AMATEUR ACTIVITIES

Evening Star, Issue 21974, 9 March 1935, Page 4

AMATEUR ACTIVITIES

. 1935 OFFICE-BEARERS The following office-bearers for 1935 were elected at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the N.Z.A.R.T., held at the club rooms. 3 Stafford street, last month :—President, Mr L. R. Stroud (ZL4AP) ; secretary, Mr H. W. Natta (ZL4AR); assistant secretary, Miss K. Kirby (ZL4DT) ; treasurer. Mr E. P. Cameron CZL4B.J) ; committee —Dr Dodds (ZL4FK), Messrs A. R- Harris (ZL4CA), H. Boddy (ZL4GG), R. M‘Connell (ZL4BV); technician, Mr W. Collett (ZL4BP) ; code instructors, Messrs •). Applegarth (ZL4GZ) and E. Brown (ZL4GY), It -was agreed that a code contest should be held quarterly, the winner to hold the cup for the following quarter. Mr Harris (ZL4CA) was appointed judge, and will award points for readability. rhythm, and correct formation of characters. The first contest will take place at the next monthly mcet'nS' STUDY GROUPS PRUNED There was a good attendance at the last monthly meeting of the branch, two new members being elected. Arising from a discussion on a bulletin from H.Q., it was decided to form three study groups, one to work under Mr Harris on ten metres, a second under Mr Collett on directional antennse on high frequencies, and a third under Dr Dodds on modulation methods. “ JUNK " SALE At the conclusion of the meeting a junk sale gave everyone the opportunity of acquiring parts for their transmitters at very low cost. REGENT CONDITIONS For a long time static interfered with the 80-metre band, but on Wednesday night of last week it stopped, and sonic of the amateurs did some DX, work. These good conditions soem to be continuing. It is rather unfortunate that the W’s should have been stronger during the noisy period, but as one or two were heard calling VK the absence of static means that VK contacts will become possible again. If this is so, the 80-metre band will experience the annual influx of “ haras ” from the highfrequency bands. 80 AND 40-METRE WORK Several have remarked lately that tiro 80-metre band is dead in Dunedin. Thqre, are five stations on regularly now, arid all have good “ sigs.” What is lacking in quantity is made up for in quality. 4GS uses a self-excited transmitter and puts out a very fine signal. It requires good operating to get such a signal from a self-excited transmitter. 4GY, which has another fine signal. uses a M.O.P.A. The secretary, 4AR, is on thg air fairly often with a “ C.C.” signal, but has not yet decided on the best antennal. 4FA and 4FR make up the total of five. On 40 metres 4FO. is heard with his new transmitter using an RK 20 in the final amplifier. 4FT is still working DX with his new X tal outfit. 4FK has been away for a week, so his key has been silent. 4BQ and 4CK are also heard. 4CK does his best DX after 6 a.m. For the convenience of those wishing to start in the transmitting game a Morse instruction class is held in the club rooms every Tuesday night at 7 o’clock. After this class Mr Collett delivers a lecture on some _ branch of radio. These lectures have in the past proved very instructive, both to the beginners and the old hands at the game.