This year, we linked up with Operation Manna 80th.
THE EVENT IS NOW OVER.
THERE ARE OPERATION MANNA ACTIVITIES ONGOING.
============================================================
Andrew VK5WT tosty@internode.on.net
If you need to contact Mike VK4MIK about the AX prefix, 25th vk4mike@yahoo.com.au
A-M-R-O 8th year in 2025.
on Saturday 26 th & Sunday 27 th of April 2025 .
[In affiliation witht this event:
ANZAC DAY FRIDAY 25th with "AX" prefix run for the 16th year by Mike , VK4MIK vk4mike@yahoo.com.au ]
The Theme for AMRO this year is to associate with
the 80 th Anniversary of operation Manna & aka Chowhound by USA.
Operation Manna, the airlift of food to the Dutch N/W near the end of WW2.
Organised by the International Bomber Command Centre Radio team, ( Lincolnshire Portable Radio Group ) Andy M0IYE, Rose 2E0RXO, Daron 2E0GFY, James M7GYP and the Plusscouts Radio team in the Netherlands Sander PD9HIX , Erwin PA3EFR.
Here is the link...Go to the main website for Operation Manna 80th:
Australian section: https://manna80.radio/the-team-in-australia/
youtube link: Operation Manna UK and Chowhound USA..
The Australian connection for this event is:
Robert , VK6WHO ,the Vice President of the vhf group at:
"Wireless Hill" Perth Western Australia.
there is a special event call taking place commemorating the operation Manna.
A humanitarian food drop into The Netherlands near the end of WW2 .
It is taking place At Anzac weekend.
Operation Manna callsigns: PH80MAN, GB80MAN and VK80MAN (VE80MAN -possibly).
Robert , VK6WHO will have a Station on site at Kings Park in Perth on ANZAC Day.25th.April.
We are going to be on air Friday25th ,Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April 2025.
Thankyou to Gavin VK4ZZ , for helping to promote ANZAC (radio) & AMRO radio events .
ALSO: "Fists Down Under" on ANZAC day.... THE LINK CLICK ON THIS LINE
Australian Military Radio Operators weekend
Hello, Andrew VK5WT here,
this 2 day Weekend Extra Event for ANZAC week was started in 2018 .
I have,like many others,have an interst in Ex-Military radios , teletypes, and field telephones like many of you out there.
Some of us have a goal to get the older radios restored and running ont he air. many are only display worthy, and
many are still going to the rubbish tip.
When restoring WW2
radios,the type of materials are : brass,oil, grease, vacuum valves/tubes, analogue design, old filament lightbulbs,
rubber coated cables that go rotten, and need replacing with modern PVC / plastic wiring.
and mechanical ROTARY or vibration power supply components, generating the higher voltages needed to operate the vavles.
This is all repairable fun.& a real part of history. There are still many old stock parts, still wrapped up in waxed paper
from WW2, and some other parts, like lightbulbs are still available as later production stock.
Once,I removed a crusty old bulb out of the roof light from a wrecked radio truck body from WW2, and i looked at the side of the
bulb, it said 6 V, made in Canada. chances are it came here with the spare parts with the Canadian truck chassis it was on.
it still works today.
The Canadian Chore horse 300 Watt 12 v generators we had here in WW2....1 is the main charger unit for the radio truck and it has not yet, had a rebuild, only some fresh paint.
The purpose of the AMRO event is to :
mainly to honour and remember the signallers' contributions during defence/peace and war.
{1} extend the 1 day of ANZAC day radios to 3 in total [note: ANZAC DAY radio even AX prefix -refer to VK4MIK]
{1a} extra time provides oportunity to go portable for the weekend and enjoy the event to the full.
{2} bring together many older radios at the same time to be able to enjoy the radios more.
{3} converse with other operators about X-Military signals equipment from the invention of radio itself.
{4} provide a website and calling frequencies to assist with operators needing information.
{5} where possible, from AX/ANZAC DAY will be the same unless some preferred change is necessary
{6} Last minute message from overseas where the overseas station hearing wishes to tell the event about signals heard.
{7} Remind operators that the event frequencies chosen are not owned by the event .
{8} Teletype operation , German, Australian are likely to be active , but not every year.
{9} to provide free access to having a specific sub group link as needed to be added to the website.
{10} to keep the website simple and easy to read. to corect erros A.S.A.P. you can email or ring .details on VK5WT website
{11} To work out a new inclusion of WW2 receivers or other historic short wave listening or 'intercept' sets.In progress.
THEME FOR 2025 AMRO : A FOCUS ON THE 80th ANNIVERSARY SINCE OPERATION MANNA .
