Australia's amateur radio community — connecting operators across the continent, from the tropics of Queensland to the Southern Ocean.
Amateur radio — known as "ham radio" — has been a cornerstone of Australian communications since the early 1900s. From the red-dirt outback to bustling coastal cities, licensed operators keep the airwaves alive with conversation, experimentation, and community service.
Australia's ITU callsign prefix is VK. Each state and territory has its own number: VK1 (ACT), VK2 (NSW), VK3 (VIC), VK4 (QLD), VK5 (SA), VK6 (WA), VK7 (TAS), VK8 (NT), VK9 (External Territories).
Amateur radio in Australia is regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) is the peak national body representing amateurs.
Over 17,000 licensed amateurs operate in Australia, part of a worldwide network of 3+ million operators. VK stations routinely make contacts with every continent — including Antarctica via VK0!
Ham radio is one of the few licences that encourages technical experimentation. Build your own antennas, radios, and digital modes. Many of today's digital communication protocols were pioneered by amateurs.
Getting your amateur radio licence in Australia is straightforward. The ACMA issues three classes of licence, each granting progressively more privileges.
Australian amateurs have access to a wide range of frequency allocations across HF, VHF, UHF, and microwave bands. Below are the primary allocations.
| Band | Frequency Range | Wavelength | Typical Use | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | 1.800 – 1.875 MHz | 160 metres | Nighttime DX, local nets | Standard / Advanced |
| 80m | 3.500 – 3.900 MHz | 80 metres | Regional contacts, nets, SSB | Foundation+ |
| 40m | 7.000 – 7.300 MHz | 40 metres | DX, VK nets, CW, digital | Foundation+ |
| 20m | 14.000 – 14.350 MHz | 20 metres | International DX, SSB, FT8 | Foundation+ |
| 15m | 21.000 – 21.450 MHz | 15 metres | DX during high solar activity | Foundation+ |
| 10m | 28.000 – 29.700 MHz | 10 metres | DX, FM, AM, digital | Foundation+ |
| 6m | 50.000 – 54.000 MHz | 6 metres | Sporadic-E DX, local SSB | Foundation+ |
| 2m | 144.000 – 148.000 MHz | 2 metres | FM voice, repeaters, satellites | Foundation+ |
| 70cm | 420.000 – 450.000 MHz | 70 centimetres | FM repeaters, digital, ATV | Foundation+ |
| 23cm | 1.240 – 1.300 GHz | 23 centimetres | Digital links, ATV, EME | Standard+ |
⚠️ Always verify current allocations with the ACMA Frequency Register and the WIA Band Plan. Conditions and allocations may change.
One of the great joys of amateur radio is the sheer variety of ways to communicate. From 100-year-old Morse code to cutting-edge weak-signal digital modes, there's something for every operator.
The workhorse of HF voice communication. LSB (Lower Sideband) is used on 40m and below; USB (Upper Sideband) on 20m and above. Efficient, long-range, and the go-to for DX contacts and nets.
Crystal-clear audio, ideal for local and regional comms on VHF/UHF. The dominant mode for repeaters and handheld radios across Australia. Simplex calling on 146.500 MHz (2m) and 432.500 MHz (70cm).
The original radio voice mode, still used on 10m and for vintage/nostalgia operation. Wider bandwidth than SSB but great audio character. Commonly heard on the 29 MHz portion of 10m.
A digital voice mode using TDMA technology. Widely deployed on VHF/UHF repeaters and hotspots. Allows access to worldwide talk groups via the internet-linked BrandMeister and TGIF networks.
Icom's digital voice and data protocol. Supports callsign routing — you can call a specific operator's callsign and the network routes it to them globally. Popular in Australia, particularly on UHF.
Yaesu's digital voice mode, known for excellent audio quality. Linked via the Wires-X network. Many Australian clubs operate C4FM-capable repeaters. Can also fall back to conventional FM.
Over 160 years old and still one of the most effective modes in existence. CW occupies just ~150 Hz of bandwidth and can punch through noise and interference that defeats voice modes. A skilled CW operator can copy signals at signal-to-noise ratios that no modern digital mode can match at the same power level.
In Australia, Morse code is no longer required for any licence class, but it remains enormously popular — especially for DX chasing, contests, and QRP (low power) operation. The VK CW community is active on 40m (7.020–7.040 MHz) and 20m (14.000–14.070 MHz).
The world's most popular digital mode. Developed by Nobel laureate Joe Taylor (K1JT), FT8 uses 15-second transmission cycles and can decode signals 20 dB below the noise floor. Responsible for a revolution in HF DX — VK operators regularly work all continents in a single session.
A faster version of FT8 using 7.5-second cycles, designed primarily for contesting. Slightly less sensitive than FT8 but allows many more contacts per hour. Gaining popularity in VK contest activity.
Built on FT8's engine but designed for free-text keyboard conversation. Popular for EMCOMM and remote/off-grid operators. Supports messaging relay, enabling contacts through intermediary stations.
