Podcasts by What use is an F-call?
Starting in the wonderful hobby of Amateur or HAM Radio can be daunting. Using low power with little experience is challenging but can be very rewarding. Every week I look at a different aspect of the hobby, how you as a beginner might fit in and get the very best from the 1000 hobbies that Amateur Radio represents. Note that this podcast continues as
Further podcasts by Onno (VK6FLAB)
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L.A.S. - Lead Arse Syndrome from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? It seems that there is a disease within the amateur radio community. It's spreading and seems to be contagious. There doesn't seem to be a cure and it seems to be pretty vir...
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Retaining two letter callsigns is rubbish. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I witnessed a discussion about callsigns. As you know, your amateur callsign is akin to your personal on-air identity. It's the thing that distinguishes your statio...
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Stop whining and get with the program... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? We are part of an amazing hobby where inventiveness, inquiry and exploration is part and parcel of the thing we do. It's that spirit that got me interested in this hobby and...
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Stop and enjoy the electrons along the way... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I'm a child of my time and my perspective is the result of input from fellow amateurs. I'm often in the group of amateurs who would rather buy than build, rather get somethi...
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How to roll up coax and rope? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you start in Amateur Radio you'll come across the problem of rolling up coax and rope. If it goes the way it went for me, you'll be doing what you always did, that is, ...
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The Community Spirit of Amateur Radio from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've talked in the past about the community spirit that is embodied by Amateur Radio. Yes, I know there are several not very nice people around, some even brag about it, but...
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Learn from every outing! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had the opportunity to participate in a contest that was specifically set-up for QRP. That is, 5 Watts or less. There was an hour for digital modes, including Mor...
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Super Check Partial from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're into contesting, you're likely to have heard of a thing called the Super Check Partial list and if you haven't then you should. It's a simple thing, maintained by...
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Your local repeater is like magic... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're new to Amateur Radio like I am, it's easy to turn on your radio, set it up to key your local repeater and call CQ. After the first time it's a trivial matter that ...
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How do you get gain if you don't change power? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I talked about a digital mode that had the ability to give you an estimated gain of 13dB over Analogue FM. It's the equivalent of gaining more than 2 S-points or li...
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Planning for operating portable from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Operating from your shack is a different experience from operating in another station. It's a completely different experience again if you operate your station portable. At...
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CODEC2 - 13dB gain, what does it mean? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I spoke about digital voice communications. I made mention of the CODEC2 project being developed by Dave Rowe, VK5DGR. I also made reference of the kinds of things ...
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Share your radio skills with non-amateurs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? During the week I had the opportunity to hear several people use a radio in day-to-day communications. In this particular instance it was a water taxi speaking to their base...
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A rotator on 4 wheels... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As you might recall, I've been struggling to get an antenna installed on my car. It's been a process that started seven months ago, resulted in the purchase of four single b...
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A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is about communication as much as anything else. The whole idea is to get a message from one place to another. This hobby attracts people from all walks of lif...
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Self policing license conditions from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the years that I've been an amateur I've spent many hours discussing the ins- and outs of being an amateur. I've talked about what you're allowed to do, where the LCD f...
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More on lightning and bonding. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Last week I spent a little time talking about lightning. I discussed how lightning can affect many different things, not just by being a direct hit, but by having a nearby h...
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Lightning, not just the radio... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? During the week we were subjected to some unusual lightning activity. There was lots to go around and it raises the issue on what to do when lightning is nearby. The obviou...
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Digital Voice in Amateur Radio is broken... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Digital Voice in Amateur Radio is broken. It's a big call for a mere F-call to make, so let me back that up with some facts. There are three basic digital voice products yo...
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WIA Awards System from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As you've heard me talk about making contacts with other countries on many occasions, I thought I'd spend a little time describing what I do when I've actually made the cont...
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How do nets work? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the normal day-to-day interaction between amateurs on air we use the procedure to say the other station's call-sign, followed by our own. If there's two people on-air, th...
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The LCD is a living document. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When was the last time you went online and downloaded a copy of the LCD? Do you even know where to find it? Do you know when it last changed and what changes it contained? ...
