ZL2AMJ: NZART & IARU stalwart becomes a silent key

[VK2ZRH]

A high performer always seeking a betterment for his fellow radio amateurs worldwide, Fred Johnson ZL2AMJ, died on July 23, aged 83.

He played an important role at the World Administrative Radio Conference 1979 where Amateur Radio gained the 30, 17 and 12 metre bands. At the same conference in 2003, he chaired the drafting group on the 7 MHz band that worked on the harmonisation and allocation alignment. The work resulted in the re-farming of powerful broadcasters, and the ultimate widening of the useful band worldwide for Amateur Radio.

Valé to a standout leader and all-round "good guy", whom I met on several occasions when I attended IARU Region 3 Conferences as a WIA delegate over the 1990s. He will be missed.

Full details at: http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2 ... /index.php

[VK3YE]

Saddened to hear of Fred's passing. I was also privileged to meet Fred at a past WIA convention. Warm, friendly and approachable are my memories.

Fred's NZART and IARU service has been described elsewhere. A biography appears at: http://www.qsl.net/zl2amj/aboutme/me.html

Also important was Fred's contribution to popular amateur radio construction around the world through his projects and articles.

The word 'popular' - as in 'appealing to a wide variety of people' or 'generally accessible' - must be stressed.

Like the other greats of radio construction and technical writing (W1CER/W1FB, W7ZOI, KK7B, G3RJV, VK3XU, et al) Fred designed projects not merely for himself but for easy reproduction by others. Could being a child of depression and wartime scarcity and wanting better for generations that followed have had something to do with this?

At a time when SSB equipment was thought unbuildable by most in this part of the world, Fred described the Tucker Tin two tube / carbon microphone phasing SSB transmitter in 1961. You can (and should) read the article here: http://soldersmoke.blogspot.com.au/2014 ... n-two.html and follow the links. The 'Tucker Tin' got many onto SSB, at a time when the crystal filters required for the 'filter method' were either unobtainable or cost an extortionate number of week's if not month's wages.

Ten years later Fred described the 'Tucker Tin II'. This was an updated SSB transmitter which was solid state apart from the 12BY7 final. Again it was described worldwide, including a full article in Electronics Australia and mention in Pat Hawker's column.

When 2m FM repeaters appeared Fred was again there. This time describing the 'Climie' 2m FM transceiver which was available as a club project (see http://zl2vh.org.nz/assets/pdf/newslett ... Aug_10.pdf ). This was a handbag-style portable transceiver that preceded commercially-made gear from Japan. I believe it featured 6 crystal controlled channels on transmit and a tunable receiver, reducing the need for expensive crystals. Again reproduced in Electronics Australia.

More recently Fred developed study guides and projects for newcomers. Free books can be downloaded from http://www.qsl.net/zl2amj/ Fred didn't miss an opportunity to explain the role of the IARU to all comers, as exemplified by this summary in this study guide at: http://www.qsl.net/zl2amj/ARX2106%20BOOK%202.pdf The 'Alivo' Receiver project was a popular newcomer project with a brochure produced - see http://www.nzart.org.nz/assets/pdf/2010 ... -alivo.pdf The Alivo transceiver followed with details at http://www.chchhamradio.org.nz/Projects ... awings.pdf

Without today's free unlimited information, low component prices and worldwide ordering, the contribution Fred made to popular amateur construction and activity at the remote end of the world cannot be overestimated. In short Fred proved you didn't have to be an engineer to build a rig, even one which used the then modern modes of SSB and VHF FM. And Fred's sharing and encouragement of homebrew activity has a worldwide impact that is remembered by senior hams and continues to inspire many more.

[VK5TM]

When 2m FM repeaters appeared Fred was again there. This time describing the 'Climie' 2m FM transceiver which was available as a club project (see http://zl2vh.org.nz/assets/pdf/newslett ... Aug_10.pdf ). This was a handbag-style portable transceiver that preceded commercially-made gear from Japan. I believe it featured 6 crystal controlled channels on transmit and a tunable receiver, reducing the need for expensive crystals. Again reproduced in Electronics Australia.

I was one of the original builders of the Climie Transceiver when Fred introduced it at the Upper Hutt (Branch 63) Radio Club many, many years ago.
Remember him as an always approachable person, always willing to help the younger and /or newer members to ham radio.

Rest in Peace Fred.