Industry Canada releases analysis of comments received on the Morse requirement (Feb. 21 2005)

Industry Canada has published their analysis of the comments received in response to  their Consultation on "Recommendations from Radio Amateurs of Canada to Industry Canada Concerning Morse Code and Related Matters")

According to Industry Canada, their analysis shows that there is overwhelming agreement that Canada should move away from having a Morse code requirement as the sole means of gaining access to the amateur spectrum below 30 MHz. There were 123 comments in favour of relaxed code requirements and only 19 that were clearly opposed. The remaining six comments were either neutral or did not address that issue. 

Details of the analysis can be found on the Industry Canada web site at: 

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08280e.html or on this web site at:

http://www.rac.ca/downloads/200502_ic_response_morse_e.pdf

The French language versions can be found at: 

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/fr/sf08280f.html  and

http://www.rac.ca/downloads/200502_ic_response_morse_f.pdf 

The Department will now formulate a plan to implement the changes that have emerged from this consultation process. The results will be published in a revision to Radiocommunication Information Circular 2, Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service (RIC-2), and a notice to that effect will appear in the Canada Gazette at that time. 

(RAC News Service)

Report on National Antenna Tower Policy Review Released by Industry Canada (Feb. 21 2005)

Industry Canada has announced the release of the Report on the National Antenna Tower Policy Review . This review was led by Professor David A. Townsend, Professor of Law at the University of New Brunswick, with the support and assistance of the National Antenna Tower Review Advisory Committee. RAC contributed to the study directly and through the Radio Advisory Board of Canada.

The objective of the consultation was to examine possible improvements to Industry Canada's existing antenna tower siting policies and approval procedures. The department received Professor Townsend's Report on the National Antenna Tower Policy Review on December 6, 2004, and is currently reviewing its findings and recommendations. 

The annopuncement cn be found on the Industry Canada web site in English at: 

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf05353e.html

and in French at: 

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/fr/sf05353f.html

copies of the report are available for download from this web site by clicking here.

http://www.rac.ca/downloads/200502_ic_antenna_report-e.pdf

The report contains 34 recommendations to Industry Canada, but only one specifically mentions the amateur radio service.

Recommendation 19: 

That Industry Canada should ensure that a flexible and expeditious land-use consultation model is available for the establishment and operation of radio stations (such as amateur stations) likely to have only a modest and localized impact upon their surroundings. This model should set out both the rights and obligations of antenna proponents seeking antenna approvals from land-use authorities. 

Several other recommendations may turn out to be important to amateurs who will be dealing with local land use authorities.  In particular, Recommendations 1 to 13 as well as 25, 28 and 34, should be read carefully. Of course we will have to wait and see what action Industry Canada decides to take in response to the recommendations.

(RAC News Service)

Industry Canada consulting on Ultra Wide Band  (Feb. 7 2005)

Industry Canada has just published a Gazette notice announcing a consultation on the possible use in Canada of Ultra Wide Band technology.

According to Industry Canada, "Ultra-wideband is a new wireless technology, which could provide many benefits to consumers, businesses and industries. The introduction of such new technology requires the development of appropriate radio equipment standard specifications and certification requirements. In this case, however, concerns have been raised regarding the potential interference to radiocommunication services. In view of this, the Department hereby initiates a comprehensive consultation with the public, consumer groups, businesses, and users of the spectrum on the introduction and use of ultra-wideband systems in Canada."

RAC and IARU representatives have been attending Industry Canada discussions on UWB for the past several years, watching for possible threats to the amateur bands. UWB technology is most likely to be applied in applications requiring communications over very short ranges, or for "through the wall" radar for personnel detection. A UWB transmitter usually covers a bandwidth of hundreds of MHz, in the microwave bands. 

Details can be obtained by visiting the Industry Canada web site at:

Consultation Paper on the Introduction of Wireless Systems Using Ultra-wideband Technology

(RAC News Service)

The North Shore Amateur Radio Club (NSARC) came into existence at an inaugural meeting on September 10, 1987, held at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, B.C. In response to a story in the local newspaper announcing their exploratory meeting, fifty hams and "short-wave listeners" showed up, and the Club was off and running. Incorporation under the Society Act followed on November 26, 1987. Our first president was Bill Tracey, VE7QQ.

Actually, the Club has antecedents which pre-date even this "birthing". One of the co-founders, George Merchant, VE7CHU, recalls that in the late 1970s, a group of commuting hams regularly rag-chewed mobile on two-meter simplex. When George put his repeater on the air in 1978, first in Burnaby and then on Mount Seymour in 1983, the "Morning Show", and the "Rolling Home Show" widened their footprints. Many of this group were North Shore residents who drew together and participated in Field Day for several years' running. Eventually, VE7CHU and first President, Bill Tracey, VE7QQ, with the "Morning Show" group to seed it, got NSARC in it's present incarnation rolling.

To go back even further, there was a ham club on the North Shore in the 60s and 70s, known variously as the Northwest Amateur Radio Club, or the North and West Vancouver Amateur Radio Club. This Club regularly took part in "Field Day", and forged a mid-1960's liaison with North Vancouver Civil Defence as an active group in emergency preparedness exercises and actual C.D. call-outs. The Club also furnished communication for local events such as the Kinsmen Club-coordinated "Dominion Day" parade.

The first "actual" meeting of NSARC (1987 edition) was to be a tour of the Vessel Traffic Management System operated by the Coast Guard out of the Capilano 100 building in West Vancouver. However, so many new members wanted to attend, that the tour had to be cancelled, as the site could not handle such a volume of ham traffic. Such enthusiasm augured well for the young Club's future.

During the critical early years of the Club's existence, various members were given phone-out duties, i.e. a short list of hams to call in order to remind them of the upcoming meeting and of program details. The programs, in fact, have been since the beginning, one of the reasons for the success of NSARC. Unlike other local ham clubs, which may have regular rag-chewing sessions, but only one "event" per month, NSARC has a speaker or other presentation for every bi-weekly meeting. The Programs Director is one very busy Club executive guy, often aided by other NSARC members, schmoozing and networking his contacts in search of interesting speakers and topics. A sampling of programs and topics over the years has included: vendor displays, TVI, satellite communications, antenna theory, PC board making, contesting, packet radio, the Evergreen Net, avionics, DXpedition speakers, "signals" activities in WW2, and radio pioneering on the B.C. coast.

NSARC is a RAC-affiliated club and has been so connected to the national organization since 1991. In fact, for many years, VE7RD, Farrell Hopwood, national president, was a Club member and, annually would give us a first-hand report on CARF/RAC activities and policies. 

From its inception, NSARC, like it's ancestor in the 60s, with the Civil Defence authorities, has had a rewarding relationship with the North Shore Emergency Management Office (NSEMO). 

In fact, without the help of then-Coordinator, Jeff Jefferd, the Club's beginnings might have been much rockier. Thanks to Jeff, our first two meeting places, the Hospital and then rooms in Carson Graham Secondary School, were rent-free. Jeff even provided the coffee and cookies for those earliest of meetings!

And today, NSARC's regular meetings, after many years at the Pacific Marine Training Institute, take place in NSEMO's spacious and comfortable quarters in the Gerry Brewer (RCMP) building.

Over the years, dedicated teams of Executive (Board) members have kept member interest percolating with a wide range of activities and events beyond the bi-weekly presentations. We have had "bunny" (hidden transmitter) hunts, Club picnics and barbecues, and Christmas dinners at local restaurants, where the door prizes are so plentiful, that there ought to be an investigation if you come away without one!

The Club has also purchased a wide range of ham gear for use at Field Day every year, an equipment inventory which may also be borrowed by members. The transceivers, antenna analyzers etc., were acquired in part, thanks to NSARC's past successful application to staff "Casino Night", a great money-spinner for Club coffers. 

A useful innovation in Club governance was the creation in 1993 of the Past Presidents' Advisory Council. Several times a year, former NSARC presidents gather to discuss broad issues affecting the Club, and to make recommendations to the Executive. Such a talent pool to convene in one location when up to 12 former executives get together!

NSARC members have routinely helped furnish communication during local races and charity events such as the Sun Run, Vancouver Marathon, and the Southern Straits annual yacht race. Because of our relationship with N&WVEP, we have also participated in hunts for hikers lost on local mountains. These events are always useful dry ..or wet...runs for amateur participation in a genuine catastrophe. We are mindful that we live on a mischievous fault line and that the "Big One" could rock our world at any moment. Which, of course, leads us to NSARC's signal practice run each year, Field Day.