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Which way is the Grey Line? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I recently spent some time talking about the Grey Line, about the way it moves around and how it will help you make contacts along its path. If you recall, the direction of...
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Remember to stop fiddling every now and then... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've now been an amateur since December 2010. In the time that I've been part of this hobby I've come to understand that a large part of the experience is to tinker. We tin...
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QRM and morons from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Man-made interference is a wonderful thing. It allows you to appreciate that there are both people and morons on air. Some people become morons, either by accident, or on pu...
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The Gray Line changes through the year! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past I've mentioned the Grey Line. If you recall, this is a twice daily phenomenon. During dawn and dusk, and often slightly before and after, there is an enhanced le...
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We need mentors! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a personal thing. It's an expression of communication, of exploration, of invention, learning, electronics, physics and personal achievement. The community ...
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Programming repeaters. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? You purchased a shiny new radio and it's all you imagined and it works great and you're over the moon with your purchase and you're raring to go, but you find yourself const...
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What is your level of preparedness? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I was part of a discussion about emergency preparedness. The idea being that as radio amateurs we're ideally suited to being communication hubs and conduits to pass...
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Raspberry Pi SDR from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've just built myself v1.0 of a Raspberry Pi SDR. It still has some way to go until I can show it off - needs a touch screen, a power supply that runs on 12V, some user int...
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Share your experiences... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a social activity. It's about communication and community. Ironically, as much as we are about talking to one and other, we still do some activities all on ...
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Learning from listening... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As an F-call, working DX, you'll spend many hours looking for that elusive contact, or you'll turn on your radio, tune around, hear a station, call back and bag a new countr...
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The QSL card is not dead! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? On previous occasions I've discussed the QSL system in Amateur Radio. It's a mechanism that uses what's known as out-of-band communications to confirm contacts. For over a h...
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Small Changes can have a Big Effect from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Yesterday I learned an interesting lesson. It wasn't a simple lesson to learn, but I'm guessing it's going to take me some years to come to grips with what I experienced. S...
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Tuning mobile antennas... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've recently purchased four verticals, one for each of the HF bands I'm allowed to use. I installed them and started playing, only to be confronted with some interesting re...
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Everyday Terms, think about them sometimes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In our hobby we come across terms and names that we use and commonly understand, that is, we think we understand them. I mean, what's a velocity factor and what is a dielect...
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Everything Changes All The Time ... pay attention from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you operate your station on a regular basis you might find yourself lulled into the belief that all is well with the world and that your station will continue to operat...
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QRP is everywhere from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Having a Foundation License, the basic amateur licence in a three tiered system that is in use in Australia, means that you have access to low power only. 10 Watts PEP is th...
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It's not about sitting in a shack talking on the radio... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As I've said many times before, Amateur Radio blows me away. Every week I see new and imaginative things that this community achieves through trial and error, from contacts ...
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There are more than just Amateurs Listening... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past I've mentioned that we're not alone on the bands. We as a community, Hams, or Radio Amateurs have radio spectrum we can use, specific ranges of frequencies that ...
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Newness should not be a barrier to participation from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I started recording this weekly segment, there were lots of things I didn't know. I was apprehensive about how my contribution to Amateur Radio might be received, about...
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Learn from your mistakes and share them... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I received an email from an Amateur who has had their license for over 30 years and been in the electronics field for more than 40. He shared with me an experience ...
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How much do you gain from more power? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you get an amateur radio license, you learn that different license classes have different power limits. The basic power limit in Australia, the foundation license, or f...
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How to do a contest? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you've just gained your license and you're still not sure what to do with it, I can strongly recommend that you have a go at the Remembrance Day contest. It's an annual e...
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dB and dBm from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In a previous discussion I talked about decibels. The take home from that was that a decibel represents a ratio between two things. The gain of an antenna over the gain of a...
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Looking at mobile antennas for HF. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As you might know or recall, I don't have HF at my QTH. So far my DX activities have been using other people's equipment and using my 12m squid-pole when I'm either camping ...
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Clubs and F-calls? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a hobby that gains and loses members as does any other hobby. One aspect of the hobby differs, that of licensing. To join Amateur Radio, you need to be lice...
