Thank you for letting me join your group

[SWL-VK3001]

I'm not a licensed operator..   merely a listener..   not entirely without experience..   12 years in RA Sigs..   and a failed exam after a lot of study..  my teachers then were valve dinosaurs..  not that there is anything wrong with valves..  but I copped a major question about something my mentors had seen fit to skip over..  a block diagram of an SSB transceiver..  simple but novel in those days..  and my tech friends at Vinten had already crystalled up an old MTR13 with the current 4 repeaters at the time for me..   I've still got it..  dusty and I don't know if it still even works..   Life has disappointments but I still enjoy listening in..  Best wishes to all out there on the ether..   Geoff.

[VK4ADC]

Geoff

Many things have changed over the last 10-20 years including the introduction of a Foundation Licence (FL, at entry level), the abolition of morse code testing, no more "essay style" exams (now just multiple choice), many different repeaters and modes (IRLP, Echolink, Digital Mobile radio, etc).  Your old Vinten (and yes I remember them from the first time around) probably won't be a lot of use as most repeaters are now tone access on their receive.

I suggest that you locate a local WIA Assessor ( http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/assessor/assessors/ ) and have a talk to him/her about current licensing requirements and processes.  You might find it all easier than you think to gain a licence at FL, Standard or even Advanced level.

By all means ask for info on this forum too.... Lots of well-informed people visit here.

73 Doug VK4ADC

[SWL-VK3001]

Hi Doug

Many thanks for your encouraging remarks..
The exam I took was the Limited Operators..  you needed all the knowledge but not the morse.
Re the MTR13,  actually I did the multi band crystal mod myself.   Crude maybe but effective.  Didn't have
the equipment for the alignment so that was done for me by my friends in the technical department of Plessey Vinten.
I worked there at the time in the sales office where I did the Radio Branch liaison and the crystal ordering.
We had our own crystal factory that looked like something out of a Charles **** nightmare.. 
And I soon found out that you needed to take into account the effect of frequency doublers etc..   haha..
These days I keep myself entertained with old wireless restoration..   There is nothing like a warm valve.

Thank you again..   Geoff.



Geoff

Many things have changed over the last 10-20 years including the introduction of a Foundation Licence (FL, at entry level), the abolition of morse code testing, no more "essay style" exams (now just multiple choice), many different repeaters and modes (IRLP, Echolink, Digital Mobile radio, etc).  Your old Vinten (and yes I remember them from the first time around) probably won't be a lot of use as most repeaters are now tone access on their receive.

I suggest that you locate a local WIA Assessor ( http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/assessor/assessors/ ) and have a talk to him/her about current licensing requirements and processes.  You might find it all easier than you think to gain a licence at FL, Standard or even Advanced level.

By all means ask for info on this forum too.... Lots of well-informed people visit here.

73 Doug VK4ADC

[VK4ADC]

'There is nothing like a warm valve."

Well in the 'old' amateur vernacular, that wouldn't be an '807' simply 'cos that would be a cold beer. 
Time to warm up a few semiconductors too perhaps ??

When you upgrade to VK3..., I can simply update your profile so that your forum history remains. Just let me know.
73 Doug