Paul SIMMONDS (VK5PAS)
  • WELCOME
  • MY LIFE IN AMATEUR RADIO
  • WIA PRESIDENTS AWARDS
  • CONTACTS MADE
  • MY AMATEUR RADIO STATION
    • Standard licence conditions
    • My antennas
    • My previous antennas
    • My transceivers
    • My shack project
    • Old shack photos
    • My towers
    • ANTENNA/TX SWITCHER
    • Microphones
    • Communications receivers & scanners
    • My logging program
    • Rotators
    • CW equipment
    • BITX40
    • Other equipment
    • EMDRC Powerpole Dist Board Kit
  • VK5PAS - QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • AFGHANISTAN
    • ALAND ISLANDS
    • ALASKA
    • ALBANIA
    • ALGERIA
    • AMERICAN SAMOA
    • AMSTERDAM & ST PAUL ISLANDS
    • ANDAMAN ISLANDS
    • ANDORRA
    • ANGOLA
    • ANGUILLA
    • ANTARCTICA
    • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
    • ARGENTINA
    • ARMENIA
    • ARUBA
    • ASIATIC RUSSIA
    • AUSTRAL ISLAND
    • AUSTRALIA
    • AUSTRIA
    • AZORES
    • BAHAMAS
    • BAHRAIN
    • BALEARIC ISLANDS
    • BANABA ISLAND
    • BANGLADESH
    • BARBADOS
    • BELARUS
    • BELGIUM
    • BELIZE
    • BENIN
    • BERMUDA
    • BHUTAN
    • BOLIVIA
    • BONAIRE
    • BOSNIA
    • BOTSWANA
    • BRAZIL
    • BRUNEI
    • BULGARIA
    • CAMBODIA
    • CAMEROON
    • CANADA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CAPE VERDE
    • CAYMAN ISLANDS
    • CENTRAL KIRIBATI
    • CEUTA AND MELILLIA
    • CHAGOS ISLAND
    • CHATHAM ISLANDS
    • CHILE
    • CHINA
    • CHRISTMAS ISLAND
    • CLIPPERTON ISLAND
    • COCOS KEELING ISLANDS
    • COLOMBIA
    • COMOROS
    • CONGO
    • CONWAY REEF
    • CORSICA
    • COSTA RICA
    • CRETE
    • CROATIA
    • CUBA
    • CURACAO
    • CYPRUS
    • CZECH REPUBLIC
    • DENMARK
    • DJIBOUTI
    • DODECANESE
    • DOMINICA
    • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
    • EAST KIRIBATI
    • EAST MALAYSIA
    • EASTER ISLAND
    • ECUADOR
    • EGYPT
    • EL SALVADOR
    • ENGLAND
    • ERITREA
    • ESTONIA
    • ESWANTINI (SWAZILAND)
    • ETHIOPIA
    • EUROPEAN RUSSIA
    • FALKLAND ISLANDS
    • FAROE ISLANDS
    • FIJI
    • FINLAND
    • FRANCE
    • FRENCH GUIANA
    • FRENCH POLYNESIA
    • GABON
    • GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
    • GEORGIA
    • GERMANY
    • GIBRALTAR
    • GREECE
    • GREENLAND
    • GRENADA
    • GUADELOUPE
    • GUAM
    • GUATEMALA
    • GUERNSEY
    • HAIITI
    • HAWAII
    • HEARD ISLAND
    • HONDURAS
    • HONG KONG
    • HUNGARY
    • ICELAND
    • INDIA
    • INDONESIA
    • IRAN
    • IRAQ
    • IRELAND
    • ISLE OF MAN
    • ISLE OF WIGHT
    • ISRAEL
    • ITALY
    • JAMAICA
    • JAPAN
    • JERSEY
    • JORDAN
    • JUAN FERNANDEZ
    • KALINIGRAD
    • KAZAKHSTAN
    • KENYA
    • KOSOVO
    • KUWAIT
    • KYRGYZSTAN
    • LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
    • LAOS
    • LATVIA
    • LEBANON
    • LESOTHO
    • LIECHTENSTEIN
    • LITHUANIA
    • LORD HOWE ISLAND
    • LUXEMBOURG
    • MACAO
    • MACEDONIA
    • MACQUARIE ISLAND
    • MADAGASCAR
    • MADEIRA ISLAND
    • MALAWI
    • MALDIVES
    • MALI
    • MALTA
    • MARION ISLANDS
    • MARKET REEF
    • MARQUESAS ISLANDS
    • MARSHALL ISLANDS
    • MARTINIQUE
    • MAURITANIA
    • MAURITIUS
    • MAYOTTE ISLAND
    • MEXICO
    • MICRONESIA
    • MOLDOVA
    • MONACO
    • MONGOLIA
