[Elecraft] Australia

[Kevin Luxford]

Greetings all.  Here is the reply I sent in response to Robert's query - 
it may be of use to others.

Go to http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1311 which is on the web 
site of the Australian Communications and Media Authority - the 
government body charged with licensing and regulation.  Also, see 
http://www.wia.org.au/discover/visitorinfo/about/.

You would be well advised to bring a certified copy of your U.S. licence 
and the specifications of the K3 for our Customs officers.  The 
specifications will clearly show that the apparatus is intended for the 
Amateur bands.  While on the aircraft coming to Australia, read 
carefully the immigration, agriculture and customs card that you will be 
asked to complete and sign.  From that you will be able to determine 
what you need to declare.  As in the U.S., do not try to hoodwink our 
authorities - they can morph instantly from friendly, laid-back 
officials to pitbulls.

As for antennas - Australia is largely a flat country with plenty of 
eucalypt trees (like you see in California - you know, the ones that 
spontaneously burst into flaming torches during fire storms) which can 
serve as a support for a random length wire antenna.  A suitable ground 
may be a problem, especially during our summer in the southern states as 
we have endured over ten years of drought and the ground is pretty dry.  
So I would recommend that you have a counterpoise for each band on which 
you want to operate.  80 meters is often used in the evening, 40 metres 
during the day, and 20 metres for DX when propagation is good.  
Occasionally, 10 metres opens up, but it is best down here near the top 
of the sun spot cycle.  15 metres is known here as the JA band - a lot 
of Japanese stations are active on it.  2 metres and 70 centimetres are 
well endowed with repeaters and their locations and frequencies are 
available on the Wireless Institute of Australia (our equivalent to the 
ARRL) at http://www.wia.org.au/members/repeaters/about/ and 
http://www.wia.org.au/members/repeaters/data/.

Also bear in mind that our mains power supply is 230 volts AC 50 Hz so 
you may need to bring or buy a step-down transformer if you wish to use 
U.S. appliances.

Another thing.  While on the WIA site, get hold of our bandplans.  Our 
allowed frequencies and modes do differ from the U.S. in some areas - 
especially 80 metres.