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No more bullies from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're new to Amateur Radio, you may be surprised to learn that we have bullies among us, but if you've been around for a while, you'll have heard it, or perhaps even exp...
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Contesting, it's for you! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? On previous occasions I've spoken about contesting and what it might add to your amateur experience. I know that there are amateurs who are convinced that contesting isn't f...
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Using Commercial Names on Air from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I received an email from a fellow amateur who pointed out a curious phenomenon that was being taken up by new amateurs with little purpose or necessity. He pointed...
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The Grey Line from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Much of what Amateur Radio is about relates to the planet we live on. I realise that you might think that it's about radios, antennas, contacts and logging, but the vast maj...
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dB, dBi, dBd from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? You've come across the term dB, or Decibel. Likely you've heard of dBi as well. These terms are all related to Decibels, but mean completely different things. A decibel, na...
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The Maidenhead Locator system from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? One of the innocuous questions you are asked during a contact is: "What is your QTH?" or: "Where are you?". Often this is followed by a whole story about...
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The QSL system from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Making a contact using your radio is one thing, starts off with someone calling CQ, someone responding, discussion ensuing and the like. If you've never had the opportunity,...
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Amateur Radio evolution is dependent on your imagination, not your license. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Technologies come and go, some more quickly than others. Valves have been around since the 19th century, the first diode valve was developed in 1904, by John Ambrose Fleming...
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The simple S-unit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? You're 5 and 9, or 20 over 9, or 5 and 5. It's a phrase that you'll hear regularly in amateur radio conversations as you tune up and down the bands. If we ignore for a mome...
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The bands change all the time... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As you gain more experience as an Amateur I've found that I spend more time listening and less time talking. I set my radio up in my car, get comfortable with a clipboard an...
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Complacency in your shack. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Having been an amateur for a number of years and having participated in many outings, camp-outs, field days, public events and private portable operations, you'd think that ...
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Wear your callsign with pride! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Having a call sign is a personal identity. For some, much thought has gone into the combination of letters, for others, like myself, it was assigned randomly. The letters t...
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Two nets to get started on air. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you've had a license for a while it becomes harder to remember what it was like just after you received it. Fortunately I get to speak with new comers to the hobby on a r...
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Amateur Radio is Everywhere from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is everywhere, sometimes in surprising places. You might recall that a while ago I mentioned that I was looking into space communications, specifically I was ...
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Contesting, a simulator of harsh conditions. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As you might know, I'm a great fan of contesting. I know that you may think that this is not for you and I respect that, but I'd like to share why I think contesting is a fa...
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If you don't try, you're guaranteed to fail! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently there was a contest that looked interesting. I participate in contests as a way to speak to many stations, to add countries to my DX list and to learn about how oth...
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As you get more experienced, you'll transmit less... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you first start as an Amateur, you get on air, you have a wander up and down the bands and you have access to so many frequencies that you don't know where to start. If...
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Talk to your fellow amateurs, build a choke. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? During the week I was spending a little time with an experienced amateur and I lamented that getting ferrite cores locally was a trial in futility. I'd spent hours attemptin...
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Be Curious! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Curiosity is a wonderful attribute to have. While sometimes it kills cats, amateurs are better off using curiosity to learn new skills. Recently I had the opportunity to di...
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Special Event Stations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to operate several special event calls commemorating or celebrating several different activities, from anniversaries to spe...
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Curiosity if a great thing! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? During the week I had the opportunity to work a rare DX-station using the antenna farm of one of the clubs I'm a member of. The 10m, 6 element beam at a height of about 10m ...
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F-calls and computers... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Last week I talked about computers and the Foundation License. There is a blanket perception being perpetuated that computers, radios and your Foundation License don't mix,...
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F-calls and their restrictions. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? The Amateur Foundation License in Australia has a range of obligations and restrictions that differentiate it from the other Amateur Licenses. The most visible of those is a...
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Bullies have no place in Amateur Radio from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Nobody works in isolation, and neither do I. This weekly segment has now been running for 130 or so episodes and in that time I've received a variety of feedback about my at...
