Taupo Hams In Contact With U.S. Satellite

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 65, 19 August 1965, Page 1

Taupo Hams In Contact With U.S. Satellite

Members of the Taupo branch of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters recently received messages from the satellite, Oscar 3, sent up from a United States launching Pad, pick-a-back style, to a height of about 186 miles. The satellite carried two transmitters, one of which was a tracking beacon sending out a morse identification signal and the other a translator, receiving and returning signals.

Members who made contact with Oscar 3 were Michael Tritt, R. Jessen, N. Karaitiana and P. R. Hancock. The satellite was a development of two previous ones which emitted identification signals only. The word "Oscar" stands for orbiting satellite carrying amateur radio. Messages from Australia and other New Zealand stations were picked up by the Taupo team, but none was received from America. They sent out messages from Taupo but there have been no acknowledgments of any having been received overseas as yet. Oscar 3 worked on very high frequency and local enthusiasts are looking forward to working with another satellite in the future. When, will depend on arrangements being made for its launching into space. The last one was sent up by the United States Air Force. The Taupo branch of the association is also active in other aspects of radio transmission. They have formed an Amateur Radio Emergency Corps, which will assist in search and rescue operations in the Taupo area. Later in the year, they will take part in a two-day training search with the police and other interested organisations. The members will operate with walkietalkie sets in the search area, a base transmitter and relay stations as necessary. Most of them can now make contact with Australian amateur stations and they are hoping to develop higher frequency activity which will give them a greater range. For this they will be obliged to have a special extension of licenee. The Taupo branch is led

by Mr A. C. L. Fooks, the president, with Mr N. Karaitiana as secretary. Mr Fooks has held an amateur transmitter's licence continuously since 1925, except for the period of World War II., when radio silence was imposed. Section leader of the emergency corps is Mr G. Green. Three sets have been provided by the Government for search and rescue training and operational work. The branch has also acquired an old house, which they shifted to a site in Spa Road. It will be used as a headquarters and club house. Members have been busy renovating the four-roomed building. It has been relined and painted. One room will be used as a workshop, another as a transmitter room, and there will also be meeting and supper rooms. The club's transmitters and mobile equipment for the emergency corps will be housed there.