Purpose of this article: This article describes the importance of establishing good housekeeping and standards when you first set-up your station

 

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Why should you consider the basics?

  • The old saying “A stitch in time save nine” applies
  • Spend your money wisely
  • Make sure you buy the right equipment to suit your budget and interests
  • Maximise your likelihood of success
  • Spending thousands of dollars on a brand new radio will not assure you of radio contacts if you don’t place equal consideration on antennas, local noise impacts or external factors such as propagation

 

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Suggestions

Basic guidelines for establishing your first radio station:

  • location of your shack and radio equipment – you need to be practical, but the further you can be from the living/entertainment room and kitchen, the less likely you are to suffer Radio Frequency Interference (RFI or QRM) from nearby electrical appliances
  • good RF earthing is vital. Ideally as close to the station as possible
  • avoid an upstairs shack if at all possible
  • ensure there is adequate air flow around all radios, power supplies, computers etc
  • antenna location – high and as far away from the house as possible
  • keep wires, patch leads and antenna feeders as short as practical
  • ensure all wires, antenna feeders and connectors are in good repair
  • test all electrical equipment for RFI/QRM. e.g. computers, power supplies, desk lamp etc. Choose appliances that emit the least amount of noise, or have a plan to minimise or eliminate the noise
  • make sure you can easily earth your antennas when you’re away from home or expecting storms
  • Once your station is set-up:
    1. listen on all your favourite bands. Check for unwanted QRM;
    2. transmit on your favourite bands and modes. Check for QRM to devices in your home;
    3. if possible, turn off your mains power supply and use a car battery to confirm you aren’t suffering unwanted RFI/QRM;
    4. visit the QRM Article for more info and qrm.guru

Even though it’s no longer a regulatory requirement, keep a logbook for the first few months of operation, in case neighbours complain you’re causing interference.

 

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Useful links

 

http://www.arrl.org/setting-up-a-station

https://vkradioamateurs.org/welcome-to-ar-guidebook-for-newcomers/

 

 

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Next Steps

 

It is a good idea to write up a description of what you want to achieve with your first radio station.  Include your budget.  When thinking about a radio consider:

 

  • Where will you locate your shack, and what environmental factors should you think about up-front?  Things like noise, heating, cooling, security and comfort.
  • What bands/modes are of most interest, not just now, but into the future
  • How far away from your shack will your antennas be?
  • Is it possible to connect the radio to your computer?
  • What sort of options and accessories will you require and are these integrated into the radios you are considering?
    1. SWR Meter
    2. Automatic Antenna Tuning Unit
    3. Digital Signal Processing
    4. A quality speaker
  • Have you considered an external manual antenna tuning unit?  You will learn more and most likely get better results; manual tuners quite often have a broader matching range;
  • Consider installing ferrites to all the cables and feedlines attached to your radio.   This will help reduce unwanted interference.  Refer to qrm.guru for more information.
  • How much desk space will your station require?
  • Do you have a comfortable seat?
  • What sort of ancillary equipment will you need?  Things like a desk lamp, atlas, world maps, cheat sheets for the Q-code, a note pad, logbook
  • How many power points will you need?  Consult a qualified electrician for advice.
  • Will you require internet access?

 

Lastly, do you have any amateur radio friends you can talk to?   Being able to share your thoughts with more experienced operators will help you understandhow you might select equipment and establish your first radio station.

 

Email us or raise a support ticket if you have questions.