With the exception of 1990, when NSARC operated from Waterfront Park in North Vancouver, the Club has each year run a multi-station Field Day operation in Cypress Park, West Vancouver, 9 kilometres up the access road at a choice, 670m elevation. An increasingly sophisticated operation with lots of antenna firepower, plus the eager participation of many members, has resulted in NSARC finishing first in its class in Canada several times. This is a far cry from the "maritime mobile" F.D. operation (pre-NSARC), recalled by George, VE7CHU, when an amateur's boat towed a vertical mounted on a floating inner tube!

The North Shore Amateur Radio Club is well-supported by its membership, meetings are well-attended, and the Club Executive, over the years, has competently and intelligently acted to ensure the survival and continued health of the NSARC. This has included offering licence qualification classes, with many of its graduates becoming members of the NSARC. The future appears to be as promising, as our history has been varied and exciting.

For more information about the North Shore Amateur Radio Club please visit: www.ve7nsr.ca

The Northern Alberta Radio Club

The Northern Alberta Radio Club (NARC) has a history dating back to 1921 at which time we were known as the Teepee Wireless Radio School . We are considered to be one of the oldest clubs in Canada. The club is active in many areas of amateur radio.

Club meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month except July, August and December. Meetings are held at 19:30 hr. local time, check main site for location. The EMITTER is the club's newsletter and is published monthly. Mail may be sent to the editor at "emitter@narc.net". 

NARC supports several repeater sites in the Edmonton area. The VE6HM repeater on 147.060 MHz, in tandem with 444.100 MHz is named after C. Harris 4HM, VE4HM, VE6HM. The VE6JN repeater (to be back soon) on 147.240 MHz is a linked site to provide extended coverage in the North and West parts of Edmonton. VE6TTR is on 224.760 MHz and co-located at the VE6HM site. An ATV repeater is currently under development for this site. 

We support a portable repeater on 147.000 MHz VE6EOC and a 20-meter-high portable tower (NARCPAC), with an HF beam, HF dipoles, VHF and UHF antennas. It may be operated from Nife NiCad cells or from the portable generator. 

We support several packet BBS's and NODE sites. VE6MC , VE6KM, VE6HM-0, VE6PLP, at Pigeon Lake. VE6YER at Evansburg is a APRS Digipeater providing mobile APRS coverage along highway 16 west of Edmonton.. VE6TNC is the packet node and the Internet Gateway site to which you are now connected, "narc.net". 

We support an IARU Beacon in co-operation with The Northern California DX Foundation NCDXF and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) IBP. The call for the site is VE8AT in Eureka Nunavut.

NARC is active in a number of public service areas. Some of these are: 

• First Night Edmonton downtown New years celebration 
• The Canadian Birkebeiner The largest Classical Cross Country Ski Festival in North America. 
• Field Day Annual week-end contest to demonstrate Amateur Radio's portability and operation in emergency conditions 
• Heritage Days  celebrating the varied cultural heritage of Albertans. NARC station set up to communicate with people around the world 
• JOTA Boy Scout ( Jamboree on the Air) 
• GOTA Girl (Guides on the Air) 

More information on the Northern Alberta Amateur Radio Club visit:http://narc.net
.

Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club Inc.

Based in Smiths Falls, Ontario, the Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club Inc. has members throughout the Region, and is active in amateur radio and public-service activities in the area. The Club Station Callsign is VE3SFR. The first organized amateur activity in the area arose in 1979 with the founding of the Rideau Lakes Repeater Association, which was established to build and install the repeater VE3RLR in Smiths Falls. The objective of the repeater was to cover the area between Ottawa and Kingston that repeaters in those centers could not reach, and also to serve boaters and cottagers in the central Rideau Canal System area.

In 1982, co-incident with the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Rideau Canal, the idea arose to have a special events station set up to advertise the occasion and promote amateur radio activity. To this end, in February of that year several amateurs from around Eastern Ontario gathered to form the Smiths Falls Amateur Radio Club. Permission was subsequently obtained for the station to be installed at the Detached Locks in Smiths Falls under the callsign VE3SFR. Permission was also granted for the use of the special callsign CZ3SFR, for a two week period. Later, due to dwindling resources, the Rideau Lakes Repeater Association amalgamated with the Smiths Falls Amateur Radio Club. In 1995, the club name was changed to the Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club and in July 1996 the Club was incorporated under the laws of Ontario as a non-profit charitable organization.

Repeater:
The club operates and maintains Repeater VE3RLR, which covers Highways 15, 29 and 43 in the region of Smiths Falls and Perth, and the central Rideau Canal System and local lakes, popular with recreational boaters and cottagers. The Repeater is on 147.210 MHz (input + : 147.810 MHz). VE3RLR has the full capabilities of an ACC RC-96 repeater controller including autopatch, emergency and abbreviated dialing and emergency power backup.

Club Meetings:
The Club has regular meetings in Smiths Falls on the third Thursday of each month, except during July and August. If you would like to attend, please join us upstairs at the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, 44 Abbott Street North at 7:30 PM.

Club Website: www.falls.igs.net/~rlarc

UMS Annual Fleamarket - Montréal, Quebec Saturday, March 5 2005
Location: Centre Roussin, 12125 Notre Dame Est (East), Montréal, QC
Time: Vendors 07:00 am - Public 09:00
Admission:  5.00$ Tables 10.00$ Talk-in VE2RXW 146.700 (-)
Reservations: 514-521-7765 
E-mail: hamfest@ve2ums.ca
Web page:http://www.ve2ums.ca

Burnaby ARC Amateur Radio Flea Market  (Sunday, March 6, 2005) 

Location: Cameron Recreation Centre 9523 Cameron Street Burnaby, B.C. ( behind Lougheed Mall ) 
Opens:  Sellers set up 9 AM Doors open to Public 10 AM to 2 PM 
Admission: $5 per person. Vendors: $20 per table, includes admission. 
Talkin: VE7RBY 145.35 - 
Notes: Western Canada's Largest Amateur Radio Flea Market. Door prizes, major equipment raffles, commercial exhibits, QSL Bureau, 50/50 Draw, food and refreshments. More than 60 tables of amateur radio and electronic equipment bargains. Free parking in Cameron Rec. Centre Parking Lot 
For more info visit: http://www.ve7bar.org

Radio and Computer Swap Meet (Saturday, March 26, 2005) 
Sponsored by:  The Langley Amateur Radio Association 
Location: Aldergrove Elks Hall  27309 Frazer Hwy  Aldergrove B.C. 
Opens: Sellers 9:00am Buyers 10:00am-1:00pm 
Cost:  $4.00  Talkin: 147.380 + 600 
Notes:  RAC will attend  Bureau will attend 
For more info visit: http://langleyamateurradio.com

Hamfest Laval-Laurentides 2005 - Laval, Québec  Saturday, April 2
Location:  Polyvalente Georges Vanier, 2995 boul. Lévesque Est, Saint Vincent de Paul (Laval), QC.
Vendors: 07:00 Public 09:00 Admission: 5.00$ per person. 
Tables: 10.00$ Talk-in: VE2REL 147.315 Mhz (+)
Information and reservations: (514)-708-8033 or via e-mail at hamfest@ve2crl.qc.ca
Web page: http://www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest.htm
 

IARC Tenth Annual Flea Market  (Saturday, April 2, 2005) 
Sponsored by: The Iroquois Amateur Radio Club 
Location: Iroquois Civic Centre 
Opens: Vendors: 0800 Public: 0900 -- 1200 
Admission: free Tables: $10.00 
Talkin: 145.290(-) 
For more info:  Table reservations: please contact Gord, VE3UGW (613) 657 3640 or Email: ve3ugw@ripnet.com or Mike, va3tuf@rac.ca

Moose Jaw Amateur Radio Flea Market  (Saturday, April 2 2005)
Location: Church of our Lady - 566 Vaughn Street West   Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Time: Vendors - 07h30, 08h00 for breakfast and selling starts at 09h00.
General Admission: $2.00 Tables (indoors) $5.00
Talk-in: VE5CI 146.940 (-) 
For more info visit: www.geocities.com/ve5ma

Montreal Hamfest and Fleamarket LaSalle (Montreal), Québec   Saturday, April 9 2005
Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 212 (LaSalle), 7771 Bouvier corner of Shevchenko. STM Bus 109 at the door.
Vendors 07:30 Public 08:30 to 12:00. Admission - 4.00$ Talk-in VE2RED 147.270 (+) - 
Information: James R. Hay, VE2VE - (514)-697-7205
E-mail: ve2arc@rac.ca
Web page: http://www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html

Winnipeg A.R.C. Spring Fleamarket  (Sunday,  April 17 2005)

Location: Heritage Victoria Community Club, 950 Sturgeon Road,  Winnipeg, Manitoba
Time: Vendors - : Public - 10:00 Talk-in: VE4WPG 147.390 (+)
General Admission: $2.00 Tables $10.00
Reservations and information: See Web page: http://ve4.net/warc/events.html

DOWN-EAST FLEA MARKET Saturday, June 11, 2005
Halifax, N.S.

