Andrew Corney ZL2BBJ, born 18 March 1942, died 23 May 2005
Above: Andrew ZL2BBJ and Bob ZL2CA proudly demonstrate their invention for spooling antenna wire at Quartz Hill.
Andrew had Dan Wilkinson ZL2AB as a teacher at Inglewood Primary School, and that was his introduction to radio. His parents obtained old valve radios as a source of parts for Andrew to experiment with in “the end room” of their farm house.
Andrew came to Wellington in 1963 as ZL2BBJ, to study science at university. He soon joined the Wellington Amateur Radio Club and over the years he served terms as Secretary and Chairman. After graduating in science he worked for the DSIR (now IRL) and specialised in metrology, the science of measurements. He was an internationally recognised specialist in AC calibration.
Andrew was a skilled radio operator and enjoyed taking part in the National Field Day event. Even though his health was failing he wanted to be rostered in the 2005 NFD and his operating helped the points tally. He was active for many years in local ARES and Civil Defence.
Over the last 14 years his primary amateur radio interest has been Low Frequency radio communications. Once the club station at Quartz Hill, Makara was available, Andrew and Bob Vernall ZL2CA combined their efforts in LF experimentation and arranged for various beacon and two-way experiments around 184 and 137 kHz.
At Quartz Hill, they had the advantage of a 40m high aerial mast and a building where they could set up their LF equipment. While beacon tests generated international interest, their best achievement is a 137 kHz two-way contact with UA0LE, which is a world record distance for amateur operators.
Until his recent illness Andrew was co-columnist of the ‘LF Scene’ in Break-In, where many ZL2BBJ “home brew” designs and LF findings are documented. Andrew was a high achiever with “home brew”, not only at LF. Andrew was a long standing member of the Quartz Hill Management Committee and was a regular participant at the monthly working bees. He designed and constructed at least a dozen 600/50 ohm high power baluns for the ZL6QH club HF contest station.
He also took an active interest in the ‘radio science awards’ sponsored by NZART. As an NZART Officer he made a major contribution to the radio frequency non-ionising radiation exposure limits adopted in New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand is most fortunate to have a radio amateur who was also a scientist and specialist in measurements, play a major role in standards work that impacts all amateur radio transmitting.
Andrew is greatly missed by all who knew him.
Mike Kerr ZL2BCW
Chairman Branch 50 Wellington