For Pacific Radio Amateurs

Deducted By Ex Zk-1-Ac/Vr-2-Ak.

Lddress notes to P.O. Box 5179, Wellesley Street, Auckland, N.Z.) ISLANDS HAMS: Let your Pacific

nghbours know you’re active by

lecking in on your favourite band ith a CQ at 0100/0700/ 1900 z. Use f a known time will help you—

id them.

We regret to record the death of a inner popular Islands Ham, Bob Hanley- K-I-BC, together with his wife and »n, in the disastrous Christmas Eve lilway crash into the Tangiwai River, Z. The Hanleys had returned to New ealand some time ago on completion f a tour of duty at Rarotonga Radio.

From Aitutaki comes word that Bob »nes-ZK-l-BD has been replaced in the üblic Works position by Tony Aldridge, Iready well known there as former K-l-AM, who has been back in New ealand for several years. ZK-l-BD goes ff the air to return to NZ.

No sign yet of N. R. Ashwell who is lomentarily expected to appear with a K-l call, QTH Rarotonga Radio.

Ron Berry, former ZK-l-BA and back i New Zealand for some time past, has ow been posted to Apia and should soon ppear as ZM6.

Doug-ZK-l-AB, back from a business our round all the Cook Islands Northern ■roup radio stations, has been heard ctive on 7/14 mc/s since returning. Ron IK-I-BE is also active, as is the Pacific’s Host active 80-metre man, Doug-ZK-1-BG.

While Floyd on Pitcairn fails to appear n the air, an active pirate has been aaking good use of the VR6AC call-sign n 7 mc/s CW. Location unknown but uspected somewhere south of the W/K •order.

Way north on Fanning, Phil-VR3C, hough confining his activities to 14 cm/s •hone contacts with friends in VK/VR2/- CB/KH6, reported late December that toy Baty, an ex-VK?, would soon join he Cable staff and appear with a VR3 •all. There were rumours that he was ilready active late January. This should >e good news for the DX men.

From Tahiti, Joseph Bourne-FOSAB reports on the FOSs. He himself works 7 mc/s CV.I on Friday evenings, 14 mc/s almost every night, and 21 mc/s Saturday afternoons. FOSAC is frequently heard in the evenings on 14 mc/s phone and CW. Roland—FGBAD down on lonely Rap?, is very active on 7/14/21 mc/s, phone and CW. On the latter band he is using a cubical quad antenna with excellent results. The two maintain a sked on this

band on Saturday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Roland expects to return to Papeete from Rapa in August.

FOBAG and FOBAH, only other licensed Hams, are seldom heard. FOBAI, normally W7FNK, has long since departed and that call is withdrawn. (Over)

Some Pacific radio Hams (left to right): Stan—VR2AS. Fiji’s veteran and QSL [?]ager Jack VR2AC at Nadi; Pat Senior —ZM6AA, reported returning to ZL; Floyd [?]VR6AC on Pitcairn —the man the DXers are clamoring for and the pirates are abusing!

Jo reports that 21 mc/s conditions have been suitable for ZL and W contacts for one or two hours in the afternoons frequently. Conditions on 14 mc/s limited to ZL/VK/W contacts; on 7 mc/s conditions good for CW contacts.

Moving westward, Stan Mayne-VR2AS lists the latest VR2 additions: 2CX-Barry Spring-Rice, C/- F.M.F. (Radar Station); 2CV —Noel Fincham, Aerodio, Nadi; 2CY Don Allen, C/- C. & W., Suva. With 2CY, 2BZ and 2AS all within 10 yards of one another at Suva Point, something of a QRM cell has developed. A roster system is working smoothly.

The Royal Visit to Fiji was a big Ham event there, with 2AS operating the portable station out on the pilot boat.

At the wharf 2CX managed another portable. Along the Royal route 2CT came into operation, and 2BZ at Albert Park looking after the trickiest set-up of the lot, with a close watch to be kept on three mikes from a hide-out at the official platform. At the official ball 2AS and an announcer were concealed in a bamboo pylon within a few feet of the Royal Visitors. All in all, the radio communciations, under control of Keith Broadbridge-VR2CS, chief technician of the local broadcast station, were a great success. All gear used was professional equipment, the outside Hams merely operating it.

On the Lautoka side W*yn—2CG, with his excellent mobile car rig, was called in to assist. Royal Tour Organiser Mr.

Sykes and Police Inspector Halstead de pended upon his equipment and services for mobile communications there.

Stan, in a brief late message reports at his Zepp came down in the January ow, but his ground-plane survived, kere were gale force wirids in Suva, irri Hogg’s ground-plane and folded pole came down. Stan kept his monies running—the town power re ained on—but in spite of that dampness lied his VFO filament tranny. The ystal rig is still on the air—and a new fht-weight quick-lowering rotary will on be tried—something that can be ■opped readily whenever a blow comes ong.

Stan reports that an unnamed ST2 am. a former G4/VQ3/VQ4/VQS, recently ild him, during a QSO, that he expects ion to come to Fiji as a staff member ►r International Aeradio, the English rganisation providing radio facilities at Iji’s smaller airfields.

Before Christmas we wrote to ZL3JA to mfirm or deny the many rumours of is projected ZM7-Tokelau expedition. Up t late in January no reply had been Helved, nor have we further news of (7FNK/FOBAI reputedly to appear as a R 3.

Eric—-BERS-195 reports that FWBAB is drien Montjoie—on Wallis.

Jock—ZL3GX reports from Frank astick-VR4AE —only active VR4—that r. Gerald Hoult-VR4AB may possibly »on appear on 14,030 CW (crystal) from lunda. Frank, technician at the Honiara overnment communications station, puts good 14 mc/s phone signal into ZL rith his p/p 807’s and folded dipole.

QST” says that Frank is going to give be 14 mc/s CW boys a better chance this ear.

The yacht COONGOOLA dropped in to LUckland in January, on the last stages f a round-the-world trip, bound Brisbane ia Lord Howe. Aboard was ZL-l-OE as kipper and VK4OA as engineer-radio perator. Doug—VK4oA has done a certain mount of hamming during the cruise, nt electrical and mechanical noise aboard loes not make it a pleasure. Doug ilanned to do some 7 mc/s work on the rans-Tasman when the yacht departed January 36. She was due Brisbane February 6.

Another mobile liable to be heard well n the Islands at times is SMBBZU, ►perator in the Swedish ship MIRRA

Jooka.

From New Guinea we hear that Arnold

Some more Pacific radio Hams (left to right): N. R. Ashwell will soon appear a ZK-1; Bill, formerly ZK2AA, now

to ZL soon; E. Hickford now at Niue replacing ZK2AA, should soon appear on the air.

ZL-l-BA; Jean-FK8AB with his Noumea set-up; Ray-KS6AB represents Hamdom at Pago Pago; Arnold—ZM6AC will return

—VK9BI has been transferred to Mo: bourne Airport—so THAT one comes © the list. On 3.5 mc/s CW VK9W3J recent arrival at Momote, Admiralties has been nutting an excellent signal inr ZL—mainly working skeds. Sergeant G. Anear, RAAF, is an ex-VKs—and working 7/14 mc/s as well.

Honolulu reports that Yamashiro-c KBtfAQ, on Canton, will be showing h with some high-powered 7 mc/s phone.

BiII—ZK2AA, back in New Zealand, msi now be heard as ZL-l-BA on 7 mc/s CV and possibly on other bands.

Pat—ZM6AA at Apia, was rumoured ♦ be returning to ZL in the near futun according to z late-January repou ZL2AAB, now at Apia, has not yet be©! heard on with a ZM6 call.