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What is listening 10-up? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In passing a few weeks ago I mentioned listening 10-up. It's also a slogan I have on a t-shirt, it says: "I'm not ignoring you, I'm listening 10 up." So what does...
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Making HF contacts... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've heard it expressed that working on HF using an F-call is hard graft. No-one hears you, they don't talk to you, they ignore you, nothing works, it's all too hard. I've h...
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The general public knows nothing about Amateur Radio... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? For most of us Amateur Radio is a hobby. It might not be your only one, but if your time allocation is anything like mine, this one seems to grow in its scope and reach ever...
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Silliness is everywhere... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Last week I shared my personal close encounter with a drill. If you missed it, the experience contained a particular act of stupidity on my part. So much so that I still can...
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Don't be a doofus, be safe. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Real Hams have an RF burn scar. That's a signature from one of my Amateur friends. To that I can now add from personal experience, "or a drill hole." It all began...
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ClubLog.org from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past two years I've talked about amateur radio resources on the Internet, sometimes referring to one or other web-site in passing, encouraging you to find informati...
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QSL - Online Logging from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? One of the many projects I'm dealing with as a result of attempting to achieve contacting 100 different countries using only 5 Watts, also known as a QRP DXCC, is to log my ...
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Share the Fun in the wider community from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I was in a discussion with a friend and we were talking about how we started things that we do today. I recalled that in my teens, I must have been 12 or 13 at the...
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5 Watts, what a blast! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've been participating in contests for a little while now, both as part of a club, using a club station and equipment and under my own callsign using my own radio. When I ...
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Mechanics of Contesting from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've participated in several contests since I became an Amateur. When I talk about contesting, I often hear the same response, "Contesting is not for me". In talki...
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Consider the QRP community from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I started this caper over two years ago, my very first edition of "What use is an F-call?" discussed the idea that it's not power that determines your ability...
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DX Cluster from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? With the advance of the Internet into society in the past 20-odd years Amateur Radio has embraced the warm glow of electrons passing across copper, or light pulses across fi...
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VOACAP lesson from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? This week I learnt an interesting lesson. The difference between a propagation forecast and reality. I've been trying to work out what the best time and band would be for me...
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Make an antenna at different sizes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I love it when I get feedback about things I talk about. It helps me understand when I know what's going on and when I'm being a doofus. Recently I was talking about buildi...
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Wire for bulding antennas. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I once asked an amateur what the best wire was to use for an antenna. He advised me that there are really only two kinds of wire. Free wire and Cheap wire, with a preference...
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We are in the communications game... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past two years I've been sharing my experiences and opinions as an F-call about Amateur Radio and the community. I've talked about learning and interacting, about p...
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Contesting is not just on-air. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past couple of years I've participated in several contests, and I know you might think that "contesting isn't your thing", but bear with me, I think you mig...
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Succession Planning from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've been an amateur since December 2010 and since then I've been active in many different groups and communities. I've participated in several Hamfests, BBQ's, car-boot sal...
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Amateur Radio, a wide range of topics from all walks of life. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Every week between midnight and 1am UTC we host a 'net for new and returning hams. It's called F-troop and can be accessed in VK6 via VK6RAP, 146.7 MHz and via IRLP node 955...
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Standards and Guidelines for Communication Sites - everything you want to know about grounding. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Every day you learn something new. I realise that's an obvious comment, but I am regularly surprised at the range of experience and education that Amateur Radio brings to my...
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Encourage rather than Berate an F-call! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio has been around for over a century, in that time it has evolved considerably. From humble beginnings with the field being discovered and covered by inventors, ...
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If you're in a hurry you make mistakes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Today I was unable to run my weekly net from my QTH, so I planned to run my station portable. Last night I put my battery pack in the boot of my car, put the mag-mount on th...
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Each contact is different! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Last week I was reading a report from another Amateur, a QRP station who has made it his aim to have a DX contact every day. John N8ZYA, living in Charleston West Virginia, ...
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Trolls and what to do... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? The radio waves are open to all comers, licensed or not. That means that while you have to be licensed to use a particular frequency and that stiff penalties apply if you're...
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Get off your Alpha Romeo Sierra Echo from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Since I started in Amateur Radio, in November 2010, barely a minute and a half ago when compared with the history of this hobby, I've been involved in many different activit...
