Activities of N.Z. Amateur Transmitters

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 32, 20 February 1931, Page 30

Activities of N.Z. Amateur Transmitters

A Live and , Energetic Body

THE Association of Radio Transmitters comes rarely before the public eye, except upon such occasions as the recent calamity. in Hawke’s: Bay, or when, perhaps, one of its members is successful in some notable achievement -long distance work, getting unusual information by radio, and the like. But below the surface the activity is not inconsiderable. .

But it is in the activity on the air,. in the early and late hours of the night, that the amateur is most energetic. The throw of: the switches'and the throb of the brazen key tell of converse with distant lands, and the little mystie symbols spell out the calls of Siberia, Chile, Sudan, The Virgins, Guam, France, California, England,

Spain, or New York. . Ever and anon he will tire of the faroff lands, and plunge into local movements again. Bach month at least the Association’s local branch has its meeting, and there amateur fraternises with amateur (only he calls him a "ham") and lectures, business, and news are the order for the evening. Periodically, a field day is held in the various towns, .and the "hams" depute one portable station to hide, perhaps in the local hills. With direction finders the rest seek him out, the first to reach him being declared winner, and the hero of the picnic that follows. A while ago a unique event was enacted, The Otago Branch arranged a chess match by radio with the amateurs of Sydney." The local chess club thus enjoyed a splendid game with the Millions Club of Sydney, and from 8 p.m. till 1 a.m. the moves flitted back and forth across the seas, while the players sat in easy chairs and watched the board, the curling pipe smoke and the gleaming dials and, switches of ‘the transmitter. ‘ N.Z.A.R.T.-Its Aims and Objects. HH New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (more familjarly known as N.Z.A.R.T.) is, as its name implies, an association welding the amateur transmitters of N.Z. into an effective whole. What the American Radio Relay League (A.R.R.L.) is in U.S.A., we are working that N.Z.A.R.T. may come to be in N.Z Hven-more than this is

+ rt ee EE eS fa samen attempted by the Incorporated Radio Society of Great Britain (R.S.G.B.), and N.Z.A.R.T., following in the footsteps of the amateurs in the Motherland, is engrossed with the prospect of unified co-operation between amateur transmitters and those listener-enthus-iasts whose interests lie wholly or mainly in the shorter waves. ‘The R.S.G.B., however, has sought to combine two classes which might at first appear incompatible. The hither. to passive listener can act as an official report station. It is here that he can help the transmitter, and it is here that most S.-W. listeners receive their introduction to the most wonderful of all hobbies-talking across the world with apparatus one has censtructed from hitherto useless components. An? iso« lated amateur can serve only his 7 particular locality. As part ;M/a national movement he can relay ‘mess sages, disseminate information and keep his district in touch with the world, The association has always opened its ranks to keen, interested S.-W. listeners, but henceforth S.-W. listeners are to be definitely encouraged to join and assist the transmitter-perhaps eventually to join the ranks of the full-fledged amateurs, ; Our body has a Headquarters Wxecutive, four Main District and several’ Sub-District Committees. It issues its own monthly magazine "Break-In," which fills its pages with notes, letters and articles of interest to amateurs and to their listener friends. N.Z.A.R.T. also runs a bureau for keeping full and complete lists of amateur addresses (which are published in the "Radio Amateur CG IL... Book", in "Break-In" and ‘the "Radio Guide"). The bureau accepts inwatd report cards from kindred overseas organisations, and distributes them throughout N.Z. Hyen outward report (Q.8.L.) cards are accepted and forwarded to their destination. , ; The Association is affiliated with the International Amateur Radio Union (LA.R.U.), and during the last week in June, N.Z. amateurs are to work only stations in British possessions. British Empire Radio Week is an attempt to help amateurs to realise the bonds of Empire. Even if a N.Z. amateur does not win the world contest, special recognition is to be given to the most successful amateur in N.Z, N.Z.A.R.T. also arranges periodical low power competitions when the plate . supply is limited to 45 volts. Phe menal contacts are made when 4 even such a low power, and it type of competition which trains) the amateur to be of use in an emergency. In these and in _ other ways N.Z.A.R.T. seeks’ to make the short waves as interesting and useful as possible, and the _ services of N.Z. amateurs are freely offered in time of need. Inquiries are solicited and should be addressed Box 489, Wellington,