GUYWIRE

NOVEMBER 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.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT MEETING - NOVEMBER 10TH 7:30 PM Science Center - Imax Boardroom
The program following the meeting portion will feature Lee Mayer of the
Red Cross who will talk about emergency situations and the involvement
of amateur radio.

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||



CLUB NEWS

Regina Amateur Radio Association
Fall Flea Market
Saturday - November 13, 2004

SGI Claim Center (North)
(kitty-corner NE from Sherwood Mall )
1121 McCarthy Blvd. North
Regina, SK

9:00 am to Noon

Admission is FREE
Door Prizes
50/50

Tables $10.00 each
(Setup 8:30 am - 9:00 am)

Coffee & Donuts

To reserve a tables please contact Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU
Work: 306-789-9074 Home: 306-789-9073
e-Mail: ve5cpu@imagewireless.ca

CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER

The annual Christmas gathering sponsored by RARA will be held this year
on December 8th at the Classic Buffet, 100 Albert St. beginning at 6:30 pm.
This is in lieu of the regular monthly meeting. All hams and spouses, family
and significant others are welcome. Thanks again goes to VE5AFK for
organizing this.

PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT

The annual Santa Parade will be held Sunday November 14th at 12:30 pm.
Amateurs assist with the coordination of the four sections of the parade and
with traffic control. We require at least 10 and at best 16 amateurs to
help out. We begin set-up at 10:30 am and wind-up about 2:00 pm with a hot
lunch provided by the Southland Mall.
-Santa Claus Parade - November 14th at 10:30 @ Albert & 25th
Safeway, contact Bill Wood (VE5EE). email wwood@accesscomm.ca

-Salvation Army Santa Shuffle - December 4th at 09:30 in front
of the Legislative Building, contact Terry (VE5TLW).
In consideration of the Salvation Army's support of ARES activities
we decided at the October 19th meeting to man their Christmas Kettles.
In a discussion with Edith at the Army office, we will man kettles at
the Golden Mile, Northgate Mall, Costco and Victoria Square from 18:00 -
21:00 on December 21st.

The manning of the kettles can be done by teams of two or by
splitting a shift with someone else. Maybe discuss this with another
ARES member with reference to location and times. This is an excellent
opportunity to inform the general public to our organization.

I will be co-ordinating the schedule with the Salvation Army. We
should try to have our schedule in place by the first week of December.

-VE5TLW


IRLP NEWS

The VE5NDR (147.09 +) repeater at Snowden is now linked to Nipawin
and can access the IRLP system.

The Saskatchewan repeater net is on Monday and Wednesday nights
at 9:00 pm on the VE5WM repeater.

As of this writing, the VE5WM repeater is off the air due to renovations
taking place on the building housing the repeater. It should be back in
service shortly.


REPEATER NEWS

The 146.97 repeater, VE5CC in Saskatoon now requires a PL tone of 100 Hz
to access it.

There is a new repeater in Melville. VE5MDM is on 147.00 + The coverage
is reported to be excellent. This fills the hole created when the VE5BD
repeater ceased operation.

Watch for a new repeater coming on the air soon at Vantage Sask on 145.25 -

A few months ago we told you that that the repeater at Lizard Lake had ceased
operation. Now we learn that VA5WDB has purchased the site and plans to
put up a repeater on 145.39 - with the callsign VA5LLR. Future plans include
linking to Saskatoon.

SILENT KEYS

Sadly we report the deaths of two former RARA members.
VE5LV Wayne Pyne was club treasurer for many years and
actively supported the clubs' activities. He was also the first
and only ham to play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

VE5PO Elmer Fox also passed away recently.

-RAC NEWS-

EUROPE GETS MORE OF THE 40 METER BAND

After WRC 03, the European countries decided that "on condition that
harmful interference is not caused to the broadcasting service,
administrations may allow stations in the amateur service in Regions 1
and 3, from 1st January 2005 until April 2007, to use frequencies in the
band 7100 ­ 7200 kHz on a secondary basis, using a total radiated power
not exceeding 24dBW" (24 dbW is about 250 watts).

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SUNSPOT CYCLE

On Oct. 11th and 12th 2004, there were no sunspots, a sign that the solar
minimum is coming, and it's coming sooner than expected says NASA.
The average solar cycle is about 11 years, but its length can vary from as
little as 9 to as much as 14 years.
-Courtesy RAC


TOSHIBA TV SENDS DISTRESS SIGNAL ON 121.5 MHZ

On October 2, a 20 year-old college student in Corvallis,
Oregon was visited at his apartment by a contingent of local
police, civil air patrol and search and rescue personnel. Seems
that the student's year-old Toshiba flat-screen TV was emitting
an international distress signal picked up by satellite on
121.5 MHz. "They'd never seen [a] signal come that strong from a
home appliance," the student said. "They were quite surprised.
I think we all were." Considering some of the material being
broadcast today, can anyone blame a TV for calling for help?



LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

Who was the first person (and possibly the only person) in the world
to be assigned a permanent amateur callsign without a number in it?

Answer: Ernst Krenkel was the radio operator on the icebreaker Chelyuskin
which sank in ice off the coast of Siberia in 1933. Through his efforts the lives
of 104 people were saved. As a result he was awarded one of the Soviet
Union's highest decorations and was also allowed to retain RAEM, the
callsign of the Chelyuskin, as his personal amateur call. This was only one
story in his exciting life. For the full story of this fascinating man log on to:
www.home.swipnet.se/sm5lq/raemeng.htm

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

In amateur circles, what did the initials CAROA stand for?

Answer next month.



MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

To join or renew, fill out the form below and follow the instructions
at the bottom. Support Ham Radio in Regina.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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 VE5LAT 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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -