- AMATEUR RADIO IN MAURITUS.
- Amateur Radio has existed in Mauritius and the
Dependencies, epecially the Chagos, well before World War II. In those days
control, licensing and supervision were administered by the Post Master General.
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- Due to the ignorance of the authorities about Amateur Radio, the callsign VQ8AA and VQ8AB were issued to the lighthouse of Pointe aux Caves (Belle Vue
Phare) and flat Island respectively. However, after protests from the international amateur radio
community, those callsigns were no longer used by the lighthouses.
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- After considering the international events which were taking place at that time, the local authorities knew that war was imminent. All transmitters belonging to radio amateurs were siezed on the 1st and 2nd of September, 1939. On September 3, 1939, war was
declared. A total of 17 transmitters were seized and some of the radio amateurs were prosecuted for possession of radio transmitting equipment during war
times. The defense lawyer pointed out that the equipment was seized before the war was officially
declared. Resultingly, the case was dismissed. But not without the leveling of a nominal fine of Five Rupees on these unfortunate early Mauritian
amateurs.
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- A few weeks
later, authorities found themselves in an awkward situation. They badly needed qualified radio operators but could not find
any. After having treated the amateurs in such an unfair manner, the authorities were nevertheless compelled to make a special appeal to radio
amateurs, asking them to monitor, copy and send official messages in Morse
code. The radio amateurs, being true patriots and harboring no hard
feelings, agreed to help the authorities and used their knowledge and expertise to the serve the
country.
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- One
amateur, VQ8AD, was asked by the Admiralty to go to the Chagos to install and operate a radio station
there. That young man enrolled himself in the Royal Navy and sailed for Diego Garcia where he
installed, maintained and perated his radio station to signal to Mauritius of any abnormal shipping movements in the
Chagos. Messages were passed to another amateur in Beau Bassin and he would communicate those messages to the Admiralty radio station in Vacoas by the landline via the Beau Bassin Police Station. So this
proves, once again that the Amateur Radio community is a source of technical
expertise, knowledge and competence which can be counted upon in times of need by the
country. Some names associated with the above operations are Paul Caboche 3B8AD, Henri DíAgnels VQ8AE, Volcy de Robillard VQ8AS, Raoul Thomas VQ8AD, Lenny Mazery VQ8AB and Jean RegnaudVQ8AA to name just a
few.
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- The Mauritius Amateur Radio Society (MARS) was founded in 1968. The founding members were native Mauritians and British
expatriates. Some names which come are Steve Gibbs (VQ8CC), Raymills (VQ8 ), John Stratful(VQ8 ) just to name a
few.
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- MARS was registered with the Registrar of associations in Mauritius and was very
dynamic. However after independence in 1968, many of the expatriates left Mauritius and there was a lull in thr activities of MARS. After a period of reduced
activity, the society was deregistered from the Registrar of associations and existed only as a non-registered
body. There were yearly meetings and get together but no dynamism. On the 1st December 1994, a new constitution was drafted and MARS was registered again with the
Registrar. Since that time MARS is back on the rails again and there are yearly general Meetings and other activities to help the younger generation to get a
licence. However it is becoming harder and harder to get new blood to the hobby because many young prefer the internet chat and
surfing, and they also do not have time to study technical subject and sit for
exams. But we do try to expose ham radio every time we get a chance and get new comers to the
hobby.
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- Paul
Caboche 3B8AD became silent Key on 24July 2012 at the age of 94
years.
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