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AR Blows me away every day! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Every day Amateur Radio adds a little something to my life in fun and unexpected ways. I know that's a big call, but it's true. This morning whilst preparing to participate...
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Why do you hold the License that you do? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past I've talked about the difference between the various types of Amateur License in Australia. The three main types in use today in order of increasing privilege ar...
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Where are the F-calls at the conference? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Looking through the list of Amateurs attending the WIA conference, I notice a distinct lack of attendance by F-calls. It was the same at the conference last year. Few and Fa...
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Get familiar with Radio! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? An F-call is an amateur license that you can obtain over a weekend with a little study. It's not particularly complicated and it will give you some knowledge and skills to g...
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This is your hobby! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? New Amateurs arrive on the scene every day. They turn up because they bump into the hobby in unexpected ways. From all walks of life, with infinite variation in experience a...
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Your callsign is your identity. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Names are important in day-to-day interaction between people. In amateur radio, you get issued with a callsign that after a little while takes on the role of a name. When y...
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Try another station once in a while. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? This week I learnt something that you can only learn by doing it. As you know, I operate a mostly portable station, that is, hardly ever from home, regularly via battery pow...
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Antenna, Antenna, Antenna from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In Real Estate, there are three things you need for success. Location, Location, Location. In Amateur Radio, you need three things as well, Antenna, Antenna, Antenna. Many ...
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Think about the possibilities of your F-call. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As I've said in the past, a Foundation License is an introduction into Amateur Radio, the first step on a path to a hobby that can take you places you never knew about. Your...
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Finding HF noise in your QTH from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past month or so I've had some limited HF capability at my QTH in the form of a wire loop that runs around the ceiling in my office. It's not pretty and it doesn't ...
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Making Amateur Radio visible to the Public. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Being an Amateur is an exciting thing. It entertains and educates you, exposes you to new people and social experiences, it keeps you off the street and all in all, it's a g...
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Becoming a builder or inventor creeps up on you. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're new to Amateur Radio, like I am, it can be daunting to be surrounded by other amateurs who have seen that, done that and wrote the book. As you interact with those...
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A crappy antenna is better than no antenna at all! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? This week I learnt a valuable lesson. As you might have heard, I've been working on a magnetic loop antenna. It's been taking a while, much longer than I ever planned. At th...
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Hook up with the QRP community. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Using a Foundation Call in Amateur Radio puts a number of restrictions on your on-air activities. The most bemoaned of those restrictions is the limit of 10 Watts output pow...
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You don't need a license to get started. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're an Amateur, you're licensed. The two go hand-in-glove. But to listen to what's going on around you does not require you to be licensed. There is plenty of fun to b...
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The license doesn't always match the skill from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
?What use is an F-call? When I speak with different amateurs it often strikes me that they come from all different kinds of backgrounds and experiences. Behind a foundation licence often is an in...
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Different License Types from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio in Australia today is licensed with three primary license types, the Foundation or F-call, the Standard and the Advanced license. If you're familiar with how t...
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Amateur Radio Language from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a hobby that's been around for over a century. In that time we've seen evolution in electronics, in communications, in science and in society. Our hobby has...
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Build your own community. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In June 2011 I started a weekly net for new and returning Hams. It was born from the idea that there had to be a place where people could congregate and learn. At the time t...
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DC to Daylight from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? From DC to Daylight is a term that until I became an Amateur, I'd never heard of and since becoming licensed I've bumped into it more than a couple of times. Once you sit a...
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Storage for your Precious. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As a direct result of being involved in Amateur Radio, I find myself spending more time at my workbench figuring out things, repairing equipment and investigating new soluti...
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Reflect on your time in Amateur Radio. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a social experience, an activity that invites and thrives on communication. As a participant in the hobby, either recent or long standing, there are many am...
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What's in a name? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? The name of this segment is meaningful if you are aware of Amateur Radio Licensing in Australia, but if this is all new to you, then I might as well have said, What use is a...
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What have I been doing about my DXCC? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? For a little while now I’ve been working towards obtaining my DXCC, contacting 100 countries. When I talk about it, often the first question is, how many contacts have you m...
