Foundations of Amateur Radio

Foundations of Amateur Radio

Author: Onno (VK6FLAB) Language: English Episodes: 579
For anyone curious about the crackle of a distant voice emerging from the static or the thrill of making a contact across the globe using nothing but radio waves, Foundations of Amateur Radio offers a friendly, steady guide. Hosted by Onno (VK6FLAB) from Australia, this long-running podcast acts as a companion for newcomers navigating the initial, often overwhelming, steps into this vast hobby. Each episode deliberately unpacks a single facet of amateur radio, breaking down technical concepts, equipment, and operating practices into digestible pieces. You'll hear practical advice on how to get started, find your place within the global community, and discover which of the hobby's countless avenues-from building antennas to satellite communication or emergency service-might spark your passion. It’s not about dry theory; it’s about demystifying the process and sharing the genuine rewards that keep enthusiasts engaged for a lifetime. Having evolved from its earlier incarnation in 2011, this podcast builds from the ground up, week by week, creating a solid resource that grows with you. Tune in for a down-to-earth conversation that makes the airwaves feel a little more accessible and a lot more inviting.
Episodes
Being a Maverick is part of the deal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:50
Foundations of Amateur Radio The story goes that the name of our hobby, at least in some parts of the world, ham radio, stems from the notion that we as a community were perceived as being ham-fisted in our ability to op…
Planning for Contest Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:24
Foundations of Amateur Radio One of my recurring, you might call it, regrets, but probably not quite that strong, is that I often find myself discovering that an amateur radio contest came and went, or worse, I found out…
About Australian Callsigns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:08
Foundations of Amateur Radio Australia has a long relationship with callsigns. Over time the regulator, today the ACMA, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has seen fit to introduce different types of call…
How does the IARU work? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:33
Foundations of Amateur Radio Over the past week I've been attempting to work out what the IARU, the International Amateur Radio Union, actually does and how it works. I started looking into this because the IARU is this…
Problem Solving or How to Access a Radio Remotely? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:01
Foundations of Amateur Radio So, I have a confession. I don't know everything. Shocking right? Over the past too many months, actually, come to think of it, years, I have not been on-air with my station on HF using FT8 o…
Identity in Amateur Radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
Foundations of Amateur Radio The recent "incident" at the ARRL in which it disclosed that it was the "victim of a sophisticated network attack by a malicious international cyber group" brings into focus some serious ques…
Long Wave Radio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:49
Foundations of Amateur Radio If you've heard the phrase "shortwave listeners", you might have wondered what on earth that was all about. It relates to the length of a radio wave used to transmit information. The length o…
The ARRL incident of May 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:08
Foundations of Amateur Radio Today I want to talk about something that might feel only tangentially related to our hobby, but it likely affects you. Recently the ARRL announced that it was "in the process of responding t…
The origin of our amateur bands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:21
Foundations of Amateur Radio The origin of our amateur bands It's hard to imagine today, but there was a time when there was no such thing as either the 80m or the 20m amateur band, let alone 2m or 70cm. Picture this. It…
On the nature of Inspiration .. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:45
Foundations of Amateur Radio Over the years you've heard me utter the phrase: "Get on air and make some noise!". It's not an idle thought. The intent behind it is to start, to do something, anything, and find yourself a…