The Down-East Flea Market is the largest Ham Fest in Atlantic Canada. Details on Commercial Suppliers and associated Flea Market events will be published over the next couple of months.

Location: Halifax Forum Complex at the corner of Young and Windsor Sts. in Halifax
Time: Doors open for sellers at 0630 and at 0900 for buyers
Entry Fee: $3.00 per person

Tables: free and can be reserved by contacting David Nimmo at ve1nn@rac.ca

Talk in Frequency: VE1PSR 147.270(+)

Associated Social Events:

Friday 10th Evening - 1900 at The Jolly Mug - for info contact Hugh ve1pq@rac.ca

Saturday 11th Breakfast - at the Steak and Stein - 6061 Young St, Halifax 

Talk by Wayne-VE1WPH on the ISS set up 

Hope to see you there
73's -- VE1EGG -- Ed Grace
ve1egg@rac.ca

SHF 2005 Committee...Hamfest Update

The SHF 2005 committee has undertaken a centennial history project. Through the years, we have noticed a decline in the archiving of photographs and history of radio in our Province. We would like to restore our past and make it accessible for everyone.

Do you have old photographs that you can part with for a while? Can you make us copies?

How about writing up a few pages about what has happened over the last one hundred years in your home area. Anything you can help us with is much appreciated. Please contact the SHF 2005 Committee with any information you can share.

Also, as this is the celebration of the province’s one hundredth birthday, we want to make this the biggest, best hamfest the province has ever seen! Do you have ideas that you would like us to explore? Let us know!

The committee has also developed a survey for gathering input from the ham community. Visit the website, www.saskhamfest.com and fill it out online! 

Amateur Radio Nets are the life blood of our hobby, on such nets as the Trans Provincial Net, Ontario Amateur Radio Service Net, Communications Ontario Net, Provincial Communications Net, Sandbox Roundtable Net and many local nets, hams meet their friends, pass messages, relay information from remote parts of Canada and test their transmitters and antennas on a daily basis. 

The Trans Provincial Net has been noted as one of the most popular Canadian Amateur Radio Networks with a coverage area from the Atlantic Provinces to Manitoba. With such a large number of Amateur Radio Operators assembled on one frequency we have an unique opportunity to serve our communities in a very tangible way. 

What is required? 

1) Amateur Radio Certificate of Proficiency issued by Industry Canada 
2) Suitable Radio Equipment for short and long range communications. 
3) A willingness to assist in relaying information to local authorities in your area in the event of an emergency. 
4) In the event of an emergency, monitor the Trans Provincial Network and follow the instructions of the Emergency Net Control Station. 

This program is not intended to replace or compete with Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) but to augment that program as an independent group with a large force of active HF operators who would otherwise be non-participants. All active HF Hams who are able and ready to provide emergency communications in and out of their areas, are welcome and encouraged to register. We can be a valuable resource to provincial and municipal authorities in the event of an emergency, provided they know who we are and where we are. 

If you feel you would like to serve your community via Amateur Radio, we ask that you register as a member of 
Ontario Emergency Communications Organization (OECO). 

Full program details can be found online at: oeco.hfradio.net
 

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

The Radio Amateur is:

CONSIDERATE never knowingly operates in such a way as to lessen the pleasure of others.

LOYAL offers loyalty, encouragement and support to other amateurs, local clubs, and the Radio Amateurs of Canada, through which Amateur Radio in the Canada is represented nationally and internationally.

PROGRESSIVE with knowledge abreast of science, a well-built and efficient station and operation above reproach.

FRIENDLY slow and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

BALANCED radio is an avocation, never interfering with duties owed to family, job, school or community.

PATRIOTIC station and skill always ready for service to country and community.

The Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System (CFARS) conducted a nation wide High Frequency (HF) radio communication exercise from Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December 2004. It was designed to exercise all elements of the CFARS National and Regional components and to familiarize components of the Communications Reserve and selected government departments with the operating procedures and capabilities of CFARS. This years-expanded exercise included a number of Federal and Provincial organizations concerned with Emergency Preparedness. (CFARS operates on HF frequencies just outside of the normal amateur bands)

Exercise Scenarios

Exercise scenarios were tasked to the five Canadian regions as follows:

a. Pacific Region - Earthquake

b. Prairie Region - Snow/Ice Storm 

c. Central Region - Power Outage

d. Atlantic Region - Weather/Flood

e. Arctic Region - Satellite Communications Outage

The five CFARS Regional Net Control Stations (RNCS) were tasked to develop exercise traffic based on the above scenarios. The emergency scenarios were to be gradually escalated in each of their regions over the exercise timeframe. Appropriate Essential Element of Information (EEI) message formats were to used throughout the exercise. (CFARS uses a specific message format called EEI)

Concept of Operation

Based on the above exercise scenarios a CFARS National Net Control Station (NNCS) was established at 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment to handle simulated emergency exercise traffic between the region and the Federal authorities in the Ottawa area. In addition, the five RNCS stations were to maintain regional nets in order to pass traffic from provincial or territorial authorities to federal departments.

763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment

The exercise participation of 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment continues to be a critical component of the exercise. They were deployed to a remote location 30 kms east of Ottawa. By exercising with 763 (Ottawa) Communication Regiment the members of CFARS are able to operate under other than normal CFARS net conditions and observe the Communication Reserve in an operational deployment. On the other hand, the Communication Reserve Detachment Commanders and Signal Operators had an opportunity to act as National Net Control station, pass emergency exercise traffic and observe first hand the High Frequency spectrum on a national basis. The Communication Reserve members were also able to observe the operating techniques and different communication mode capabilities of CFARS Amateur Radio equipment. We were able to learn from each other and appreciate each other's operating procedures, capabilities and limitations.

CFARS Member Participation

Participation in the exercise by CFARS members was excellent. There is no doubt that very long hours during a long weekend challenges all members and their families. A core group of 33 CFARS stations participated in the exercise as follows: Arctic Region 1, Pacific Region 4, Atlantic Region 4, Prairie Region 4 and Central Region 16.

As expected the Prairie Region Net Control in Winnipeg and the Winnipeg CFARS members continue to provide the critical transcontinental HF link for the relay of exercise traffic. In a national emergency "NO DUFF" situation Winnipeg will be the vital HF national relay link.

An example of CFARS interaction with provincial organizations was the Halifax, Nova Scotia Regional combined Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Dartmouth which was manned by a group of Amateurs operating the PS&EPC "Clover" station on the Amateur

Radio band. Their participation in the exercise helped to identify the requirement for improved antennas at the EOC for this type of equipment. The operators also linked up with Edmonton via a VHF Internet Radio Link Project (IRLP) Reflector node to discuss the setting up of the "Airmail" software and the "Clover" digital mode. In addition, a number of CFARS stations communicated using the Saskatoon IRLP reflector to coordinate exercise activities. Local VHF/UHF repeaters were also used extensively.

Another example of excellent CFARS interaction with local authorities and amateur radio repeaters and networks was the participation of the Victoria amateurs throughout the exercise.

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CANADA (PS&EPC)

Throughout the exercise contact was maintained with Federal Government Departments in Ottawa such as the Government Operations Center (GOC) where simulated contacts were made with the Consequence Management Duty Officer and the Director of Operations.

This type of activity is vitally important as it adds a touch of realism to the exercise scenarios and provides for end user customer responses for the message traffic.

This is an excellent training vehicle for PS&EPC Operations Duty Officers as it allows for an introduction to CFARS operating procedures and the system capabilities. Conversely, the CFARS Affiliate Members become familiar with the Federal and Provincial Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) contacts and procedures.

Affiliate Member Training - A Personal Responsibility

Personal initiative, personal preparation and personal training in all aspect of emergency radio communications remains a critical element of CFARS operations. The EEI message format was used with great success during the exercise due to pre-planning and preparation. All members are encouraged to use their own initiative to become familiar with and use the new Amateur Radio digital modes either using a computer soundcard or TNC. In addition, members are encouraged to participate in local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) organizations and to remain active in local VHF/UHF and HF voice nets.

