NEWS

Tony Williams VR2DJW Putting Up an Antenna PO Box 131 Wahroonga Tov/er and Antenna 2076

So - you want to put up an antenna mission, either verbal or in writing? You City, bushfires etc), that it has been, and is, tower? How do you go about it? Here goes now do have a problem. Find out what their a fantastic medium for making friends with with the practical experience of one ama- objections are, and quietly — without any people overseas, that people of high and teur, in nice easy steps: rancour-counter them with logic and truth. low status (monarchs and yourself, for 1) Before you buy the beam and tower, Still have a problem? You now have to example) indulge in the hobby. If appli- talk to your immediate neighbours, gettheir approach the local council. cable, stress that your current set-up is not verbal permission. Not playing speaks? VERY IMPORTANT: Before approach- as efficient as a tower plus the super- You DO have a problem (but see later). ing the council, you must do some home- dooper Yagi you want to erect. Incidentally, They cannot make up their minds? Again, work. if you have an upset neighbour and you are see later. a) Dig out ye olde trusty box Brownie and causing him "TVI/RI etc, STAY OFF THE They give verbal permission (hopefully photograph sino ilar antenna layouts to your AIR until you have got council permission - your Minister for Home Affairs is with you proposed layout within your council's juris- no sense in upsetting him any further (he when they give permission — as a witness, diction, which have been approved by may decide to take up a petition against of course). council (see the amateur first to get his you, and that does make the problem 2) Make up a plan and approach your OK). Put a film in the camera first, silly. decidedly harder). local council for a DA (Development Appli- b) Talk to amateurs in the council area to e) Go to see each of your local council- cation -mine cost $5) and then return to see what their traumas were (if any) and lors, especially those in your Riding. Give your neighbours and obtain their signa- how they got over them. them each the paper you have so carefully tures, either on the back of the DA (my c) Join WICEN, get involved with Scouts prepared, and talk to them about the good council had a special rubber stamp) or on a or Guides, help with JOTA (every October). things in amateur radio. previously made-up, suitably worded letter Even join the SES (State Emergency Serv- Be truthful and say that if breakthrough is to the council. ices). ie, show that you are community being caused by you that you are quite 3) After obtaining the required number of oriented — you may also enjoy yourself I willing to help the neighbour with the prob- neighbours' signatures (ha, ha), you return d) Find out the names and addresses of lem. That it will probably all go away any- the DA to the council and wait (and wait) for your local councillors. Write a short treatise way, when you put up the tower and an- its official approval. on what is amateur radio; why a tower; tenna. 4) After receiving council's written ap- 'break through' and the neighbour's re- 6) Now approach council with your appli- proval, comes the easy part — find a suit- course to DOTC. cation and ask the council officer when the able tower, erect it and festoon it with the Also, about yourself, that you are com- application will be put before council, as appropriate antennas (I've seen one small munity minded (like the local councillors), you wish to be in attendance at the meeting backyard which looked like a Russian spy that amateur radio is your hobby, that is has so that if council wants any more informa- ship!) proven to be of inestimable assistance tion you will be able to supply it. 5) Your neighbour/s will not give you per- during natural disasters (Darwin, Mexico 7) Pray! ar

RAEM Tony Smith G4FAI Calling

Reprinted from 'Practical Wireless'Jan stamp in 1973, that the Central Radio Club eventually became world headlines. Ships 1988, contributed by Stephen Pall, Box 93, of the USSR is named after him and that he have survived this ordeal before and, to Dural 2158. was allowed to use a special callsign unlike start with at least, it was just a question of Ernst Krenkel was a famous Russian that of any other Russian amateur. waiting through the winter until the thaw set radio amateur whose exploits in the 1930s In July 1933 Krenkel was chief radio in. In 13 February 1934, however, disaster are depicted on a commemorative QSL operator on the SS Chelyuskin under the struck. The ship was crushed by the ice card used by many Russian amateur sta- command of Prof who had pack and sank in the off the tions today. Some recipients of the card will special responsibility for opening up the north coast of Siberia. The survivors, some know that he was an explorer/radio shipping lanes through coastal waters north hundred men, women and children, fled to operator who played a vital part in a Polar of Siberia. Unfortunately, like so many of the ice with such supplies as they could rescue. Some may also know that he was her predecessors, the Chelyuskin became take from the sinking ship. Krenkel's own honoured by the issue of a special postage trapped in the Arctic ice and her plight personal QSL card shows the dramatic

Page IB—AMATEUR RADIO, August 1989