Industry Canada Drops Morse Requirement for HF  (July 29 2005) 

In July 2003, the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) 2003 held by the ITU in Geneva, Switzerland, deleted the mandatory international requirement for proficiency in Morse for access to the HF bands below 30 MHz. The revised International Radio Regulations leave it up to individual administrations to decide whether to retain or delete Morse as a national requirement. Since July 2003, more than 25 administrations have deleted the Morse requirement for HF access. 

Immediately following WRC-2003, RAC conducted an Internet survey of Canadian amateurs on whether Canada should retain or delete Morse. 66% of the statistically significant response of more than 1300 Canadian amateurs either recommended deleting, or would accept deleting, the mandatory Morse qualification, but also recommended other changes. This resulted in discussions between RAC and Industry Canada, following which RAC formally submitted a proposal to the Department recommending, among other things, that the mandatory Morse Qualification be deleted but also that it be retained as a voluntary qualification for reciprocal operations in countries that have not deleted the Morse requirement. 

 Per Canada Gazette Notice DGRB-003-05 dated 30 July 2005, Industry Canada has adopted elements of the RAC "Proposal on Morse Code and Related Matters" and has removed the mandatory requirement for the Morse Qualification for access to the HF bands below 30 MHz. 

 Effective immediately, HF operation on the bands below 30 MHz has been authorized by Industry Canada for: 

a) amateurs who were certified with only the BASIC Qualification prior to 2 April 2002;
b) amateurs who have been certified with both BASIC and ADVANCED Qualifications;
c) amateurs with only the BASIC Qualification who were certified after 1 April 2002, and who achieved a pass mark of 80% or greater; 

 Those amateurs with only the BASIC Qualification who were certified after 1 April 2002, but who achieved less than an 80% pass mark, will either have to qualify in Morse, write the Advanced or re-write the Basic examination to obtain HF privileges. This latter requirement is related to a decision to increase the BASIC examination pass mark to ensure that candidates have been tested in all areas of the syllabus. Amateurs who need to confirm their examination marks should contact their Accredited Examiner. Accredited Examiners are required to retain marks for at least three years. 

Also effective immediately, the pass mark for the BASIC Qualification has been raised from 60% to 70%. 

 Amateurs wishing to have their certificates annotated with a Morse Qualification may still do so by passing the Morse examination at 5 Words Per Minute. 

 Holders of only the BASIC Qualification may now construct, install and operate transmitters from kits that have been commercially designed and packaged. BASIC-only holders still are not authorized to modify or install and operate modified commercially manufactured equipment. 

The above changes and others have been incorporated in revised RICs 2 and 3. All amateurs should review and keep on hand these revised documents. 

 RIC-2, Issue 5, dated July 2005, Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service, is available at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf05478e.html

RIC-3, Issue 2, dated July 2005, Information on the Amateur Radio Service, is available at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf05478e.html

(RAC News Service)

Industry Canada Calls for Public Consultation to Establish Rules for Certifying BPL in Canada  (July 29 2005)

 Industry Canada (IC), with Canada Gazette notice SMSE-005-05 dated July 30 2005, has initiated the public consultation process for the introduction of BPL in Canada. This consultation will decide the process by which BPL will be introduced in Canada, including the development of a new certification standard (ICES-00x) for medium voltage powerline carrier systems.  The IC consultation paper gives interested parties 120 days to reply. 

RAC will reply to this consultation paper directly to IC and through the Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC), of which it is a member.  The RABC is an association of Canadian radio spectrum user associations, sponsored in part by IC, and used by IC to consult with industry when developing new standards and spectrum management policy.  The consultation paper will be handled by RABC's Electromagnetic Committee (EMC), which has appointed RAC's VP Regulatory Affairs, Jim Dean VE3IQ, a member of the RABC Executive, as chairperson of a Working Group (WG) to prepare the RABC's response. Joe Parkinson VE3JG, who has been handling the BPL file, will represent RAC on the WG. 

RAC is not against BPL; it is against the interference to radio services created by BPL, and looks forward to this consultation process as an opportunity to have an input into the certification standard.  RAC's representative on the RABC WG will aggressively push to ensure the concerns of the Amateur Service are addressed in the RABC response.  RAC will also express these concerns in a response directly to IC. 

All comments on the questions in the consultation paper should be addressed to Joe Parkinson c/o the RAC office 720 Belfast Road, Suit 217, Ottawa ON K1G 0Z5 Attn: BPL Team or direct via email to ve3jg@rac.ca or jgparkinson@rogers.com.  The RABC WG expects to commence meetings in early August with a completion deadline of early November. Comments should be sent as soon as possible and must arrive prior to November 1 to be considered in the formulation of the RAC response to IC. 

