Central Otago Amateur Radio Club: Keeping Alexandra Connected in the Deep South

In the heart of Central Otago's rugged landscape, where frosts linger and cell coverage fades, the Central Otago Amateur Radio Club (Branch 61) serves as a vital communications lifeline. Based in Alexandra but reaching across the Southern Lakes district, this hardy group of operators keeps the region connected through extreme weather and remote adventures.

A Club as Adaptable as the Climate

True to Central's no-nonsense character, the club operates on an "as required" basis, with:
📡 Friday 5:30pm HF net on 3610kHz (hosted by Bede ZL4KX) - the region's bush telegraph
💻 Sunday 7pm DMR net - bridging the digital divide
🏔️ AREC emergency team covering from Cromwell to Roxburgh

"Our repeaters have pulled miners out of trouble in the Old Man Range," says AREC Group Leader Terry Thomas ZL4TAE.

Technical Guardians of the South

The club maintains critical infrastructure:
• High country repeaters overseen by Russ Watson ZL4JW
• Emergency backup systems for Civil Defence
• DMR capabilities keeping pace with modern tech

Learning the High Country Way

With members spread across the basin, training focuses on:
✅ Remote station operation for high country stations
✅ 4WD mobile installations for backcountry travel
✅ Winter emergency preparedness drills

Join the Central Network

Contact: Secretary David King ZL4TIW (davidking.technician@gmail.com)
HF Net: Fridays 5:30pm on 3610kHz - often the only link for isolated musterers

In a land where distances deceive and weather changes by the minute, these radio operators prove that the clearest connection often comes through the oldest technology.

—
Follow The New Zealand Herald for more South Island innovation stories.

[Did You Know?]
The club's DMR net regularly connects Central Otago farmers with their counterparts in Australia. Their ZL2BGX trustee callsign has been used during goldfield anniversary celebrations.