For Pacific Radio Amateurs

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

IHE ionispheric experts now ap i pear to be agreed that radio conditions on the high fre ency bands are definitely through “ doldrums of the present sun -5t cycle and that conditions ght even improve fairly rapidly. that happens there will no übt be a considerable revival of ;ivity by Hams at present in ni or even total retirement.

Cven now Hamming seems to be jspering in New Guinea, where a vision of the Australia Amateur dio Institute has recently been med and a keen Sunday round tie 40-metre net is in operation 7080 kc/s. i summary of VK9DB’s April iort to “Amateur Radio’’ on the lation in that area will be of erest elsewhere in the Islands ere “AR” does not circulate. l very keen VHF man, 9DB re ts that 50 mc/s conditions re have been poor except on e occasions, such as early in the r when ten ZLl’s and 2’s were •ked one afternoon. Since then 3 has raised his 4 el. W.S. beam n 20ft to a handsome 50ft — still fails to hook VR2CG. the : addict. A 16 el. 2 metre beam

is about to go up on the I,oooft Burn’s Peak near Port Moresby in the hope of making some VK2 con tacts on that band. VK9DB says that the Civil Aviation transmit ter at this site works aircraft con sistently up to 200 miles on 118 mc/s using only a ground-plane antenna and comparatively low power.

Summarising VK9DB’s report on general activity and inactivity we find about the following situation in New Guinea: Now on leave: 9DB, 9HI, 9YT; off the air, 9AB, 9MT: just arrived Doug 90Q; rarely on, 9DS, 9GV, 9HO, 9KT, 9RC, 9RG, 9RM, 9SP, 9WG; active on various bands. 9AU, 9BS, 9BW, 9CR, 9CS,

9Dt, 9Eb, 9Fn, 9Fp, 9Gb. 9Wp,

9ZAL. This display of activity of course far overshadows that of any other Island territory with the ex ception of Hawaii. As conditions improve the New Guinea air is likely to show some congestion— especially in the Port Moresby area.

Allan-VR2AP sends an interest ing report on late developments in Fiji. Suva has formed a Radio Club, with Stan-VR2AS as President and Laurie-VR2CT as Sec.-Treasurer.

Now in Fiji, on the Cable & Wire

less staff, is Mr. A. Boa, ex ZDBB, not yet with a VR2 call, but he’s a likely starter.

Les Hammett, ex VP6LH, is now very active on 20 m. as VR2AM — a reallocated call. Allan says that the P & T Dept, have decided to re issue calls which have been de funct for some years, so do not be

surprised if you hear some loi< silent ones again.

Trevor-VR2CZ, ex VK2ATT, , another active 20 m. man nov also on C & W staff, as is All Winsbury, ex VQ4CD, who, afi considering a come-back for a lo time, recently got married inste. (wedding photo March PIM, p. g Eric Armstrong, ex VR2AT, back in Fiji as Assist. Sigs. Offio RNZAF, Lauthala Bay—so he, tf may provide another VR2 sig. long.

Allan says in closing, “I notice; the latest PIM that you have mo or less pointed the bone at Rather than let the page lapse, t above are a few items to keep t pot boiling.” Enough said.

Due to the difficulty of obtaini contributions to this column it v appear in future on a QuarteE basis, unless, through receipt of no < and photos Island Hams indies that they wish it to continue.