GUYWIRE

          MAY 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 - MAY 12th   7:30 PM  Science Center - Imax Boardroom
This is another combined RARA and ARES meeting. Among other things,
Field Day will be discussed.

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   CLUB NEWS

The RARA Directors have proposed the following executive and functional
directors positions at their meeting of May 5, 2004.  They will be presented
for approval at our May 12 meeting.

Executive Members:

Past President - George Harwood, VE5UU
President - John Allen, VE5SJA
Vice President - Keith Jeal, VE5AFK
Secretary - Harvey Smith, VE52B (very soon)
Treasurer - Allan Tidball, VE5LAT

Functional Directors:

ARES & Public Service - Terry White, VE5TLW
Membership - Bill Wood, VE5EE
Packet cluster and provincial packet rep - Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU
Technical - Stan Ewert, VE5SC
Web page - Bart Ritchie (jointly with Bruce Rattray, VE5RC)

Modernizing bylaws:

An item of old business that we are pursuing is modernizing our constitution
bylaws. The executive has appointed a committee consisting of John Allen,
Stan Ewert and Allan Tidball to report finalized proposed amendments to
the June executive meeting.  Notice will be given of the finalized proposed
amendments when they are ready.

Science Centre Radio Station Move

Science Centre staff have finally caught one of us.  They are proposing to
change the location of our radio station. They indicate that they would like
to have it moved by the end of June. We are concerned about the trans-
mission line characteristics to our antennas including immunity from local
electrical noise, proper grounding, security and access, audio noise, and
high speed internet access.   We are also concerned about proper ground-
ing.  We are concerned about the cost of doing it properly. Malcolm McLeod, Stan Ewert, Terry White and John Allen will coordinate with the
Science Centre. We will have to move quickly to get a properly operating
station after the move.

Science Centre Memberships

Our "lease" with the Science Centre says that we will encourage our
members to be Science Centre members and that a minimum of 10%
of our members will also maintain a Science Centre membership.

Field Day

Field Day is coming up the 25-27 of June and we need a field day
coordinator.

Station Manager & Station Volunteer Manager

We will be seeking volunteers.  The station may be quiet for a couple of
weeks early this summer because of the pending move.  We must use the
station to "project" ham radio and the RARA into the community.

-John Allen


   NEWS FROM HERE AND THERE

Should any of your members happen to be in Ottawa this October, we'd like
you to join us at the QCWA International Convention being held October
15,16,17.  We'd enjoy meeting any of your club members here in the Nation's
Capital!  Info available at <jcpowell@sympatico.ca>
Joan Powell  VE3ZC
QCWA Chapter 70
Convention Publicity
           [[[]]
Just when we thought interference problems couldn't get worse (BPL etc.) it
now appears that the new Plasma monitor displays can cause large amounts
of interference.  If you have new noise problems, check for plasma displays.
                                                     [[[]]
The Swiss Broadcasting System has announced that it will cease short wave
broadcasts in October.  Swiss Radio was one of the best known of the short
wave broadcasters.
                                                     [[[]]
Rumour has it that there will be an Islands on the Air expedition to Pine Island
in the future. The island is so new that it hasn't yet got an IOTA number.
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   PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT

  - The Regina Social Services is conducting a disaster exercise
(Operation Harvest) on the afternoon of May 12th. We require in addition
to Bill (VE5EE) and myself (VE5TLW) at least another four radio
operators. We will be required from noon to approximately 4:00 PM. We
are required to man the EOC's at City Hall and the Northwest Leisure
Centre.

   The organizer requires names as soon as possible as ID badges are to
be mad up.

  - The second city event is the annual Regina Police open house. This
is to be held on May 19th in front of the police station. We will set up
the ARES truck & trailer. It is an all day event. If you can stay all
day or a portion of it, any help will be appreciated.

73
-Terry (VE5TLW)

The annual Echo Valley Challenge (run, cycle, paddle)  is Saturday, June
19th and begins at 10:00 am.  It usually is done by about 1:00 and and a
great lunch is provided.  We meet a Camp Ta Wa Si at 9:00 am and I will
give you your locations around Echo Lake.  Let me know if you can help.

The Buffalothon has been moved up one week to Saturday, July 24 th.