For details, see the Canada Gazette notice at http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf08279e.html

(RAC News Service)

HFRadio.Net Update (Aug. 6 2005)

HFRadio.Net is an online service geared toward serving the amateur radio community in Canada. We provide website services for many groups throughout our nation. Currently we host over seventeen amateur radio related web sites.

HFRadio.Net is home to a number of popular sevices such as, this publication 'The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin' , 'The Ontario Swap Shop' and 'The Maritme Swap Shop' . We also provide server space for 'The Trans Provincial Net' , 'Sandbox Net' , 'Communication Ontario Net' , 'Scarborough Amateur Radio Club', 'Senators Amateur Radio Group', ' Satellites Amateur Radio Group', Sarnia White Cane Amateur Radio Club', 'Amherstburg Amateur Radio Club', 'OECO Emergency Network', 'Procom Emergency Net' and 'ARES-Saskatoon' 

Introducing a new feature to HFRadio.Net,  'Ham Shack Corner' . Each week we will be featuring an Canadian Ham Shack and we would like to feature your Ham Shack. Whether it's just a picture of you in your shack or perhaps some project your working on, please send your info and pictures in and we will put you in the spotlight! This weeks featured Ham Shack is Ted Sparrow (VE3BQN) located in Elmvale, Ontario

Currently our server is operating at 50 % of it's capacity, there is still room to accommodate other clubs or groups. If your Canadian Club/Group needs a web site presence that has no advertising links or banners please contact us. We offer such services as; 

-Your on unique domain name and sub domains 
-E-mail addresses and mailing lists 
-Direct FTP account 
-PHP, MySQL, PgSQL, guest-books, counters, form mail, script handlers, SSL, Front-page and much more. 

We offer these services free of charge, our only mandated is the betterment of Amateur Radio in Canada. 

Enjoy the services HFRadio.Net provides? 
Please consider assisting us cover our expenses with a small contribution. You can use our secure online payment method by visiting the HFRadio.Net home page.

Thank you,
Jim Taylor, VA3KU
Administrative Services
www.hfradio.net

Jay Challenge 2005 Report (July 29-31, 2005)

The Jay Challenge is a three day kayaking/running/biking event that starts in southern Quebec and ends up in in the Jay Peak area of Northern Vermont near Newport, VT. 

These following Amateurs from thew Montreal Amateur Radio Club and the St. Albans (VT) Amateur Radio Club participated: Carole VA2MOO, Frank VE2TOR, Ron VA2RJC, Max VA2PMD, Jim KF4OD, Andy VE2DWT, Dave KB1JME, Richard ( local ham from Vt. Did not get his call) and Ray VA2RY.

There were a few accidents on the biking portion on the Sunday that were reported to race authorities by amateurs. 

(Thanks to Vernon VE2MBS)

Field Day 2005 Reports

Some Clubs have been starting to post Field Day 2005 reports on thier websites, over the next few weeks links will be posted in this area. If your Club has a Field Day 2005 report posted on thier site please let us know so it can be added to this list.

Atlantic

Summerside Amateur Radio Club: http://www.vy2cc.no-ip.org:60345/album/thumbnails.php?album=23

Tri-County Amateur Radio Club: http://www.ve9tca.org/products.htm#Field%20Day%202005

Westcumb Amateur Radio Club: http://www.westcumb.com/

Ontario

Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club: http://greynet.net/~gbarc/fieldday.htm

Kitchener Waterloo Amateur Radio Club: http://www.kwarc.org/fd2005/FD2005.htm

Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club: http://nparc.on.ca/

Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club: http://www.ovmrc.on.ca/field_day_19981.htm

Peel Amateur Radio Club: http://www.peelarc.org/

Prince Edward Radio Club:http://perc.lks.net/fieldday.html

Western

Moose Jaw Amateur Radio Club: http://www.geocities.com/ve5ma/fdpic05.htm

Chilliwack Amateur Radio Club: http://www3.telus.net/carcfiles/fieldDay2005.pdf

Kamloops Amateur Radio Club: http://www.karc.ca/album/fieldday/index.html

North Shore Amateur Radio Club: http://www.ve7nsr.ca/field/field.html

Westcoast Amateur Radio Association: http://www.ve7vic.ca/fieldday.htm
 

Jim Taylor VA3KU
Bulletin Editor
bulletin@hfradio.net

VHARA Hamfest 2005  (August 27, 2005) 
Sponsor by: The Victoria - Haliburton Amateur Radio Association 

Location: Manvers Arena - Corner Of Hwy. 7A & 35 (North Of Bowmanville/South Of Lindsay) GPS: Lat. 44D 09M 40S, Long. 78D 39M 30S

Opens: Indoor Vendor Set-Up 7:00AM Free Vendor Continental Breakfast 7:00AM - 8:30AM Outdoor Tailgate Set-Up 9:00AM General Admission 9:00AM 

