Per the formal agreement between Industry Canada and Radio Amateurs of Canada, the twenty-third semi-annual CARAB meeting was held in Ottawa, ON, October 28, 2004. This brief summary of the consultative meeting has been provided by RAC Vice-President Regulatory Affairs Jim Dean, VE3IQ.  Discussions on several ongoing regulatory subjects on the agenda included the following:

• Industry Canada advised that the time period had elapsed for responding to Canada Gazette Notice DGRB-003-04 inviting public comments on the RAC proposal Recommendations to Industry Canada on Morse Code and Related Matters. Industry Canada is analyzing the responses and when completed will post the individual replies and a summary on the Department's Strategis web site, hopefully before Christmas. Decisions on the various items in the proposal will follow later. 

• Industry Canada is evaluating the RAC proposal - Recommendations to Industry Canada on Changes to the Call Sign Policy and Administration of Amateur Call Signs - and will respond in due course. 

• Industry Canada advised that the report of the Townsend Committee on the National Antenna Policy Review has not yet been finalized, but should be available early in 2005. 

• Industry Canada provided a briefing on BPL trials and developments in Canada and progress toward a policy on BPL. Currently the Canadian regulatory framework and policy for BPL have not been established. Industry Canada anticipates presenting a Consultation Paper on BPL and seeking public comment on it early in 2005 through the Gazette process. 

• RAC updated the meeting on the growth of the RAC Youth Education Program. 

RAC was represented by: President Earle Smith VE6NM; Vice-President Regulatory Affairs Jim Dean, VE3IQ; and Directors Bj Madsen, VE5FX and Doug Leach, VE3XK. 

Industry Canada was represented by: Patrick Carrey, Acting Director Spectrum Management Operations; René Guerrette, Director Eastern Ontario District Office and Amateur Radio Service Centre; Jean-Claude Brien, Director EMC and Consultation; Rob Cepella, Chief, Authorizations, Spectrum Management Operations; and Gary Steckly, Technical Policy Analyst, Spectrum Management Operations.

(RAC News Service)

Editors note: This received Dec. 10 2004: From an Official Bulletin Station for the RAC in Alberta

As you know, the RAC proposal consisted of 12 elements and in many cases, each element was commented on in detail, so it required substantial time to review and tabulate the opinions on each of those elements.

However, we have completed the review and analysis of the comments received, and a short summary has been drafted.  It is currently being reviewed prior to translation, after which all the comments and the summary will be posted, along with each of the comments. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf08109e.html

It should be on Strategis before Christmas.

Best regards, Gary Steckly
Technical Policy Analyst
Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory Branch
steckly.gary@ic.gc.ca

A message from QRP-Canada and The Phantom Benefactor   (Dec. 1 2004)
 

The Phantom Benefactor has a Christmas Gift for someone special. If you know of someone who wants to operate CW but currently does not have the means to get on the air, send a brief write-up of his/her circumstances, care/of Bruce Rattray, ve5rc@rac.ca .

The Rig: A beautifully built Norcal 20 QRP CW rig which features:
* Superhet receiver
* TUF-1 Mixer for the front end (designed for the harshest conditions)
* Variable output power from 0 - 5 Watts
* VFO controlled, 
* Varactor tuned VFO
* Self Contained Keyer custom designed for NorCal by Embedded Research.
* LM380N 2 Watt Audio chip. Easily drives a speaker.
* Frequency readout given in morse code via CW Audio Frequency Annunciator. 
* Custom case, made of shiny new Stainless Steel.
* Double sided, plated through, solder masked, silk screened board, commercial quality.
* 5 pole crystal filter.
* Full QSK, NO relays.
* IRF510 Final, 2N4427driver.

Don't delay, If you know of someone who wants to operate CW but currently does not have the means to get on the air, send a brief write- up of his/her circumstances, care/of Bruce, VE5RC. 

(RAC News Service)

RAC President announces new chair of RAC's Administration and Finance committee.  (Nov. 30 2004)
 

RAC President Earle Smith  VE6NM has informed us that Ed Frazer VE7EF, Director British Columbia-Yukon Region has accepted the role of Chair of RAC's Administration & Finance (A&F) Committee effective immediately. In his new role Ed will be working closely with RAC's Corporate Treasurer Ken Pulfer VE3PU and members of the A&F Committee.

