V
VK2RK
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The current series of Australian Amateur Radio Call Signs may seem a little baffling but
looking back at the way in which our call signs have evolved shows that it has been
much more confusing in the past.
We know that there were wireless experimenters in most states of Australia from about
1897, very soon after Marconi's demonstrations in London. Engineers from the Post &
Telegraph Dept., University researchers and a few individuals duplicated Marconi's
wireless system in the period 1900-1904, with varying degrees of success. There were no
call signs at that time, and operators simply used their station location or their names or
initials as identifiers. Experimenters were supposed to obtain permission from the Royal
Navy on Australian Station, ie before the formation of the Australian Navy, but most
didn't bother and the Navy had no wireless to hear them anyway, although occasionally
visiting Navy ships were equipped with wireless equipment.
Attached pdf for rest of article
looking back at the way in which our call signs have evolved shows that it has been
much more confusing in the past.
We know that there were wireless experimenters in most states of Australia from about
1897, very soon after Marconi's demonstrations in London. Engineers from the Post &
Telegraph Dept., University researchers and a few individuals duplicated Marconi's
wireless system in the period 1900-1904, with varying degrees of success. There were no
call signs at that time, and operators simply used their station location or their names or
initials as identifiers. Experimenters were supposed to obtain permission from the Royal
Navy on Australian Station, ie before the formation of the Australian Navy, but most
didn't bother and the Navy had no wireless to hear them anyway, although occasionally
visiting Navy ships were equipped with wireless equipment.
Attached pdf for rest of article