24th June 2005, 10:43 pm
Last time I looked, there were only about 12,000 licenced amateur radio operators in Australia. The Internet has been blamed for the near-zero number of young people being introduced into the hobby. By this I assume that those people who use the Internet as a reason for falling numbers, are suggesting that younger people find communication via the ‘net more interesting or convenient or whatever.
While I don’t really have an answer or explanation myself, and I can’t agree or disagree that the ‘net is to blame, I do believe that the RSGB and Ofcom, the British licencing authority, have worked hard to come up with a means of reversing the trend. From half the globe away, which means that I don’t by any means know every detail of the scheme, I’m impressed by the introduction of the “Foundation Licence” available in the UK. A short course, which includes the basics of radio, propagation, electronics and operating procedures, is all the introduction that’s required to get a beginner on the air (after successfully passing an exam, of course). My limited understand of the Foundation Licence is that it’s easier to undertake than a Novice Licence course in some other countries. Once that initial Licence hurdle has been overcome, the newcomer can upgrade their knowledge and skills at their own pace.
I look forward to the day that such a scheme is available in Australia - it is being worked on, but not quite there yet.
23rd June 2005, 09:46 pm
The sun plays an important part in assisting, of defeating, our attempts to communicate over long distances, on different frequencies. The 11-year solar cycle (or is it really a 22 year cycle?) dictates whether the 50 Mhz band, for example, will provide global DX, or just white noise coming from our receivers.
A website that provides useful information about the state of the sun, sunspots and flares, and other space phenomena is spaceweather.com. There are usually some spectacular photographs in there too.
22nd June 2005, 09:37 pm
I don’t understand the physics behind the means by which concrete “cures”, because I’ve never taken the time or, if the truth be told, had the interest to find out, but I do know that the recent cold, and slightly wet, weather is not a bad thing.
Concrete in this part of the world is deemed to be strong enough to work on after 3 weeks. The current weather, so I’m told, means that the concrete cure time will be about 4 weeks - but on the plus side, the cured concrete will be stronger than if the work had been done in summer.
So be it.
21st June 2005, 09:11 pm
After all these years (over 30) of operating on VHF, I still enjoy those too few days when VHF signals are enhanced for one reason or another. At the moment, being mid-winter, things are pretty quiet. I keep an eye on William Hepburn’s Tropospheric Ducting Forecast web pages at http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/tropo_oce.html just to see what might be coming up. It can be an extremely good indicator of promising conditions.
I look forward to operating on UHF too once I get some antennas operational on the new tower!
