Around May this year, Australia will introduce the Foundation Licence as
part of a new three-tier licence system. Foundation, Standard & Advanced.
(Instead of the current 5 licence categories of Novice Limited, Novice,
Intermediate, Limited, Unrestricted)

It will be an easier test than the current Novice test and allow the
Foundation Licence operation on the following bands, with a maximum output
of 10w using unmodified commercial equipment only. It is a modified version
to suit VK of the UK Foundation Licence.

Foundations will have access to 3.5-3.7, 7.0-7.3, 21-21.45, 28.0-29.7,
144-148 and 430-450MHz

The Current VK Novice (VK$ L,M, N, P, V) and Novice Limited (VK$ H) will
become (upgraded to) Standard Licencees and will have access to
all of the above, plus 14-14.350, 52-54.00, 1.240GHz-1.3GHz, 2.4-2.45GHz,
5.6-5.8GHz. with max pwr of 100w. Meaning there is only four bands we wo't
gain automatic access to. (Yep, I'm a H call, didn't see the point in
sitting a Morse Exam when it's no longer a test requirement)

This means that all VK Novice and Novice Limited will gain automatic access
to a whole heap of new bands and modes when the Licence is introduced. So
our current lowest licence class, the Novice Limited, or "H" call will
become a mid-classed operator around May. Expect increased activity on many
bands when this happens.

Limited (VK$ T, U, X, Y, Z) and Intermediate will become (VK$ J, K)
(upgraded) to Advanced "Full Call" and have access to all VK Amateur Bands
with max pwr of 400w.

These changes are a result of the ACA's Review of the Amateur Service and
the Outcomes of that Review.

Ashley Geelan VK3HAG


www.wia.org.au The world's oldest and First Amateur Radio Society, formed
and operational Since 1910. (Before RSGB and the ARRL!)

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 01:21:17 GMT, "Ashley VK3HAG"
wrote:

Around May this year, Australia will introduce the Foundation Licence as
part of a new three-tier licence system. Foundation, Standard & Advanced.
(Instead of the current 5 licence categories of Novice Limited, Novice,
Intermediate, Limited, Unrestricted)

Very interesting. Not that I don't believe you smile but when some
semi official news releases from the Australian Communications
Authority or the Wireless Institute of Austrailia come out could you
post the URLs to this thread.

We now return discussion to the inevitable moaning and groaning about
the death of amateur radio due to the dropping of the CW requirement.
smile

Tony

No worries here are the links to verify my info:
ACA:
http://internet.aca.gov.au/ACAINTER....1618,#Outcomes
http://internet.aca.gov.au/acainterw...ew_outcome.pdf

WIA: http://www.wia.org.au/foundation/
http://www.wia.org.au/news/2004/Amat...0Structure.php

And when it actually happens, I'll post the links to the finalised new regs
when they become available.

Just waiting now for the ACA to make changes to it's legislation to
implement these changes, but wheels at government turn slowly..they can't
afford the oil!

"Tony VE6MVP" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 01:21:17 GMT, "Ashley VK3HAG"
wrote:

Around May this year, Australia will introduce the Foundation Licence as
part of a new three-tier licence system. Foundation, Standard & Advanced.
(Instead of the current 5 licence categories of Novice Limited, Novice,
Intermediate, Limited, Unrestricted)

Very interesting. Not that I don't believe you smile but when some
semi official news releases from the Australian Communications
Authority or the Wireless Institute of Austrailia come out could you
post the URLs to this thread.

We now return discussion to the inevitable moaning and groaning about
the death of amateur radio due to the dropping of the CW requirement.
smile

Tony

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 07:00:29 GMT, "Ashley VK3HAG"
wrote:

No worries here are the links to verify my info:

Thanks for the URLs. I had poked about those websites but couldn't
see anything.

Tony

On Fri, 25 Feb 2005 11:10:27 +1100, Barry OGrady
wrote:

On Wed, 23 Feb 2005 07:00:29 GMT, "Ashley VK3HAG"
wrote:

No worries here are the links to verify my info:

Did you mean "No worries here. Are the links to verify my info?"

Well, I read that as a comma between worries and here.

Tony