Amateur radio, explained by people who actually operate
VE6DOK is a free learning site for amateur (ham) radio, run from Southern Alberta. It explains how radio works, why it sometimes doesn’t, and what to do about it, in plain English first, with the deeper detail there when you want it.
Start where you are
New or curious?
Begin with What Is Amateur Radio?, then Getting Your Licence. You can’t break anything by reading, and nobody expects you to know it all.
Licensed, but not on the air much?
Try Repeaters Explained and Simplex Operation, then listen in on a net before you check in.
Ready for HF?
Open PropMap to see which bands are working right now, then visit Antennas to make the most of what you’ve got.
Thinking about preparedness?
Emergency Comms and the Emergency Radio Kit cover power, portable gear and what to do when the phones are down.
Live right now: PropMap
PropMap reads the latest solar and geomagnetic data from NOAA and turns it into plain advice: which bands should be open, where the grey line is, and whether a solar storm is likely to spoil your evening. It’s free, it updates on its own, and you can add it to your phone’s home screen like an app.
Why this site is different
- It explains why before how, so the steps make sense instead of feeling like magic.
- It’s built on real stations and real mistakes, not catalogue specs.
- It welcomes beginners without talking down, and still gives experienced operators something new.
Want to get licensed in the Lethbridge area? Getting Your Licence explains the exam, and how to arrange one with an ISED Accredited Examiner. More about the station and the people behind it: About VE6DOK.
Who runs this site
VE6DOK is run by Gary Wheeler, VE6CV, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Licensed since 1995, Gary looks after the VE6DOK repeater (442.075 MHz, FM and Wires-X), the VE6YQL APRS iGate and the VA6YQL air-quality station. He’s a net control operator on the Maritime Mobile Service Net and an ISED Accredited Examiner.
The site exists to give new and returning hams practical, plain-language help grounded in real stations and real mistakes. More about VE6DOK →
Looking for local clubs or nets? See Clubs, Nets & Links.