    • MONTENEGRO
    • MONTSERRAT
    • MOROCCO
    • MOZAMBIQUE
    • MYANMAR
    • NAMIBIA
    • NAURU
    • NEPAL
    • NETHERLANDS
    • NEW CALEDONIA
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • NEW ZEALAND SUB ANTARCTIC
    • NICARAGUA
    • NIGER REPUBLIC
    • NIGERIA
    • NIUE
    • NORFOLK ISLAND
    • NORTH COOK ISLANDS
    • NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
    • NORTHERN IRELAND
    • NORWAY
    • OGASAWARA
    • OMAN
    • PAKISTAN
    • PALAU
    • PALESTINE
    • PALMYRA & JARVIS ISLANDS
    • PANAMA
    • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • PARAGUAY
    • PERU
    • PHILIPPINES
    • PITCAIRN ISLAND
    • POLAND
    • PORTUGAL
    • PUERTO RICO
    • QATAR
    • REUNION ISLAND
    • RODRIGUES ISLAND
    • ROMANIA
    • ROTUMA
    • RWANDA
    • SABA AND ST EUSTATIUS
    • SAMOA
    • SAN ANDRES
    • SAN MARINO
    • SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
    • SARDINIA
    • SAUDI ARABIA
    • SCOTLAND
    • SENEGAL
    • SERBIA
    • SEYCHELLES
    • SINGAPORE
    • SLOVAK REPUBLIC
    • SLOVENIA
    • SOLOMON ISLANDS
    • SOMALIA
    • SOUTH AFRICA
    • SOUTH COOK ISLANDS
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
    • SOUTH SUDAN
    • SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA
    • SPAIN
    • SPRATLY ISLAND
    • SRI LANKA
    • ST BARTHELMEY
    • ST BRANDON ISLAND
    • ST HELENA ISLAND
    • ST KITTS
    • ST LUCIA
    • ST MAARTEN
    • ST VINCENT
    • SUDAN
    • SVALBARD
    • SWAINS ISLAND
    • SWEDEN
    • SWITZERLAND
    • TAIWAN
    • TAJIKISTAN
    • TANZANIA
    • THAILAND
    • THE GAMBIA
    • TIMOR LESTE
    • TOKELAU
    • TONGA
    • TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
    • TRISTAN DA CUNHA & GOUGH ISLAND
    • TUNISIA
    • TURKEY
    • TURKS & CAICOS
    • TUVALU
    • UGANDA
    • UKRAINE
    • UK SOV BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS
    • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
    • UNITED NATIONS
    • URUGUAY
    • USA
    • UZBEKISTAN
    • VANUATU
    • VENEZUELA
    • VIETNAM
    • VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)
    • VIRGIN ISLANDS (USA)
    • WAKE ISLAND
    • WALES
    • WALLIS & FUTUNA
    • WESTERN KIRIBATI
    • WEST MALAYSIA
    • WESTERN SAHARA
    • WILLIS ISLAND
    • ZAMBIA
    • ZIMBABWE
    • MARITIME MOBILE
    • SWL cards
    • Special event QSL cards
    • My QSL Manager, Charles M0OXO
    • My QSL card printer
  • VK5PAS PORTABLE
  • VK5PAS MOBILE
    • VK5PAS MOBILE - QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • VK5PAS MOBILE - EQSL CARDS RECEIVED
  • AX5PAS
    • Australia Day
    • ANZAC Day
    • AX5PAS QSL cards received
  • VK9PAS NORFOLK ISLAND
    • VK9PAS QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • VK9PAS - EQSL CARDS RECEIVED
  • SPECIAL CALL SIGNS
    • VK80LAN
    • VK90ABC
    • VI100AF and VK100AF
    • VI100PEACE
    • VI5LWF
    • VK20HOME
    • VI9ANZAC
    • VI5ANZAC
    • VK100ANZAC
    • VK100ANZAC - Farina 2015
    • VI5MARCONI
    • VK5WOW & VI5WOW
    • VI50IARU3
    • VI70MI
  • VK5FPAS - MY OLD CALL
    • QSL CARDS RECEIVED - VK5FPAS
    • LETTERS RECEIVED - VK5FPAS
  • MY QSL INFO
  • MY QTH - ASHBOURNE
    • My property
    • ASHBOURNE HISTORICAL PHOTOS
    • Bushfires
    • Tour Down Under
    • Steam Ranger
    • STRATHALBYN
  • Mount Barker summit
