if everyone ran the same antenna's.....those tall multi-element beams just aren't fair either...and those RF bullies who have multiple towers and beams at different heights...........and if only the sun would charge the ionosphere the same and propagation was equal for everyone......If only the USA was communist, then we'd all have the same things and life would be "so fair". Sigh...."Thou shall not covet thy neighbors possessions".
I'm at the opposite end of the RF power spectrum where I believe that 2.5 kw should be allowed and that the present 1.5 kw is antiquated and should be upgraded.
This is a welcome simplification for visitors to VK. What I don’t understand is the old restrictions for U.S. hams based on when we first earned our license of that class. Example: it appears my Extra would have had less privileges if I first earned it before 2000 rather than after. Can someone explain that? Just curious about the reasoning.
Interesting. I earned my Extra in 1981 or thereabouts. I have the same exact privileges as any other Extra.
"Running the same power" means zippo. What counts, and ONLY what counts, is the signal strength (non-technical term) you are able to shine on the station you're trying to work. Power output from the transmitter or amplifier is only part of that equation, and many other factors are involved. There is no way that limiting output power levels the playing field. Not no way, no how.
What should that be? Update from 1.5 kw up to 2.5 kw. There is no difference, only in your invoice from the energy supplier. To produce 6 db or S1 more at the other station you reach out, you have to use always four times more. And from 1.5 kw it has to be 6 kw, to have a marginal success.