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Go and find your community! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you've just passed your Amateur Radio exams and you're waiting for your license to arrive, you're where I was two years ago. Surrounded by people who have had their licen...
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The Internet Treasure Trove from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is as much about radio as it is about community. If you've only just received your license there is a vast treasure trove of information available on the Inter...
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Turn up and start helping... from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I hear regularly from other Amateurs in face-to-face conversation that they are not sure what to do and whom to talk to. These Amateurs, not all Foundation Licensees, for so...
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Cleaning up your shack from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've now been an Amateur for a little longer than a minute and a half and my shed is beginning to resemble that of Amateurs who've been at it for much longer than I. There'...
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websdr.org from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you've ever sat at home wanting to listen to HF but you're radio is out of commission, worse still, you haven't yet got a radio, or your antenna is a project in progress,...
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AR, an amazing community. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? The excitement of participating in an Amateur Radio event, be it social, educational, competitive or otherwise is something that I've not seen or experienced in any other ho...
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What does learning really mean? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? On a regular basis I hear the phrase "When are you going to learn some more and upgrade your license?" I have no clear answer to that, other than to say that sinc...
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Propagation, www.ips.gov.au from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've spent the past couple of weeks investigating Magnetic Loop Antennas and during that process got distracted by propagation. I've talked about propagation before, but in ...
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Magnetic Loop Antennas from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? You gotta love this hobby. A fellow amateur mentioned the notion of a Magnetic Loop antenna and now, several enjoyable hours later, I've been hunting and reading, learning a...
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Regulated freedom from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? If you're new to Amateur Radio, that is, you don't yet have a license, then some of what we talk about on the News each week very likely sounds like gobble-de-gook. Of cours...
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Amateur Radio is about Experimentation AND Learning from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? It’s been said many times, Amateur Radio is about experimentation and learning. It bears repeating, Amateur Radio is about experimentation AND learning. I know you’ve heard...
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There will always be those who think of it as a lowly F-call. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In 2005 there were no F-calls in Australia. Today there are more F-calls than Standard licenses. Clearly there is an influx of Amateurs coming from the introduction of the F...
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First Contact from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? This morning I made three QSO's, that is, three contacts with new stations. People who keyed their microphone for the very first time. The thing is, there is nothing to dist...
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Where are all the f-calls? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you get introduced to Amateur Radio, your likely first step is to get a Foundation License. That's not always been the case. The Foundation License has only been in exi...
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Find the spark that interests you. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the last few minutes I've spoken with an Amateur in Kansas, a couple in Port Pirie and a few in Perth, all within the same conversation. That sums up Amateur Radio for me...
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Talking does not have to be terrifying from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
?What use is an F-call? Having a license, or rather, getting a license is an activity that is relatively simple. I've heard it said that people fear public speaking more than death and zombies. K...
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Experimentation from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Experimentation is what amateur radio is all about, for some amateurs more than for others. For me, it's an integral part of what makes this hobby exciting for me. It may no...
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Echolink for when you don't have a radio. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past few weeks I've been playing with an Amateur Radio technology that links my work-life and my hobby together. For some, that might be a boon, for me, I have been...
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Clubs and Associations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In my travels across the country, I come in touch with new amateurs on a regular basis. It's an exciting way to find out what brings people to Amateur Radio and it regularly...
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Looking for a lunchtime QSO. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I went looking for a place to set-up my radio during lunch time. The location I've been looking for needs a couple of things. Most importantly, it needs to be reac...
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Morse is a useful skill from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the Amateur Radio Licensing regime before the current one where we have a Foundation License, a Standard License and an Advanced one, there was a requirement to know Mors...
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Ask your friends how to start. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Often I talk to fellow amateurs and ask what they've been up in Amateur Radio since I last spoke with them. I'm surprised to report that regularly the response is "noth...
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You're encouraged to experiment. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past I've talked about experimentation. It's an activity that lies at the heart of Amateur Radio. In essence, Amateur Radio is a license to experiment. On the face of...
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Share your single triumps too. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've just had a browse through the latest Amateur Radio magazine, read a few stories, looked at a couple of photos and it struck me that there are two types of activities th...
