GUYWIRE

   MARCH  2005

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    WEDNESDAY  MARCH 9TH  7:30 PM
   IMAX BOARDROOM   SCIENCE CENTER

A presentation on Frequency Co-ordination and Repeater Standards
will be given by VE5SC.

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   FROM THE PRESIDENTS DESK

I hope this finds you all healthy and happy. I regret to inform you that I
have not been following up as fast as I should have been with the
reactivation of our Amateur Radio Station at the Saskatchewan Science
Centre. Part of my excuse is that I have been sick the last couple of
weeks.  I will pursue this as quickly as I can.

Radio Amateurs celebrating the Centennial of Saskatchewan as a Province

The first item of news is that for the month of July Saskatchewan amateur
radio operators have been authorized to use special prefixes.  If I have
it right, those with a VE5 prefix may use XL5 and those with a VA5 prefix
may use XM5. This was announced on the Saskatchewan evening net by
VE5RAC.  I think this announcement was February 17, 2005.

It seemed that for our club's centennial celebration we could do something
new for field day.  I explored the possibility of using the newly enlarged
hill in Wascana Park (at MacDonald Street and Assiniboine Avenue) as a
field Day site for 2005. The essence of their answer was, "We're expecting
you".  We would have a few hoops to jump through, mostly informing them of
our plans for towers, antennas, and locations of tents and licence numbers
of any trucks or trailers parked there for the duration.  For us there
would be a few new challenges:
* ensuring that no member of the public is exposed to any danger (or any
participant), we will not be allowed to control access to the hill,
although I think we will be allowed to keep people clear as we are lifting
or pulling something
* if we start placing stuff on Friday at noon, to make sure all equipment,
etc., is secure until the crew comes Saturday morning, we will probably
have to post overnight patrols
* erecting shelters, tents, trailers
* and making sure we have adequate furniture for operating positions,
picnic tables, or desks and chairs,
* using an area in which most of the flat space is covered by parking lot
and turnaround
* creating ways to elevate our antennas

We know that we may not be able to get as high a score from contacts as we
are used to, or that we may have to enter a category with more
competitors. What we would be trying for is more participation from local
amateurs and being more conveniently located for the interested public.

The only way this can be a success is if every member contributes
something to the preparation.  What can you contribute? We will discuss
this further at Wednesday's meeting.

Come to the meeting Wednesday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Imax Boardroom.

That's all for this month.
73
John Allen, VE5SJA
President


   PUBLIC SERVICE REPORT

Upcoming public service events:
   April 17   Police Half Marathon
   May 1    Family Fun Run - Lumsden
   May 2    Red Shield Appeal
Organizers are still looking for hams to assist.


   WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY

2005 theme for World Amateur Radio Day, celebrated each year on
April 18th, will be "Radio Amateurs Expanding the World of Wireless
Communications."  World Amateur Radio Day marks the anniversary
of the founding of the IARU in 1925 and provides an opportunity to
present a positive image of Amateur Radio to the general public.

   MOOSE JAW FLEA MARKET

A reminder that the annual Moose Jaw Flea Market is upcoming on
April 2nd at 9:00 AM at the Church of Our Lady, 566 Vaughn St. W.
This is the same location as in previous years.  A map showing how
to get there is on the SARL website.

   IRLP NEWS

There are about 35 nets using the IRLP system that can be accessed
on our repeater.  Some are general nets, others special interest nets. 
In addition to the Saskatchewan net (Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:00
pm CST on reflector 9300), here is a list of some interesting sounding nets.
SSTV Net,  NW Elmer Net, Visually Challenged Net, VK8 Net, Ham Radio
Newcomers Net, Hawaiian Net, Railham Net, Orange County Trivia Net,
Swedish Net, Bozo Net???,  as well as the Red Cross Net and various
ARES regional nets.  Complete information on those and other nets
including times, days and reflector numbers can be found at www.irlp.net.
Click on "IRLP Net Info" at left of the screen.


   INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

Two more countries, Spain and South Africa have officially ended the
CW requirement for entry level amateur examinations.

The planned DXpedition to Peter Island (3Y0X) has been cancelled due
to transportation problems.  It is hoped it can be rescheduled next year.

In operating news, congratulations are in order to Sam VE5SF who came
out on top of the Low Power division of the Canadian Contest Champion-
ships for 2003


   HAM WINS ON JEOPARDY

Sixteen-year-old Michael Braun, K3LNT has won the Jeopardy Grand
prize. Michael, who is now the captain of the team told the Washington
Post that he knew everything academic-related that came up on Jeopardy
with very few exceptions. That took him though all the preliminary rounds
and to the finals where he came in with a $9,400 lead over his nearest
competitor. In the final episode broadcast Tuesday evening February 8th,
in the USA Michael got off to a slow start, getting beaten on the buzzer
for the first few questions.  But he picked up speed with a slew of answers
on chemistry, geography and even Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

The series was taped last October, but Michael had to keep quiet  about
the outcome until the final round was broadcast.  Michael says that he
will use the money won on Jeopardy for his college education.

(thanks to WB3GXW, Washingtom Post, via ARNewsLine)

   SASKATCHEWAN HAMFEST

The year 2005 marks the Centennial Celebration for Saskatchewan
and as such, the Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club and the Meewasin
Amateur Radio Society of Saskatoon are hosting the Saskatchewan
Amateur Radio League annual Hamfest for 2005.

Join us at the Travelodge Saskatoon for our Centennial Celebrations
July 22-24, 2005. The theme of the hamfest 2005 will be the last century
of amateur radio, a look at the role of amateur radio in Saskatchewan and
discussions about the future of ham radio operations in Western Canada.


     THIS MONTHS INTERESTING WEBSITE

http://www.research.att.com/projects/tts/demo.html
Type in your text, and have it read aloud by any of 13
automated speakers who are breathlessly awaiting your input.
Courtesy of AT&T Labs:

   HOT CELLPHONE

 Folks working in Ogden, Utah's Police Dispatch Center had an
emergency of their own recently when the battery in an operator's
cellphone caught fire inside her jacket pocket, burned its way
out, then burned holes in the chair and carpet.  The cellphone
was relatively new and equipped with the manufacturer's battery.
This incident is unlike other reports where cheap third-party
batteries were blamed for fires and explosions.
The Utah worker was shaken but not injured.

      
LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

What is the maximum allowable bandwidth a signal may occupy in the
6 Meter band?

Answer:   30 KhZ

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

In the same vein, what is the allowable bandwidth a signal may occupy
in the 70 cm band?

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.

Please note that the fees quoted below may change if a fee increase
is passed at the annual meeting.
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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 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

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