For Pacific Radio Amateurs

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

(Address notes to P.O. Box 5179, Auckland, N.Z.) □'ROM Canton Island conies news that there are currently four active tations—Kß6AO, 6AQ, 6AY, and 6 BA. [owever Fred, 6AY, is reported leaving lie Island soon, for Honolulu again.

Biggest news from the sand spit is that liese stations—and other American Island tations —now have permission to work 9-metres, this apparently coming into »rce late July last, since when 6AY and BA have been heard on that band. These iro are active all bands, CW and phone, he other two stations are on 14 mc/s hone. The removal of the American 80letre ban should considerably boost ctivities on this band in the Islands.

To add to the Pitcairn confusion we ow have word from SMBBJO, a Swedish tobile. that he was assured, during a scent commercial contact with the land that no Hams are active from VR6 nd none have been active in recent lonths. VR6AY is still hoping, however, > come on some day when repaired ear is available.

Some ZL phone stations were heard ‘marking in mid-August that a ZM7 had een heard. We have no confirmation but ssume that ZM6AS may have made a okelau excursion. He has been heard nder the home call 3.5/7/14 mc/s bands. (LATER. A last minute message from tan-VR2AS, sheds some light on the ugust Tokelau activities. It seems that arry-VR2BZ and Ron-ZM6AR were both i action. As crew members of a routine NZAF Sunderland flight from Apia Barry >ok along a ZC-1 and worked about 25 ontacts on both 40/20 metres, including ix happy ZL’s between August 15 and 18. he rig would not tune up on phone, all was apparently ZM7B—as Stan gives on’s as ZM7A. No details of Ron’s con icts. Stan says Barry will repeat the erformance on next flight, normally in bout November. He will then use 20/40/80 hone and CW and will look mainly for L/YK contacts.) Roland out on Rapa keeps the FOBAD ill-sign in evidence. He will be sadly lissed if he returns to Papeete at the nd of the year, as was forecast.

We hear that there are at present at jast six Hams in RNZN vessels or shore

stations, any of whom are likely to be heard from time to time during Island cruises. Petty Officer M. J. Haggo, ZL-l-AIT, was very active during the recent cruise of “Black Prince” to Fiji, Tonga and the Cooks. Others are Petty Officer Fraser of “Hawea”, Chief Radio Electrician Mulgrew of “Black Prince”, Leading Telegraphist P. Smith of “Tui”, and Chief Electrician P. Mulgren of “Black Prince”. At HMNZS “Irirangi, naval shore radio station at Waiouru in the centre of the North Island there is Petty Officer Telegraphist G. Luscombe.

All of these men are liable to be trans ferred from vessel to vessel.

July QST carries an interesting story on the Clipperton Island Ham expedition of April this year, during which 1108 contacts were made with overseas Hams during the less than 3 days stay on the Island.

The expedition, which was financed by the Hallicrafters Company and donations from Hams, met with an inordinate amount of ill luck and excitement. It

was the brain-child of Robert Denniston, W-O-NWX, and permission to visit the island was obtained from the Tahiti and Paris authorities through the good offices of FDA A.

A twin-diesel motor yacht named “Sea Rider” was chartered as the first vehicle of transport, XE-l-H assisting in obtain ing permission from the Mexican authorities for the expedition to kick off from Acapulco after bringing their equip ment by land from the States. Even so, a lot of Customs difficulties occurred.

“Sea Rider” finally got away but when still a long way from Clipperton, the navigator tripped over some gear on deck while taking a sight and smashed his sextant, so it was decided to turn back.

The 85-foot schooner-yacht “Barca de

The heart of communications in Rarotonga. The receiver building and operat ing rooms are at centre. White arrow on right marks the QTH of Doug, ZK-1-AB. a much heard CW call.

Oro II” was then chartered. This was possibly the same yach't as cruised through the Pacific about 194“, visiting Papeete, Suva and other places.

Off again, the yacht was in sight of Clipperton when the engine broke down— the sails, which were in very sick con dition, had earlier been blown out.

Overnight the yacht drifted out of sight of the island again, in a strong set.

Then the Mexican Navy was called to assist, and they sent three patrol craft, one of which, promptly locating the yacht, towed her up to Clipperton. A landing was made and the Ham team of several operators got busy.

Meanwhile engine spares were brought from Mexico by another of the naval craft.

Repairs were effected and all ended happily, though overseas Hams would undoubtedly have liked a few more weeks of activity on the part of FOSAJ.

What seems to be required by the DX men is a permanent mobile yacht-station which can be engaged full-time in setting up shop briefly at the rare locations.

Bob Roberts, G2RO, a Colonial Adviser of Broadcasting, seems to have been appearing on the air in various Colonies in recent months under local call-signs.

He was scheduled to appear from VR2.

Crystal frequencies are given as 7030/14060 kc/s as primaries and “008/14016 as secondaries.

The call-block KG6RA-RZ is reserved for Ham stations on Iwo Jima, Kapin gamarangi, Rota and Guam, according to a recent announcement.

Though unreported locally, CE-O-AC on Easter Island, seems to have come to life.

July QST shows him active on 14 mc/s

*“ “ 7 Chas - Freeman ’ ex VR2CD/ZL4FH/- ZL3AL/ZL-1-81, who is now VE7ASL, was - commence a mobile tour of the States ,n Augrust ’ to ,ast for ab <>ut three months, after wbich he wiU take off for Hawaii Island ports.

The following New Guinea alterations

are notified: VK9AB postal address P.( Box 38, Port Moresby; VK9GB has shifte from Rabaul to Lae, still c/o OTC; VK9K has shifted from Port Moresby to c/ The Residency, Rabaul. R. C. Fawke formerly VK9FK, is now VKSFK, and es VK9GM is now VK2JM.

Remember those photos from a quarters. We’ll be glad to use them.