GUYWIRE

MAY 2008

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, net
listings 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: WED. MAY 14TH 7:30 PM IMAX BOARD ROOM Saskatchewan Science Center. Use IMAX entrance and take elevator up to the top floor. Post meeting event TBA

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PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS CALENDAR

May 24th I Love Regina Run
June 15th SGI Run
June 21st Echo Valley Challenge
June 29th Ironman
June 28/29th Field Day

Details on the I Love Regina Run

A new run is being sponsored by the City this year called
I Love Regina. It will start and finish at City Hall. The
run is similar to the SGI Run - From City Hall, down Smith St. to the park and back. We will need at least 9 radio operators. The run is Sunday, May 25th starting at 9:00 am. It should be wrapped up by 11:00 ish. If you can assist, give me a shout, email, poke with a sharp stick, or even a call on one of the repeaters!

Best 73's
Bill EE

HIGH ALTITUDE JUMP SCHEDULED

Michel Fournier will drop off the stratosphere from an
altitude from about 130,000 feet (40 000 meters).
He will be flying from the North Battleford airport
between May 25 and 29. The capsule and Michel will
both have APRS trackers so it will be possible
to monitor the progress of the ascent and the Big Jump. http://www.legrandsaut.org/index.php?lang=eng


PROFILES OF OUR PAST

In each issue we will offer a glimpse into the
lives and accomplishments of Regina hams from the past
and how they made their mark on the local radio scene.

This month we salute Jack Kyle ex VE5JK. Jack was an avid experimenter and had many firsts for this area. He worked as a projectionist in the top two Famous Players theatres in Regina, the Capitol and the Metropolitan, both unfortun- ately demolished in the name of progress. Jack was probably the first ham in the area on 2 meters using equipment he built. Even though there was no one else to talk to, he did it to prove that it could be done. This was well before the time when there were manufacturers making amateur two meter gear. He was an avid mobiler, somehow being able to fit a tube-type home made station into his little Austin car. This was no mean feat because Jack himself was not what you would call a small person physically.

UK: BBC CLOSES SHORTWAVE TO EUROPE

The British Broadcasting Company has announced that all its shortwave radio transmissions to Europe ceased on 18th Feb. 2008. The U-K based broadcaster says that it recognize that this will be a loss to some of their listeners, its managers point out that BBC World Service radio programs are delivered to Europe via other platforms including longwave at night.

The BBC's World Service grew from the original British Empire Service which was inaugurated in 1932. Last year the BBC celebrated its 75th anniversary and today boasts an estimated world audience of some 180 million.

According to the announcement, only the analog shortwave transmissions to Europe are affected. The experimental Digital Radio Mondiale or D-R-M transmissions for North East continental Europe will continue unaffected. Full details of World Service sound broadcasts can be found on the web at bbc.co.uk/worldservice. (GB2RS)

CANADIAN AMATEUR ABOARD DAMAGED SAILBOAT

A Canadian Radio Amateur aboard a damaged sailboat is
nursing concussion after being rolled over in the
turbulent South Atlantic Ocean but says he has no intention
of giving up an unusual solo voyage around the world.
Glenn Wakefield VA7MLW of Victoria BC, reported from his 12-metre sailboat off the Falkland Islands in a ham radio transmission layered with static. "This storm is expected to last another three days, so I'll just have to tough it out, that's all I can do here and then once it's over I'll make my way to Stanley, capital of the Falklands." He said.

A carpenter with two grown daughters, he sailed away
from Victoria in mid-September intending to become the
first North American to circumnavigate west-about, or
into the prevailing winds that whirl around the
bottom of the planet, rather than with the wind as
is conventionally done.

His wife, Mary-Lou, is keeping a stiff upper lip and
updating the official website at home in Victoria

www.kimchowaroundtheworld.com

credit RAC

RADIO-ACTIVE SUNSPOT

A new sunspot is growing near the sun's eastern
limb, and it is crackling with solar flares.
Yesterday, one of the flares,a C1-class explosion,
unleashed a radio burst heard in loudspeakers of
shortwave radios across the United States.
Ham radio operators may wish to point their antennas
at the sun in the days ahead in case this activity
continues.
Visit http://spaceweather.com to hear the sounds of this "radio-active" sunspot.

Also go to http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/14dec_
excitement.htm?list79056 for more sunspot information.
-ve5zg

W4RNL SK

It has been reported that L B Cebik W4RNL is now a silent
key. LB was known for his helpful website on antennas and
his experimentation in that field.
The website is still up at www.cebik.com/radio.html


WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Who says amateurs can't carry a tune? Go to this site for
some lighthearted entertainment, and then go to the
other site they mention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s49tnxT8F8

LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

What is the smallest country in the world and what is its prefix?

ANSWER:
There is going to be a lot of controversy about this one and it has a lot to do with definitions. Three responses we received said it was the Vatican, however according to Bruce VE5RC who submitted this puzzler the world's smallest sovereign nation is SMOM - the Sovereign Military Order of Malta - they rent nine buildings, comprising two blocks inside the Vatican ... their only income is stamps and coin collectors ... I think they are all that's left of the Knights of Malta. Their amateur radio prefix is 1A0

This is not to be confused with the island of Malta (9H1) which is a whole different country.

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

A ham is at the north pole with a beam antenna and wants
to work a station in Russia. He points his antenna north
for maximum signal. Why did he do this?

Answer next month



MEMBERSHIPS ARE NOW DUE

R.A.R.A. Membership Application 2008– 2009
(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