Cost: General Admission $5.00 Indoor Tables (With 1 Vendor Admission + 1 Continental Breakfast) $10.00 Additional Vendor Pass (Working Helper) + Continental Breakfast $5.00 Outdoor Tailgate Positions (With 1 General Admission) $5.00 
Talkin: VE3LNZ 147.195 + 

Notes: Limited Indoor Vendor 120V AC Power Available (Please Specify When Registering) Door Prize & Super Draw Prizes Will Be Drawn Throughout The Hamfest

For more info visit: http://www.va3kvd.ca/vhara/

Ottawa Amateur Radio Club 9th Annual Hamfest   (September 3, 2005)
Sponsor by: TheOttawa Amateur Radio Club, Inc 

Location:  Carp Agricultural Fairgrounds 3970 Carp Road (at Falldown Lane) Ottawa (Carp), Ontario. From Ottawa, take Highway 417 West to Carp Road exit, North to the fairgrounds. We are in the arena, so follow the signs on the site. 

Opens: Building Vendor setup: 8 am Tailgaters Open: 9 am Building Opens: 10 am until 1 pm 
Cost:  $5 general admission $10/table (plus admission) $5/tailgate (plus admission) 
Talkin:  VE2CRA, 146.94 -

Notes:   Immediately following the fleamarket will be the RAC Forum and Technology Update moderated by RAC Ontario North Director, Doug Leach (VE3XK). Topics of interest to the amateur radio community are planned and admission is free.

For more info visit: http://www.oarc.net/fleamarket

Vancouver Island Ham Happenings  (September 10, 2005) 
Sponsored by: The Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association 

Location:  Departure Bay Activities Centre 1415 Wingrove Street Nanaimo BC ( Aka the old Departure Bay Fire Hall ) Take Departure Bay road from either end down to the beach, Wingrove st. is right across from the Departure Bay beach.
Please see map and directions on our web site. 

Opens: Sellers setup from 7am to 10 am, doors will be open to the Buyers and general public at 10am and close at 1pm 

Cost:  Cost of tables are $15.00 ea. includes 1 admission. There will be no charge for the table for anyone reserving a table from the lower mainland. Helpers and general admission $5.00 each. 

Talkin: VE7ISC at 146.640 open repeater 

Notes: There will be a RAC table, equipment manufactures tables, local dealers tables, a collectors display table and many, many sellers tables. We will be holding the annual QLF (Left foot CW) CW contest. There will be hourly door prizes as well as a major door prize of an Icom IC-V82 Handheld radio. If you are coming the night before we have many hotels and motels close by, and for RVs we have three malls in the area that allow overnight parking for self contained RVs. 

For more info visit: http://www.nara.nisa.com

Barrie Hamfest  (September 10, 2005) 
Sponsored by: The Barrie Amateur Radio Club 

Location:  Oro Medonte Fairgrounds Just north of Barrie on Hwy #11 to Oro-Medonte Line 7. Watch for Airport sign at exit. Take Line 7 Northwest 2 Km to the 15/16th sideroad and you're at the Fairgrounds. Co-ordinates are 44 30 17 N 79 33 17 W 

Opens: Open for Inside Vendors at 7 am, Taigaters at 8 am, General public at 9 am till 1 pm.
Cost:  General admission $5 , 8' tables $15 plus general admissions, Taigaters $5 plus general admissions. 
Talkin:  VE3RAG 147.000 + 

Notes:  Our second year at the new bigger location. Wheelchair accessable and handicap parking available.
Registration form and map on website.

For more info visit: http://www.barriearc.com

Kingston Amateur Radio Club Annual Flea Market (Sept. 17 2005)

The KARC will hold its annual flea market on Saturday Sept. 17, 2005 The event will be held at Drill Hall "A", CFB Kingston. Doors will open to vendors at 0730 and the public at 0900

Admission is $ 3.00. Tables are $ 10.00 including one admission. Commercial tables are $ 20.00 but will be given free with a door prize.

Talk in: will be on the VE3KAR repeater, 146.940 ( -600)
Canteen will be available.

We will have a 50/50 draw to support the museum, many door prizes and possibly a major prize raffle. Door prizes include magazine subscriptions, dinner vouchers, sightseeing air flights, movie tickets, computer material, emergency radio etc.

