LICENCES AND CALLSIGNS.
TYPES OF RADIO FREQUENCY LICENCING IN AUSTRALIA
- Spectrum licencing
- Apparatus licencing
- Class licencing
Currently in Australia, amateur radio operators fall within the apparatus licencing category. However this is currently under review, with a proposal bv the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) for amateurs to move to Class licencing.
Within apparatus licencing there are two types:-
- Assigned
- Non Assigned.
Assigned - use of an allocated frequency
Non-assigned - shared frequency use
Non-assigned - shared frequency use
Amateur radio repeaters and beacons fall into the Assigned category, while individual amateur radio operators fall within the Non-assigned category.
What users currently fall within the Class licencing category?
* require operator qualifications
- Citizen Band (CB) radio
- small transmitters, e.g. cordless telephones
- Maritime ship stations*
- amateurs who are visiting Australia*
* require operator qualifications
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Holders of a class licence do not need to apply for a class licence and do not have to pay any fees.
Class licencing is far less prescriptive than an apparatus licence.
Class licencing is far less prescriptive than an apparatus licence.
LEVELS OF LICENCE IN AUSTRALIA.
- Foundation
- Standard
- Advanced
AUSTRALIAN CALL SIGNS.
Australian amateur callsigns generally commence with the prefix VK, followed by a digit, and then either a 2, 3, or 4 letter suffix.
VK indicates Australia.
VK indicates Australia.
The AX prefix can be used on Australia Day, Anzac Day, and World Telecommunications Day.
The VI prefix is a special event prefix allocated for special events.
The digit within the callsign previously indicated the State or Territory that the amateur operator was located in.
However in 2021, a 'callsign for life' policy was adopted. If an amateur moves interstate, and they wish to keep their callsign, they can do so.
However in 2021, a 'callsign for life' policy was adopted. If an amateur moves interstate, and they wish to keep their callsign, they can do so.
The Australian Maritime College (AMC) is responsible for the management of callsign allocations in Australia.
OVERSEAS CALLSIGNS.
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References.
1. AMC, 2022, <https://www.amc.edu.au/industry/amateur-radio/callsigns>, viewed 3rd March 2022.
2. Radiocommunications Act 1992
3. WIA, 2022, <https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2021/20210119-1/index.php>, viewed 3rd March 2022.