“Hams” Great Work

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 10

“Hams” Great Work

PRACTICALLY all over New Zealand amateur radio transmitters did what they could to improve tho communication with the earthquake area in Hawke’s Bay. A particularly remarkable feat, according to the Wellington Post, is that credited to Air. J. E. Tyler (2GE), of Napier. Air. Tyler rushed to his homo, where- he had a powerful transmitter a portable transmitter, and a receiver. The power supply being cut off, he could only use the, portable transmitter and lie had to hasten to the town and find, among the burning shops, what batteries lie could. Ho could find only three B batteries and an accumulator, but with these he set to work, and was able to raise 2GK (Air. S. Perkins),, in Wellington. Air. Perkins called up the Wellington Post Office, and 2GK was at once taken over as an official station and manned by Air. W. Ashbridge, of the P. and T. stall’, Mr. Tyler and Mr. Ashbridge handled traffic rapidly, and while the service ,was continued 300 messages passed. One of the outstanding, features of 2GE ! ’s work is the fact that the portable’s power output with fresh batcries was. only two watts, As the batteries ran down, the power waned to a small fraction of a watt, but the signals were still maintained up to the time when a fresh supply could be obtained,