WORK OF THE AMATEURS

Evening Star, Issue 22578, 20 February 1937, Page 4

WORK OF THE AMATEURS

DEVELOPMENTS IN 1936 To many owners of all-wave radio receivers the parts of the dial taken up by a certain class of transmitters are usually passed quickly over in'the search for musical entertainment. If they do stop on these bands, as likely as not they will bear a monotonous phrase repeated over and over again—“ calling CQ, CQ, CQ. . Actually it would bo au enthusiastic radio amateur trying to’make a “contact” with another enthusiast. When he does make contact with another, each of them usually finds the other’s conversation interesting, and it is not necessarily merely tho “ Hollo, Bert. What sort of weather are you having?” popular with parodists and critics. Many important changes and improvements have been made during 1936 in the amateur radio field in New Zealand. Some of these alterations were referred to by Mr T. L. Banks, publicity officer of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, in .-an interview with , the, Christchurch ‘ Press.’ The Radio Emergency Corps, which was founded to assist Government departments or anyone else in time of emergency, had co-operated with the different automobile associations in a scheme by which portable transmitters could be taken on cars when they were needed. A test of this scheme bad been successfully carried out in Palmerston North, where drivers had reported the condition of country roads to a centre in the town. Mr Banks said that amateurs in New Zealand had experienced a year of poor reception generally, except on the 10metre band. A noticeable change had been the way in which a few amateurs in South Africa—a country which is usually difficult to receive—had been received with reasonable frequency. “ The main development during the year was the increased use of transmissions on tho 5 and 10-metre bands,” Mr Banks said. ‘‘ Up to about two years ago, New Zealand amateurs operated on 160, 80, 40, and 20 metres. This year there has been more work than previously on 10 and 5 metres. “The record distance that a fivemetre transmission has carried in this country is about 30 miles, although in the United States signals have been carried from one side of the country to the other. Much is expected of this band for 1937. Attempts will be made to cross the Southern Alps, and a coordinated effort will be made between New Zealand and Australian amateurs to make a contact between the two countries. “ The 10-metre band came into its own in 1936,” he continued. “ Many New Zealanders worked the seven continents, not only bn Morse, but also with speech, or ’phone—a thing that was until then regarded as being almost impossible. During the year various international competitions were held, and in each’ of them New Zealand competitors did well.” Mr Banks said that New Zealand had always been one of the leadin'g countries in amateur . radio. It had the highest percentage a head of the population of licensed transmitters in tho world—there were nearly 1,000 amateurs in the country. - , There was some agitation for the use of telephony on the 20-metre band, Mr Banks said. At present only Morse was allowed. Although nearly every country in the world allowed speech, it was not permitted under the New Zealand radio regulations. “ A vote was taken on this about three years ago,” he said. “ The amateurs then decided that they would prefer tho band to b#preserved for Morse, but there has been a fairly general feeling that a change would bo beneficial, and it was realised that telephony was more useful. A vote is now being taken, and it is more or less showing that the amateurs are more in favour of having speech on 20 metres than they were prei’ioulsy. “ It is hoped in the new year, when the results are published, to approach tho Post and Telegraph Department. If telephony oil/ this band were allowed, contact could be made with almost every other country in the world. It is intended that only a limited number of highly-qualified amateurs will be allowed to operate in this’ way, and this should provide an excellent means of advertising New Zealand overseas.” During the year there had been several important inventions made by radio amateurs. An American had brought out a “ Noise suppressor unit ” which, after elaboration, it was hoped to produce commercially for use in broadcast receivers before the end of 1937. A considerable amount of research had been done in New Zealand, too, particularly into ways of minimising all types of interference to reception. Data had been taken of the effect of the aurora on reception, and other matters, for presentation to an International Convention to be held in Cairo early in 1938.

In March there will be a special competition among overseas amateurs, particularly those in America, to make contacts with New Zealand amateurs on 80 metres, using telephony.