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HISTORY The first Amateur Radio contact from Trinidad and Tobago was made in 1929 by an Airline Co-pilot by the name of Colin Fraser with another radio operator, S. R. Connelly, W3BCR from Pennsylvania , USA . Colin later adopted the Callsign VP4CF. This Contact was made using Morse Code on the 40 Meter amateur band. A few other operators soon joined him, building radios from plans and Kit s. Since Amateur Radio in Trinidad was not regulated or licensed, most amateurs used arbitrary callsigns. One of the early Pioneers in Trinidad, Paul Alonzo , VP4TK, used amateur radio to broadcast Cricket results on the 40 meter band. His equipment was later seized by the local Police and he was charged for operating radio equipment without a License . Public outcry from Citizen s made it evident that Licensing and Regulation was needed. After World War II there were many changes made to Amateur Radio. Government regulation and Licensing was put into effect. Since a formal procedure was now established, many people joined the Hobby . In response to this, several local hams founded the first Radio Club in Trinidad in 1951 as a means of Self-regulation and coordination of Amateur Radio activities. It was called the Amateur Radio Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ARSTT). It functioned until 1959 when it became dormant. Another local club, the South Trinidad Amateur Radio Society (STARS) was formed at that time. In 1961 , ARSTT was reactivated under the name of TTARS, the Trinidad and Tobago Amateur Radio Society, a name which it retains to this day. MEMBERSHIP Membership levels and eligibility There are four membership levels, full, associate, honorary and afiliate. To be eligible for full membership, one requires an amateur radio license. The payment of annual membership Dues is also a requirement. Dues go mainly toward maintaining the repeaters and the club station, as well as general running costs of the society. Only full members get the ability to Vote and run for office as elected TTARS officials. Associate members need only an interest in amateur radio or Shortwave Listening and attendance to meetings. Associate membership is meant as a means to stimulate interest in the hobby and encourage unlicensed persons to obtain a license and eventually become Amateur Radio operators. Membership Benefits
MEETINGS Every year around March or April , there is an Annual General Meeting . At this meeting, society business for the upcoming year is discussed. In addition, officers are elected to serve over the next year. Most importantly, it is seen as an opportunity for local hams to Socialize and discuss ideas which may or may not be related to amateur radio. Quarterly meetings are also held at club headquarters. There were also attempts from time to time to hold monthly meetings at headquarters and in each of the regions. However, these have not been largely successful and regular. OFFICERS The head of the executive arm of TTARS is the President , who oversees the general welfare of the organization. He or she is assisted by a Vice-president who assists in the general maintenance of the organization. There is also a Secretary and an Assistant Secretary who deal with most administrative tasks, and a Treasurer who deals with the financial aspect of running the society. There are also regional representatives that represent each of the regions covered by TTARS. HEADQUARTERS AND CLUB STATION TTARS Headquarters is currently located at Boy Scouts' Headquarters in Port Of Spain , Trinidad. It houses an well equipped station covering all HF Amateur bands on most modes and a Packet Radio Digipeater . The club station is managed by a club custodian and open to guests to operate during some weekday evenings. A second TTARS sponsored station in San Fernando operates out of Presentation College and is managed by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL. CURRENT ACTIVITIES TTARS coordinates several activities related to Amateur Radio in Trinidad and Tobago on most popular Amateur Radio Band s, including HF bands and the Two Meter band. Field Day TTARS holds an annual Field Day which may or may not coincide with ARRL field day in the US and most other countries. Local radio amateurs operate from a sponsored Campsite , usually a Beach House in a remote region in the North East of Trinidad called Toco and talk to other hams worldwide. 2 meter repeaters TTARS operates three FM Repeater s on the two meter VHF amateur band. Trinidad is covered by two repeaters. One of them is located on the Northern mountain range and its operating frequency is 147.93 MHz with a negative shift of 600 KHz and covers most of the island. However, coverage is best in the Northern part of the island. Sometimes, hams from other Caribbean Islands such as Grenada and St. Vincent are able to talk to hams in Trinidad via this repeater. This repeater is the most heavily used by local hams. The second repeater in Trinidad is located in the Central Range and operates on 146.94 MHz with a negative shift of 600 KHz . It covers most of the island but its coverage is best in Central and South Trinidad. There is a third repeater in Tobago on 147.76 MHz, also with a negative shift of 600 KHz . This repeater covers Tobago and North East Trinidad. Nets TTARS runs two club nets. The first net is the Sunday night 2 meter net held on the 147.93 MHz repeater on Sunday nights at 7:59PM local time or 2359 UTC . The second net is the Hummingbird net and is held on 7.159 MHz LSB in the 40 meter band on Sunday mornings at 9AM local time or 1300 UTC . Jamboree On The Air The local Boy Scout s movement, in conjunction with TTARS participates in the worldwide annual Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) where Scout s are given the opportunity to talk to scouts in other parts of the world via amateur radio. Licensing classes Classes are held for those wishing to take the examination in order to obtain an Amateur Radio License . The locations vary from time to time, but there is usually one in Presentation College, San Fernando run by Anthony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL. Licensing exams TTARS was an authorized examiner of the City And Guilds Of London Institute for the Radio Amateurs' Exam . The RAE is no longer offered. Contests Occasionally, TTARS sponsors amateur radio contests. The most notable of these is the Worked All Trinidad and Tobago Simplex or WATTS contest. The objective of this contest is to make contact with as many amateur radio operators in Trinidad and Tobago without the aid of repeater stations or satellites. QSL Bureau TTARS operates the QSL Bureau for Trinidad and Tobago. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS The Emergency Amateur Radio Service (EARS) is an organization within TTARS that provides amateur radio communications during times of Emergency and Disaster , most notably Hurricanes and floods. It is headed by an Emergency Coordinator who coordinates emergency and disaster preparedness plans and assigns amateur radio resources in the event of an activation by an afiliated agency. EARS works closely with NEMA as well as the local regional corporations that comprise Local Government . There is some cooperation with the local CB clubs as well as the local chapter of REACT International , but this is mostly done through NEMA. TTARS membership is not a requirement to participate in emergency preparedness involving amateur radio in Trinidad and Tobago. Other amateurs operating as individuals or part of small clubs such as CAROT also participate in emergency communications activities. EXTERNAL LINKS TTARS Official website |
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