Still need help?
Can't find the answer? Send us a message and we'll get back to you.
✉️ Contact Support🚀 Getting Started
VK Radio Trader is Australia's dedicated classified ads platform for licensed amateur radio operators. It's a place to buy and sell ham radio gear with other verified VK callsign holders — no more sifting through eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Yes — creating an account and posting basic listings is completely free. We charge a small fee for optional upgrades like featured listings and listing boosts to help cover running costs. Basic browsing, messaging and listing are always free.
Yes. VK Radio Trader is designed for licensed Australian amateur radio operators. When you register you confirm that you hold a valid Australian amateur radio qualification. We verify callsigns to keep the community genuine.
Currently VK Radio Trader requires a valid VK callsign to register. We may introduce an SWL account tier in the future. If you're an SWL interested in ham radio gear, you're welcome to browse listings without an account.
Click "Register" or "+ Post Ad" anywhere on the site. Fill in your name, VK callsign, email and password in the quick 3-step form. You'll receive a verification email — click the link to activate your account. You can start browsing immediately, and post listings once your email is verified.
👤 Your Account
Check your spam/junk folder first. If it's not there, sign in and go to your Account page — you'll see a button to resend the verification email. Make sure you entered your email address correctly when registering. If you're still having trouble, contact support.
No — your callsign is permanent on your account as it's used for identity verification. If you have a genuine reason to change it (e.g. you've been issued a new callsign by the ACMA), please contact support with documentation.
Email address changes are not currently self-service as they require re-verification. Please contact support at support@vkradiotrader.com.au with your request.
Go to the Sign In modal and click "Forgot password?". Enter your registered email address and we'll send you a reset link valid for 1 hour. Check your spam folder if you don't see it.
The Trusted Seller badge is granted by VK Radio Trader admins to sellers who have demonstrated a consistent history of honest, reliable transactions. It cannot be purchased — it's earned through community reputation.
Foundation, Standard and Advanced badges reflect your Australian amateur radio licence class. These help buyers gauge the level of technical knowledge a seller likely has. You can set your licence class in your Account settings.
📋 Listings
Standard listings are active for 60 days. You'll receive an email reminder before your listing expires. You can relist from your My Listings page at any time.
You can upload up to 8 photos per listing. Each photo can be up to 5MB. JPG, PNG and WebP formats are accepted. The first photo you upload becomes the main thumbnail — upload your best photo first.
Free accounts can have up to 10 active listings at once. Premium account holders have unlimited active listings.
Yes — go to My Listings, find the listing and click Edit. You can update the title, description, price, photos and all other details at any time while the listing is active.
Go to My Listings and click the green "Sold" button next to the listing. This removes it from active search results and records the sale. Congratulations!
Items that are illegal to import, sell or operate in Australia are not permitted. This includes type-approved restrictions and transmitters not approved for use in Australia. Listings that are misleading, fraudulent or offensive will be removed. See our Terms & Conditions for the full list.
🛒 Buying
Open a listing and use the message box on the right side to send the seller a message directly. You need to be registered and have a verified email address to send messages.
No — VK Radio Trader is a notice board platform only. All payments are made directly between the buyer and seller. We are not a party to any transaction. Common payment methods used in the community include PayID, bank transfer and cash on pickup.
VK Radio Trader is a notice board platform and cannot mediate disputes between buyers and sellers. We strongly recommend inspecting items before paying, or arranging an on-air radio check before purchasing radio equipment. If you believe a listing is fraudulent, please use the "Report this listing" link.
Yes — click the "Save to Watchlist" button on any listing. You can access your saved listings any time from the Watchlist link in the navigation.
Use the search bar to search for what you want, then save the search. You'll receive an email alert when new listings matching your search are posted. You can manage your saved searches from the sidebar on the homepage.
💰 Selling
Click "+ Post Ad" anywhere on the site. Fill in the details about your item — title, category, description, price, condition, location and photos. Your listing will be live immediately after you submit it. You need a verified email address to post.
Clear photos (good lighting, multiple angles), an honest and detailed description (include any faults), a realistic price, and your location. Listings with photos get significantly more views than those without. For radio equipment, include the model number, output power, bands covered and any accessories included.
Yes — tick the "Postage available" option when creating your listing. Postage costs are negotiated directly between you and the buyer. You are responsible for packing the item securely. VK Radio Trader recommends tracked postage for all valuable items.
