GUYWIRE
SEPTEMBER 2009
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: SEPTEMBER 9TH 7:30 PM
IMAX BOARD ROOM SCIENCE CENTER
Take the elevator to the top floor and go past
the IMAX projection room.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FALL FLEA MARKET
Keep the morning of October 31st open for the annual Flea
Market. Bart, VE5CPU will again be looking after organizing
it and you can contact him for tables. More information
will be forthcoming shortly.
There will also be a special SARL meeting in conjunction
with the Flea Market.
ARES Report
Once again the Queen City Marathon (QCM) is looking to us
for communications. The race is to be held on September 13th.
Full information, including maps and a course narrative is
available at: http://runqcm.lfchosting.com/Maps.asp.
Approximately 25 radio operators will be required to
cover the marathon course. The marathon is supported
for six hours, from 08:00 - 14:00. If you can volunteer
for the entire time or a portion thereof, let me know
Also, if you have a location preference please advise me.
We should meet at the Start/Finish Line, located just
east of the T.C. Douglas Building at 07:15 and plan on
being at your assigned location by 07:45.
Be prepared for any weather condition that may be
encountered, have water and snacks available. Make
sure your radio battery is fully charged and have
a spare if available. We will use the VE5TH repeater
(147.120+) for the west portion and the Balgonie
repeater (146.640-) for the east portion. In case
of repeater problems the backup repeater will be
VE5UHF (444.250+).
73
-Terry (VE5TLW)
Other upcoming events:
Terry Fox Run Sept. 27th
Flatlanders Road Race Oct. 3rd
CIBC Run For the Cure Oct. 4th
GOODBYE TO BILL
Bill Wood, VE5EE has had a long association
with RARA having served in many capacities in the
past. It is with regret that we learn that Bill and
Mavis will be leaving us and moving to Ottawa. Bill
served many years as Emergency Co-ordinator for Regina
and was very active in public service events and in
organizing ham classes for the club.
He was probably just as well known for his fearless tower
climbing abilities and many height-challenged hams in
the area have been grateful to Bill for work done on
their towers. He was certainly a man we could look up to.
Good luck to Bill and Mavis on their new adventure.
NEW CELLPHONE LAW
The government of Saskatchewan is proposing a new law
governing the use of cell phones while driving. This
could have an impact on amateur mobile activity. Make
your views known to your club or to the SARL.
Intervention by hams in Manitoba resulted in their
law being amended to exempt federally licensed radio
licensees such as police, fire, ambulance and amateur
radio stations. We should make sure the same thing
happens here.
EXHAMINER PROGRAM
The download page has moved to a new location
on the RAC website:
http://www.rac.ca/en/amateur-radio/beginner-info/exhaminer/
- A new version of the program has been released.
- The Advanced qualification has been made available
for ExHAMiner.
73, François VE2AAY Granby QC
HAMFEST A SUCCESS
The Saskatchewan Hamfest was held at Lanigan July 11th. The
turnout was beyond expectations. The day started with the
traditional Flea Market featuring a large number of tables
with choice bargains. Lunch was then provided followed by the
annual SARL meeting. This was the best attended SARL meeting
in a decade. Officers were elected and Cal VE5CAL was named
president. In the absence of any other volunteers, Joe VE5CEM
was nominated to act as director for the Regina area.
Various trophies and certificates were presented, including
one to Chris, VE5BAR for his involvement with IRLP and
reflectors in the province. The Field Day trophy went to
RARA again this year. Rick, VE5RJR accepted the trophy on
behalf of the club.
The afternoon closed with a power point DXpedition
presentation by Murray VE5MC.
You can view or download the official photo of those
attending by going to:
www.sarl.ca and click on Sask. Hamfest.
SASKATCHEWAN 2 METER NET
Join your friends on the Saskatchewan 2 Meter Link
net every weekday night. Just get on the VE5WM repeater at
9:00pm and you may be connected to as many at 20
Saskatchewan repeaters as well as frequent visitors from
Alberta, Manitoba, many U.S. points and Australia and
New Zealand. Over the last year or so, 140 different
stations have checked into the net, including 95 from
Saskatchewan.
Another net to try is the Trans-Canada net every Wednesday
morning at 9:00AM. On the VE5WM repeater, if someone hasn't
already done it, just dial up reflector 9013 to join the
cross-country group.
PROPOSALS FOR A VLF BAND
Industry Canada is looking into a proposal to establish a
band at 135.7-137.8 kHz. More details can be seen at:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf09423.html#sE3
- RAC
GERMAN HAMS BOUNCE SIGNALS OFF VENUS
On March 25, 2009, a group of German hams bounced radio
signals off the surface of Venus, marking the first time
Amateur Radio operators have sent and received signals
directed to another planet. The team's transmitter generated
about 6 kW CW @ 2.4 GHz, the signal traveled about 100 million
kilometers and had a round trip delay of about five minutes.
The Earth-Venus-Earth ("EVE") experiment was repeated on
March 26 for several hours with "good echoes" from Venus.
Morse code was used to transmit the well-known 'HI' signature
(four dots followed by two dots). All things considered, this
is a landmark accomplishment for ham radio operators.
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/09/0403/
MORSE CODE MAKES A COMEBACK
Here's a real surprise for those who think that Morse Code
is dead or dying. It is reported that the number of Morse Code
("CW") logs submitted for the 2008 CQ World Wide DX Contest
exceeded the number of voice ("SSB") logs for the first time
in more than 20 years. A total of 5013 SSB logs and 5272 CW
logs were submitted.
Adapted from Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1654 for 4/24/09
WEBSITES OF INTEREST
They have a bridge to sell you. Go to:
http://click-4-the.info/09/1/magnetic-power
The sun is in the pits of the deepest solar minimum in
nearly a century. Weeks and sometimes whole months go
by without even a single tiny sunspot. Are sunspots
disappearing? Experts discuss the question in today's
story from Science@NASA.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03sep_sunspots.htm?friend
Green Statement 2009: No trees were sacrificed in
the dissemination of this newsletter; we regret that a
large number of electrons were inconvenienced.
R.A.R.A. Membership Application 20092010
(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 Assoc.
(VE5LAT) Box 153 Station Main
Regina, Sask. S4P 2Z6