(RAC News Service)

RAC Canada Winter Contest  Dec. 18 2004 In December each year, the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sponsors the Canada Winter Contest. Amateurs all over the world are invited to participate. Contest Period: 0000 UTC to 2359 UTC on December 18, 2004.

(RAC News Service)

Once again this year, jolly old Saint Nick will be present on the amateur bands to answer letters from children across Ontario, and perhaps beyond. The 40 metre net will be on the TPN frequency, 7.055 mhz, on December 19th, 2004 at 1:00 pm. In addition, three segments are scheduled on the 80 metre band, on December 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. The frequency will be 3.760 mhz +/- QRM, at 5:00 pm each day. Anyone wishing to send letters to Santa may do so by either of two means, e-mail or snail mail. The e-mail address is santaclausradio@rogers.com  and the snail mail address is:  Santa Claus Workshop, c/o Gordon Mitchell,  41 Hamilton Ave., Brantford, ON N3S 7A1.

Please round up as many letters and requests as possible, as Santa wants to have a good turnout. 

(Gord Mitchell, VE3GIN) 

Atlantic Region Correspondent Needs Your Help PLEASE, if there is something interesting being planned, currently going on, or has taken place in Amateur Radio in your location, drop me an email and let me know so I can share your news with others in the region and across the country. D. Howard Dickson - VE1DHD dhdickson@hfx.eastlink.ca

Hello all - today we pulled everything from VE1PSR (53.550-; 147.270+; 444.350+) in Halifax in order to make way for a building to house the repeaters on Cowie Hill in Halifax.

The current building that has housed our repeaters is being removed tomorrow and a new (new to us ) building will be set in place in the next day or so.  It will take some time to get power connected and to reinstall all of the gear.   The current estimate is about a week.

This means that the links from VE1HNS and VE1MHR to the link system is now not working.  All packet is off as well; this includes the AIPCOM system at Cowie Hill.

I thank you in advance for your patience and hope the reinstallation goes quickly.

This move came up fairly quickly (first information last Friday ) although we knew that it was to happen eventually.  Actually the current scenario we expect to have the gear back in operation sooner than our original plan that involved the construction of a new building ourselves.

(73 - Bill, VE1MR)

Attached, some pixs of me doing some final tuning on my 40 m bobtail curtain.  Summer storm[s] did a number on the installation. Basic repairs were carried out shortly thereafter but the final tweaking was left "till later". Later translated to this date, 10 December 2004. Temperature was 0C but we hand no wind and no snow. Rain is anticipated for the next few days; maybe even some flurries.  To view Dave's bobtail antenna project visit: hfradio.net/ve1ty/bobtail.html , Dave also has an excellent review on his home brew amp on the site, visit: hfradio.net/ve1ty

(Cheers, Dave VE1TY)

In the early years of the twentieth century Nova Scotia played an important role in the history of communications by becoming the North American terminus of the first transatlantic radio communications service. Not only did this service link the Old World and New World by the magic of radio, but it was the first link in the worldwide wireless network that we take for granted today. The driving force behind this accomplishment was a young Italian, Guglielmo Marconi. In the course of establishing the transatlantic service, Marconi built three large radio stations in Cape Breton: the first in Glace Bay, the second just south of Glace Bay, and the third in Louisbourg. The story of these stations is the subject of an extremely interesting article Dr. Henry M. Bradford and presented to the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society in 1996. 

You can read the full story and see all of the old photographs by going to:
http://www.newscotland1398.net/marconi100/marconi1.html
 

Location of Marconi's Table Head station,  Glace Bay, Nova Scotia

.

First Transatlantic Radio Message The first transatlantic wireless telegraph message were transmitted from this station at Table Head in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia to a similar station in Poldhu, Cornwall, England on December 15, 1902

Marconi at Signal Hill, December 1901 First Transatlantic Radio Signals The photograph shows Marconi at Signal Hill, St. John's, Newfoundland, seated beside the apparatus that he used to receive the first transatlantic radio signals on December 12, 1901. The object near the corner of the table probably is the telephone receiver on which he heard the signals.

As we move closer to what will be a very different time in Amateur Radio, with potentially many amateur moving up from VHF and UHF to join the HF ranks, this might be an appropriate time to comment on some of the differences that exist between HF and VHF operation.