-----------------------------------------------------------
Helpful notes:
stations on 6m may well be using FM, as per Ex Miltiary gear often does.
stations on HF are not normally allowed to use M.C.W. mode. [modulated CW used mobile in WW2 ]
stations not having AM mode are preferred to QSY up 10 Khz so 7125 AM then becomes 7135 SSB .
during this event, some WW2 radios, German and Japanese, British may be using AM on 27 or 28 Mhz
just to clarify: 27 Mhz implies the 40 ch CB band for HF, and 28 implies Ham radio 10m band.
some exotic satellite & microwave equipment may well be operating beyond my knowledge at this time
please could special band operators email me so I can update the frequency list.
No signups, fees, and your interest qulifies you to be involved.
This is a fast growing event in Australia for Ex-Military radios. many stations will be on the air.
2025 will be the best year, with Operation Manna 80th helping to link up stations around the world.
It is all driven by enthusasm.for history, and the steam powered nature of the older radios.
email me- Andrew with subject: AMRO here at : tosty@internode.on.net
====================================
Saturday 27th April 2024 is AMRO day 1 local time
Sunday 28th April 2024 is AMRO day 2 local time .
THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTED HF FREQUENCIES for this event,
the best use if you are calling CQ and the frequency listed is free. Much more chance of getting a reply.
as many Hams will monitor these frequencies with another dedicated receiver or scanner.
630 m: Frequency at your choice within the band
160m 1818 khz , C.W. MORSE CODE
80 m 3530 khz, C.W. MORSE CODE
80 m 3686 khz A.M. VOICE , 3696 LSB
40 m 7006 khz C.W. MORSE CODE
40 m 7028 --- 7030 khz C.W. MORSE CODE - 7028 is a crystal freq used by many
40 m 7060 khz A.M. VOICE , 7085 LSB [SPECIAL CASE] ,PLEASE STAY CLEAR OF 7075 DIGITAL.
40 m 7125 khz. A.M. [NET] - PRIMARY LIASON FREQUENCY and may be busy. 7135 LSB
30 m 10102 kHz CW , 10125 AM (ssb phone zone ) with respect to the ANZAC AM for event .
20 m 14030 khz C.W. MORSE CODE
20 m 14125 khz A.M. VOICE 14135 USB: NEXT YEAR 2023: 14145 Khz ,due to conflict of freq
15 m 21030 khz C.W. MORSE CODE
15 m 21125 khz A.M. VOICE , 21135 USB
10 m REFER - BANDPLAN , AM USB + 10 KHZ
11 m NON AMATEUR: CB HF 27 MHZ BAND . :
CALL CHANNEL CB CH 11 , 27.085 Mhz AM ONLY for LIASON Primary Non Amateur . calling
move to CB CH 14 27.125 Mhz AM ONLY.
Note for some people CB means UHF, there are 2 bands . UHF CB 477 Mhz band is not expected to
be on the air with WW2 radios.
any UHF CB net operator can email me if you plan to organize a channel for AMRO.
I can list it here to assist.
====================================
AM operators ,just a reminder, we dont own the frequencies suggested., so other traffic has to be accepted .
Non-AMRO operators, LSB bandpass of 3 Khz, below selected[Fo, or mid channel] may well be on top of the upper AM sideband. Typically, the LSB from 7131 does interfer with 7125's Upper sideband.
Most QRM will come from LSB stations operating above the 7125, not realizing that the separation
needs to be 8khz/2= 4 khz,then + 3 khz of LSB => 7 Khz of F above and then above by more if possible.
example, 7125 + 7 + 1 = 7133 , and is the first point above the 7125 AM that might not interfere.
on the other hand, if the signals are strong, an additional 2 khz may be necessary. and that would be 7135.
If you have LSB selected and frequency [F to F-3khz] less than 7135 , you would appear as QRM. to AM .
Some QRM is intentional, and some is the result of not understanding. It is the not understanding part of the
QRM that we hope to reduce by showing the numbers above. 7135-7125 = 10khz , and at first, appears to be
too much separation and un-necessary. Other radios like my old Yaesu FT-101B read as the centre of channel.
this is usually an offset of 1.5 khz or 1/2 of an SSB 3khz B/W channel. not to be confused.
====================================
Your Morse Code Transmission might look like this ....
CQ AMRO DE [CALLSIGN] [end] K .
=====================================================================
Teletype stations, may be in operation, more information closer to the event.
It is likely that some stations will be using WW2 Teletype [RTTY] and some 1950s or 1960s Military RTTY.