As the seller you are responsible for accurately describing your item. VK Radio Trader is a platform only and is not a party to any transaction between buyers and sellers. We recommend being honest about the condition of items and keeping all communication on-platform.
From your listing page or My Listings, click "Boost Listing". A small fee applies. Boosted listings appear at the top of search results and on the homepage featured section for 7 days.
✉️ Messages
When you message a seller, a private conversation thread is created between you and them about that listing. All messages are stored on VK Radio Trader. You'll receive an email notification when you get a new message (if notifications are enabled in your account settings).
You can choose to share your contact details directly with another user once you've established contact through the platform. We recommend keeping early communications on-platform for your safety. Never share banking details or passwords.
Do not click any links or share any personal or financial information. Report the message using the report function. Common scams include offers to pay via unusual methods, requests to communicate off-platform immediately, and prices that seem too good to be true.
Go to Account → uncheck "Receive email notifications" and save. You can still read all messages in your Messages inbox on the site.
📻 Callsign Verification
Callsign verification confirms that the callsign on your account is genuinely yours and that you hold a valid Australian amateur radio qualification. Verified accounts display a blue "✓ Callsign Verified" badge on their profile and listings.
Verification is not mandatory to use the platform, but it's strongly recommended. Verified sellers get significantly more enquiries as buyers trust them more. It also helps keep the community genuine and scam-free.
Go to Account → Verify Your Callsign. Upload a copy of your ACMA confirmation letter or recognition certificate. Our team will review it within 1-2 business days and approve your verification.
Since February 2024, Australia moved to a class licence system. You'll need your ACMA confirmation letter or recognition certificate showing your callsign and licence class. This is available through the ACMA Assist portal.
We aim to review all verification requests within 1-2 business days. You'll receive an email when your callsign has been verified or if we need more information.
💳 Payments & Boosts
A standard listing boost costs $4.99 AUD and runs for 7 days. A featured listing placement costs $9.99 AUD. These are optional — basic listings are always free.
Listing boosts and upgrades are paid securely through Stripe, which accepts all major Australian credit and debit cards. We never store your card details — all payment processing is handled by Stripe.
A Premium account costs $9.99/month and gives you unlimited active listings, priority support and other benefits. Coming soon.
Boost fees are non-refundable once activated as the service has been delivered. If there was a technical issue preventing your listing from being featured, please contact support within 48 hours.
🛡 Safety
VK Radio Trader is a notice board platform only.
We connect buyers and sellers but are not a party to any transaction. Always use your own judgement when buying or selling.
✅ Tips for Buyers
- Ask for an on-air radio check before purchasing transceivers
- Request additional photos or a video if unsure about condition
- Meet in a public place for local pickup — a busy coffee shop or shopping centre
- Use PayID or bank transfer rather than cash for large purchases
- Check the seller's callsign verification badge and member history
- Never pay before inspecting the item or before agreeing on terms
- If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and walk away
✅ Tips for Sellers
- Be honest about the condition — disclose any faults upfront
- Use tracked postage for all items and keep proof of postage
- Wait for payment to clear before posting the item
- Don't accept unusual payment methods like cryptocurrency or gift cards
- Keep records of all communications
🚩 Signs of a Scam
- Price is significantly below market value
- Buyer/seller wants to move communication off-platform immediately
- Requests for unusual payment methods
- Seller claims to be overseas and wants to ship internationally
- Pressure to decide quickly
- Poor English or generic responses that don't address your questions
⚙️ Technical
VK Radio Trader works on all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge and Opera. We recommend keeping your browser up to date. Internet Explorer is not supported.
Yes — the site is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. All features including posting listings, uploading photos and messaging work on mobile browsers.
JPG/JPEG, PNG and WebP are all accepted. Maximum file size is 5MB per image. We recommend JPG for photos. Images are stored securely on our servers.
On any listing page, scroll down to the listing info panel and click "Report this listing". For user issues, contact support directly at support@vkradiotrader.com.au with details.
To request account deletion, email support@vkradiotrader.com.au from your registered email address. We'll process the request within 5 business days. Note that deleting your account will remove all your listings and messages permanently.
Still have a question?
Our support team is run by licensed hams who know the gear. We're happy to help.
✉️ Contact Support