  • Mount Barker from years gone by
  • Classic Adelaide Rally
  • ALL ABOUT AUSTRALIA
    • How big is Australia ?
    • Melbourne Cup
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIA
    • Adelaide
    • South Australia icons
    • Superloop 500 car race
    • Bay to Birdwood
    • Adelaide Crows
    • Adelaide Oval
  • WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO?
    • History of AR in Australia
    • Patron Saint of AR
    • How many amateurs are in Australia
    • Licences and Callsigns
    • UTC TIME
    • Phonetic alphabet
    • Making a successful QSO
    • Ham jargon
    • QRZ.com
    • Broadcasts
    • Boat anchors
  • PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS
  • AMATEUR RADIO VIDEOS
  • PORTABLE OPERATION
    • Portable Hints
    • Antennas
    • Squid Poles
    • Tuner
    • Batteries/power sources
    • Bitx40
    • Other equipment
    • John Moyle Memorial Field Day
    • Beaches on the Air (BOTA)
    • Freeze your butt off
    • Field Radio
    • Great Outdoors Radio Club
    • Logging contacts
    • Fast Log Entry (FLE)
    • Pedestrian mobile
    • Bicycle mobile
    • Articles
    • Promotional material
  • MOBILE OPERATION
  • VK5 PARKS AWARD
    • CERTIFICATES
    • My VK5 Parks activities >
      • Activator >
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Hunter >
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Park to Park
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • Videos >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
  • WORLD WIDE FLORA & FAUNA (WWFF)
    • VKFF Awards
    • WWFF Global awards
    • National program awards
    • VKFF Activation Weekend
    • VKFF Team Championship
    • Top VKFF Activator
    • Top VKFF Hunter
    • Top WWFF Activator
    • WWFF QSL cards received
    • My portable QSL cards
    • My WWFF videos >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
    • Other activators - videos
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • My favourite activations
    • DX CONTACTS
  • SUMMITS ON THE AIR (SOTA)
    • Getting started in SOTA
    • How do summits qualify?
    • What is prominence?
    • Activation zone
    • Tips for activators
    • Tips for Chasers
    • Australia's mountains & elevation
    • Accessing private property
    • Keeping land owners happy
    • SOTA in South Australia (VK5)
    • My SOTA activities
    • My SOTA certificates
    • My SOTA QSL cards
    • Certificates of Appreciation
    • My SOTA activation videos >
      • 2016
      • 2014
      • 2013
    • Other SOTA videos
    • DX SOTA contacts
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • SOTA QSL cards received
    • SOTA apps
    • Maps
    • Interesting websites
    • Presentations
    • Summitsbase
    • PEAKERY
    • Trig points
    • Stone walls
  • HEMA
    • HEMA VIDEOS
  • GLOBAL MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY GROUP
  • KEITH ROGET MEMORIAL NATIONAL PARKS AWARD
    • My KRMNPA progress
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
  • ISLANDS ON THE AIR (IOTA)
    • My IOTA activations
    • Troubridge Island - 2023
    • Norfolk Island - 2016
    • Kangaroo Island - 2013
    • Granite Island - 2013
    • Kangaroo Island - 2012
    • IOTA QSL cards received
    • VK IOTA
  • BEACHES ON THE AIR (BOTA)
  • SILOS ON THE AIR (SiOTA)
