GUYWIRE

          APRIL 2004

Editor   VE5SC   sewert@sasktel.net


The online publication of the REGINA AMATEUR RADIO
ASSOCIATION is published monthly except July and August
and is distributed free of charge as a service of RARA
to all licensed hams in the Regina Area who have e-mail
addresses.  Anyone NOT wishing to receive future copies
should send an e-mail to the editor and your name will
be removed from the mailing list.

 The RARA WEBSITE can be found at
http://www.gpfn.sk.ca/hobbies/rara/index.html
It contains RARA news, repeater lists as well as links to other
amateur  resources.
Club meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month, with
the exception of July and August, at the Science Center.

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NEXT MEETING - April  14th   7:30 PM  Science Center - Imax Boardroom
This is another combined RARA and ARES meeting.  A video from the clubs
library entitled "What is Amateur Radio?" will be shown.

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   CLUB NEWS

The club would like to have an educational presentation at each meeting.
If you have a video or know of someone who can give an interesting
presentation, or know of an interesting tour that is radio related, please
let the executive know.
The club also has several video tapes that  have gone missing.  If you know
where any of these are, please let the executive know so we can consolidate
our library.

   NEWS FROM HERE AND THERE

The name Don Hings may not exactly be a household word, but he should
be remembered for several things.  First, he was a Canadian.  Second, he
was a ham, and Third he was the inventor of the walkie-talkie. Although the
U.S. Army likes to credit for this, Don's version came much earlier.  The
reason we are mentioning this now, is because Don died recently in eastern
Canada.  Next time you use your handheld, think of the radio pioneers like
Don Hings who made it all possible.


Seen at the Moose Jaw Flea Market - a T-shirt worn by Val VE5ACJ, with
the inscription "Proud to be a Know Code Ham".  Good work Val.

Howard Robinson is looking for an Elmer for his young son.  If you can help,
give Howard a call.

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   PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT

It looks like ARES is going to be busy again this Spring/Summer. The
first event we will be involved in is the Regina Police Service 1/2
Marathon on April 25th.

   John VE5MU is the co-ordinator for this event. He requires four (or
more) on bicycles, as well as, five at aide stations and two or three at
the start/finish line (Centre of the Performing Arts). The marathon
starts at 8:00 AM and should be completed by 11:00 AM. We will meet at
the Centre at 7:15 AM. We will use the truck repeater (145.210 -) as
well as VE5UHF (444.250 +). You may contact John (VE5MU -
jhbrad@sasktel.net) or myself (Terry - VE5TLW) to volunteer for this
event. The marathon route map may be downloaded from the Regina Police
Service web site at www.police.regina.sk.ca and click on the marathon
logo.

   Please reply as soon as possible. We require as may ARES members
volunteering, as we need to make a high profile appearance at this
event. Remember to wear your ARES jacket (weather permitting).

   We may have to do double duty on the 25th as we have been asked to
provide communications for the Super Cities Walk-a-Thon. If all goes as
last year, the marathon and Super Cities, may be using the same course
through Wascana Park, west of Hillside/Broad Streets.

   Also on our plate is the Regina Police Service open house on May
19th, Regina Social Services exercise on May 12th, the Echo Valley
Challenge on June 19th and the Buffalo-Thon on July 24th. Usually we do
the pledge pick ups for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal in the
first week of May, but as of yet, we have not heard from them.

   As each of these events approach I will be sending out e-mail to all
as reminder.

73,
-Terry (VE5TLW)
  
          
   IRLP NEWS

Those of you who remember Ekke, ex VE5AFQ will be pleased to
know he is now VE6CNL and has been heard on the IRLP from the
Airdrie node.

Communications for a recent High Altitude Balloon launch in Arizona
could be heard on VE5WM via IRLP.  An interested listener was Malcom
VE5ZG, obviously taking notes for our own launch later this year.

Ham radio operators who are railfans now have a place to gather
on the air to discuss their latest sightings, rail history, modeling,
or whatever railroad hobby topic comes up on the RailHam Roundtable.
The Internet Radio Linking Project allows hams around the world to
converse in real-time via voice-over-i.p. technology. It's like
EchoLink without the chaos.