PACTOR I-II HF To Internet E-Mail

For the purpose of testing and affiliate member familiarization a dedicated CFARS HF to Internet Email "AIRMAIL" net was established during the exercise to pass EEI formatted message traffic. To put it simply the "HF PACTOR" trial was an "OUTSTANDING SUCCESS" and has proven that PACTOR I-III is a very robust and efficient method of passing large volumes of emergency message traffic. The point to point configuration of the experimental net indicated that even without an automatic HF to internet link a point to point connection is an efficient method of moving large volumes of traffic between two Pactor stations. Hopefully, the expansion of the CFARS PACTOR network to stations across the nation will be completed by this summer.

Digital Mode Capability

At a minimum the Regional and National NCS stations should have a computer data capability with soundcard software for MFSK16, PSK31/125, SSTV, RTTY and where required and personal or public funding is available a TNC capability of at least PACTOR I. Note that older TNC's such a the PS232 etc. can be modified to become Pactor I capable.

SSB Voice Capability

SSB voice communications is the primary communications mode for CFARS and will continue to be used throughout the system to pass message traffic where speed of transmission and the volume of message traffic is not critical. Members who have only the SSB voice capability should not despair since voice communications will undoubtedly prevail when all else fails.

Conclusion

CFARS FALLEX 2004 was a very interesting and successful exercise. The participation of CFARS Affiliate Members and Federal Departments will continue to expand.

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)

I was quite intrigued when I read Garry Hammond’s (VE3XN) column in the Canadian Amateur for January and February 2005 on "Hobbies Hams Have!" 

In particular the card by Ake Palmblad (SM5UH) with his slide trombone caught my attention, I guess because I know that in the Millstream Barbershop Chorus that I sang with for two years, there were at one point four licensed Hams – VE1DHD (Howard); VE1WWG (Bill); VE1AOG (Arnie) and VE1AIV (Barry). And it got me thinking -- how may other Canadian musician Hams are there out there. 

I also have a good friend Glenn Wallis (VE1GK) in Windsor Nova Scotia who is an avid model train buff; there must be other engineer-wannabes out there too. 

We all know that Hams are multi-faceted individuals, so what other activities outside of Ham radio to Hams take part in? Please write and let me know all about your other hobbies, and PLEASE provide photos (.jpg sized to 4x5 inches is best). What do you do when you are not in the "Shack". I will be looking forward to hearing from you soon.

73 Howard - VE1DHD

Two hundred and fifty years ago a Scottish inventor penned a theory that led to the electric telegraph and the mobile phone. The problem is, the scientist’s identity has never been established. Now, a St Andrews University academic has launched a search for the mystery genius, whose groundbreaking paper was simply signed with the initials "CM" when it was published in The Scots Magazine in 1753.

Professor Colin Vincent, the university’s deputy principal, said the largely-forgotten article provided the impetus for a technical leap as important as the invention of the transistor or laser.

He said: "There is no doubt that the mobile phone and the Internet are direct descendants of CM’s paper." Professor Vincent said the article had described for the first time how electricity could be applied to a wire to create a communication device. It was published more than 60 years before the invention was first demonstrated, which followed the invention of the battery. When CM put pen to paper, the steam engine had yet to be invented and the Industrial Revolution had still to dawn.

Professor Vincent, a former head of the university’s chemistry department, became fascinated with "CM" when he worked on the development of lithium batteries, used in mobile phones. He believes the inventor deliberately hid his - or her - identity. Previous claims about who "CM" was have been incorrect. He said: "CM was clearly someone who understood the technology very well and had access to the latest developments in London. There were many ‘gentlemen dabblers’ around at the time, such as clergymen and schoolmasters, but we cannot even be sure CM was male."

However, despite CM’s revolutionary work, which he termed "signaling at a distance by the use of electricity", he has not been linked with any other scientific research and appears to have sunk back into obscurity.

The author’s imagined device, which he referred to as "an expeditious method of conveying intelligence", involved 26 parallel lengths of wire, one for each letter of the alphabet. In the article, CM described how electric current could be applied to one wire at a time to electrify a ball at the other end. This would cause a piece of paper with the name of that letter to move, so a message could be spelled out. An alternative method, using bells of different pitch, was also proposed. CM believed that practiced operators would be able to recognize the chimes of whole words rather than having to note down each letter. Professor Vincent said CM’s idea derived from his knowledge of friction-based electrostatic generators. While static electricity had been known since 1600, the machines remained the only way of making electricity.

He added CM’s achievement was all the more amazing because other scientists experimenting with electricity at the time could not see any use for it in communications. Dr William Watson, a physician who had "forced a shock" through a wire across Westminster Bridge in London in 1747, wrote: "We are not yet so far advanced in these discoveries to render them conducive to the service of mankind." Professor Vincent said: "It was a remarkable stroke of inventive genius that took place in the mind of the enigmatic CM. It has led over a period of 250 years to a transformation of society, in a way that could not even have been contemplated in the middle of the 18th century."

The invention of the battery by Alessandro Volta in 1800, enabling the storage of electricity, and the coming of the railways, which required faster communications, prompted a flurry of interest in CM’s work. Although the device was first attempted in France in the 1770s, its practical use was not demonstrated until Sir Francis Ronalds’s experiments in London in 1816. CM’s theory was also taken up by other British scientists, such as William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone, in the 1830s, and Samuel Morse in the United States, who invented the Morse Code. This led to the first transatlantic telegraph being laid in 1857, the telephone 40 years later, and, eventually, the mobile phone.

Professor Vincent said that he was one of the only people in Scotland to be aware of CM’s key contribution to the development of communications. He added: "The mystery of CM’s identity remains, but we know with reasonable certainty that the inventive spark which led to today’s Internet and mobile phone networks took place in Scotland 250 years ago." 

I just heard that VY9SS is planning to mount a massive DXpedition to St. Paul Island in the late spring of 2005 and thought that I should share some of the excitement with you.

Where is St. Paul Island you might ask.  It lies in the Cabot Strait, about 15 miles from the Northern tip of Nova Scotia, and about 44 miles from Newfoundland. It takes about 2 hours by boat to reach St. Paul Island from Bay St. Lawrence on Cape North in Nova Scotia. The CY9SS team is being led by Robby Robertson - VY2SS - of Oleary PEI.  Robby and his crew have an informative website (http://www.cy9ss.com/) and are planning an extensive four-week stay on St. Paul between June 7 and July 7, 2005.

Planned operating modes: While there, they will be operating: SSB, CW, WSJT M/S and EME on 6M and 2M, a separate 6M station dedicated to trans-Atlantic communications, 2-3 stations on MF/HF bands including WARC. The HF stations will operate SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31 on appropriate sub bands.  Robby says that their aim is to provide a new country or band/mode country to as many radio amateurs around the world as they can.

CY9SS and the North Light taken from the Greyhound (transport vessel)

A very ambitious goal: This DXpedition promises to be by far the longest and largest ham radio expedition to St. Paul Island ever.  Therefore, the plan is to rotate operators in weekly shifts for four weeks starting the second week in June The requirements to receive permission to visit St. Paul have changed a great deal in recent years. It is believed that these changes are due to concerns for public safety. They are therefore in the process of working their way through this process and are receiving excellent co-operation.

Saying goodbye to the Greyhound: Robert McLellan and sons Robbie and Doug CY9SS in 1997

Transporting and unloading tons of equipment and supplies onto this island is a daunting and complicated process to say the least.   The island is surrounded by high jagged rock cliffs and strong ocean currents. The odds are good that we will experience more than one North Atlantic storm during our stay. It is cold there in June too. Past CY9SS DXpeditions have been very successful and popular: Thousands of operators around the world worked a new country on this group's previous efforts including hundreds on six and two meters in 1999.

Amateur Radio Community Support is Essential for Success:  The massive scope of their proposed expedition in 2005 will require assistance from DX organizations, radio clubs and vendors as well as individuals who are interested in supporting an expedition of this size. Sponsors will be recognized on a special page listing their name and donation. Equipment loaned to the expedition must be for the entire four-week period.  If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Robby at the address below.

