Over the early 2000s significant reform occurred to the Radiocommunications Act and to amateur radio licensing worldwide. In 2004 a new single, national organisation "The National Wireless Institute Of Australia" was formed to meet the ongoing emerging challenges. The Wireless Institute of Australia is today a member of the International Amateur Radio Union and represents all Amateur Radio Operators in Australia to the various government bodies in this country.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Amateur Radio. It is many different things to the individual three million plus people throughout the world who enjoy this multi-faceted communications hobby. Amateurs communicate with each other by transmitting voice, Morse code, digital modes, pictures and even video signals. Below is a summary of how it began and has kept with the times to remain an enjoyable leisure time activity.
The image of Amateur radio has long since transcended the ‘older’ bearded individual who sits in a room filled with big black boxes full of glass tubes glowing in the dark while talking to people in a strange language. The sound of strange beeps from a brass key used to complete this picture. While this can still be seen, a brave new world of Amateur Radio has now emerged.