Many Military radios do not originally or normally have Lower sideband, and some have only upper sideband. .
The LSB convention for 80m & 40m will be a commercialised 'stretch' for a Military Radio. Please allow for this.
Some are modified for LSB, so no problem with those sets. The problem is that some Military sets will
have USB but not LSB . By all means: ask if the operator has to be on USB, chances are they do have only USB .
your Webpage Editor: Andrew VK5WT tosty@internode.on.net Good Luck in the 7 th AMRO .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the regular operators wished to have their photos on the website here. If you would like to add a photo
please do so at least 30 hours before the start of the event, as no photos will be added during the event.
New: Overseas Interest needs a mention here, as we previously had inquiries from Malta,
last year we had interest from Boris VE3IKU in Toronto , Canada . Boris has gone to great efforts to get his
WW2 BC-610E transmitter up and going.the power supply is working better,
and a few years ago,the Modulator Transformer being a problem now re-assembled.
see Boris 's BC610 and receivers in this recent photo on the day of the BC610's first AM contact since repair.
By going to the overseas interest section here: OVERSEAS INTEREST
Phil VK5NPP has repaired a Collins AN/ART-13 in2021 and has had a few contacts already.
expect the ART-13 or this radio below the AT5/AR8 by AWA , aircraft design, but used by Army as a 112 with extra kit.
Peter VK7KPC/5 , in 2025:moved to Encounter Bay ,S.A. recently.
C42 Station with the Elevated mast 1955 to 1967 service era.
6m FM 15 W. Below
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Micheal VK2MNR with C11 Transmitter - R210 Receiver - and Power supply. Below
This Ground or Vehicle mounted station is part of the Larkspur series 1955 - onwards [Australian Army ]
The C11 is aprox 40 Watts of AM or 80 Watts of Morse CW .
The Larkspur series was designed in the UK in association with Mullard & Plessey UK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrew VK5WT 122HP -- photo taken in 1991. Below
The 122Mk2 is factory improved mk1 from WW2. The HP was a Korean War improvment. 1952 modification to design.
Andrew VK5WT shown using a 122 mk2 HP at the Birdwood Miltary Vehicle day event in 1991 .
In 2022 , I will be running an AWA FS6 [1942] on 40m , its the higher power version of the AWA 101 set modeled on the British No 1 set .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------l
Ian VK5ZIM , with his WS-19 MK2 made by Ecko [UK] in 1942 Below
The project started early in 2019, In 2023, the WS19 Linear Amplifier is working
and has been helped along by Andrew VK5WT and also Nic VK7WW {ex- VK7BEE .}
My Antenna is a 10m vertical 32 foot high. Output is 15 Watts. 80m, 40m.
--------------
Phil, VK3BRZ 2019 work in progress - first time on air was 2018 AMRO, and also on air 2019. Below
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VK7WW {ex- VK7BEE .} Nic 2019 a great supporter of this event . Below
(Pic taken just before I retired in 2015)
I still wear the uniform on ANZAC Day...
2018 & 2019 was using an (ex RAAF) Racal Syncal Man Pack 2 to 8 MHz, 12w PEP USB/LSB; AM 3w; CW 5w. I had over 60 QSOs in 2018. Pic below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
VK5XA Ian Below
ARC-2 (RT- 91) Transceiver which I used in 2019
----------------
"DOC" VK5BUG ,photos taken in 2020 . Radio Operator Service X-R-A-N. & NATO
2022:
Using VK5AAQ Andy’s borrowed WW2 Royal Navy Marconi 5G transmitter @ 23W + Cootie key into my homebrew, ground mounted 171ft ‘Big Bore’ Helical aerial, VK3, 4, 5 & 6 were reached/worked, with 2120kms to Perth & 2133kms to Cairns being the best distances bridged.
The hand wound 222-turn aerial is my own design prototype 1.28 lambda (NOT 1.25) & this was its first ‘big test’.
2023:
WW2 ex-RAN small craft Marconi 5g 807 TX & STC A-679-H RX, & HB 40m 85ft BigBore helical AE
2024:
WARC Band 10,102 kHz,
Kenwood TS690V (low power version),
Antennnas: a ground-mounted HB base-irrigated 23ft vertical & 30m lambda low horizontal RX loop.
2025: Updating soon.
'DOC''s NAVY pic VK5BUG
and now for an overview of the main event: an older photo, showing the early days, where many AM carriers are evident
.Some AM carriers seen on 40 m band , on the Spectrum, during the event.
Background sound on this website is available to Phones, tablets,Firefox and Opera Browser but may not work with all internet browsers.