For more information about this expedition, or if you are interested in assisting our endeavour by:
1. Donation or loan of equipment, or
2. Joining our company of fine operators on CY9 (most ops are coming for 1 week,but longer or shorter stays are possible)

Please contact:  Robby@CY9SS.COM

QSLing for CY9SS will be by:
1. LOTW: Log will be uploaded to LOTW.
2. eQSL: Log will be uploaded to eQSL, or
3. Direct to:
Robby Robertson VY2SS
RR#3, Oleary, PEI,
Canada C0B 1V0
(Please include SAE and postage)

My first experience at "real contesting" came in 2003 when I had the good fortune to be invited to visit the VE1JF Contest Station by Jim Fisher, and to take part in the ARRL WW DX SSB contest weekend. Talk about being intimidated! 
 

I had worked the NSARA contest here in Nova Scotia, and a few of the RAC contests as well -- Winter and Canada Day -- from my modest home station in Seabright Nova Scotia, and had done reasonably well. But as I drove to Victoria Beach with Dick -- VE1AI -- the question   that weighted heavily on my mind was, would I be able to handle   the pile-ups, and more importantly, would I ever be able to   master the technology in this complex station? Well I was in for a pleasant surprise. Jim turned out to be a most gracious host and more importantly, a mild-mannered and very patient teacher. He led me through the complexity of the station layout and made me feel very much at ease.

Jim Fisher -- VE1JF -- in the "Search & Pounce position.

Dick Grantham -- VE1AI; Maggie Nickerson -- VE1MOO; and Jim Fisher -- VE1JF

I learned more about Amateur Radio and contesting that one weekend than I had in ten years as a Ham. Having gotten a number of us hooked on multi-op contesting, Jim is now proceeding to raise expectations and tighten discipline on team operations so that our scores will converge on those of the Frankfort Radio Club teams where he got his training, and with the guest teams he has hosted from Yankee Clipper Contest Club, Northern California Contest Club and Mad River Radio Club. Since that memorable weekend, I have had the pleasure to be invited to return twice more to the VE1JF station to work DX contests and each was more exciting and memorable than the last.

The camaraderie that has developed among the VE1JF contesters is quite remarkable, and everyone looks forward to Jim's invitation to a weekend of outstanding contesting.   I also have to admit that we look forward as well to the great food (the DX Contest potluck has resulted in truly   international spreads - Indian Curried Chicken; Shrimp   Jambalaya; Lasagne; and Breakfast Boritoes).

View of Jim's home from the edge of the cliff with tower at right.

Jim Fisher has an AB from Princeton in Economics and a Harvard MBA. He has worked for or consulted to many of the largest companies in the world, specialising  in an integrated approach to global organization structure,  management processes, and executive compensation.  He and his wife Hannelore had an opportunity to visit old friends from their Air Force days who had just moved to Nova Scotia.  One of them said "You should see the place we almost bought, out on the cliff!" and the rest is history.  To their surprise, Jim and Hannelore fell in love with and bought their present house, overlooking saltwater to the horizon from a 200' perch over the Bay of Fundy across the harbour entrance from Digby.  They obtained landed immigrant status and moved here in 1998. Jim established a consulting company up here, The James Fisher Company Ltd., but so far has been busy with hamming and organising civic projects and hasn't gotten involved in consulting assignments...Time will tell.

Jim had become interested in Amateur Radio as a teenager, and was first licensed as KN0HIL in 1956. He obtained his Extra Class license in 1964 and qualified for his choice of call W8JF in the 1970s. Being naturally competitive, Jim took to contesting early on in his Amateur Radio career. He also had the good fortune early on to be taken under the wing of K3ANS in the Frankford Radio Club.  That experience had a profound and lasting effect on Jim. He became determined to become a top-flight contestor and more importantly, he was committed to sharing his knowledge and experience with others and motivated by the many challenges of designing and settling-down a contesting station with multiple stations on the same premises (even  multiple signals on the same booms!).
 

Although there are many reasons Jim and Hannelore love their new home, from a hamming standpoint Jim's choice of Victoria Beach turned out to be ideal. Sitting atop 200-foot cliffs overlooking the entrance to Digby Harbour and the Bay of Fundy,   Jim's station has a clear path in almost every   direction and extremely good takeoff angles. In his books on Low-Band DXing, ON4UN calls it "the dream QTH of VE1JF." The station is amazing. Jim fields a total of 53 mono-band Force 12 elements, including a three-stack of beams on a  110' tower with its base at 220' above the Bay of Fundy.

View of the Bay of Fundy from Jim's dining room.

The top one is 330' over saltwater to the horizon; it and the bottom one have 51' booms, whereas the middle one is "only" 31'.  Together they offer 2  2 on 40M, 3  3  3 on 20, 5  4  5 on  15, and 7  7  7 on 10 (the latter is modelled at over 20-dbi  gain in every direction, especially over the water).

Each band on each of the three antennas is fed separately with a total of over 1,100 feet of low-loss coax on the tower alone. StackMatch phasing units make it possible to select any combination of these antennas on any band.   "Hard-line" brings the signals underground into a single-point-of-entry adjacent to the operating positions.   This affords a high level of flexibility at the operating station level. The station is normally in a multi-operator, two-transmitter class, and either station can select one, two or all three of the beams and have them all aligned   (stacked) or pointed in different directions. When "stacked" the signal of this station is awesome, blowing most other stations out of the water as they say!  In addition, Jim has a "Four Square" for 80 metres, and both a vertical and Inverted-V for 160. Jim says that inadequate signal is when you call and the called station can't hear you because of the pileup; adequate signal is when you call a rare station in a big pileup and he can't hear the pileup because of your signal!
 

Maggie -- VE1MOO -- in the Search & Pounce chair.

For multi-two ("M  2") class, Jim now has the station configured with four Yaesu FT-1000MP or MkV radios -- two located side by side at the front of the station, and two located behind, but with full view of the forward two operating positions.  One of each pair of radios is dedicated as one of two "run" radios.   Run radios establish a position on a band, call "CQ Contest" a couple of times and then sit back as the pileup begins.   Usually each left radio is the "run" radio, with each right-side radio being assigned to search and pounce.   Since there are two Alpha 87A linears to be shared among four radios, each pair is "gated" or "communicated" by an ACOM  2S1 that ensures that only one signal is on each of the  two bands at a time;

each two paired operators use hand signals to indicate their intention to access their amplifier. While the run station concentrates on rate and volume, the "Search & Pounce" station's usual role is to seek out multipliers and pick them off - an easy task with such a big signal. Logging is done through networked laptops running WriteLog contest software. The logging program is linked into the DX Cluster and all spots are displayed on the computer monitor. A simple "left click" on a spot tunes the radio to the proper frequency, and will even set up for split operation. All in all, a very impressive station! Veteran contestor VE7SV calls it "one of the best-designed contest stations in the world."

Jim likes to win and his new station here in Nova Scotia has the technology to do just that. However, in spite of wanting to win, Jim remains committed to training rookies, like me, into seasoned contesters, and as he gradually builds a team of keen and dedicated operators to work the station, success in sight.    His website is www.ve1jf.com, and it includes information for hams who might like to apply to join the teams.

Designing QSL cards has become a real art.  No longer are we easily impressed with a one- or two-colour card.  Full colour cards are becoming increasingly popular, but they are expensive. Using a Google search, I recently found a number of sites, that on the surface seem to have an excellent reputation for service and for quality product,  and delivered at a reasonable price (under $95us for 1000 cards with full colour on front and black or one other colour on back) - certainly better that I have been able to negotiate with local printers. 

However, if you are not in the market for 1000 cards for whatever reason, it can be much more expensive to have a full-colour run of one or two hundred cards professionally printed.  There is however an alternative using your own design and a colour photocopier

Actually, it is not that difficult to design your own cards and set up a "camera-ready" template, which you can then take (on a CD) to your local business photocopy centre to have any number printed off on card stock at a reasonable price.  Certainly much cheaper, and better quality by far than if you try to do the actual printing yourself on an inkjet printer.
 

If you are at all familiar with MS Word or Word Perfect, and with Photoshop (or some other photo-editing program) you can very easily custom design your own cards.  To give some guidance, I will provide you with an overview on just how easy it is to do and at the end, you should have a template that you can use to make your own cards. To start, here is a card that I designed for the Halifax Club's Lighthouse Weekend at Peggy's Point lighthouse in Peggy's Cove Nova Scotia this past summer. To make this card, I did the following: 1) I started by taking a trip to Peggy's Cove and photographing the lighthouse from a variety of angles and distances using my digital camera.  I was looking for a shot with areas of sky and/or rock that could easily be covered over with text while not disturbing the focal point of the image, which is the lighthouse. 2) I imported the "perfect" image into Photoshop and sized the image to 3.5 x 5.5 inches, which is the exact dimension for standard QSL cards.  I also adjusted the quality of the image to 300 pixels per inch to ensure that the quality of the final printed product would be clear and sharp.