The Canadian Forces Communications and Electronics Museum will be open for all to visit as well.   Free admission and only 5 minutes from the fleamarket)

Tables are available by contacting:

VE3TMT Max at mdonoghue@sympatico.ca
VE3GO Ron at ve3go@sympatico.ca or ( 613 634-4085)

West Island Auction/Fleamarket  (Sept. 17 2005)
Sponsored by:  West Island Amateur Radio Club
Location: Kirkland Arena,  16950 Boulevard Hymus, Kirkland, QC
Vendors - 09:00 - General Public from 10:00 - 13:00 - Auction at 10:00
Admission: 5.00$. - Tables 15.00$.
Talk-in: VE2RWI 146.910 (-)
For more info visit: http://shell.pubnix.net/~wiarc

London Amateur Radio Club 28th Annual Fleamarket   (Sept. 25 2005)

Sunday, September 25, 2005, located at the Western Fair Grounds Special Events Building, London Ontario. 9:00am to 1:00pm

Vendor setup at 7:30am. Admission: $6.00 , tables $ 10.00

Free parking, Air conditioned, commercial dealers, snack bar facilities, wheelchair accessible with handicap washrooms

Inquiries: email: hamfest2005@hamster.foxhollow.ca or phone / mail to Doug Tompkins, VE3IDT (519) 439-5113
54 Hammond Cres. London, ON  N5X 1A4

Website: http://larc.ca/newsletter/LARC-HAMFEST-2005.pdf

ICE in your Cell Phone...could save your life  (Aug. 4 2005)

ICE - In Case of Emergency A campaign encouraging people to enter an emergency contact number in their  cell phone's memory under the heading "ICE" (for "In Case of Emergency"), has rapidly spread throughout the world as a particular consequence of last week's terrorist attacks in London. Originally established as a nation-wide campaign in the UK, ICE allows paramedics or police to be able to contact a designated relative / next-of-kin in an emergency situation.

Almost everyone carries a cell phone now, and with ICE, we'd know immediately who to contact and what number to call. The person may even know of their medical history." By adopting the ICE advice, your mobile will help the rescue services quickly contact a friend or relative - which could be vital in a life or death situation. 

It only takes a few seconds to do, and it could easily help save your life. Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for clues to that person's identity. You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that they are trying to get everyone to adopt: ICE,  ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. 

If you add an entry in the contacts list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone no. of the person that the emergency services should call on your behalf, you can save them a lot of time and have your loved ones contacted quickly. It only takes a few moments of your time to do. 

Paramedics know what ICE means and they look for it immediately. ICE your cell phone NOW! Simply select a new contact in your phone book, enter the word 'ICE' and the number of the person you wish to be contacted. For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc. It's so simple that everyone can do it. 

Please do, and please pass this on.......it may save a life. 

(Thanks to Toronto ARES)

Ontario ARES IRLP Net  (Aug. 6 2005)

As of July 1, 05. ARES Ontario established and conducts a weekly 'Ontario ARES IRLP Net' on Sunday and Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m., compliments of the Vancouver Reflector # 9005.

They are receiving on average 12 to 15 checkins on Wednesday evening and 20 to 24 checkins on Sunday evening. There have been stations representing all Ontario ARES districts except Thames East and the northern Ontario Woods section.  For more details visit the RAC ARES Ontario website: http://racaresontario.ca/public/news.php

(Bob Gammon, VA3RX, Ontario SEC)

Maritime Swap Shop

The Maritime Swap Shop is held every Monday at 7:30pm local time on 3.750 MHz. All station are invited to checkin and post their wants and items for sale. The Maritime Swap Shop list can be found on many places on the internet, here are just a few: The Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club ,  hfradio.net ,    VE1AIC's Home Page  and  Truro Amateur Radio Club

Please Note: The Maritime (on-air) Swap Shop, which was formerly held on Tuesday evenings, will now take place on Monday evenings at 1930 local time on 3750.

Looking for that special piece of radio gear to finish off your ham station? Do you have extra radio gear you'd like to turn into some cash?

The Swap Shop list is posted every Monday on the Trans Provincial Net website, Ontario Swap Shop Listings , the swap shop list can also be found on packet by calling up VE3DID

(Nick VE3NJG)

The Manitoba Repeater Society Swap & Shop
 

This is a bi-weekly net, and listings are posted for four weeks.  Only HAM radio gear & computers may be posted.  www.ve4sss.ca/swapnshop.html

Many of you may recall news of this event being posted in past issues of the CARB (Mar. 20 2005) (June 19 2005) . Over 245 pictures of this event are now posted on the internet and can be found by clicking here.

Contesters, DXers and users of ACOM amplifiers are aware that Krassy (K1LZ) took a major tumble while setting up towers on Sable Island. Medical and evacuation expenses have been high, so a fund has been set up to assist in defraying them. You may make contributions to the fund by sending Jim W1LLU a check payable to the Krassy Fund which will be deposited to the account set up for this purpose at the Institution for Savings in Newburyport (MA). His mailing address is Jim McCobb, 65 Coffin Street, W. Newbury, MA 01985 or you may send the money to via PayPal (in cash, no Credit Card payments please) at W1LLU@Verizon.net. 

This fund will stop accepting donations on Aug. 12 2005. 

(Thanks to Harold VE1LV)