The Amateur Radio Service is for individuals who are interested in the technical side of radio and are able to provide emergency communications in disasters, all for the general benefit of the public. It is called "amateur" because it is Strictly non-commercial; no business may be transmitted on amateur frequencies. The Amateur Radio Service is a voluntary, disciplined communications service guided by five traditional objectives:

(1) To provide emergency or public service communications when normal communications are disrupted.

(2) To advance the state of the art.

(3) To improve individual skills in radio operations.

(4) To provide a reserve pool of qualified radio operators and technicians.

(5) To promote international goodwill. The best known objectives of Amateur Radio in the public's eye is its ability to provide life-saving emergency communications when normal means of contact are down or overloaded. Last September, club members witnessed the work carried out by ham radio operators during the hurricane season. Hurricane Hugo sighted down the gun barrel at the eastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico and South Carolina, then pulled the trigger. Death and almost incomprehensible destruction were the terrible results. Amateur Radio played a crucial role in mitigating the titanic effects of the storm's passage. In St. Croix, past student Mike Bachoo, KP2V, reported that winds in excess of 210 miles per hour swept through causing 90% of all houses to be damaged. A great job was handled by the Virgin Islands Hams in establishing links to the mainland. In Trinidad the local television station depended entirely upon the contacts of resident hams, for information relating to Hugo. In early November, the Director of Telecommunications issued a separate call sign for the College's Amateur Radio Station. This new call sign is 9Y4 PCS. It is only to be used by licensed operators in conjunction with the students. This is a new innovation and we hope that other schools in time will follow suit.

For eighty years, hams have carried on a tradition of learning by doing. Through experimenting and building, hams have pioneered advances such as the techniques for digital packet radio techniques now gaining widespread popularity today. Amateurs were among the first to bounce signals off the moon to extend signal range, and hams' practical experience has led to numerous technical refinements and cost reductions beneficial to the commercial radio industry.

Self training, intercommunications and technical investigation are the names of the game for the Amateur Radio Service - the more amateurs proficient in communications techniques, the greater the national resource to the public. It is the responsibility of the Telecommunications Division of the Prime Minister's Office to ensure that amateurs are able to operate their station properly without interfering with other radio stations. To this end the Director of Telecommunications examines all applicants, before a transmitting licence is issued. The theory examinations is supervised by the Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society.

The world of amateur radio is a most fascinating one, since 1900, when Marconi inspired so many to begin experimenting with "the wireless". Early experimentors consequently developed a craving, even up to today, to work the equipment. This driving force caused them to work harder than anything else they had ever done, to achieve those things that haven't been done, or those certain things that others say, can't be done. Newcomers to the hobby seem to get caught up in this magical thrust and have continued it for all these many years . The force itself has always been there. It really hasn't changed, however, the technology and the hardware get better by the hour.

Join in the thrust, classes every Thursday from 2:30pm for students and from 7:00pm to 9:00 for adults. Feel free to attend and get started on the road to your licence.

PRESIDENT - Lincoln Nanan

VICE PRESIDENT - Damian Belmontes

TREASURER - Shevananad Maharaj

CO-ORDINATOR - Anthony Lee Mack

9Y4AL

9Y4PCS.