GUYWIRE

OCTOBER 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.ve5nn.ca
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. OCT. 8 7:30 PM IMAX BOARD ROOM
Saskatchewan Science Center.
Discussion: Where is ham radio heading in the future?

IMPORTANT NOTICE

THE IMAX ENTRANCE DOOR WILL BE LOCKED. SOMEONE WILL BE AT
THE DOOR WITH DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO GET TO THE IMAX BOARD
ROOM.


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PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS CALENDAR

Upcoming Events coming up in November TBA

Jingle Bell Run
Santa Claus Parade


FLEA MARKET

November 1st is the date for the annual RARA Flea Market.
The location is the SGI Claims Center, McCarthy Blvd at Rochdale. Doors open at 9:00 AM.
Refreshments served. For tables contact Bart VE5CPU ve5cpu@imagewireless.ca

K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

The sunspot appearance reported last week seems to follow
the pattern emerging for most of 2008. A spot will appear
for one or two days and then suddenly it is gone. Last
week's report mentioned the solar wind being at an all
time low. This week, NASA announced that so far, 2008 is
the "blankest year of the space age," with more than 200 spotless days. The minimum following
Solar Cycle 18 in 1954 had 241 days without sunspots, and it preceded the solar max in 1959
for Solar Cycle 19 that had the highest sunspot numbers on record. -arrl


COPPER THIEVES HIT A NEW LOW (OR HIGH)

WINDBER, Pa. -- Police in Somerset County are trying to
figure out how a radio tower went missing in Windber.
Police say a group of people had a very thorough plan
to get all 120 feet of steel and copper down from the
old Windber radio tower.
Police believe the thieves threw cables over the
guidelines of the tower and yanked it down with a
truck. Police also found cut bolts and torch marks
on nearby grass. Police say the tower had to be cut
into small pieces in order to get it out of the
wooded area, but they can't figure out how they
did it without anybody noticing.
"There's probably a half a dozen routes that come in
and out of that area. At least 20 four-wheelers and
ATV riders go through there a day," said Paint
Township Police Chief Rick Skiles.
The thieves also got away with a 300-pound Penelec
transformer full of copper.

HOW OLD IS YOUR BRAIN?
How "old" is your brain? Click on the URL below, touch
'start,' wait for 3,2,1, memorize the positions of the
numbers flashed on the screen, then click each blank
circle from the SMALLEST NUMBER TO THE LARGEST NUMBER.
At the end of the game,the computer will tell you your
brain's "age." Good luck! http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html
-CGC

LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

In what year did the first two-way transatlantic QSO take place?

Answer: November 27, 1923 - VE5LAT was the first one to
come up with the answer this month.

THIS MONTHS PUZZLER

The frequency offset for a 2 meter repeater is 600 kHz. What
is the standard offset for repeaters in the 440 mHz band?

Answer next month.



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