The RailHam Roundtable begins each Sunday night at 21:00 Eastern Time.
It doesn't matter if it's Railroad Standard Time or Daylight Savings,
it always starts at 21:00 Eastern. Do the math.

The RailHam Roundtable will use the Dallas reflector channel 4,
which works out to be '9454' when you dial it in. This mirrors
the usage of FRS channel 4 by railfans everywhere to make it
easy to remember. The owner of the reflector has given his
stamp of approval to dedicating this to rail enthusiasts.

   REPEATER NEWS

VE5RJM and VE5HAW are working toward setting up a new repeater
in Melville which will operate on 147.000 +  This will help fill in a large
coverage hole which was left when VE5BD (146.880 mHz -)  in
Yorkton left the air.

The VE5SKN repeater in Saskatoon has moved to 145.290 -

   RAC NEWS

Those of you who have been following the progress of experimentation in
the 135 kHz band, will recall that amateurs have been using very slow speed
CW, and sophisticated signal processing to read signals well below noise level
They have been experimenting with higher speed CW and during the very
favorable conditions we've been experiencing lately 1.2 WPM was copied by 
M0BMU in the UK, and the call sign was identified by H. Wolff in Germany.
Look for more details in a forthcoming item in TCA.

RAC First Vice President, Bob Nash (VE3KZ), tells us that Sam Ferris (VE5SF),
Bart Ritchie (VE5CPU) and Bruce Rattray (VE5RC/VE5QRP) have been
accepted by the Board of Directors as managers of the RAC Canadian
Winter Contest and have volunteered to also serve as managers of the
Canada Day Contest in light of the recent resignation of the Moncton
Seniors ARC from that position.

More information about the RAC contests can be found at:
http://www.rac.ca/opsinfo/infocont.htm

   SARL FLEA MARKET

There was no interest expressed from any club or group to hold a Hamfest
in July 2004.  The S.A.R.L thought it would be a good idea to hold a mini
Hamfest in Saskatoon on Saturday July 24th 2004.  Events will include a
flea market, S.A.R.L general meeting and a limited number of presentations.
The site selected for the event is Walter Murray Collegiate 1905 Preston Ave
(corner of Preston and Taylor) in Saskatoon.  The doors open at 8 A.M. for
vendors and  9 A.M. for  the general public.  Please honor our request that
absolutely no flea market sales should occur before the doors open to the
public at 9 A.M.    This is a good opportunity to stock up on your fleas,  meet
some new people and see old friends.  The cost for the event is $5 per
person and flea market tables are also $5. For more information see the
SARL web site (saskhamfest.com) or contact Derek Bereza the S.A.R.L
President by Email: ve5sd@sasktel.net or phone (306)382-9869.

   WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Not exactly amateur radio related but interesting nonetheless.  If you want
to see some startling pictures taken by the Hubble Telescope try:
http://wires.news.com.au/special/mm/030811-hubble.htm
  

   LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

Who first came up with Ohms Law?

Answer:  This may be come as a surprise but it wasn't Ohm- his work
came a bit later.  The relationship between voltage, current and
resistance was first proposed by Lord Cavendish (1731-1810) .  He
was a very private person and the world didn't discover that he was
almost 100 years ahead of his time until his papers were published
after his death  It was then that his research with "ohms law" was
discovered.

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

Which was the smallest community in Saskatchewan to boast an
AM radio broadcasting station?

Answer next month.

IT'S MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL TIME

The RARA membership year began April 1st.  If you haven't already
renewed, your membership is now due.
To join or renew, fill out the form below and follow the instructions
at the bottom. Support Ham Radio in Regina.


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R.A.R.A.  MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Name __________________________________ Callsign___________

Mailing Address ___________________________________________

E-Mail Address _____________________________________________

I enclose      _____   Single membership  ($25.00)          New _________

                     _____   Family membership  ($30.00)         
Renewal______

Give this application with your membership fee to
the club treasurer  or send it to: 
Regina Amateur Radio Association
Box 153
Regina, Sask.  S4P 2Z6

The membership year runs April 1st to March 31st.

SUPPORT AMATEUR RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL CLUB

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