  • ILLW - LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND
    • History of ILLW
    • 2022
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • Warburto Light
  • MILLS ON THE AIR
  • AWARDS
    • DXCC
    • New Zealand
    • QRZ.com Awards
    • eQSL Awards
    • WIA Awards
    • WIA Presidents Commendation
    • Digital mode awards
    • 2017 WIA AGM Award
    • Ted Powell Memorial DX Challenge
    • Italian Castles Award
    • VK Shires
    • Japan Awards
    • ANZAC Centennary Award
    • USA Counties Award
    • World Castles Award
  • CONTESTING
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • WIA Contest Champion
    • Freeze your Butt Off (FYBO)
    • WARCA
  • TIPS ON MAKING A QSO
  • SIGNAL REPORTS
  • WORKING DX
    • DX Cluster
    • DX videos & audio
    • DX Code of Conduct
    • Interesting contacts
    • DX Contacts
    • Special Event stations
    • DX articles
  • PROPAGATION
    • Sunspot cycle
    • VOACAP
    • spaceweather.com
    • Space Weather Prediction Center
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2022
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2021
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2020
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2019
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2018
    • Propagation articles
    • BEAM HEADINGS
  • COLLECTING QSL CARDS
  • QSL CARD CHECKING
    • DXCC Card checker
    • Logbook of the World (LOTW)
    • CQ Awards
    • WIA Awards
  • 28 MHZ, 10 METRE BAND
    • Sporadic E
    • 10m beacons
    • 10m repeaters
    • 10-10 International
    • 10m Contests
    • 10m band Facebook pages
    • Videos
  • 6M, THE MAGIC BAND
  • 15M BAND
  • DIGITAL MODES
    • FT8
    • PSK31 & PSK63
    • PSK Reporter
  • VHF/UHF
  • MORSE CODE - CW
  • WSPR
  • APRS
  • IRLP
  • AMATEUR SATELLITES
  • QRP
  • ANTENNAS & BALUNS
  • COAX
  • CONNECTORS
  • BATTERIES
  • PORTS
  • TOWERS
  • VSWR
  • OSCILLOSCOPES
  • ELIMINATING NOISE
  • OVER THE HORIZON RADAR
  • RUSSIAN WOODPECKER
  • NETS
    • Triple H Net
    • ANZA DX Net
  • QRZ.com
  • QRZCQ
  • ACMA
  • WIRELESS INSTITUE OF AUSTRALIA (WIA)
    • History
    • Callbook
    • WIA AGM Hahndorf 2017
    • WIA AGM Norfolk Island 2016
    • WIA AGM Canberra 2015
    • WIA National Field Day 2010
  • RASA
  • ALARA
  • WOMEN IN AMATEUR RADIO
  • VK5MAZ MARIJA - MY WIFE
    • QSL cards received
    • VK5 Parks Award
    • WWFF
    • Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award
    • SOTA
    • eQSL
    • VK100AF and VI100AF
    • VK80LAN
    • MILLS ON THE AIR
    • BOTA
    • Silos On The Air (SiOTA)
    • Other Awards
    • Contesting
    • DL1DN QRP contact
    • Videos
  • WELL KNOWN AMATEURS
    • Florence Violet McKENZIE
  • HAMS I HAVE MET
    • Northern Corridor Group WA
  • SILENT KEYS
  • BELGIUM 2014
  • GET TOGETHERS
    • ANTENNAPALOOZA - 2017
    • SERG CONVENTION >
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
    • BRL GATHERING >
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
  • RADIO INTERVIEWS
  • PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014 >
      • SOTA & PARKS Symposium 2014
      • SOTA & Parks practical day
    • 2013
  • FACEBOOK PAGES
  • LETTERS RECEIVED
  • HAM PHOTOS
    • G4AKC Dave
    • VK9JA Norfolk Island
  • QSL CARDS FROM FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS
  • AHARS
  • STRATHALBYN AMATEUR RADIO GROUP
