"One man's journey into Amateur Radio." Lou Blasco.

In late 2007 after many years of thinking about it I decided it was time to get my amateur ticket and booked my place on a Foundation license course. This is the entry level amateur license In Australia and requires a minimum of technical knowledge and is designed to grow the ranks of amateur radio in Australia. Safety and good operating technique are key point in this course. Almost as soon as I booked my foundation course I changed my mind and asked the instructor if he could bring a copy of the Advanced exam with him. To his credit he said yes. Even though I'm a qualified technical officer in electronics I was a little unsure of my capabilities. So my plan was to sit the foundation exam and THEN if I was successful I would sit the advanced exam.

 The WIA (Wireless Institute of Australia) has produced a book to cover the Foundation license requirements. It's a great book and I urge anyone in Oz with even a little inkling that they might like to try amateur radio to look at the foundation license. I took the opportunity to look through all my old text books and study up on the advanced syllabus during the week. Also on the list were band plans and license conditions as prescribed by our local radio communications authority.

The great day finally arrived and ten of us took our seats for the 8 hour Foundation course. It was pleasing to see some youngsters there full of beans and ready to go. Young people are the hope for this hobby and their ideas will keep it fresh and alive. I think it's up to us to encourage them in every way possible.

 The course was straight forward and involved discussions on safety, interference, band usage, modulation modes (very basic) operating techniques and a small amount of electronics theory (ohm's law). Also included were discussions on practical matters like connector and cable identification, basic continuity checks, antenna types, S.W.R (Not SWER) and how to put your station together. I would have to say the most difficult part (if you could call it that) was the operating procedure section. Even after years of listening to amateur operators and using similar techniques on CB I still found the procedure difficult to complete successfully. Perhaps it was just nerves. We all had the same problems but it was a good group and we all got through it in the end.

Exams would be held the following day. The foundation exam is 30 questions in 45 minutes on regulations and theory followed by a practical assessment. The Advanced exam has the same practical assessment with 50 questions on theory in 90 minutes and 30 questions on regulations in 30 minutes. Imagine my surprise when the instructor informed me at the end of the day that I would NOT be sitting the Foundation exam but would only be sitting the advanced regulations and theory. What happened to my security blanket!!!!???? That evening I couldn't look at my books or watch TV or work in the shed or listen to the radio. Just an uneasy feeling. I know it's silly because it's nothing I hadn't done before.

The great morning arrived and revision consisted of reviewing a sample exam. 30 questions. From what I could tell we all did really well. I managed to recall that FM stands for Frequency Modulation. HI! After a quick break, we all took our places and it was on. We had been told that we could not use scientific calculators in the exam - strange but true. Converting microfarads to nanofarads - OK that's fine just move the decimal point. Next one, 20mW into an amp with 33dB gain. CRAP! Power gain is 10log P1/P2. What do I do without a calculator?????. Finally the light goes on. 10dB up = 200mW, 10dB up = 2W, 10dB up = 20W and then 3dB = 40W. OK you can do this. Nerves settle and I continue.

Before I knew it I'd answered all the questions checked my answers as best I can and I'm out in 50 minutes. All the others were out by this stage chatting excitedly about the answers on their test. I joined them and start chatting comparing answers with some of the other advanced candidates. 40W? YES! Well we either all got it wrong or we all have at least one right. All too quickly I'm summonsed back in to the hall to sit the regulations. 30 questions in 30 minutes. 10 minutes in, question 20, my mind wanders and I start thinking about the theory exam. Wait! The limiter comes before the demodulator not after! What were you thinking??!!! Panic. What else did I get wrong? Forget it move on. Can't concentrate, the question make no sense. Crap, only 15 minutes left. Relaaaaaaaaaaaaax. it's OK. Take a deep breath and continue. Can't! Close the paper and take a break.

The instructor asks if I'm finished. NO! I hiss. "Sorry, no, just taking a breather". Calm again. Take a drink and continue. 20 minutes and I'm done. Go out for a breath of fresh air and a chat. The practical assessment is next. Work through cable types, continuity tests, connecting equipment, measuring VSWR, measuring and adjusting output power. Discuss safety including the danger of high voltages including RF. Discuss CTCSS and DTMF, discuss operating techniques. OK grab the mike and make a call. The other station responds. Get his callsign, name, QTH, and sigs. Return same to him. QSY to 70cm. End the call. Assessment over - well done.

Well it's all done now and I successfully passed my exams - 93% for the regulations and 90% for the theory. In the following weeks I received my new advanced call VK3ALB. This allows me access to all bands on all modes as prescribed by our local Radio Regulations here in Australia. It's been a long time since I first got interested in radio and thought about getting my license. The wait has been well worth it.

Lou Blasco VK3ALB December 2007 revised July 2010