Phase Shift Keying at 31 baud — a classic keyboard-to-keyboard digital mode. Extremely narrow bandwidth allows many simultaneous QSOs in the same space as one SSB signal. Very popular through the 2000s–2010s.
Radio Teletype — a venerable digital mode dating to the 1930s. Still widely used in HF contests including the BARTG, CQ WW RTTY, and WIA's own contest calendar. Two audio tones (mark/space) carry text at 45 or 75 baud.
Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. Stations transmit a tiny beacon (callsign + grid + power) and the worldwide WSPRnet database records who heard whom. A fantastic tool for studying HF propagation — many VK stations run WSPR 24/7.
Automatic Packet Reporting System — a real-time mapping and messaging network operating mainly on 144.575 MHz (VK standard). Vehicles, weather stations, and fixed stations beacon GPS positions visible on aprs.fi. Hugely popular with VK mobile operators.
Email over radio — the Winlink global network lets amateurs send and receive standard email via HF or VHF, with no internet required at the client end. Critical for EMCOMM deployments and popular with sailors and outback travellers.
Not a mode itself, but a technology enabling a single radio to decode almost any mode in software. Cheap RTL-SDR dongles ($15–30 AUD) receive a huge spectrum simultaneously. Used for ADSB aircraft tracking, trunked scanning, and receiving all the modes listed above.
Transmit still images over HF radio in 8–138 seconds. Popular on 14.230 MHz (USB) worldwide. The International Space Station (ISS) regularly transmits SSTV images that VK stations can receive during passes. Modes include Robot 36, Scottie 1/2, and Martin 1/2.
Full-motion video transmission on UHF and microwave bands. Digital ATV (DATV) uses DVB-S/S2 encoding and allows broadcast-quality video over distances of tens of kilometres. Active ATV repeaters exist in major Australian cities.
Weather charts and images transmitted by radio — broadcast by the Bureau of Meteorology and naval services. Received using a simple HF receiver and free software. Popular with mariners and aircraft operators for weather briefings at sea.
Bouncing signals off the surface of the moon for intercontinental contacts — a distance of ~800,000 km. Requires substantial antenna arrays and moderate power. VK operators on 2m and 70cm regularly complete EME contacts with Europe and North America.
The AMSAT network operates numerous amateur radio satellites in LEO. VK stations can work other amateurs through SO-50, AO-91, AO-92 and others using a modest handheld and a directional antenna. CubeSats also carry linear transponders for SSB/CW.
A portable operating award programme where activators carry radio equipment to mountaintops and make contacts with chasers. Hugely popular in VK — Australia has thousands of qualifying summits. Typically uses SSB, CW, or FT8 with QRP power.
Joining a local amateur radio club is one of the best ways to get started, find mentors (Elmers), and participate in events, contests, and field days.
The peak national body for amateur radio in Australia. The WIA represents VK operators internationally, administers examinations, and publishes the monthly Amateur Radio magazine.
wia.org.au ↗An active club in the Wide Bay region of Queensland. Regular nets on 146.500 MHz simplex and local repeaters. Club meetings held monthly — visitors welcome.
Contact us for detailsServing North Queensland amateurs with weekly nets, field days, and licensing courses. Active on 2m and 70cm repeaters serving the greater Townsville region.
Contact us for detailsSouth Australia-based club focused on technical experimentation, EME, microwave, and digital modes. A great resource for technically-minded operators.
areg.org.au ↗NSW-based club with a strong focus on emergency communications and community events. Operates several linked VHF/UHF repeaters.
ccarc.org.au ↗The WIA maintains a directory of all affiliated clubs across Australia. Search by state or postcode to find operators near you.
Club Directory ↗Annual nationwide event marking Australia Day. Many special event stations operate.
Australia's premier HF contest honouring amateur operators who served in WWII.
Annual portable operating contest encouraging operators into the field with portable stations.
Amateur radio operators play a vital role in Australia's emergency communications framework. When conventional infrastructure fails — during floods, cyclones, or bushfires — ham radio keeps communities connected.
AREC is the WIA's volunteer emergency communications arm. AREC members train to provide communications support to emergency services including the SES, police, and hospitals during disasters. VK has active AREC groups in every state.
Learn about AREC ↗WICEN provides communications for major community events and emergencies. Teams are deployed at endurance events, cycling races, triathlons, and disaster responses where temporary comms infrastructure is needed.
wicen.org.au ↗Queensland operators maintain dedicated nets during severe weather events. The VK4 Emergency Net activates on 3.600 MHz (LSB) during declared disasters. Net controllers coordinate with the Queensland Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA).
During major fire events, amateur operators support the Rural Fire Service (RFS/CFA/DFES) with logistics and communications at control centres. Training with your local brigade is strongly encouraged for operators in fire-prone regions.
Have a question, want to arrange a sked, or keen to know more about ham radio in your area? Drop us a line — 73!