Although the VHF simplex bands for example are chanalized in 15 KHz units (146.415; 146.430; 146.445; 146.475 etc.), the HF bands are not.  On 20 metres the band is available exclusively for SSB voice operation from 14.112 to 14.350 Mhz continuously, except for a small window between 14.225 and 14.235 that is set aside for slow scan TV.  On this band alone, there is a huge amount of bandwidth available for Radio Amateurs to make contacts.  So, how does one go about finding someone to talk to on HF? 

Unlike VHF (146.520Mhz), there is no official internationally recognised calling frequency on HF where contacts can be initiated and when once established, the stations move off to an unused frequency to continue their conversation. As a result, it is a matter of hit and miss when trying to make a contact on HF, unless a designated time and frequency have been pre-arranged in advance between individuals for that purpose. 

Therefore, if I were to tune up on 14.160Mhz and simply announce "this is VE1DHD on frequency looking for a contact" (which is the standard procedure that is used when looking for a contact on a VHF repeater), it is highly unlikely that I would get a response, unless someone else just happened to be sitting and listening on 145.160.  So, in order to augment my chances of contacting someone, who may be simply tuning across the broad 20 meter band looking for a contact, I need to put out a long and persistent call that will attract some attention.  The traditional way of doing that when using CW (Morse code) is to put out the call "CQ CQ CQ" which basically is a shorthand form of saying "Calling You / Calling You / Calling You".   We have adopted this same approach on the SSB voice areas of the HF bands, and so I would call "CQ CQ CQ; CQ-20 CQ-20 CQ-20 meters, this is VE1DHD in Nova Scotia calling CQ CQ CQ and standing by for a call".  This same line of patter would be repeated over and over until someone came back to me, or I got tired of trying. 

On VHF (using the local repeater or a link through IRLP to a distant repeater) there is absolutely no need for such a long and persistent announcement of interest in chatting with someone.  If you simply key up and say "this is VE1DHD listening on frequency", that should suffice.  If there is someone listening on the repeater (and there usually is) they will come back to you if they want to chat with you, and if they don't, they won't. 

Persistently calling CQ CQ CQ on a local repeater or on an IRLP link is quite simply unnecessary and indeed it can be quite annoying to those who are listening but don't want to talk.

The Maritime Contest Club was formed in the summer of 2004 during the DX forum on St. Margaret's Bay.  The overriding principle of the MCC is to generate interest in contest operating among Canadian Amateurs in the three Maritime Provinces.  The MCC also hopes to improve individual contest operating efficiency, improve contest station efficiency, and to provide a measure of the performance of Maritime Contest operators.  At the same time, the MCC hopes to advance the interests and welfare of Amateur Radio contesting in the Maritimes.

Membership in the Maritime Contest Club (CCC) is open to any Maritime Radio Amateurs.

How Can I Participate?

Before the contest - check your equipment, antennas and computer contest logging program to make sure all are working properly. If you haven't used a computer logging program before, be sure to try it out so you know how it works, ahead of time.  There are good freeware programs available and a couple of excellent programs that you will need to pay for. 

During the contest - work lots of stations and above all, have fun. Do the best that you can and please, keep an accurate log.  By the way, participation in the World Wide contests is an excellent way to increase your DXCC totals.

After the contest, please do the following:

1. Output your computer log in Cabrillo format and make sure that you indicate that you wish your score to count for the Maritime Contest Club; do this either on.your Cabrillo log or on your summary sheet   (Your logging program will ask you, in most cases, if you wish your score to count in the Club Competition.).   Logging programs also produce the Cabrillo file automatically as a part of their after-the-contest routines.

2. Send in your log to the appropriate contest co-ordinator as an email attachment.

3. Send an email to John Scott (ve1js@rac.ca), not more than two weeks after each contest, indicating that you have sent in a log and that you have mentioned Maritime Contest Club in your log. Be sure to tell John what your claimed score was.

Please submit your entry no matter how small it may seem.  Every entry helps to build the Club total.

Special Event Station VC9COAL

Authority has been granted to Wade Smith to use the special event call sign VC9COAL to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the naming of Minto, New Brunswick for the arrival of the railroad in 1904.  The station will be on the air from December 1 to December 31, 2004. A special QSL card will be available for any contact or SWL Report. QSL via VE9WGS direct with return postage or via the bureau. No e-qsls will be available. 

