The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast November 1, 1989

     In the early 1930s, little was known of the vast spectrum of radio frequencies above 30 megahertz now called VHF/UHF and microwaves.  Radio amateurs were experimenting in the VHF area with many innovative designs and techniques that showed that these frequencies offered many advantages for short-range communications of 30 miles or so.  These frequencies had the potential to accommodate many thousands of channels for all kinds of short-range communications, particularly for mobile services.  In fact, radio amateur Frank Gunther, call sign W2ALS, of Staten Island, NY, realized this and developed the first two-way police radio system for the city of Bayonne, NJ.  This opened up the VHF spectrum for general two-way mobile communications.
     A few years later, World War II started and our country was busy helping our allies in Europe.  It was recognized that the military aircraft radio communications were not adequate.  Consequently, engineers, scientists and technicians, many of whom were also radio amateurs working in government and industry laboratories, developed a totally new air-to-ground VHF radio communications system that greatly improved the military capability of our aircraft.  They operated in the 100 to 156 megahertz band, and after the war, all airlines quickly moved to the VHF spectrum for their primary means of radio communications and traffic control.
     After World War II, radio experimentation grew rapidly in the VHF/UHF and microwaves, developing new radio techniques such as using the moon as a mirror to reflect signals back to the earth to extend communications thousands of miles.  Some amateurs experimented with television sending and receiving.  Others used VHF/UHF to communicate via amateur radio satellites that were designed and built by radio amateurs, and now in this computer age many use their personal computers to send and receive message in a form of electronic mail in a system called packet radio.
     The vast majority of all active radio amateurs also have a VHF mobile two-way radio in addition to their home-based radio stations, or have a very small handheld two-way radio.  These can provide quick and effective communications with many radio amateurs within a range of 30 miles or so, using an automatic relay system to higher power repeater radio sets that are generally located on top of a hill or tall building.  This form of amateur radio communication is very popular.  There are approximately 11,000 amateur radio repeater stations in the United States that were developed, designed and supported by members of hundreds of amateur radio clubs.
     These systems allow licensed radio amateurs to have direct telephone dial access from their small handheld or mobile radio set through the local telephone company.  Radio amateurs use these daily to report all kinds of problems to police that occur along the highways, such as auto accidents, fires and to obtain traffic information.  If you are not traveling in your auto, you can easily take your small handheld radio with you and use it on buses, trains and ships.
     In times of disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and explosions, it is the primary emergency amateur radio set used directly at the location of the disaster.

November 1, 1989

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

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