GUYWIRE NOVEMBER 2005 Editor VE5SC sewert@sasktel.net

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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
(Please note that the website will shortly
be moving to a new provider. We will keep you informed.)
The website 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 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9TH 7:30 PM
IMAX BOARDROOM SCIENCE CENTER

There will be a presentation on digital communication modes by Terry 
VE5TLW.


DETAILS ON THE CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER APPEAR
IN ALLAN TIDBALL'S REPORT BELOW.

Brief notes of recent and on-going RARA activities.
Submitted by: Allan Tidball (Interim President)

Club Station - 

Malcolm McLeod (VE5ZG) has accepted the position of Station Manager for 
the Club station. He had a good look at the facilities and is planning to 
develop a detailed layout for the equipment, label cables appropriately 
and generally make the station more easily workable. The RARA executive 
would like to thank Malcolm for taking on this position and we hope that 
all club members will provide assistance if and when required to return 
the Club station to active service.

Basic Classes - 

Classes are almost completed, three sessions remaining, and I am sure that 
we all wish the students good luck with the exam as well as looking 
forward to talking to them as new hams. The RARA executive would like to
thank the instructors for giving their time in teaching the various 
sections. Those hams are: Rick Rickwood (VE5RJR), Terry White (VE5TLW), 
George Harwood (VE5UU), Stan Ewert (VE5SC), Bruce Rattray (VE5RC), Bill 
Wood (VE5EE) and Allan Tidball (VE5LAT).

October Presentation -

Following the October General Meeting, Bruce (VE5RC) and Stan (VE5SC) 
presented details of radio amateur assistance during the recent disasters 
in the southern US. Their discussion related to how the amateurs have
developed unique ways of using the internet in conjunction with repeaters 
to provide communications under disaster conditions. The presentation 
showed how hams provide the flexibility of communications under such 
conditions and how we should be prepared locally to provide disaster
assistance. Our thanks go out to Bruce and Stan for this presentation.

Flea Market -

The executive of the RARA has concluded that it will not be possible to 
hold the usual November "Flea Market". We will be considering offering a 
replacement event in the future, possibly spring 2006. We hope to develop 
an expanded format that will generate renewed interest in similar events.

November General Meeting Presentation - 

Following the meeting, Terry White(VE5TLW) will present
the topic "DIGITAL MODES"

***--->>>  A SPECIAL REMINDER  <<<---***

The December 14th General Meeting will be replaced with a casual and 
relaxing meal.
Location: CLASSIC BUFFET 100 Albert Street
Time: 6~6:30 p.m. approximately
Keith Jeal (VE5AFK) has arranged this event and he says that we still have 
place for a few extras.
This is open to all amateurs, wives and families.
If you wish to attend this event, leave a note at ve5rara@gmail.com Thanks
Keith for all the arrangements.


PUBLIC SERVICE

JINGLE BELL RUN - 

The event took place on November 6th @ 10:00 AM at the Centre of the Arts. 
VE5TLW looked after organizing the event.

SALVATION ARMY KETTLES - 

The Salvation Army, has once again, requested the assistance of ARES to 
man their Christmas Kettles this year. In view of the support the 
Salvation Army lends to ARES, it is a very worthwhile endevour.

The locations available are as follows: Cornwall Centre
(11th ave. entrance), Cornwall Centre (top of escalator), Northgate Mall
(outside of Zellers), Golden Mile Plaza, Normanview Crossing, Walmart
(North), Southland Mall, Vic Square Mall, Superstore (East), Superstore
(rochdale), Walmart (East), Walmart (South).

This year's campaign dates are: November 25 &26,
December 1 - 3, December 5 - 10, December 12 - 17 &
December 19 -24. The schedule is a one hour shift
starting at 11:00 AM and ending at 8:30 PM.

Please reply to me as to your preferred time that is
convenient if you are willing to man a kettle. I will
try and get a schedule that is acceptable to most.

73
-Terry (VE5TLW)

SANTA CLAUS PARADE - 

Once again we will be organizing the Santa Parade. Thanks to the people 
who have volunteered so far and I am looking for a few more to help. If 
you can assist, please let me know.
It is on Sunday November 13th at 12:30pm. Lineup starts at 10:30 on 25th 
Ave.

-Bill VE5EE

MYSTERY SIGNAL CAUSING INTERFERENCE

An unknown signal is causing interference to UHF links at Last Mountain 
and Wynyard. The signal is most often heard on 445.475 mHz and appears to 
be coming from the Regina area. The carrier is keying approxmately once a 
second continuously with no identification of any kind. It is very loud, 
running 10 dB over S9 at times, even out at White City.
If anyone has a rotatable UHF antenna I would appreciate it if you could 
take azimuth/signal strength readings and let me know so we can track it 
down.-VE5SC


WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

www.antennex.com is an interesting site for an on-line
magazine about everything antenna related.
(thanks to Bill VE5AAR)

Last months Puzzler


Maximum permissable transmitting power levels are set out in the Radio
Regulations. The regulations also limit the maximum power that a transmitter
may be capable of producing. The two are not necessarily the same. What is
the maximum legal power level that a transmitter can produce?

Quoting RIC-2, section 10. The transmitting power of an amplifier at an
amateur station shall not be capable of exceeding by more than 3 dB the
limits on transmitting power described in this section. Therefore it would
not be legal to have an amplifier which can put out more than twice the
power limit on a specific band.


This Months Puzzler:

Yagi antennas are commonly in use in amateur work. Another antenna in use is
called a Quagi. What is it?

Answer next month.