  • PACIFIC DXers
  • OUT AND ABOUT IN VK5
  • SCHOOL RADIO CLUB
  • VKS-737 RADIO NETWORK
  • ANTIQUE RADIOS
    • AIRZONE N3102
    • AWA
    • HOTPOINT
    • KRIESLER 11-20A BAKELITE
    • MULLARD
    • RADIOLA
    • SCHARNBERG STRAUSS
    • STROMBERG CARLSON
  • HISTORICAL RADIO SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
  • OLD COMMUNICATION RECEIVERS
  • SHORT WAVE LISTENING (SWL)
    • SHORT WAVE EXPLAINED - VIDEOS
    • Broadcast Listeners Licence
    • My SWL receivers
    • Yaesu FRG7
    • My SWL antennas
    • My SWL QSL cards
    • What is a QSL card?
    • Reception Report tips
    • SINPO / SIO code
    • Useful websites
    • Broadcast QSL cards received
    • Amateur radio QSL cards received - VK5003SWL
    • Amateur radio QSL cards received - SWL L50000
    • Amateur Radio Awards
    • Letters received - VK5003SWL
    • WIA membership
    • SWARL
    • ARDXC
    • NASWA Journal
    • DX Monitor
    • Southern Cross DX Club
    • Amateur radio videos
    • Broadcast station videos
    • Audio files - Commercial broadcasters
    • Audio files - Amateur radio
    • World of Radio
    • World Radio TV Handbook
    • FSL ANTENNA
    • SWL pages on the Internet
    • Documents
    • Newspaper articles
    • Other articles
    • New Zealand DX Times
    • DX Guides
    • Latin American DXing
    • TECSUN
  • SHORT WAVE BROADCAST STATIONS
    • 4KZ INNISFAIL, QUEENSLAND
    • ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO
    • AFRICAN PATHWAYS
    • ALL INDIA RADIO
    • ARMED FORCES RADIO & TV NETWORK
    • AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - ABC
    • BANGLADESH BETAR
    • BAY ISLANDS RADIO
    • BBC WORLD SERVICE
    • BEIBU BAY RADIO, CHINA
    • BIBLE VOICE BROADCASTING
    • CFRX TORONTO, CANADA
    • CHINA HUYAI BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR2 BUSINESS RADIO
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR6
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO, CNR7 THE GREAT BAY
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO, CNR8
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR13
    • CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • DEUTSCHE WELLE
    • DIMSTE WEYANE TIGRAY
    • ECHO OF HOPE, SOUTH KOREA
    • ECHO OF UNIFICATION
    • FEBA RADIO INDIA
    • FEBA RADIO PAKISTAN
    • FEBC RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • FURUSATO NO KAZE, JAPAN
    • GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • HCJB, ECUADOR
    • HOPE RADIO PALAU
    • KARI NATIONAL RADIO
    • KBS WORLD RADIO, SOUTH KOREA
    • KHBI, SAIPAN
    • KNLS ALASKA
    • KOL ISRAEL
    • KOREAN CENTRAL BROADCASTING STATION KCBS
    • KSDA ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO
    • KTWR, GUAM
    • KYOI, SAIPAN
    • MASHAAL RADIO
    • MYANMAR RADIO
    • NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • NATIONAL UNITY RADIO, SOUTH KOREA
    • NHK WORLD, JAPAN
    • NIHON SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING CORP, JAPAN
    • NIPPON NO KAZE
    • NORTH KOREA REFORM RADIO
    • PAKISTAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • PEACE AND PROGRESS, RUSSIA
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION GANNAN
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION HULUN BUIR
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION QINGHAI, CHINA