3) Next it is time to add the text and that is quite straight forward.  For this example I used Comic Sans MS text.

4) For the back of the card I included a short write-up on Peggy's Point Light, but you could take this opportunity to describe yourself and/or your station.  To keep the price down, the back of the card is black and white only.  The boxed area at the bottom contains the actual QSL information and if your logging program has the capability of printing QSL information on labels, then the label can be affixed over this area very nicely.

5) Now, having created the front and the back, it is important to do two things.  One - save each of these images in Photoshop format.  Then, "flatten" each image.  This compresses the file by merging all of the various layers that went into the image, including the background image itself and all overlaying text.  Save the flattened image as a .jpg image at the highest quality setting possible.

6) Now, close Photoshop and open your word processor.  I use MS Word.  The first thing you want to do is to set the page dimensions to 11x17.  This size will allow you to place three rows of three cards per row on the page with a small border at the outside.  Under page setup, set the "margins" to zero.

7) Next, Insert/Picture/from File.  Even though you sized the image in Photoshop, you should check the size of the imported image and make sure that it is 3.5x5.5 inches.  To do this, right click the image and click on "Format the Picture".  No click "Size" to set the image size (do NOT lock the aspect ration until you get the size exactly correct).  Now click the "Position" tab and put a check mark in the "Float over text" box.  Finally, click the "Wrapping" tab and check the wrapping style box "Tight".

8) Now it is time to "clone" your image.  Make eight copies of the image and position them so that there is no space between them.  We all know that if you left click on an image you can move it by using the four arrow keys (up/down/left/right).  BUT, did you know that you can "nudge" the image in "micro steps" by holding down the Control key while you use the arrow keys.  (Thanks to Lynn Bowser - VE1ENT for this helpful hint when we were putting together the Maritime Callbook this year).  When you have all nine images positioned in perfect alignment with no space between images and an even border at the outside, you are ready to save the "plate".

9) When setting up the backside of the card, I found that it was helpful to do the following.  Import the back-side image, and then go to "Format Picture" and click on "Colours and Lines" and then select a black line to be placed around the outside of the image. This demarcates the border of the card and makes it much easier to position and align the back side images of the card.  Once you have everything set up, you can, if you like, go in and remove the margin lines.  Also, I forgot to mention earlier, that it is helpful if when you are setting up the back of the card in Photoshop, to make sure that you have at least a one centimetre border around the edge of the card.  This way, any slight shifting on the front of the card won't seriously affect the positioning of text on the back.

10) Done - you are now ready to transfer these two Word files for the front and back plates onto a CD -- the file size will be too large for a floppy -- and head off to the printing store. 

11) I found that the cost of printing was $1.52 for 11x17 colour + $0.20 for the card stock + $0.14 for the B/W back-side + tax.  With nine cards per sheet, it works out to less than $0.30 per card.  Now, this is a lot more than you would expect to pay if you had 1000 full-colour cards off-set printed (probably about $0.10/card) but, you don't have to print 1000 unless you really want that many.

12) Oh yes, I forgot one final thing.  You are now going to have to use a slice board and cut the border off and separate the cards - not a trivial task I found!!

I hope that this will be helpful for anyone contemplating doing up their own cards whether it be for off-set printing of photocopying.

If you want a copy of my MS Word plate template, just drop me an email at: VE1DHD@RAC.ca and I will be happy to send that to you as an attachment.

One of the most prestigious awards for DX activity on the HF bands is the ARRL's DX Century Club (DXCC). While it does not take very long for a new and determined opera-tor to reach that magical 100-country mark, the excitement of chasing those first DX countries is unforgettable! Moreover, the addiction to the chase has kindled a life long passion for DXing in many a ham. As we climb the DXCC ladder that excitement remains, but our quest becomes more skilled and  takes on almost mystical properties.  When we reach the top, then most of us turn to completing 5 Band DXCC, Worked All Zones (WAZ) and other awards. One relatively new and very  interesting award is called the DX Challenge. It extends the chase beyond DXCC, WAZ and the other main DX awards, and sets a very high standard for Dxers to reach for.

Scott - VE1QD - at the BBQ during the first Atlantic DX Forum at Scott's home in August 2004

At the present time there are 335 cur-rent entities listed on the ARRL DXCC list. If one has worked each of the current entities on all ten bands from 160 - 6 meters then the total number of possible current band-countries is 3350. The DX Challenge, a part of the DXCC Awards system, uses this metric to provide another goal for Dxers. How many band-countries can you work?

With a little thought, you will quickly appreciate how difficult this challenge can be. The entry-level certificate (actually a plaque) from the ARRL is for those who have worked at least 1000 band-countries since the beginning of the DXCC Award on 15 November 1945. One can receive endorsements for each 500 additional band-countries. QSL card confirmations are taken from your DXCC records.

At the present there are 1336 people registered for the DX Challenge.  Here are some revealing statistics. The person with the most band-countries is John, W4DR who has worked 3083 band-countries! This is an awesome number, since there are only 267 new band-countries he can work, or an aver-age of 26.7 per band. Just consider the challenge presented by 160 and 6 meters in achieving a high country total. There are thirteen Canadians registered, including the following people:
 

Rank	Call	Name	Band-Countries
68	VE3XN	Gary	2567
155	VE3FF	Dragan	2271
201	VE3EXY	Nenad	2151
396	VE1DX	Paul	1719
406	VE6LB	Gerry	1688
459	VA5DX	Doug	1588
568	VE1ZZ	Jack	1484
620	VE3VHB	Mike	1423
866	VE3QAA	Bert	1225
1093	VY2RO	Bob	1095
1104	VE7VF	Dave	1088
1221	VE2WY	Ross	1040
1225	VE6AX	Dick	1039

The Maritimer with the highest total is Paul, VE1DX, with 1719 band-countries.  He is in 396 th place. When I register, my 1727 band-countries will put me in 391 st place. Just think for a minute about what personal operating patterns and skills are needed to be at the top of this game. Where are you in the listing? Who is the champion DX Challenger in HARC? Atlantic Canada?

73 de Scott, VE1QD 

This month for the DX column we are going to talk about CONTESTING on HF.  This is prime Contest Season.  There are many Contests on the air; often several in one weekend -- some big, and some small.  Some people hate Contests, while others thrive on them.  One thing I firmly believe is that contesting is the single biggest driving force that is pushing the technological development of our Ham equipment. To be in the very top contest scores you need very good equipment and very good skills.  However to have fun, and that is what Amateur Radio is all about, you just need a modest HF station, some free time, and an understanding spouse!  Contesting from your home station has many positive features.  If you are intent on building on the number of countries that you have worked, you can quickly add countries to your DXCC (DX Century Club) in a DX contest, and you can add new states by taking part in the WAS (Worked All States) contest, for example.  This will help you work towards certificates that you are probably working on.

I want to stress that in order to have fun, just get in there and do it.  You don't have to be a world-class expert to have fun.  You are competing with yourself, or perhaps you may challenge a friend.  Contesters love to work all stations.  Some are in the contest big-time, and are very competitive; others only work the contest for a short period of time to have fun and give the other stations some points.  Both are very important.

The object of each contest is to work as many stations as possible, in as many different areas as possible, on as many bands as possible, and all within a given time period (usually over 24 or 48 hours on a weekend). 

Contest scores are calculated by totaling the number of QSO's you make and multiplying that number by the number of areas that you have worked (multipliers).  The multiplier is very important for sure.  Each contest is sponsored by some organization, and the rules for each contest are usually published in the magazines (CQ, QST), or available on the www (do a Google search), or just ask a club member. 

A contact in a contest is brief and fast.  Stations usually exchange signal reports and province or state, or a zone number relating to your geographical location.  Here in Nova Scotia we are in Zone 05 for CQ contests, and Zone 09 for the less popular IARU contest. Sometimes the exchange is a serial number, representing the number of stations that you have worked to that point in the contest, starting with 001.  For some ARRL contests, the exchange is your ARRL section (Maritime or MAR for us here in Nova Scotia).  For example in the CQ WW SSB (CQ World Wide Single Sideband) contest (Oct 30 & 31 this year) you would send 5905 to a station and you would receive a report like 5914 for someone in England for example.

