Nothing amateur about
these radio operators
Members of the Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club are welcoming new members now . by Maryann Jenkins
Talking to the International Space Station , communicating with a snowed in Siberian Plains resident and going championship Fox Hunting via Morse code , is all commonplace for amateur radio operator Colin Christie .
Self-taught in electronics Colin , 71 , has long since graduated from the walkie talkies and crystal set hobbies of his youth , into the competent advanced license holder call sign VK2JCC .
“ I ’ m proud and happy to say radio is my disease … I am certainly a HAM ,” Colin laughed when speaking with the Independent .
“ I was licensed in 1979 , passed all my exams through the novice , standard and advanced levels … I just love it .”
Colin , who always carries a radio device on him , is one of approximately 14,000 licensed amateur radio operators in Australia .
He belongs to the Hornsby and Districts Amateur Radio Club ( HADARC ), which comprises 80 members from all walks of life from bankers to technicians to students – and they ’ re looking to expand their membership .
They use varied modes of communication including voice , packet ( like sending an email via the airwaves ), television pictures , talk on local FM radio repeaters and Morse code which is having a resurgence in popularity . Members are often found constructing low power portable radio equipment and meeting in various locations to test and operate them .
A former mechanic and school teacher , Colin regularly communicates with other
A current radio receiver project under construction for global radio reception .
Radio Amateurs can talk with the International Space Station .
operators in Japan , America , Brazil , the UK , Finland and Sweden on any given day from his home .
Certainly it ’ s a buzz for him and those like him in their vast international radio community – putting into context Japan alone has 60,000 amateur radio operators .
“ Japan ’ s call-sign register is the thickness of our two old Yellow Pages volumes , while ours in Australia is a ‘ Woman ’ s Weekly ’ size magazine ,” Colin said .
It certainly gives him a buzz . Colin recounted one of his more interesting contacts was a resident of the Siberian Plains .
“ It was 30 degrees hot here , while it was minus 30 degrees there . He was snowed in , unable to leave the house for a sixth week ,” Colin said .
“ I asked him how he gets his water to survive and he told me he goes down to the basement and drills under the permafrost where water is liquid … it ’ s fascinating to learn about people ’ s lives and experiences .”
Amateur radio assists state government authorities in times of disasters such as bushfires and floods to establish communications and also aides emergency services by activating communication links for welfare checks and logistics by transmitting information .
It is possible to purchase small handheld radios as cheaply as $ 60 and use them on the amateur bands once licensed to get you started .
The HADARC meets at 8pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the Mt Colah Community Centre , Pierre Close . Each meeting features an information talk on radio topics , news and of course expert help with equipment and operating advice .
For details visit HADARC . org . au .
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THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 83 // MAY 2022 11