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Newbie advice to USA

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• Newbie advice to USA

  SWL-VK2002 > 09-10-2017, 08:44 AM

  Hi All!
  
  I was a CB radio enthusiast many years ago and am now looking to rekindle my radio love.
  
  A mate in California is also keen to get his Ham license... We'd love to be able to speak but I can't seem to find the appropriate info that indicates if we would have a strong enough signal on the equipment I could get with a Foundation license.
  
  Could someone point me in the best direction to find out more specifics as to what is possible? Any personal advice welcome too of course!
  
  Thanks!

• RE: Newbie advice to USA

  VK4ADC > 09-10-2017, 01:46 PM

  Welcome to the forum
  
  Foundation licensees (FLs) can work into the USA when conditions on HF are good but the current section of the 11 year solar cycle makes this difficult at the moment.  I hear USA stations most afternoons on 14MHz / 20 metres but FLs do not have access to this band.
  
  One thing that many FLs overlook is the use of IRLP and Echolink via 2 metres on VHF and 70cm on UHF and they use wormholes through the internet and that solves the propagation issue somewhat. You still need an amateur licence at each end though.
  
  Others on the forum may have advice to give you but probably talk to a local WIA assessor  (http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/assessor/assessors/) and study up the current FL Manual (sometimes available through the assessor but otherwise try http://www.wia.org.au/members/bookshop/p...php?id=113  ).  
  
  More info at http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/about/
  
  73 Doug VK4ADC

• RE: Newbie advice to USA

  SWL-VK2002 > 09-10-2017, 03:13 PM

  (09-10-2017, 01:46 PM)VK4ADC Wrote: Welcome to the forum
  
  Foundation licensees (FLs) can work into the USA when conditions on HF are good but the current section of the 11 year solar cycle makes this difficult at the moment.  I hear USA stations most afternoons on 14MHz / 20 metres but FLs do not have access to this band.
  
  One thing that many FLs overlook is the use of IRLP and Echolink via 2 metres on VHF and 70cm on UHF and they use wormholes through the internet and that solves the propagation issue somewhat. You still need an amateur licence at each end though.
  
  Others on the forum may have advice to give you but probably talk to a local WIA assessor  (http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/assessor/assessors/) and study up the current FL Manual (sometimes available through the assessor but otherwise try http://www.wia.org.au/members/bookshop/p...php?id=113  ).  
  
  More info at http://www.wia.org.au/licenses/foundation/about/
  
  73 Doug VK4ADC

  thanks Doug, that helps. 
  
  I'll also contact an assessor and see what advice they may have.
  
  Cheers.
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