Complete details can be found online by visiting: www.qsl.net/ve9wgs/vc9coal.html

Where to get a 2004 Maritime Callbook

The Maritime Provinces Amateur Radio Callbook 2004 is now available at Cohoon's Appliance Service, 109 Ilsley Ave. in the Burnside Industrial Park in Dartmouth during their open hours of 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM - Monday through Friday and Saturdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. 

Halifax Amateur Radio Club Christmas Dinner
The Halifax Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Christmas Dinner
Wednesday, December 15th
6:30pm
at the Dragon King Buffet
201 Chain Lake Drive
Bayers Lake Business Park in Halifax

The cost for the meal and an evening of fun and camaraderie is $13.95 per person, with a discount for those over 60.  All Radio Amateurs and their families are invited to join with members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club.

Reservations are required - to reserve a place please contact Tom Caithness - VE1GTC - at: tom.caithness@ns.sympatico.ca

We hope to see you on the 15th.

Lunenburg County Amateur Radio Club Christmas Dinner
The annual Christmas Dinner for the Lunenburg County Amateur Radio Club will take place:
SUNDAY DECEMBER 12th 2004
QUEEN STREET GRILL (Fairview Inn)
Queen Street
Bridgewater, NS
5:00 pm.
$25 per person

The Maritime Swap Shop is held every Tuesday at 2330z or 7:30 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

Manordale Public School students talk to Leroy Chiao  KE5BRW on the International Space Station 2004-12-9

With Prime Minister Martin's wife looking on, 12 students from Manordale Public school in Ottawa spoke today to Space Station Astronaut Leroy Chiao  KE5BRW  on two metres as the ISS passed overhead at a speed of 30,000 km per hour. Geoff Johnson, VE3KID was one of the amateurs operating the two metre equipment, as was Steve Regan VA3MGY at the microphone, and Steve McFarlane  VE3TBD who together with teacher wife Lori organized the contact.

Steve is the ARISS Mentor for Canada, and provides helpful advice to amateurs when they set up for a contact. Thanks to Wayne Harisimovitch VE1WPH  in Halifax, the audio for the contact was transmitted via IRLP to several schools across Canada participating in the RAC Youth Education Program. In addition, thanks to complimentary tickets from First Air, students and teachers from Koujuac school in the far north of Quebec, flew to Ottawa to witness the contact.

There was good press coverage for the event including local television stations  radio and newspapers.

(Ken Pulfer VE3PU,  RAC News Service) 

Basic Radio Course - Quinte, Prince Edward and Trenton Radio Clubs
 

Course Starts: January 13th, 2005 and finishes March 10, 2005 Course Location: Trenton Radio Club Meeting room at CFB Trenton Course Times: starts 7:00 PM ends 9:00 PM plus and includes half hour for Qs & As Course Days: Alternates between Tuesdays and Thursdays except first Thursday of month and second Tuesday of month

 Course Cost: $50.00 - this includes RAC study guide (cost of $40.00) and membership into one of 3 Clubs for one year - Trenton ARC; Prince Edward RC; or Quinte ARC and examination.

More Information: Contact Michael Papper VE3VMP 613-969-1744 or ve3vmp@sympatico.ca
WWW: http://www.qarc.on.ca/hamradio.htm

(Tim VE3UO Secretary, QARC)

Burlington Amateur Radio Club.....News

The Burlington Amateur Radio Club will be starting a new Roundtable Net which will be held on Wednesday Evenings at 8:00pm on or about a frequency of 7.094 MHz.  The purpose of this Net is three fold: 1) To discuss things of a general nature to the Amateur Radio Service 2) To discuss things of a specific nature to the Burlington Amateur Radio Club 3) To provide a "Hands On" training ground for new licensees as they acquire their advanced certification in the future.

This weekly activity is designed to be an open Net, so any and all stations are welcome to check in at any time. Join us if you can, your input would be greatly appreciated.

More information about the Burlington Amateur Radio Club can be found online at: www.barc.ca

73 John Stock  VE3EWJ

The Amherstburg  Radio Club is starting  Classes for both basic and advanced starting with a signup meeting on Sunday December 19/04 at 7Pm. at 300 Seymour  St.  Amherstburg. Classes will be held at the  Food and  fellowship mission building on Victoria St. next to the Boyscout Hall at Victoria and Simco St's in Amherstburg. 

(Dave  VE3HKO)

QRP Special Event Station VC3W Jeff Hetherington VA3JFF, of Welland Ontario says will be operating QRP Special Event Station VC3W from 0000Z 23 October 2004 until 2359Z 23 December 2004. The call sign will be used to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the Opening of the original Welland Canal.