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION XINJIANG
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION XIZANG, CHINA
    • PYONGYANG BROADCASTING STATION
    • RAADIYYONI DIREE SHAGGAR
    • RADIO AFGHANISTAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO ALAZM
    • RADIO ALGERIENNE
    • RADIO AUSTRALIA
    • RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO AZADI
    • RADIO BAGHDAD, IRAQ
    • RADIO BEIJING, CHINA
    • RADIO BERLIN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
    • RADIO BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
    • RADIO BULGARIA
    • RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO CHANNEL 292
    • RADIO DABANGA
    • RADIO DAP LOI SONG NUI
    • RADIO DX NORFLK ISLAND
    • RADIO EDUCACION, MEXICO
    • RADIO ETHIOPIA
    • RADIO EXTERIOR DE ESPANA
    • RADIO FARDA
    • RADIO FINLAND
    • RADIO FOR PEACE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO FOR THE PRINT DISABLED
    • RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO FREE ASIA
    • RADIO FREE EUROPE
    • RADIO FREE NORTH KOREA
    • RADIO HABANA, CUBA
    • RADIO IRAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO JAPAN
    • RADIO KOREA
    • RADIO KUWAIT
    • RADIO MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • RADIO MANARA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO MARTI
    • RADIO MAZARIS SAMAY
    • RADIO MOSCOW
    • RADIO NACIONAL DA AMAZONIA
    • RADIO NDARASON INTERNATIONALE
    • RADIO NEDERLAND, NETHERLANDS
    • RADIO NEW ZEALAND
    • RADIO NIKKEI
    • RADIO NORWAY
    • RADIO PEKING
    • RADIO PORTUGAL
    • RADIO PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO PRAHA
    • RADIO PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
    • RADIO REBELDE, CUBA
    • RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO RSA, SOUTH AFRICA
    • RADIO SADAYE ZINDAGI
    • RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO SOFIA, BULGARIA
    • RADIO SWEDEN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TAMAZUJ
    • RADIO TAPEI INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TARMA, PERU
    • RADIO TASHKENT
    • RADIO THAILAND
    • RADIO TIRANA, ALBANIA
    • RADIO UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA
    • RADIO VANUATU
    • RADIO VERITAS ASIA
    • RADIO VLAANDEREN
    • RADIO VOZ MISSIONARIA, BRAZIL
    • RADIO YUGOSLAVIA
    • RADYO DENGE WELAT
    • RADYO PILIPINAS
    • RAI, ITALY
    • REACH BEYOND AUSTRALIA
    • REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
    • RTM MALAYSIA
    • RTM SARAWAK
    • SAUDI ARABIA
    • SHIOKAZE - SEA BREEZE
    • SHORTWAVE AUSTRALIA
    • SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • SOLOMON ISLANDS BROADCASTING CORP (SIBC)
    • SOUND OF HOPE, CHINA
    • SWISS RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • THAZIN RADIO, MYANMAR
    • THE OVERCOMER MINISTRY
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO BONAIRE
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO INDIA
    • UNIQUE RADIO AUSTRALIA
    • UNITED NATIONS RADIO
    • VATICAN RADIO
    • VOICE OF AMERICA, USA
    • VOICE OF AMERICA ASHNA USA
    • VOICE OF AMERICA DEEWA, USA
    • VOICE OF FREE CHINA
    • VOICE OF GREECE
    • VOICE OF HOPE, AFRICA
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SIGNAL REPORTS.

