News
Office holiday arrangements
The ARV office is closed over the Christmas holidays and will reopen on Tuesday 4th February 2020. Purchases from our on-line shop will be fulfilled over the break.
Standard Licence course
ARV is conducting a AOCP Standard Level course starting late January 2020. 29th January – Tuesday 31 March with assessment on Saturday 4th April Anyone wishing to register their interest in attending the course contact, Peter Cossins VK3BFG vk3bfg@...
Get your Foundation licence
The Foundation Licence syllabus is thorough covering the essential basics of electronics, radio communications, several safety aspects, and the regulations. Candidates undergo a practical test on the band plans, regulations, symbols, antennas, then a hands-on...
An end fed half wave antenna
An end fed half wave antenna with built in counterpoise. From Youtube
A stand-alone WSPR beacon kit
YouTube video
ILLW Cards on the way
VK3WI QSL Cards for the event are now on the way (via the VK3 Bureau) to all who made it “in the Log”. Amateur Radio Victoria participated in the 2018 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW) which was held across the weekend of August 18-19....The hidden costs of amateur repeaters
From time to time we hear about the funding difficulties experienced by clubs who run a repeater often not for the benefit of their own members, but for the wider amateur radio community. In New South Wales the Lands Department is continuing on its campaign...Repeater Updates
ARV volunteers recently added a new APRS beacon to the Victorian network. VK3RHO is now running on the summit of Mt Hotham and is fully operational in time for the coming winter snow season. This will be a valuable addition to the network expanding the...
QSL cards on the way
Members of Amateur Radio Victoria (ARV) braved the elements across the weekend of Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 August to participate in the 2017 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend from the Williamstown Time Ball Tower (Point Gellibrand ,...
VK3RTV Olinda site closed
After more than 30 years, VK3RTV has closed operations at Olinda. The tower has been removed and the site de-commissioned. Experiments have begun from Surrey Hills with encouraging reports, particularly towards the west although test transmissions have been...
Homebrew magnetic loop
Those particularly short on room can make their own antenna that covers the 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m bands. The loop part is a single 3 metre length of 22mm copper tube cut into 4 pieces and joined with 90 degree elbows. A few constructing skills using a...
A Sputnik transmitter recreated
A transmitter of the type that was on board Sputnik 1 when it became the world’s first artificial satellite, and started the space race, has been recreated by Dutch radio amateur. The 58 cm polished metal sphere broadcast radio pulses that were heard as it...
Successful ILLW weekend
Amateur Radio Victoria VK3WI again took part in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend at the Timeball Tower in Williamstown. The main operator was Tony Hambling VK3VTH, who not only organised the Park Victoria permit but brought the needed...
Mobile phone booster on sale
Despite the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) banning the operation, supply and possession of mobile phone boosters, a keen eyed radio amateur has spotted a suspect item on sale at a second-hand outlet. The ACMA prohibition is due to...
Tin can WiFi booster
To extend the range of wireless devices the do-your-self tin can option fitted with the necessary components is the way to go. The DIY cheap option to increase the distance of WiFi is catching on. Heart of the antenna is a food, juice or other similar round...