For Pacific Radio Amateurs
p. 91 · Read in the full issue
Conducted By Ex Zk-1-Ac/Vr-2-Ak.
(Address notes to P.O. Box 5179, Wellesley Street. Auckland, N.Z.) ISLAND HAMS: Let your Pacific
neighbours know you’re active by
checking in on your favourite band with a CQ at 0100/0700/19002. Use of a known time will help you— and them.
The abandonment probably as an economy measure, of the ARRL programme from Voice of America stations last May was bad news to those who used to follow these interesting sessions each week.
Though the emphasis was perhaps rather towards American interests, there were many items of international interest.
A Ham programme that still continues however, is that from Switzerland, in English, at 1915 z on the first Tuesday of each month—frequencies 6055/9655 kc/s.
The much-promised CE-O-AA finally appeared on the air from Easter Island in mid-August and was heard in Suva on 7 and 14 mc/s CW. Ever since January the cardsters have been thrown into a frenzy by repeated rumours that this station would appear on various dates.
Shack doors have been locked, ears tensed to maximum sensitivity, vfo dials lubricated and all house chores suspended on the great days successively forecast.
As was to be expected, thrice cheated, the frantic huntsmen unleashed all hell when this rarest of calls was eventually heard in August. Whether the voyage was financed by the International Cardsters Union we have not heard, but, working the boys at the rate of some 60 per hour, Mr. CE-3-AG of Santiago certainly did his best. The exhausted multitude is now relaxing hoping desparately that the promised cards arrive. The original announcement regarding this DX expedition stated that two Santiago Hams would be going along—CE3AG and CE3CZ, Whether 3CZ was there and assisting we do not know. It is assumed that CE-O-AA and its operators simply made a round trip in the vessel, which supplies the island from Santiago at infrequent inter vals. Stan Mayne, VR2AS, succeeded in snagging CE-O-AA though, most surpris ingly, Stan’s crystal frequency was 11 kc/s above the CE-O-AA 7000 kc/s channel.
Stan also reported a new prefix in mid- August—JZ-O-KF operating from Dutch New Guinea, worked on 14 mc/s CW.
Exact QTH unknown. Why the J prefix, is so far unexplained.
Other prefix changes recently reported are ZC-1 and ZC-6 cancelled, VS2 and VS3 allocated to Malaya, VS4 Sarawak, VSS Brunei. Confusing is the new allo cation of VS7 to experimental stations in Malaya. The prefix is already allocated to Ceylon Hams.
The VR2 list must be brought up to date again—Vß2CU, Don Frankham of the RNZAF, Lauthala Bay; VR2CV set aside for Noel Finch, of Nandi, if he applies for a license in the near future; and VR2CW, Robert Thurley, attached to a Suva radio firm, are the latest listings.
None appear to be active at present.
Barri Hogg - , VR2BZ, who recently re turned to Lauthala Bay with one of the new Sunderlands from England, is currently active on 7/14 mc/s CW. Phone is said to be projected, as also with VR2AS, who is changing from cathode to plate modulation, and hopes to appear on phone in September. Barri will soon move into a house next door to Stan— and only a stone’s throw away from them is VR2CT, at Suva Met., so a roster system seems inevitable. By September, Allan Winsbury—ex-VQ4CD—will probably have applied for a call, though his appearance on the air will depend on an impending Suva change-over to AC power.
Your scribe, VR2AK, expects to return to ZL-I-AIK in September, with a possible quick look at the VRS/ZK2/KS6/ZM6 areas first.
U Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mason, of Port
Moresby and Madang, New Guinea,
who have been in Australia on leave, have decided to enter busi ness in Sydney and not return to the Territories. Mr. Mason had been five years in New Guinea, and was branch manager at Port Moresby and Madang for Gibbes
Sepik Airways.
fl Mrs. F. M. Bateson, wife of the manager of A. B. Donald & Co.’s Cook Islands organisation, returned to Aitutaki by air late July, en route to Rarotonga after two months’ holiday in New Zealand.