20151204 - History of Amateur Radio, 1945

AMATEUR RADIO 1st November, 1945

FEDERAL HEADQUARTERS

CONTAINERS—Recently came the long-awaited news of impending release of sealed containers. Post-Officewards went the headlong rush of eager Hams, great was the joy amongst the multitude throughout the land. Many the tales of what went into those containers—and what didn't! One RI told us that quite a few containers were packed by Parents or other relatives, of Hams absent in other parts. In went everything in the shack, transmitter, receivers, QSL's, log books, even items of clothing!

FREQUENCIES—It seems now that return of Our frequencies from the services (and others) will delay our return to full activity. Now don't panic, we think the delay will be only short, but it seems likely that the new regulations will be in force before we get the frequencies. We want to state quite plainly that we desire the return of all our pre-war bands as soon as reasonably possible, we see no reason why 28, 56 and 112 megacycles should not be returned at once.

There seems to be some sort of feeling in the Services that some of our bands should be kept permanently for Service use. This we will not tolerate. The Service "Big Noises" responsible for frequency allocations must realise that the war is over, and that Service use of frequencies on the scale practised over the past six years must be drastically reduced, in fact there seems no justification whatever for allocations in the region of 3-30 megacycles greater than those of 1939.

In the VHF, UHF, etc., region, it is, we admit, a different story, but on the other hand there should be ample room there for everybody. We hear that the P.M.G. proposes to replace the present carrier phone lines between Capital Cities with chains of UHF relay stations using Multi-Channel Pulse transmission. We hope the band. width requirements are not too great! And another thing, there are at least 25 broadcast transmitters operating between 7 and 7.3 megacycles. The majority are American and British, two are Australian. These services are now no longer necessary, we look forward to the speedy removal of these stations from our 40 metre band.

FREQUENCY MODULATION—Did you know that the use of FM, Television and Facimile are under the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Broadcasting, and that - the P.M.G. cannot issue licences for these types of emission without the consent of the Committee? It is absolutely unthinkable that FM, Television and Facsimile should be barred from Hams in Australia, so we are looking into this matter.

TWINS—To Chas. Quin, VK3WQ, Federal Councillor, and Mrs. Quin, twins, one of each. Heartiest of congratulations from FHQ. All doing well, we hear. Call signs have not yet been allotted at the time we go to press.