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Hi All,<br>
<br>
After sprouting that we should write our local federal member about
the Foundation callsign anomaly I took the bit between my teeth and
have done just that, my email being sent this afternoon.<br>
<br>
I wish to acknowledge the input of Peter Clee VK8ZZ, WIA Secretary,
for some valuable input that tidied up some points and added missing
content.<br>
<br>
For those inclined to write their local member, please feel free to
use my letter as a draft. <br>
<br>
Ray vk2tv<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-unicode"> <span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">P.O. Box 5055<br>
Frederickton 2440<br>
25th December 2019<br>
<br>
Mr. Pat Conaghan MP<br>
Member for Cowper<br>
<br>
Dear Mr Conaghan,<br>
<br>
I've been a licensed Amateur Radio operator for fifty years and
I'm writing with regard to a recent change to the license
conditions that apply to the Foundation Level Amateur Radio
license in Australia. </span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",
sans-serif;">Amateur Radio, which is also known in some
quarters as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency
spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages,
wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation,
radio sport, contesting, and emergency communication. The term
"amateur" is used to specify a duly authorised person
interested in radio-electric practice with a purely personal
aim and without any pecuniary interest; (either direct
monetary or other similar reward) and to differentiate it from
commercial broadcasting, public safety (such as police and
fire), or professional two-way radio services (such as
maritime, aviation, taxis, etc.).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",
sans-serif;">The licensing of Amateur Operators is
administered by The Department of Communications through its
agency the Australian Communications and Media Authority
(ACMA). </span><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Australia has
three grades of Amateur Radio license, being Advanced,
Standard and Foundation, with the level of technical knowledge
required for each grade decreasing with each step down the
list. The Foundation license grade was introduced in October
2005 to provide an easier pathway by which individuals could
access the hobby of Amateur Radio, and it did this through
requiring a lower level of technical knowledge than that
required for the other two license grades. In September 2019
the ACMA amended the allowable transmission modes used by
Foundation Level licensees to include all modes, including the
popular data mode of AX25 that is used widely throughout the
world for Packet Radio, and Automatic Packet Reporting System
(APRS). AX25 is extremely popular but is one of several
digital modes available for use by Amateur Radio operators
both in Australia and around the world.<br>
<br>
Australian Amateur Radio operators are issued a callsign by
the ACMA that takes the format VK#AA through VK#ZZZ, where #
is a state or territory number, with a maximum of six
characters. For example, VK2ABC would be in NSW while VK6XYZ
would be in Western Australia. When the Foundation license was
introduced in 2005 the ACMA deviated from the long-established
practice of issuing callsigns with a six character limit, and
chose to issue callsigns with seven characters in the range
VK#FAAA to VK#FZZZ. Again, the # is a state of territory
number.<br>
<br>
When the AX25 and other digital protocols were introduced in
the late 1970s they were designed to work with a callsign no
longer in length than six characters, this being the maximum
length used by every licensing administration in the world.
Because Australian Foundation licensees have a seven character
callsign it is rejected by the AX25, and other digital
protocols, that are so entrenched in the Amateur Radio Service
around the world that it cannot be changed. Australian
Foundation licensees face an anomaly in that even though they
are now permitted to use data modes of transmission they can't
do that easily or in the same way as other Australian
licensees, which effectively limits their ability to use some
newly approved modes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",
sans-serif;">The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is the
peak body for Amateur Radio in Australia. They are recognised
by the International Amateur Radio Union, a division of the
International Telecommunications Union. The WIA has been
lobbying the ACMA to make changes to the callsign structure
without success.</span><span
style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><br>
<br>
The Foundation license callsign incompatibility problem is
something that needs to be addressed sooner, rather than
later, and I respectfully request you discuss this problem
with the Minister for Communications in an effort to obtain a
rapid resolution.<br>
<br>
Yours Truly<br>
<br>
Ray Wells<br>
Amateur Radio callsign VK2TV</span></p>
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