This is the time of year when we reflect back on what we’ve accomplished for ourselves, for family and friends and perhaps also on our contributions to the wonderful service of amateur radio.

As RAC moves forward into 2005 I encourage all Amateurs to continue working towards making our organization stronger.  A healthy membership foundation will ensure our continuing relationship with Industry Canada and other national organizations, with member societies in the International Amateur Radio Union and, finally, our ability to fulfill our commitment of emergency communications.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Executive and Volunteers at Radio Amateurs of Canada, I extend to all Canadian Amateurs and your families a joyous and peaceful holiday season and a prosperous 2005.

73, Earle Smith – VE6NM
President, Radio Amateurs of Canada

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

The Halifax ARC and the Lunenburg County ARC both recently held successful Christmas Dinners. 

The Lunenburg Club met at the Fairview Inn in Bridgewater on Sunday December 12th.  The Fairview is a Century Inn with a great deal of charm, and attendees to this now popular annual event came from as far away as Halifax and Windsor Nova Scotia.  Al  Cyples (VE1CYP) and his wife Nancy (VA1CYP) organized and hosted this year's very successful event.
 

Al Cyples (VE1CYP) - Past President of the LCARC.

Our host and hostess - Al (VE1CYP) and Nancy (VA1CYP) Cyples . Al (VE1CYP) with Crystal (VE1XTL) and Glenn (VE1GK) Wallis from Windsor NS.

Crystal Wallis (VE1XTL) from Windsor NS, Diane MacMillan  from Mahone Bay and Jean Dickson from Seabright NS.

Phil Oakes (VE1PDO) from Bridgewater (left) had hoped to win the Trunk-tracking Scanner door prize; instead he ended up with three Christmas cakes, a hand-made Christmas ornament and I can't remember what else he took home.  Some people have all the luck!  Nancy (VA1CYP) took the scanner home.

The Halifax ARC held their Annual Christmas Dinner at the Dragon King Restaurant in Halifax on December 15th.  This was an exceptionally well-attended event with over 80 Radio Amateurs and friends gathering for great food and fellowship.  Tom (VE1GTC) and his wife Betty (VE1BSW) Caithness organized and hosted the party.
 

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

Maritime Swap Shop

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

A message from your Regional Director

This has been a year of change and progress for RAC. Although we did suffer the loss, through illness, of our president and first vice president, RAC carried on. If nothing else, this demonstrates not only the pressures under which our volunteer officials sometimes must work, but also the ability of the organization to continue in its aims and goals on behalf of its members, as well as of all Radio Amateurs. Challenges have been met and progress made. In my own Region, I have much to be thankful for in the help and support of my Assistant Directors (see "Who Are They?" below). They are invaluable. To them and to all RAC members I extend a sincere thank you for your insightful support of our national Amateur Radio Society. Together we can do much but we all need the cooperative support of each other, through RAC. To all Radio Amateurs everywhere, I wish a Happy New Year and good operating. 73! 

Club Visits and Basic Training

During the Fall, several of your 

Assistant Directors have been attending club meetings in their respective areas, as members in some cases, but also as RAC ambassadors. Jerry VE3EXT, made a point of attending all clubs in Essex/Kent Counties; Doug VE3JDF, provided RAC updates at Welland County ARC meetings and Mark VA3OBO, promotes RAC during all basic training classes. 

Who Are We?

For the benefit of those who don’t already know, following are the Assistant Directors for RAC Ontario South: 

Doug Frame, VE3JDF – Niagara 

Mark Richardson, VA3OBO – Youth Educ. 

Jerry Beneteau, VE3EXT – Essex & Kent 

Gord Moogk, VE3DBP – Grey-Bruce 

Doug Campbell, VA3DC – Simcoe 

Stan Leschinsky, VE3TW – GTA 

Sue Cooke, VE3SUH – Admin. Assistant 

Antenna Installation

Antennas erected equal operating possibilities and ultimately RAC memberships! Well, perhaps that’s a stretch but AD Jerry VE3EXT, is leading the effort to relocate a commercial 100’ tower for the IRLP repeater. And AD Gord VE3DBP, installed an antenna for Ralph VE3EUK, who is a new comer to the Kincardine area, and he also helped install an antenna for RAC member Eric VE3JQS, who lives in a retirement home in Kincardine. 
 
