GUYWIRE

MAY 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 MAY 10TH 7:30 PM SCIENCE CENTER
IMAX Boardroom Use IMAX entrance.

VE5AAR will give a presentation on antenna design.

NOTICE TO MEMBERS

The 2005/2006 Club Financial statement is posted on the club website www.sarl.ca/rara

PRESIDENTS REPORT

The Regina Amateur Radio Association held the annual general meeting on April 12, 2006. New executive board has been elected, President - Darrell VE5SX , Treas.
- Allan VE5LAT , Secretary - Harvey , Board Members - Bruce VE5QRP, Bart VE5CPU , Bill VE5AAR , Rick VE5RJR , Stan VE5SC, ARES Representatives - Terry VE5TLW, Bill VE5EE. Thank you for volunteering. Some of our immediate plans will be to clean the Burnside site, install some No Trespassing signs, paint the exterior structure to give the place a look of being used.

Please join us on Wednesday May 10, 2006 @ Science Center Board Room for our monthly meeting, The main topic to vote on is insurance, Which policy do you want to insure our club? This month our presentation will be on Antennas.

Future programs we are trying to implement are: complete our Club Station room, JOTA Jamboree on the air with scouting groups.

If you have a particular Amateur Radio interest that you would like to pursue but require some extra help bring your idea to the club meeting, we may be able to help you launch the project.

If you would like be participate in any of our projects just let us know. Field day is fast approaching, If you plan on participating with Field Day at Burnside this year please let us know, It helps in the planning.

73's
Darrell
VE5SX

FIELD DAY - This year its June 24/25 at Burnside


ARES NEWS

Upcoming events:
May 13th Sweetheart Run see VE5CPU
May 31st RPS Open House operators needed see VE5TLW
June 4th SGI Classic co-ordinator VE5TLW
June 17th Beat Beethoven see VE5EE
June 24th Echo Valley Challenge see VE5EE

SASKATCHEWAN HAMS STANDBY FOR RED EARTH EVACUATION

VE5PNQ, the Saskatchewan Section Emergency Co-ordinator, put ARES on alert to assist with the evacuation of the Red Earth First Nation when the Carrot River flooded. Plans were made to provide communications along the evacuation route. Repeaters at Nipawin, Melfort, Tisdale, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Regina were connected together using the IRLP system. Operations centers were set up in Nipawin and Saskatoon and 25 operators volunteered to assist. In the end, our services were not required, but it provided an excellent exercise nonetheless.

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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.

REPEATER NEWS

The Melville repeater VE5MDM is now operational and is also connected to the IRLP system. It is node number 1858. The Parkland group is looking to set up a wide area repeater near Yorkton as well.

Thanks to upgrades the CBC made to their transmitter site, the VE5WM repeater site is now equipped with standby power.

SILENT KEY

We note the recent passing of Gudmund Thompson VE5TA. He
was a long-time member of the club and was a familiar sight at RARA meetings. Condolences go out to his family.

SPECIAL PREFIXES
All Australian Amateur stations will be allowed to use an AX prefix by for the period 0001-2359 hours Local time on May 17 to mark World Telecommunication Day.

DITHERING USED TO SPREAD POWER SUPPLY RFI

Switching power supplies can generate some nasty RFI spurs particularly on lower frequencies. Now, some designers are turning toward "dithering" the power supply switching frequency courtesy of a built-in random number generator. With this approach, instead of having a lot of RFI on one frequency, the RFI will be thinned out and spread across a wide spectrum like cheese on a cracker. -CGC Communicator

TRILLION DOLLAR PHONE BILL A REAL SHOCKER FOR MALAYSIAN MAN

Yahaya Wahab of Kuala Lumpur had quite a surprise when he opened a phone bill from Telekom Malaysia demanding payment of $218 trillion and giving him just 10 days to pay up or face legal action. Wahab says he can't wait for the legal wrangling to begin, and Telekom Malaysia says it's looking into the matter. -CGC Communicator

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

In the past there have been scenes on TV showing large towers being dropped. How would you like to see 13 towers simultaneously demolished? The demolition of the towers of Radio Liberty at Playa de Pays Spain can be seen (and heard) at: http://tinyurl.com/pzwz7

LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

In a real or simulated emergency can an amateur radio operator communicate with stations not operating in the amateur radio service? ANSWER Quoting from the Industry Canada RIC: 8.48 In a real or simulated emergency, a person operating radio apparatus in the amateur radio service may only communicate with a radio station that is in the amateur radio service in order to transmit a message that relates to the real or simulated emergency on behalf of a person, government or relief organization.

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

What is the maximum permissable power that can be used by a station with a basic licence.

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