VK4FI is an Advanced Class (Full Call) amateur radio station operated by Steven Dudley. I was first licenced as Amateur Radio Operator in 2010. In that year I gained my Foundation Amateur Radio Licence and was issued the call VK4FSRD. I was a late starter to Amateur Radio gaining my first licence at 49, however, I have been involved in Radio and Communications since I first got the bug back the early days of CB radio in Australia in 1977.
I was on CB for a number of years and then in 1984 I enlisted in the Australian Army and was allocated to the Royal Australian Signals Corps. I served in a number of locations within Australia and Overseas during my 24 plus years of service in the Corps. I finished my fulltime military career as a Warrant Officer Class Two (E-8, OR-8) Information Systems Manager in July 2008. I am still serving at the same rank and position as a Reserve Soldier (part-time).
I had planned on studying for an Amateur Licence back in the 1970's but work and personal life seemed more important, so it was only in 2010, that I again got the bug and decided that I needed to do something about getting a licence. So within 4 weeks of deciding that the time was right, I had done some quick study of the current regulations and sat the exam. I passed and was licenced as VK4FSRD.
In 2017 after 6 odd years as an F Call licence holder I thought it was about time that I upgraded and started playing with all the digital modes and open the horizons on new bands and a little more power. I started to look at the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process for an Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - Advanced (AOCP -A), given the many years of Radio and Electronics training I received as a member of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals over the last 3 decades.
I submitted the application and was successful in being granted RPL for Advanced Theory and Practical on WIA RPL application 17006. All I was required to do was sit the Regulations assessment which I did on the 22 Aug 17. Ron (VK2DQ) administered the exam remotely with the assistance of a Commissioned Military Officer, from my place of work, who acted as the local scrutinizer. I was successful in this assessment and it was then just a waiting game until all the paperwork was submitted and processed by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).
On the 27 Sep 17, my bright new AOCP-A certificate number 5588 issued 5 September 2017 arrived. At the same time I also applied and was granted WIA assessor status on certificate 4-076, which enables me to conduct assessments for the 3 classes of licence available in Australia. The assessment process has now been taken over by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), our national regulation body, and I am an authorised volunteer assessor for all classes of licence.
Also in 2017 I sat and was successful at completing the US Technician and General Class examinations and was granted the US call KS7EVE. At some point I will attempt the US Extra Class exam as well, why, because I can and it is just another challenge.
In addition to my recognition as an Australian Assessor, I am also recognised by the ARRL as a being a Registered Licence Instructor and a Volunteer Examiner, which allows me to contact assessments for US class licences up to my General Class qualification.
I have been married to Sharan, since 1985 and we have 4 adult children. Our oldest daughter and her family are living in Toowoomba, a short drive from our QTH, we have a son living in Kingsthorpe about a 20 minutes’ drive and our youngest daughter lives in Brisbane the capital city of our state, which is about 2 hours to the east of our QTH. Whilst our oldest son and his daughter are back living with us at the family home.
VK4FI is an Advanced Class (Full Call) amateur radio station operated by Steven Dudley. I was first licenced as Amateur Radio Operator in 2010. In that year I gained my Foundation Amateur Radio Licence and was issued the call VK4FSRD. I was a late starter to Amateur Radio gaining my first licence at 49, however, I have been involved in Radio and Communications since I first got the bug back the early days of CB radio in Australia in 1977.
I was on CB for a number of years and then in 1984 I enlisted in the Australian Army and was allocated to the Royal Australian Signals Corps. I served in a number of locations within Australia and Overseas during my 24 plus years of service in the Corps. I finished my fulltime military career as a Warrant Officer Class Two (E-8, OR-8) Information Systems Manager in July 2008. I am still serving at the same rank and position as a Reserve Soldier (part-time).
I had planned on studying for an Amateur Licence back in the 1970's but work and personal life seemed more important, so it was only in 2010, that I again got the bug and decided that I needed to do something about getting a licence. So within 4 weeks of deciding that the time was right, I had done some quick study of the current regulations and sat the exam. I passed and was licenced as VK4FSRD.
In 2017 after 6 odd years as an F Call licence holder I thought it was about time that I upgraded and started playing with all the digital modes and open the horizons on new bands and a little more power. I started to look at the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process for an Amateur Operator's Certificate of Proficiency - Advanced (AOCP -A), given the many years of Radio and Electronics training I received as a member of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals over the last 3 decades.
I submitted the application and was successful in being granted RPL for Advanced Theory and Practical on WIA RPL application 17006. All I was required to do was sit the Regulations assessment which I did on the 22 Aug 17. Ron (VK2DQ) administered the exam remotely with the assistance of a Commissioned Military Officer, from my place of work, who acted as the local scrutinizer. I was successful in this assessment and it was then just a waiting game until all the paperwork was submitted and processed by the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).
On the 27 Sep 17, my bright new AOCP-A certificate number 5588 issued 5 September 2017 arrived. At the same time I also applied and was granted WIA assessor status on certificate 4-076, which enables me to conduct assessments for the 3 classes of licence available in Australia. The assessment process has now been taken over by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), our national regulation body, and I am an authorised volunteer assessor for all classes of licence.
Also in 2017 I sat and was successful at completing the US Technician and General Class examinations and was granted the US call KS7EVE. At some point I will attempt the US Extra Class exam as well, why, because I can and it is just another challenge.
In addition to my recognition as an Australian Assessor, I am also recognised by the ARRL as a being a Registered Licence Instructor and a Volunteer Examiner, which allows me to contact assessments for US class licences up to my General Class qualification.
I have been married to Sharan, since 1985 and we have 4 adult children. Our oldest daughter and her family are living in Toowoomba, a short drive from our QTH, we have a son living in Kingsthorpe about a 20 minutes’ drive and our youngest daughter lives in Brisbane the capital city of our state, which is about 2 hours to the east of our QTH. Whilst our oldest son and his daughter are back living with us at the family home.
BrandMeister