ARCI Fall QSO Party
CQWW Contests
Canada Winter Contest
November 13 1700Z on 14.260 from The Island, ON-109 for Canadian Islands Program
November 14 1700Z on 14.260 from Merritt Island, ON-110 for Canadian Islands Program

Jeff will be active on all bands, 2 through 160 at some point in time over the period of authority for VC3W.
QSL Route is direct or bureau to VA3JFF.

(RAC News Service)

"QCWA, Fred Hammond  Chapter 73 is pleased to announce that they have funded, along with added funds from the Hammond Mfg. Co., and a family of a recent silent key (VE3BB),  a total of five scholarships to young students who are following up studies in the communications field in this calendar year.

(Ernie Crump, VE3OU, Membership Chair, Chapter 73)

The Lambton County Radio Club will be sponsoring a Basic Amateur Radio course beginning in the early part of January, 2005 and running for 8-10 weeks. 

Classes are tentatively scheduled to be conducted at the downtown Sarnia (Ontario) Police Headquarters classroom facility on a weekly basis (Tuesday evenings) from 7:30 PM to around 9:30 PM.   The course will cover basic electronic and radio theory as well as basic rules and regulations relating to the Amateur Radio Service in Canada.

Tuition fee for the course is $55 (Cdn) per person, payable in advance. The tuition fee includes payment for a personal copy of the "Radio Amateurs of Canada Study Guide for the Basic Exam" (6th Edition) as well as payment for classroom materials and related costs. 

A closed book, written examination session for the Basic Qualification by an official Industry Canada accredited examiner will also be conducted as a part of the course during the final class session.   Those who successfully take and pass this examination will be issued their Basic Certificate of Proficiency in Amateur Radio from Industry Canada along with a Canadian Amateur Radio call sign. 

Course registration and tuition fee collection will be conducted on Tuesday evening, November 23, 2004 at 7:30 PM at the downtown Sarnia Police Headquarters classroom facility.  Due to the size of the classroom facility, the number of students that can be accommodated will be limited to approximately 15-20.   Therefore, course registration will be on a "first-come, first-served" basis.

For more information, contact Keith Baker, VA3KSF, at 519-481-0153 or you may contact him via e-mail at: va3ksf@rac.ca

Full details on the Lambton County Radio Club can be found online: www.kcbassociates.com/lcrc

New Repeater in Collingwood

There is a new repeater now located in the town of Collingwood. The identifier is VE3RMT, and it is operational on both 2 meters (145.250 - PL 156.7) and 70 cm (443.800 PL 156.7). This repeater will remain in service for the foreseeable future, unless repairs or mods are required. I am also working on controller mods to connect to 927.9875/902.9875 repeater and to 53.150 transmitter.     Bob Purvis, VE3INY

(RAC OB Service)

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)

Amateur Radio Emergency Service News Ontario Region Section Manager Re-elected Rose Scholtyssek, VE3RIS was recently re-elected Section Manager in the Ontario Section for a two-year term that will begin on March 1, 2005. Rose ran unopposed, eliminating the need for a balloted election.

New ARES website

I would like to point you in the direction of the new ARES Ontario website. It's URL is www.racaresontario.ca. 
Please send any ARES news to the Section Emergency Co-ordinator, Assistant Section Manager or Section Manager. If you would like to be kept informed of when news items are added to the site please subscribe to the notification list by sending an e-mail to the Ontario ARES News List or by visiting the Yahoo Group for this list. Links to each of the above parties are included on the site's main page. Please note that this is not a discussion forum, but only a service to announce news at this website. It is open to anyone with an interest in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Ontario and you need not be an ARES member or even an Amateur Radio Operator to join this list. 

(Paul Davidson, VE3UUM, site co-ordinator)

ARES Ontario HF Nets

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all ARES Stations in Ontario who have HF privileges to try and make an effort to check out the twice-weekly ARES Ontario HF nets. The nets are primarily for ARES stations to report on their week's activities. Non - ARES stations are welcome to listen in. There is a net on 40 meters at 2:00 pm each Sunday on 7.150 mhz, and also an 80 meter net on 3.743 mhz, Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm. I urge all interested parties, including SWL's to listen in to these nets, even if you do not physically check into them. 