 

Radio Amateurs of Canada, Annual General Meeting

On October 23rd, 2004, the RAC Annual General Meeting was held in Orillia, Ontario at the OPP General Headquarters. RAC members from Ontario South and Ontario North travelled the distance to listen to President Earle Smith, VE6NM, and to participate in a question/answer period. All in attendance received a grab bag complete with discount coupons, donations from government, local businesses and from Radio Amateurs of Canada. 

Assistant Directors Stan, Doug F., Doug C. and Sue were in attendance. 

Hart House Amateur Radio Club

AD Stan VE3TW, attended the first meeting/open house of the Hart House Amateur Radio Club at the downtown University of Toronto campus in September, and made a brief presentation about RAC. 
 

Cross Border "Table Top" Emergency

AD Doug VE3JDF, participated in a cross border "table top" emergency exercise in September which involved the Niagara Region emergency operations staff, police, fire, EMS, Health, Red Cross, etc. and similar staff from the two New York state counties bordering on the Niagara River. 

The "Pearson Project"

AD Mark VA3OBO, advises that the student Amateur Radio course offered at Lester B. Pearson School, currently has 15-20 students involved along with a number of younger students from the enrichment program. RAC is regularly promoted at sessions within the classes running at the school. 

Scholarship

A scholarship of $500 from the Burlington Amateur Radio Club in memory of Noel Eaton was presented to Hina Jhawer VE3CSI, at commencement.
 

ONTARS Net Control

AD Gord VE3DBP, has continued to offer his assistance as 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. net controller during September, October and November during the week. 

Hamfest Dates, 2005

Radio Amateurs of Canada intends to have representation at the Ontario South Hamfests during 2005. For your convenience, the confirmed dates are: 

Feb. 5 – NPARC, St. Catharines 

Feb. 26 – BARC, Burlington 

Apr. 9 – HAMEX, Brampton 

Jun. 18 – Whitby ARC, Oshawa 

Apr. 23 – Durham ARC, Whitby 

May 14 – Skywide, Toronto 

May 29 – Amherstburg ARC 

Jun. 11 – Central Ontario, Fergus 
 

New RAC Products

If you aren’t already aware, check out the RAC website at: www.rac.ca and see the number of new items we have available for sale, including the new CD "Moving up to HF", a great resource for both new and old HF operators. And, for those last minute gift ideas, why not consider some of these items for that special someone! 
 

Industry Canada – Proposed Changes

We continue to field a number of questions related to the proposed changes in Morse Code requirements. To date, there is nothing further to report. 

Seasons Greetings From Your Team

At this writing, "it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas". From all of us to all of you, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you in the New Year. 

Bob VE3BDB; Sue VE3SUH; Doug VA3DC; Mark VA3OBO; Jerry VE3EXT; Doug VE3JDF; Gord VE3DBP; Stan VE3TW. 

Ed McGill VE3INX, reviews RAC’s Basic Study Guide with new Radio Amateur Beckie Simpson VE3ZZC. This photo is used on the RAC brochure "Getting Started in Amateur Radio". Our thanks to Ed and Beckie for "modelling". 

The Ontario DX Association is pleased to announce that John Corby has joined the editorial team for "Listening In" magazine. John will begin a regular scanning column, hopefully in the February issue. John brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to LI. He was the Scanning Canada column editor for Monitoring Times magazine for the past few years.

Following the recent cessation of that column, we offered him a chance to reach the readers of Listening In.

Contributions to John's column may be sent to him at: scancan@sympatico.ca.

Harold Sellers
Managing Editor
Ontario DX Association
www.odxa.on.ca

The "Ontario Open Roundtable Net" Sundays at 11:00AM on 7.063MHz. 

The " Ontario Open Roundtable Net " is open to any amateurs to join in with any info, questions or topics relating to amateur radio. ALL!!! opinions are encouraged. Feel free to express all your thoughts about our hobby and share with us your projects, and experiments. We encourage antenna and audio testing at any time. We are a relaxed very friendly group.We have a good amount of very knowledgeable amateurs usually on the net. We use VOX and avoid a strict formal structure.All hams at all levels are made to feel very welcome. Check in even in CW if you would like. The net runs for one hour.

(Nick  VE3NG)

Northwest Ontario ARES Net.

The Northwest ARES net operates on a frequency of 3.750 mhz, and runs 365 days a year. The net meets at 0115z (0015z summer time), or if you wish, 8:15 pm local time in the Eastern Time Zone. The net handles both formal and informal traffic and bulletins of interest to amateurs. The frequency has served as a Northwest Call Frequency, and we have check-in from all over Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba, and Sakatchewan,and when propagation is good, we get checkins from the west coast, as well as various check-ins east of Thunder Bay. Net control stations from Thunder Bay, Longlac, Geraldton, and Dryden can be heard running the net on various nights of the week along with regular check-ins and a host of others who are always willing to lend an ear and relay when needed. All check-ins with or without traffic, on phone or CW are always welcome to join the net.