It is important that you know what to send and also what to expect.  If you don't know, simply ask one of the stations you encounter in the contest what he needs for an exchange from you.  Most will tell you simply and politely.  Because the exchange is so brief and highly formatted, you will find that when working CW you can send and receive at speeds you never thought possible, because you have a reasonably good idea of what is being sent to you.  Contest calls are short and the exchange brief.  You should send only what is necessary, no extra information, names or good luck wishes.  Keep it short and simple. 

For the big contests, such as CQWW SSB and CW and the ARRL DX SSB and CW contests, many people travel to exotic locations to activate these places to hand out contacts from places that may not normally have much activity.  At the same time, it makes them rare and highly sought after, so their QSO rate it much higher that if they had stayed home in New York or Halifax.

There are also many smaller contests, each with their own rules.  There are RTTY contests, VHF/UHF contests, NSARA (Nova Scotia Amateur Radio Association) contest, and our big one for the club each year, which is Field Day, sponsored by ARRL. 

Several of our club members will be going to Jim Fisher's Contest Station - VE1JF - at Victoria Beach in Annapolis County Nova Scotia for the annual CQWW SSB contest this year.  Jim has built a super contest station and it is truly a treat to experience.  We will be competing in the muti-operator category, whereas from home you would likely operate and compete with others who are in the Single Operator Category.  Jim is always looking for skilled operators, and the way to develop your skill is to get in a contest and experience it and have fun.  You never know how much fun it is until you try it. 

The best HF conditions are always in the spring and fall seasons.  So now is the time to make preparations; pick out a couple contests, and make your plans. If you are on the air and hear a contest going full force, jump in and help out some of the stations, they will be more than pleased to work a VE1. Have fun. I do. 

Richard E. (Dick) Grantham --VE1AI 
VE1AI@RAC.ca

Have you ever thought about what your family would do with all of your Ham gear if something were to happen to you?   Do they have any idea about the true worth of the equipment that you have amassed?   Apparently not, because often times Ham gear is literally given away at bargain basement prices to the first person to come along. 

Death and dying is clearly a very sensitive issue and not an easy one to discuss, especially with your loved ones.  However, our Club - the Halifax Amateur Radio Club (HARC) - and I expect many other clubs across the Country, have often been called upon to assist in the sale of Ham equipment for a spouse or an estate. 

Our Club now has so much estate equipment on consignment that it has become a significant burden on the few who cart it from one flea market to the next in the hope of getting a reasonable price for the estate of the former owner. 

Faced with this growing problem, the HARC Executive recently discussed this issue and it was decided that it was inappropriate for the Club to be involved in the brokering of used equipment on behalf of the estates of deceased Hams.  However, the Club does recognize the difficult position that surviving family members may encounter in trying to assess the true value of and then sell used radio equipment.  To assist, HARC has formed a small advisory committee that will provide advice on the valuation of used equipment in such circumstances. 

Another solution to the problem - a route that a number of Club members have decided to take - is to name the Halifax Amateur Radio Club as the beneficiary of all of their radio equipment.  This is a wonderful selfless way of supporting your Club, while ensuring that the hobby you love will ultimately benefit others through the use and disposition of your gear. 
 
 

The recent decision by the ARRL Board of Directors to withdraw its support of the International radiotelegraphy requirement once again offers evidence that far too many in the Amateur Radio community lack any valid insight into the potential problems limiting the future growth of this valuable radio service.

If we are to make appropriate choices as to those steps necessary to institute growth and continue the evolution of Amateur Radio, we must understand the "real" reasons for a lack of growth in the Amateur Service. The time has come to challenge many of the assumptions made by both the leadership, as well as the "rank and file" of the Amateur Radio Service. Some of this may be considered harsh, but the time has come for some "plain speaking."

Assumption 1: "CW is keeping young people out of the hobby. If we don't eliminate it, the phone won't ring, numbers will dwindle, and our portion of the RF spectrum will be re-allocated."

Repeat a lie often enough, and soon it will be accepted as "gospel" truth. There is no doubt that CW keeps some young people (and adults) out of the Amateur Service. Of course, so do technical exams and radio theory. 

Despite the fact that this worn-out assumption is repeated again, and again, particularly by those that have never learned the code, no one has yet proven this assumption! Where are the nonbiased studies and statistical analysis performed by an independent organization? Where are the demographics? Where is the empirical evidence? There isn't any!

During the past year, I have had the opportunity to witness a large number of Amateur Radio demonstrations, which involved phone, digital, and radiotelegraph stations. I have watched as literally hundreds of children have walked past a SSB or digital station paying little, if any, attention to it. Yet, the very same youths have walked right up to a CW operator, fascinated by the "dots and dashes." 

The simple fact is, talking into a microphone, a hand-held radio, or typing on a computer keyboard is no longer a unique experience for today's generation of youth. As more children grow up with digital technology now as commonplace in the home as the telephone, digital communications may do even less to attract young people.

Our own experience shows that eliminating the code will not have a significant impact on growth!

For many years now, we have had a no-code license offering full access to the VHF, UHF, and microwave Amateur Radio bands. Yet, few young people are entering the hobby. Those that do are rarely interested in technical innovation or public service. The demographics of Technician (no-code) licensees track closely with those of the remainder of the Amateur Radio community. The simple fact is that the no-code license has failed to attract great numbers of radio amateurs. It has also failed to spur technical innovation.

Here are some facts:

The VHF, UHF, and microwave spectrum offers perhaps the greatest opportunity for technical innovation. This portion of the spectrum is ideal for high-speed data networks, Internet connectivity, and a variety of high-tech communications media. Yet, few are utilizing this valuable resource in an innovative manner.

Many Amateur Radio Emergency Service organizations utilize the VHF and UHF spectrum extensively for public service communications. Most radio amateurs do not participate in any of these programs. Only a fraction of those licensed are registered with an ARRL Emergency Coordinator. Even fewer participate on a regular basis!

Even basic packet radio communications attracts few proponents. Such useful modes as APRS attract even fewer, despite extensive promotion and coverage in the Amateur Radio press.

We are attracting few young people, technical innovators, or public service oriented individuals, despite an extremely useful "no-code" license. You can't blame this one on CW!

Assumption 2: "Greater numbers will preserve our frequencies. We need as many radio amateurs as we can to insure access to valuable RF spectrum." Bunl!

Our public service record has, and will, continue to justify our access to RF spectrum. There have always been demands for amateur spectrum. In the 1910s, the U.S. Navy and commercial point-to-point services wanted our amateur spectrum; and they almost got it! In the 1920s and Ô30s, broadcasters wanted it for a wide variety of applications, from remote pick-up services to international broadcasting. From the post war years, through the present, numerous proposals have been put forth to grab the VHF and UHF amateur allocations. 

Yes, we do need to bring youth into the hobby. However, it is equally important that we bring in quality individuals who wish to invest their time and effort in technical innovation and public service. Simply attracting more individuals interested in a high-class alternative to Family Radio Service won't pay the rent; and rightfully so! If we provide no service to the community, then why should we tie up radio spectrum with the potential to create billions of dollars in economic growth and job production?

Assumption 3: "CW is obsolete and of little value"

This is a comment usually heard from those with little or no proficiency. Nonetheless, the value of radiotelegraphy should be obvious to those with an open mind.

• At the risk of repeating the obvious, here are just a few of the advantages of CW: 
• Radiotelegraphy overcomes language barriers, allowing those with different languages to communicate basic information. 
• Radiotelegraphy is spectrum efficient. The narrow bandwidth of a CW signal also allows one to communicate more reliably for a given amount of power. 
• CW equipment is simple and inexpensive, making it ideal for radio amateurs in developing countries. 
• Only a few advantages have been listed in the interest of space. However, let's not forget that CW is the only mode of communications that has the ability to attract and hold the interest of many simply because it is an art form. Perhaps if we explained the value of the mode and presented it as an opportunity rather than a barrier, more people would want to take advantage of it. 

Apparently, the FCC and the ARRL are too myopic to identify the real factors leading to a potential decline in the Amateur Radio Service. Therefore, to be of assistance, let's point out a few of the features on the distant horizon:

Amateur Radio is invisible.

Ask the average person on the street to explain what Amateur Radio is, based on their personal insights or knowledge of the hobby (an interesting question for a pollster; perhaps one hired by the League). You will be shocked at the answers you receive. The average person is unable to provide a realistic summary or description of the Amateur Radio Service. Why is this so? WE ARE INVISIBLE. 