(Glenn Killam, VE3GNA, OBM). 

Golden Horseshoe Net now  the ProCom Net

This is to inform all stations that the Thursday night net at 8.30 pm, known as the Golden Horseshoe Net will now be known as the ProCom Net. ProCom is short for Provincial Communications. This will better reflect the coverage area of the net.

Thursday - 8.30 pm
VE3SNM Toronto - 442.850+ (136.5)
VE3WIK Carlisle - 443.675+ (131.8)
VE3WAJ Thorold - 442.425+ (107.2)
NW Link - VE3WIK 146.715 (131.8) / VE3MBR 147.105 (131.8)
Cross Band send & receive - 146.460 simplex (Hamilton)

Be aware that the Toronto VE3SNM repeater will soon be shut down at its current location. When that happens and until a new Toronto location is found, Toronto stations should be ready to go to VE3WAJ on 442.425 (107.2) located in Thorold, to check into the net.

Official Bulletin Service - Ontario Section Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) The RAC Official Bulletin Service (OBS) provides a vital communications link for informing the  amateur radio community of the latest developments in Amateur Radio and RAC

The OBS is supplementary to the National Bulletin Service function at RAC Headquarters that issues bulletins of national interest by e-mail and packet. In fact the OBS relays national bulletins within most Sections across Canada. It also may originate bulletins that relate only to the Section, or even a local area within the Section.

The Official Bulletin Manager is responsible for recruiting and supervising a team of Official Bulletin Stations to disseminate such news and information of interest to amateurs in the Section and to provide a means of getting the information to the OBS appointees.

Anyone wishing to volunteer as an Official Bulletin Station is asked to contact his/her respective Official Bulletin Manager

The weekly RAC Ontario Section Bulletin produced by Glenn Killam VE3GNA (RAC  Bulletin Manager, Ontario) can be found online at: www.hfradio.net/obs

BARC Brandon Amateur Radio Club  News

Our club meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM in the Brandon City Hall, 410 - 9Th St., enter via NW door. The parking lot is just west of this door, all are welcome. MEETINGS DATES:  DEC 2/04 - JAN 6/05 - FEB 3/05 - MAR 3/05 - APR 7/05 - MAY 5/05 - JUNE 2/05-  SEPT 1/05 - OCT 6/05 - NOV 3/05 - DEC 1/05

Two Meter Nets:  BDN NET - Every Sunday at 7:30 PM on repeater VE4BDN 146.34/94
                                HS NET - Every Monday at 7:30 PM on repeater VE4HS 146.28/88

Ham Fest dates:  42 TH. Annual International Ham Fest @ Peace Garden - July 8/9/10, 2005
                              10 TH. Annual MARMFEST @ MARM, Austin, MB - August 19/20, 2005

Our repeaters: VE4BDN 146.34/94  VE4TED 146.13/73   VE4HS 146.28/88

ARES CLUB SAFETY VESTS ARE AVAILABLE @ $15.00 EA

*IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL*

IN THE EVENT OF A CIVIL EMERGENCY OR ANY EMERGENCY - ALL AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY MONITOR 146.52 FOR ANY INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSISTANCE THAT WE MAY BE CALLED UPON TO RENDER.

Did you know that The Brandon Amateur Radio Club ARES has outside VHF antennas installed on: Keystone Centre - Red Cross Bldg - Police Station - 911 Call office - City Hall

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL

For more information about the Brandon Amateur Club visit: www.mts.net/~dsnydal/austin.html

(Dave VE4XN President)

2006 QCWA National Convention, Calgary, AB
The Convention date has been set for September 28 - 30, 2006. (Mark your calendar NOW!)
 

The convention hotel will be the Port O' Call Inn, a Best Western hotel, located on the corner of McKnight Blvd (48 Avenue) and 19th Street N.E. It is close to the airport and across the street from the Calgary Aero Space Museum which is home to astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk Communications Center. This Communications Center is home to amateur radio station VE6BGC. The Convention-2006 Committee have already negotiated an excellent guaranteed guest room rate of $100.00 (all taxes included!)

