GUYWIRE
APRIL 2006
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 www.sarl.ca/rara 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.
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NEXT MEETING APRIL 12TH 7:30 PM SCIENCE CENTER
IMAX Boardroom Use IMAX entrance.
Bill Smith and Bruce Rattray will give an interesting presentation on
kit building.
NOTICE TO MEMBERS
The 2005/2006 Club Financial statement is posted on the club website
www.sarl.ca/rara
FIELD DAY
Field Day will be held at Burnside school on the June 24/25th weekend.
Keep that date open and attend the April meeting to take part in
organizing this years operation.
ARES NEWS
Thanks to those who have already volunteered and I am still looking for
a few more to cover the course. The Marathon is on Sunday April 23rd
beginning at the Centre of the Arts. Runners do two laps around the
east lake (U of R, Douglas Park, etc.) and one around the west lake
(Leg't, etc). We meet at 7:30 at the north entrance of the centre of
the arts.
--- Bill Wood VE5EE
This year the MS Walkathon is being held April 30th. Rick VE5RJR is
organizing it. You can contact him for further details.
RST OR RSQ ?
There is a proposal to replace RST signal reporting with a different
format for use with digital modes. The IARU Region 1 Conference
September 2005 recommended that RSQ (Readability, Strength, Quality)
replace the traditional RST reporting format for HF digital modes. This
new format provides an opportunity for operators to give more
meaningful signal reports when for example operating the popular PSK31
mode and is destined to become part of the Region 1 HF Managers
Handbook. The RSQ report description, IARU recommendation and other
supporting information can be found at:
http://rsq-info.net/IARU-Region-1-recommendation.html
-RAC
SASKATCHEWAN MINI HAMFEST AND FLEA MARKET
July 8th starting at 10:00 AM at the Manitou Beach Resort just north of
Watrous. Admission free for SARL members and $5.00 for non-members. For
free flea market tables, contact VE5ACJ at valve5acj@sasktel.net.
CELLPHONES POSITIONING DATA FINGERS MURDER SUSPECT
New York City police detectives arrested an ex-convict on suspicion of
homicide based at least in part on phone company records showing the
trail of his T-Mobile cellphone on the day of the crime, putting him at
the crime scene in the hours before the victim's body was found. Many
cellular subscribers remain unaware that wireless carriers' technology
keeps track of all subscribers' phone locations, even when the phones
are not being used to place calls. In fact, phone positioning data may
provide stronger evidence than relying on witnesses.
-CGC Communicator
GOOD NEWS ON SUNSPOTS
BOULDER—The next sunspot cycle will be 30-50% stronger than the last
one and begin as much as a year late, according to a break- through
forecast using a computer model of solar dynamics developed by
scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
Predicting the Sun's cycles accurately, years in advance, will help
societies plan for active bouts of solar storms, which can slow
satellite orbits, disrupt communications, and bring down power systems.
The scientists have confidence in the forecast because, in a series of
test runs, the newly developed model simulated the strength of the past
eight solar cycles with more than 98% accuracy. The forecasts are
generated, in part, by tracking the subsurface movements of the sunspot
remnants of the previous two solar cycles. The team is publishing its
forecast in the current issue of Geophysical Research Letters.
The Sun goes through approximately 11-year cycles, from peak storm
activity to quiet and back again. Solar scientists have tracked them
for some time without being able to predict their relative intensity or
timing. Forecasting the cycle may help society anticipate solar storms,
which can disrupt communications and power systems and affect the
orbits of satellites. The storms are linked to twisted magnetic fields
in the Sun that suddenly snap and release tremendous amounts of energy.
They tend to occur near dark regions of concentrated magnetic fields,
known as sunspots. The Predictive Flux-transport Dynamo Model is
enabling NCAR scientists to predict that the next solar cycle, known as
Cycle 24, will produce sunspots across an area slightly larger than
2.5% of the visible surface of the Sun. The scientists expect the cycle
to begin in late 2007 or early 2008, which is about 6 to 12 months
later than a cycle would normally start. Cycle 24 is likely to reach
its peak about 2012.
-RAC
WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
Ever hear of a Near Vertical Incident Skywave antenna? This interesting
concept is described on our website of the month.
www.w0ipl.com/ECom/NVIS/nvis.htm
Ever wonder how callsigns are assigned in other countries?
Try the following URL for details on North America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/North_American_call_sign
LAST MONTHS PUZZLER
If a transmitter has a 1 watt power output in the Low power position
and 16 watts in the High position, by how many decibels does the power
increase when switching from low to high power?
Answer: 12 dB or according to Terry VE5TLW 12.04 dB
THIS MONTHS PUZZLER
In a real or simulated emergency can an amateur radio operator
communicate with stations not operating in the amateur radio service?
Answer next month
It's a new membership year. Be sure to renew.
R.A.R.A. Membership Application 2006 – 2007
(Please write clearly and enter Y or N in boxes as required)
Name: _____________________________________________
Call Sign: ______________ Current RAC membership
Mailing Address: _____________________________________
_____________________________________
e-mail Address: _____________________________________
Renewal or New Membership
Single Membership ($30) ____ Family membership ($35) ____
I have enclosed $____ for ____ membership(s) indicated above. Please
include this application with your fee to club treasurer Allan Tidball
or mail cheque to Regina Amateur Radio Association
(VE5LAT) Box 153 Station Main
Regina, Sask. S4P 2Z6