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User your radio in different environments to learn. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? You may have noticed over the past little while that I've been talking about off-air activities more than the ones achieved whilst actually sitting behind a radio. It's not ...
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How to get a license. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
?What use is an F-call? It occurred to me recently that there are people listening who don’t yet have a license of any kind. They may be listening with a shortwave receiver, a handheld, on a local...
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Talk about your projects. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over time I've spoken with lots of different people with varying levels of experience and confidence. Some of those people see everything as an opportunity where others are ...
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Single Points of Failure from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past year I've come to see and experience some of the different achievements that amateurs have made in this hobby. It's not immediately obvious what the scale or r...
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If you plan to fail, you will. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I was a lad, which for me was in the 1970's, I had a big tub of LEGO. I used it to learn about the mechanics of things. I built a diff with Yellow, Blue and Red cogs - ...
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Thinking about hand helds for travel. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I'm about to go on a couple of trips and thought that it might be a good idea to have a radio with me, if nothing else, a great opportunity to talk to some locals on their l...
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What is the DXCC from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? A little while ago I made a commitment to myself to achieve the DXCC. Since then I've received a few questions asking what it's all about. It's an award for the DX Century C...
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What does Amateur Radio mean for you? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Arthur C Clarke pointed out that "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and so it is with Amateur Radio. We're celebrating over a c...
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How well do you know your radio really? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? So, you've got yourself a transceiver and it's all working well. You've read the manual more than a couple of times and you know your way around your kit. It's great to know...
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Go outside "your" band once in a while. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? As an amateur you have access to a whole range of frequencies. When I started in this hobby, I chose to buy an all-band set which allows me access to the main amateur bands,...
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Crimping and Soldering from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? With coax going between radios, amplifiers, tuners, SWR meters and antennas there is no shortage on connectors. You can buy pre-made connecting cables, but after a while you...
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Anyone can contribute. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? To be a HAM means different things to different people. For some it's an excuse to have a radio or it's a reason to participate in competitions. For others it's a reason to ...
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Foundation License DXCC from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? A recent lunchtime conversation between HAMs revealed that the perception that you need to upgrade your license is still alive and well. Now, I should start by saying that ...
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QSL cards in 2 minutes from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When you've been on air for many years it's easy to forget what it's like for new comers to the hobby. Take for example the simple QSL card. It's been around for a hundred y...
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Don't re-invent the wheel, ask an Amateur from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? The joys of Amateur Radio involve the mystical ability of a piece of wire to resonate and transmit our voice or other data across the radio air-waves. It's a tricky business...
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Operating Envelope Surprise from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had to repair one of my antennas. It had fallen on hard-times, strictly speaking, it fell on hard concrete when it fell off my fence, but the outcome was the same...
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Troubleshooting from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Troubleshooting is a skill that has to be learnt. Part of getting my Foundation License included a module on the skill. I've been working with complicated equipment for deca...
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What do you want to do with your radio? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? A recurring theme appears to be "What radio do I buy?" I asked another HAM and their breakdown went like this: Basically it's like Macintosh vs. Windows, or vi vs...
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Propagation and Solar Flux from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Some days you chew off more than you bargain for. Today I wanted to know a little more about propagation, the radio kind, not the plant variety. Four hours later I'm still r...
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Tuning your tranceiver 1950's style from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In the past I've talked about the history of Amateur Radio and how as a new participant it's easy to make the same mistakes as those who came before you because you don't ye...
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More Power from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I found myself discussing satellite communications with a group of Amateurs. It dawned on me that I had been using 1 Watt to transmit to geostationary orbit, more t...
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Experience from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I celebrated my birthday, my Amateur Radio Birthday that is. I've now had my license for 12 months and each time I go on air I find myself surrounded by people who ...
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What have you shared lately? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had the opportunity to see a group of amateurs show and tell lots of little inventions, from antennas through measuring equipment, hand-made and historic. The atm...
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Being Inventive from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? People are inventive, continually trying new things, solving problems, discovering new ones, making and breaking things, scratching an itch. Amateurs are no different. Well ...