Other than a short mention in an occasional news story covering a major disaster, we are rarely discussed in mass media or popular culture. When we are, the coverage is brief and superficial. Has the amateur community taken any effective steps to correct this problem? No! They are apparently busy blaming the license structure and radiotelegraphy. Admittedly, such organizations as the ARRL haven't the funds or the contacts to correct this problem. However, no erstwhile attempt has been made by any national Amateur Radio organization to raise the funds necessary to create an effective media and outreach campaign.

Most Amateur Radio clubs and organizations have no organized approach to community outreach. There are no guidelines or programs designed to encourage involvement in educational programs. There are no effective national programs designed to promote cooperation with such programs as the scouting movement. Few if any Amateur Radio clubs make a speaker available to community groups to promote Amateur Radio. Few Amateur Radio clubs even know how to put together a press release!

By the way, as a corollary to the above exercise, ask the same person to explain what the Boy Scouts do, or the Girl Scouts, or the National Rifle Association, or Trout Unlimited, or Ducks Unlimited, or ??

A bunch of grumpy old men?

I once asked a young lady, recently licensed and 18 years of age, whether the CW requirement was a barrier or discouragement on her path to becoming licensed. Her response was straightforward. "It wasn't the code that almost frightened me off, it was all the grumpy old men," she said. 

Take a look in the mirror folks. Next time you attend a swap or an Amateur Radio event, observe the dress, behavior, and social skills of the vast majority of your brethren. Many of us can't even get along with each other - we're too busy complaining about the code requirement.

Next time you see a radio amateur portrayed in the media, take note. Ask yourself these questions:

• Is he dressed well? 
• Is his shack neat and well organized? 
• Is he using a unique mode of communications, or is he simply talking on "2 Meters." 
• How old is he? 

• About 50 to 70 years old. 
• He will be talking on a hand-held or a simple VHF-FM radio 
• He won't be particular about appearance or hygiene. 
• His "shack" will be located in the corner of a dark, musty, basement. 

We lack diversity:

For example, women make up roughly half of the population, yet few are radio amateurs. Many of the reasons for this are far beyond our control, being based in long held cultural norms. Nonetheless, it seems likely that we are missing a large number of individuals who would have a genuine interest in Amateur Radio. Of course, no one is suggesting that we What are the odds of a young woman feeling at home at your Amateur Radio club? The sad fact is that we have little, if any, contact with whole segments of the American population.

We don't cooperate - with anyone!

First, we don't cooperate with each other. Ten radio clubs may exist in a metropolitan area, each with a limited membership. Half of these clubs may offer an introductory licensing class. These same clubs will do a poor job of instruction and follow-through. Why? Because they have a limited pool of talent.

How would one describe a typical Amateur Radio class?

• It will likely have poor learning facilities. An elementary school classroom or high school cafeteria is a typical location for a licensing class. The acoustics are likely to be poor, the seats uncomfortable, and the lighting terrible. 
• The audio-visual aids will likely be poor. A home projector screen, a chalkboard, or a small TV set for the occasional video are the best one can hope for. 
• The instructors are uninspiring. Let's face it; a radio club consisting of 50 members is not likely to have access to a variety of inspiring, effective instructors. 
• Personal prejudices will abound, particularly with respect to learning CW. How often will an Amateur Radio "bigot" tell a classroom of potential radio amateurs that CW is of no value except as a hazing ritual to "keep the CBers out?" 

• Instructors would be chosen based on talent and knowledge, not politics. 
• Members would find the funds necessary to rent a proper instructional facility, preferably one suitable for a professional gathering. 
• A national Amateur Radio organization would develop a set of standards and guidelines for licensing classes. They might also develop effective teaching aids, such as "Power-Point" presentations, instructional videos, and similar tools. A programmed learning course would be available via the Internet. Students in rural areas wouldn't even have to leave home to learn how to become a radio amateur! 
• A National Amateur Radio organization would provide a web page advertising the locations, dates, and times of licensing classes and VEC session throughout the U.S. 

Of course, we not only don't choose to cooperate with each other, we don't cooperate with anyone. A major metropolitan ARES group recently told me they don't care about NTS activities. They also have "no use" for the American Red Cross. If I recall, they also have no use for a wide variety of agencies because their "boss" (the Emergency Management Director) has no use for anyone but his particular law enforcement agency.

• Is this situation unique? Absolutely not. It has been witnessed repeatedly. Such behavior seems more evident today, at a time when we can least afford it. 
• Ask your fellow radio club members the following questions: 
• Do we have a relationship with a local scouting organization? 
• Do we have a public information officer? 
• When was the last time we issued an effective press release (other than field day)? 
• When was the last time we invited the ARRL Emergency Coordinator to speak to our club? 
• When was the last time we offered a service to the community? 
• Have we created a partnership with a number of other radio clubs to promote Amateur Radio in some fashion (e.g. cable access show, licensing classes, etc). 

Our problems are not unique to Amateur Radio.

It has been said "for every complex social problem there is a simple solution that's wrong." Many "anti-code" proponents have honorable intentions, yet, one can't help but suspect they are misguided in their efforts to insure the survival of Amateur Radio. Many factors are keeping people of all ages out of the hobby. A few such factors include:

• Lack of time: The average U.S. citizen is now working the greatest number of hours in history. A total of 55 to 70 hours a week are common in many industries. Downsizing in the business sector has placed significant stress on the time available to the very type of individual likely to have an interest in Amateur Radio. 
• Changing Cultural Norms: Fifty years ago, when the World War II generation was starting its families, the man's role was limited to "bread winning." Once work was over, few responsibilities confronted the male head of household with the exception of yard care and vehicle maintenance. The woman stayed at home, raised the children, and kept the house. The typical man (and most Hams are male) had a reasonable amount of time available in the evening for hobbies. Not any more! Today, women work and therefore they expect the man to contribute his share of time to child rearing, house-cleaning, and similar activities. Guess what! No time for Amateur Radio (but that's OK. Let's blame it on CW anyway). 
• Urban Sprawl: Men and women no longer live in small, close-knit communities and neighborhoods. School children used to walk to a neighborhood school for extracurricular activities, today they must be driven by the parents, many of whom act as "chauffer" five nights a week. Individuals used to drive a short distance to work and to shop, today they must often drive 30 or more miles. All of this takes time; time that used to be spent on hobbies like Amateur Radio. 
• Competing Media: Several generations have grown-up with nearly continuous exposure to entertainment media that engenders passive participation. Most individuals under the age of 50 have been "trained" to seek passive forms of entertainment. The idea of developing a skill or passing a theory test in order to engage in a hobby activity is nearly beyond their comprehension. 

Some conclusions:

• For too long now, the ignorant have been shouting "get rid of CW." They justify their argument by suggesting that CW is harming Amateur Radio. There is great danger in this patently false assumption. If we continue to debate the CW requirement, we run the risk of failing to seek genuine solutions for those problems facing Amateur Radio. We also run the risk of eliminating one of the very aspects of Amateur Radio that may make it unique and appealing for a future group of licensees. 
• It seems that our leadership lacks the ability to articulate a common vision and a set of goals necessary to move Amateur Radio into the future. Perhaps the task is too daunting. Unfortunately, the alternative to a proper course of action is the demise of Amateur Radio. 
• I challenge the ARRL (and others) to make the difficult choices necessary to preserve Amateur Radio. This does not mean giving-in to mass hysteria and the self-serving mindset of those that do not like CW or have never developed enough proficiency with the mode of communications to see its usefulness. This does not mean attempting to judge the proper course of action for the amateur service based on those choices made by the Department of Defense or the International Maritime Community, Kenwood Corporation, or a variety of publishing company owners. We are a unique group of individuals with unique requirements. 

• Research that will identify the target demographic likely to have an interest in Amateur Radio. 
• A viable and effective outreach and media campaign 
• Standards and guidelines for properly conducted Licensing classes 
• The development of useful teaching tools 
• The development of a program designed to integrate Amateur Radio into scouting organizations, schools, and similar youth-centered organizations. 
• Cooperative partnerships between independent radio clubs in the area of licensing, community outreach, and public service. 
• We should also demand an unbiased look at the value of CW. This mode still has much to offer. 
• Finally, let's elect ARRL leadership that is willing to tell the truth, even if it isn't what people want to hear. 

The lack of vision and reasoned debate on the part of the ARRL has had me quite concerned. At times, I have even considered withdrawing my membership. After considerable thought, I arrived at one q