Why give a signal report?

A signal report is one of the basic features of an amateur radio contact (QSO).  An exchange of signal reports to each participant in the QSO, lets each party know how well they are being heard.

The RST system.

The R-S-T system is used by amateur radio operators, shortwave listeners, and other radio hobbyists to exchange information about the quality of a radio signal being received.  The RST system is a three digit number, with one digit each for conveying an assessment of the signal's readability, strength, and tone.

R - Readability

S - Signal Strength

T - Tone

The first number in the RST report is the readability of the signal or how understandable a signal is.  This ranges on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being 'unreadable' and 5 being 'perfectly readable'.  Factors which impact on readbility include QRN (atmospheric noise, static crashes, QSB (fading), and QRM (man made noise, e.g. plasma TV noise).

The second number in the RST report is the strength of the signal.  Remember, that the RST reporting system was created prior to introduction of S meters in transceivers.  A signal strength of 1 is 'faint signals, barely perceptible', whilst a signal strength of 9 is an 'extremely strong signal.'

The third number refers to Tone and applies to CW (Morse Code).
Picture

History of the RST system.

The RST system has been in use with amateur radio operators since about 1934.  Prior to this a number of schemes were devised to quantify how well a signal was being received by a receiving station.  

The RST system was developed by Arthur W. Braaeten W2BSR, who proposed a simple, less confusing, and more acurate system of reporting a station's readability and signal strength. At this time CW was the primary means of communication, with AM transmissions starting to be utilised by amateur radio operators.

A 1934 edition of QST magazine stated:

'In August QST KA1NA emphasized the need for change in our signal-report practice.  We think W2BSR's R-S-T system answers a very definite need.  In it we find no such glaring inconsistencies in existing usages'.
Picture
1934 issue of QST magazine.

S meters.

Back in 1934 when the RST system was implemented, most receivers did not have S meters.  Those that did, had widely varying calibrations.  It was for that reason, that when a signal report was to be given, it was the operator's ears which were utilised to select the appropriate Readability and Signal Strength numbers.

​Most amateurs now use modern receivers which have relatively accurate S meters.

S meters are generally graduated 1 to 9 which corresponds with the RST scale, with most receivers adding levels of above 9, e.g. +10, +20 dB.

Remember, S meters are only a guide as to signal strength, as there is often no consistency in S meter calibration between different receivers.
Picture

Honest signal reports.

Most amateurs get a kick out of a 59 plus signal report.  But the reality is that not every signal heard on the band is 59 plus.  And from what I have heard on the bands, there is sometimes an inflation of the signal report to the station being worked.

Myself, I like honest signal reports.  If I am 33, then please tell me I am 33.  A 59 signal report sounds great, but if I am really 33 it tells me a lot. 

​Firstly I would not come back with a long over, as clearly my readibility is 'readable with considerable difficulty' and my signal is 'weak'.  This short over is to minimise the frustration of trying to copy me.  I am always amazed at amateurs who get a poor signal report and yet come back with long rambling overs, only to be told again by the amateur at the other end that they were struggling to hear the station well.

If my readability is only 3 or 4, it alerts me to the fact that I should spell my name and QTH phonetically, or repeat certain important points.

An accurate signal report also tells me about propagation and how well my signal is being heard in a specific geographic location on a particular band.

Don't be embarrassed by giving a 33 signal report.  If you are having trouble hearing the station, let them know.


Contests.

Picture
In contests you will invariably hear 'rubber stamp' 59 signal reports, even if the station is having difficulty in hearing the other station.  Why is this? 

An accurate signal report is not required in a contest.  Only the exchange of the required contest information, e.g. serial number. 

Contest stations are trying to work as many stations as possible in a particular period of time, and issuing 'accurate' signal reports takes time.


DX pile ups.

As with Contests, you may hear a DX station in a DX pile up, just giving 59 signal reports even when the signal is lower in quality.  This is because the 'important' thing is that you are in their log, not the actual signal report.

VHF & UHF.

Generally the RST system is not used in FM repeater contacts.  The common terms used to describe FM signal quality are:-
​
  • Full Quieting - this is the strongest signal report you can provide.  It describes a signal which is strong enough to overcome any noise.
  • Scratchy - this means that the transmission can mostly be heard but there is some noise similar to crackling on the signal.
  • Flutter - this describes a signal which alternates between strong and weak.  This is often due to mobile operation.
  • In and Out - means that the listener can sometimes copy, but not enough to be useful

"Can You Read Me Now?" by Steve Sant Andrea AG1YK.

rst.pdf
File Size: 1384 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

"Genuine Signal Reports with Copyability and Strength" by Bruce Prior N7RR.

-genuine_signal_reports_with_copyability_and_strength.pdf
File Size: 400 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Ham Radio - Tips for new hams. Signal reporting and the RST system - KB9RLW











Refererences.

1.  Bob VK5AFZ, 2017' Meaningful Signal Reports' Out and About magazine Issue 27 

2.  Sant Andrea; S, 2011, 'Can You Read Me Now?'

2.  Wikipedia, 2020, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-S-T_system>
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