(Fred Lesnick, VE3FAL)

Festival City Amateur Radio Club -Stratford Ontario

As on January 2, 2005 at 7:30pm local time we will resume our weekly ARES Net on VE3RFC 145.150 mHz with PL tone 114.8 for our Remote Receivers

(James Davidson, VE3TPZ, OBS)

Burlington ARES 2 meter Net

There is a new ARES 2 meter weekly net commencing in Burlington Ontario Tuesday, January 4th, 2005, 8:00 pm, on 147.210(+) The purpose is to promote interest in ARES activities in Burlington, but we welcome the participation of all amateurs. We look forward to hearing from all amateurs in the area. Thanks for your help.

(Paul VA3FWS)

Ontario Amateur Radio Service celebrates 33rd Anniversary  (Jan. 08, 2005)

Just a reminder that the ONTARS Net will celebrate its 33rd anniversary on January 08, 2005. The net was founded by Bruce Carveth, VE3BC (SK) in 1972. The net operates seven days per week from 7 am to 6 pm on 3.755 mhz, with a different controller each hour. 

(Shawn Gartley, VE3PSV, ONTARS Net Manager) 

Kitchener Waterloo Linux Users Group "install-fest" (Jan. 11 2005)

The Kitchener Waterloo Linux Users Group is holding a Linux "install-fest" Tuesday night, 11 January 2005. This is an opportunity for you to install Linux on your computer with the assistance of experienced Linux users. It starts at 6 p.m. at the Cambridge Holiday Inn (200 Holiday Inn Drive). The event is free but pre-registration is required. For more information visit http://www.kwlug.org/fest.php. 

(Brad Rodriguez, VE3RHJ, AEC Grey County) 

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)

RAC Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Ontario Section 

For the latest ARES news in Ontario visit the RAC ARES Ontario site at: racaresontario.ca RAC Ontario Section Newsletter: racaresontario.ca/public/display_official_bulletin.php

Canada / US LF cross  band QSO   (Dec. 21 2004)
 

"A unique 'DX' QSO took place the last weekend in November between myself, VE7SL, on Mayne Island, British Columbia and Roger Magnuson, K0MVJ near Duluth, Minnesota, over a distance of 1438 miles. The contact was unusual in that VE7SL was transmitting on LF (137.573kHz) while Roger was transmitting on 80m CW! As you are aware, LF experimenters in the U.S.A. operating under Part 5 rules, are not permitted to engage in two-way communications with stations operating in the amateur service. They are only allowed to work the very few other Part 5 stations. Radio amateurs in Canada, operating under a special 'experimental licence' are under no such restrictions and are permitted to engage in two-way communications with any other stations operating in the amateur service. The unique QSO of December 04 has demonstrated that any amateur in the U.S. or Canada, equipped with a modest receiving system for LF, can join in the low frequency activity by communicating with Canadian experimenters via the cross-band mode. The entire contact took around 40 minutes to complete, with VE7SL operating at QRSS10 (slow CW) and K0MVJ answering on 3.520mHz CW. My LF station consists of ~ 400W into a large 3-wire flattop Marconi 'T' while Roger was receiving on a homebrew eight-foot loop antenna tuned to 137kHz. Roger noted very strong signals and 'easy copy', when viewing the QRSS10 signal with ARGO software.

My signal report to Roger was an honest '599' while his report to me was an 'O', indicating strong enough signals to copy both calls. Communicating on the 2200m band today combines the latest in computer technology along with a healthy mix of the old basics. As Roger notes, "Longwave is 'real radio', just like the early days, big coils and lots of wire!" For my part, it reminded me of the original six to ten meter cross-band work between hams in the U.S.A. and Great Britain that I read about as a kid. Making this initial cross-band QSO was a lot of fun and I hope to have many more two-way QSO's via this mode. Any amateurs interested in trying are invited to contact me via e-mail. 

More information may be found at the "VE7SL Radio Notebook" http://imagenisp.com/jsm/2200mstn.html  "

(Steve Mc Donald, VE2VSL)

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

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

Subscribe to this bulletin and have it delivered to your e-mail box automatically every week, please put your name and callsign (if you have one) in the body of the text.  hfradio@look.ca