The organizing committee has adopted a QCWA Convention - 2006 logo (see below) that will be available in a lapel pin. Only 200 pins have be ordered and should be available in early January, 2005. These are expected to move fast and pricing is $5.00 for each lapel pin. If you wish to receive yours now, send $5.00 for each pin plus $2.00 mailing charges to mail in Canada and $2.50 mailing charges to mail in the USA. The mailing charges are for mailing up to 10 pins in one envelope. If you wish to reserve your pin and pickup at convention time, just mail $5.00 and the committee will have you pin(s) available at the registration desk. Make Cheque or Money Order payable to "QCWA National Convention - 2006" and mail to Jack Ambler, VE6CAQ at 9994 Hidden Valley Drive NE, Calgary, AB T3A 5G3.

 And finally - as a point of interest the QCWA National Web site is already promoting the convention. Visit the 2006 Convention page on the QCWA web site at http://www.qcwa.org/2006convention.htm.
 

49th ANNUAL QCWA QSO PARTY - April 3, 2005
If you are looking for some fun with a laid back style of operating then the QCWA QSO Party is for you! For more details and log sheet - refer to the QCWA Journal or visit the QCWA National Website at http://www.qcwa.org. 

2005 is the Centennial Celebration for Saskatchewan. The Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club and the Meewasin Amateur Radio Society of Saskatoon are hosting the Saskatchewan Amateur Radio League annual Hamfest for 2005.

Join us at the Travelodge Saskatoon for our Centennial Celebrations July 22-24, 2005. The theme of the Saskhamfest 2005 will be the last century of amateur radio, a look at the role of amateur radio in Saskatchewan and discussions about the future of ham radio operations in Western Canada.

All proceeds of the Saskhamfest 2005 will be contributed to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

Anyone who wishes to participate in the Saskhamfest 2005 may contact the Saskatchewan Amateur Radio League at www.sarl.ca

Greetings,

I have recently taken on the role of Western Provinces correspondent for the Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin (http://www.hfradio.net).

This bulletin is updated daily with amateur radio news from Canada and around the world, and an email digest is sent weekly to over 2,400 amateurs worldwide.

There is a tremendous amount of amateur radio activity west of Thunder Bay, and this is our opportunity to showcase it to Canada and the rest of the world. Here is how you can help:

1. I would be grateful to be added to your newsletter mailing list (electronic version preferred) and, subject to your permission, I would like to extract items from your newsletter for the Bulletin.

2. I would also be grateful for any of the following items for inclusion in the Bulletin:

- Notices of upcoming events (flea markets, fox hunts and other club activities)
- Reports on special local events (callouts, SAR, emergency preparedness exercises)
- Technical and training projects of interest

Digital photographs, diagrams and logos are welcome, preferably suitably sized for web site and/or email display.

You may forward your items to carb_west@mac.com, va7irl@rac.ca or to my mailing address:

7851 Gabriola Crescent
Richmond BC V7C 1W1

73 de VA7IRL, Anthony Rodgers
Email: VA7IRL@rac.ca
iChat/AIM/MSN ID: arodgers@mac.com

The Manitoba Repeater Society is please announce that the VE4MBR repeater owned and operated by the Triple "S" Group is once again accessible via the MRS linked Repeater System.
 

The VE4MBR repeater located in the City of Selkirk on 147.060 MHz positive offset and tone access of 127.3 Hz. is capable of linking into the VE4MIL repeater (owned and operated by the Manitoba Repeater Society).  To access the VE4MBR <-> VE4MIL link, simply issue the 403 command to bring up the link.

To drop the link issue the 430 command.  After 5 minutes of no carrier the link will automatically drop.  During this testing phase the link will normally be in a off condition.  This repeater is fully open for all hams to use.  Signal reports and coverage reports are encouraged.

The Manitoba Repeater Society owns and operates 10 repeaters in Southern Manitoba, with inter-ties to the Lake of the Woods Repeater Society (via the PineTree Inter-tie), the Brandon Amateur Radio Club, The Dauphin Amateur Radio Club and The Triple "S" Group.

Derek Hay VE4HAY
www.ve4.net/mrs

The Dauphin Amateur Radio Club is a small club in comparison to larger centre's but we cover a large area with linking repeaters - IRLP and Echolink. The club meeting take place every 3rd Friday (Except July and August) at the Union Centre office in Dauphin. 

Club Website http://www.mts.net/~ve4stu is put together and maintained by VE4STU Stew.

(Jack Adams VE4JA)

Notice: Amateurs in the Western Provinces are asked to submit their news items for 'The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin' to our  ' Western Provinces Correspondent'. 

Anthony Rodgers  VA7IRL
va7irl@rac.ca

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