-Bill  Wood  VE5EE

             
   IRLP NEWS

The RARA has invested money and a great amount of time in setting up
and operating the IRLP node on VE5WM.  While there is no charge for
using this service, it would be appreciated if anyone using the system on
an on-going basis would help defray costs by becoming a RARA member. Some clubs restrict the use of their node to members and require a
private access code. We do not do this.  We maintain an open node
so that travellers and local stations in our area can easily use our facilities.
We are indebted to the Sask. Dept. of Health - Emergency Operations
whose donation of an internet connection and space for equipment in
their building makes it possible for the club to offer this service.

   HOW TO USE IRLP
It's as simple at 1 - 2 (forget the 3).   1. Dial the 4 digit node number.
2.  Talk.   If you don't know the number of the node you wish to contact,
go to www.irlp.net - click on "node info" and then on "List of Nodes and
Frequencies".  Remember to pause a second or so after pushing your
PTT switch before you begin speaking.


   REPEATER NEWS

The Lizard Lake repeater is permanently off the air.  The site is being
sold and the group operating the repeater could not afford the cost.
It isn't all bad news however, the repeater will be relocated to Turtle
Lake and will operate with the callsign VE5TLK on the same 146.67
frequency.  Future plans are to link it to VE5MLR in Meadow Lake
which would give it an IRLP connection.

   CALLSIGNS AND THEIR ORIGINS  

   In the early days of ham radio, there were no assigned callsigns. To identify themselves, hams adopted callsigns, usually a number and 2
letters, and in some cases radio clubs assigned callsigns to their
members. This arrangement fell apart when longer distance
transimissions could be made, and signals were heard in other provinces
and countries, so unofficially a prefix was added to indicate the country
and continent.  Stations in Canada used NC (North America, Canada)
and in the U.S. it was NU.  Britian was EG.
   Soon after, an international convention allocated callsign blocks
to all countries and Canada was granted VAA-VGZ from which the
amateur prefix VE was taken.  Also assigned was the block CFA-CKZ
which was used for broadcast station callsigns. In Saskatchewan most
early hams accepted whichever callsign the regulator assigned.
Initially the authority was the Department of Fisheries and later the
Department of Transport. Later they would allow hams to pick available
callsigns with a two letter suffix.  Three letter calls were reserved for
school and special stations.
   Prior to WW2, the prairie provinces were all in the same call
area, VE4.  When amateur activity resumed after the war the call areas
were redistributed - VE4 to Manitoba, VE5 Saskatchewan
VE6 Alberta etc.
   As time  went on there was a shortage of available callsigns and
it was decided to begin issuing 3 letter calls but there was no longer a choice. All licences issued out of the Regina office were issued sequentially starting
with AAA and the Saskatoon office issued BAA.This is why you see a large
number of 3 letter calls beginning with A or B in Saskatchewan.
In Ontario and Quebec even 3 letter calls were in short supply so IC
allowed the assignment of VA prefixes.  These prefixes are also available
to Saskatchewan Hams. The current procedure allows hams to request
any unused VE or VA callsign.

   THIS LITTLE NEWS ITEM IS FROM QST MAGAZINE

The Moose Jaw Amateur Radio Association has been affiliated with the
ARRL.  They operate a broadcasting station under the call 10AB and intend
to preach ham gospel over the air. At present they are conducting a drive to
secure sufficient funds in order that a good radio set with phones
for every bed may be installed in the general hospital, and are having
success.  That's a fine idea and the club is to be congratulated.
   QST  July 1927


   WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

For an excellent Morse code practice program check out:
http://www.scphillips.com/morse/

   LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

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

Answer:  CJRF in Fleming Sask. had a short but interesting history.
In the early 30's, the James Richardson Company wanted to set up
a group of stations to broadcast grain prices to the farmers.  The
Manitoba government of the time insisted it had jurisdiction over radio
licences and would not allow any Manitoba stations except their own,
CKX in Brandon and CKY in Winnipeg.  To get around this, the company
set up station CJRF in Fleming, which is on the Sask./Man. border. It
operated on 880 kHz with 1000 watts of power which was very high
power for that era.  They also set up CJRM in Moose Jaw which shared
the 880 kHz frequency (500 watts) and short wave VE9JR (2000
watts on 25.6 meters or 11,718 kHz) in Winnipeg.
In 1933 the Supreme Court quashed the Manitoba claim and Richardsons
set up station CJRC in Winnipeg.  Now the Fleming station was
no longer needed and went off the air.
Later when Richardsons sold all their stations, CJRM was moved to Regina
and became CKRM.

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

If a non-directional antenna with 6 db of gain was fed with a 10 watt
transmitter, what would the effective radiated power be (neglecting
feedline losses)?

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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