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Faith and Generosity from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I heard an f-call ask on-air about the performance of their HF antenna. It reminded me that in order for any learning to occur, there needs to be two elements that ...
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Public Relations from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I was sitting on a plane talking to a person whom I had just met. We were discussing our interests and experience and the subject of Amateur Radio came up. There wa...
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The spark of curiosity. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had the opportunity to see some amateurs operating a special event station. Among the operators were a few young faces who had come into the hobby via the Scouts....
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Setup Remote once in a While from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had the opportunity to setup my radio in the bush. Having been around the metropolitan area for most of my Amateur Life to-date, that was a whole new, and I might...
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Same Old Story from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I keep having the same conversation, almost word-for-word, over and over again. I cannot do anything with just 10 Watts, it's not enough, it's useless, I cannot make any con...
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Whom have you inspired lately? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? It's good to get inspiration and it arrives in the strangest ways at the most unexpected time. I've been pretty busy in my non-amateur radio activities over the past months....
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Encourage F-calls from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Amateur Radio is a moving feast of people, coming and going, gaining interest, loosing interest, having time, running out of time. Every week there are people joining and pe...
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How did you get into Amateur Radio? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In my day-to-day environment I meet lots of different people. Many of them are not Amateurs. In fact, most of them are not Amateurs. That's not to say that I cannot see that...
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Ask around, QRP is not futile from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I had a discussion with a Foundation Licensed amateur who told me that he'd had some limited success making contacts using 10 Watts, but that he longed to have more...
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You have a license, now what? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I came out of the examination room where I'd just passed my Foundation License, after the obligatory congratulations and back slaps, I walked out into the sun and wonde...
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There is room for experimentation in this hobby. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I passed my Foundation License test I spent some months researching what equipment to buy, where to buy it from and how to configure it after I bought it. In case you'r...
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Share your Hobby Around from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I was talking to a non-amateur about Amateur Radio. You know the kind of conversation, sitting around a coffee-table, talking about life, hobbies, etc. I mentionned...
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Repeating History from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? In 1905 George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." If you're new to Amateur Radio like me, you don't remember the pas...
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Participation is a Promise made from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Participation is a Promise made. Now what do I mean by that? A little while ago I was listening to a conversation on HF, I cannot recall the exact band, but the conversatio...
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The nature of this hobby from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Recently I got to thinking about this hobby of Amateur Radio. It's not like any other hobbies I've had in the past. It's different in so many ways that it took me a little b...
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Education of your community from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? An article in the local paper caught my eye. It described a scenario where a local amateur with a 15m antenna mast was in the process of dealing with a local council who app...
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Practice makes Perfect from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Nothing, nothing at all. Well, that is, unless you practice. You're sure to have heard the expression, practice makes perfect. In any environment, learning about the task ...
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What to buy and how much to spend? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? So, you've got your shiny new f-call license. Now what? Where do you go to get your kit, what do you buy, how much should you spend? Let me start with the amount of money y...
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Real License from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? I've now had my foundation license just over 200 days. If I had a dollar for every time I was asked: "When are you upgrading your license?" I'd be able to retire, ...
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This is a community from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? An experience on a local mailing list this week made me consciously consider for the first time that I am a member of a community in Amateur Radio. Now this might sound comp...
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Welcome to the hobby. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? This week I'd like to share with you an experience I had on air a couple of days ago. I was tuned to 7.093 and I called CQ DX at about 4pm in the afternoon. I'd been listeni...
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7130dx net and phonetics from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Over the past few weeks I've been encouraging you to listen to the news, to get on-air and participate. It's easy enough for me to say, but I can understand that it might no...
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Buying your Kit from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Firstly I should thank all those f-calls that contributed to the call-back last week. If you know of any f-calls that are not listening to the broadcast, tell them about it ...
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This is step 1 of the hobby from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? When I was learning to fly an aeroplane my instructor at the time told me that every pilot has to do something called "Going Solo", that's flying on your own for t...
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Your F-call can do more than you think. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393
What use is an F-call? Last week I was talking to an amateur in Esperance from Fremantle on 21MHz and he was bemoaning the notion that he needed to upgrade his license because with 10 Watts you co...
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