YouTube

The VK3FSK YouTube channel is a growing resource for MERC members and the wider amateur radio community. It's a way for the club to share knowledge, showcase what we get up to, and give prospective members a taste of what MERC is all about.

Whether you're a newly licensed Foundation operator or a seasoned Advanced licensee, there's something here for you — and we'd love you to contribute.

Current Videos

Most of the videos currently on the channel are recordings of Friday night MERC meetings, featuring presentations by guest speakers and club members on a wide range of amateur radio topics.

• F4WBY presentation on Amateur Radio as a Survival Tool — Gil F4WBY kindly agreed to talk to MERC about Amateur Radio as survival tool. Don't forget to check out his Youtube Channel, @RadioPrepper
• VK7HH presentation on Getting Started with FT8 & WSJT-X — Hayden VK7HH kindly agreed to talk to MERC about a couple of digital modes and how to get started with them. He has his own channel @HamRadioDX that's definitely worth a look.
• M0MCX Presentation — Callum McCormick, M0MCX, The DX Commander Himself, graciously agreed to speak to MERC and answer some questions afterwards. There's some great anecdotes in here on the history and evolution of the DX Commander antenna.
• VK6TQ - Broadband HF antennas, Austravel Safety Net, other interesting stuff — Kim Rhodes VK6TQ gave an interesting and wide-ranging presentation, fielded questions from members about Austravel Safety Net, and shared some interesting thoughts on loop antennas in response.
• VK2AAK Amateur Satellite Operations — Andy VK2AAK gave a terrific presentation on amateur satellites. Andy kindly provided a number of links related to topics he covered in his presentation.
• VK3QB presentation on QRM Guru — Chris Chapman VK3QB provided an interesting and informative presentation on QRM Guru and RASA, and was joined by Paul VK2APA and Glenn VK4DU for further information on current RASA projects.
• VK5SFA Magnetic Loop Presentation — Our third remote presenter, Steve VK5SFA, on his famous 160m double magnetic loop antenna.
• VK3YE QRP presentation — Our second remote presenter, Peter VK3YE, gave a great presentation on QRP operation. Peter's YouTube channel is definitely worth a look, as are his amateur radio ebooks.
• VK5PAS WWFF presentation — Our first remote presenter, Paul VK5PAS, gave a great presentation on WWFF, followed by Q&A and show and tell.

Desired Future Content

There's a lot more we'd love to see on the channel. Here are some ideas — if any of these appeal to you, please consider putting your hand up!

Technical Presentations

• Introductions to amateur radio topics — antenna theory, propagation, digital modes, SDR, and more
• Walkthroughs of popular projects — building a dipole, setting up FT8, programming a handheld radio
• Equipment reviews relevant to Foundation, Standard, and Advanced licence holders

Licence Preparation

• Explainer videos covering key topics from the ACMA Foundation, Standard, and Advanced syllabi
• Tips and study advice from members who have recently passed their assessments
• Demonstrations of practical skills assessed in the licence process

Club Activity & Events

• Field day and SOTA/WWFF activation videos
• Show-and-tell segments from Friday night meetings
• Interviews with members about their stations, projects, and interests

Special Interest

• Emergency communications (WICEN, AREC) — what it is and how to get involved
• Satellite and weak-signal operating
• Homebrew and kit-building

How to Contribute

Contributing to the channel doesn't need to be a big production. Here are some easy ways to get involved:

Give a presentation at a Friday night meeting

Any topic related to amateur radio, electronics, or your own projects is welcome. Presentations can be as short as 10–15 minutes. The meeting can be recorded and uploaded to the channel.

Record a short video at home

A simple screen recording, bench demonstration, or shack tour is all it takes. No professional equipment required.

Write up a project

If you've built something interesting, consider presenting it to the club. We can help you turn it into a video.

Suggest a topic

If there's something you'd like to learn about, suggest it at a meeting or on the club mailing list. Someone else may be able to present on it.

Contributions don't need to be polished or professional — the goal is to share knowledge and build community. A Foundation licensee explaining how they set up their first station is just as valuable as an Advanced licensee discussing antenna design.

Getting Your Video Published

The process is straightforward:

1. Record your presentation or video
2. Review it with a committee member
3. We upload it to the VK3FSK channel

The club can assist with basic editing if needed. If you'd prefer not to appear on camera, just let us know — we can work around it.

Get Involved

If you'd like to present at a meeting or contribute a video, contact the club committee — we'd love to hear from you.

We're also keen to establish a regular "tech talk" segment at Friday night meetings as a pipeline for channel content. Short, informal, and open to all skill levels.

In the meantime, please subscribe to the channel and share it with others in the amateur radio community. The more people who find it, the more useful it becomes.