GUYWIRE

MARCH 2010

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 Wednesday March 10th 7:30 PM in the Imax
boardroom of the Science Center. Take the elevator up to
the top floor and proceed past the Imax projection room.
Bill Smith VE5AAR will give presentation on software radio.

Since this is the end of the RARA financial year, the year-end
financial report will be posted on the RARA website shortly.


HAMFEST IS IN SWIFT CURRENT THIS YEAR

The Southwest Amateur Radio Club will be sponsoring this
years' Saskatchewan Hamfest. It will be held in Swift
Current on July 10th. Details will be forthcoming later.
Keep that date open and attend if possible.

ANNUAL MOOSE JAW FLEA MARKET

The Moose Jaw Flea Market will be held April 17th at the
Western Development Museum starting at 9:00 AM

NEW REPEATER

VA5INV is a new repeater located at Endeavour SK and is
part of the Parkland repeater system. It is on 147.00 + mHz.

BACK TO OUR ROOTS?

In the beginning of radio, ham operators along with
ship and shore stations generally operated on the lower
frequencies. After the first radio regulations were drafted,
hams were only allowed to operate above 1500 kHz (or 200 meters).
There was much dissatisfaction at the time but hams soon
discovered that the high frequencies were just as useful and
in fact provided longer range communications. Soon commercial
interests took note and they moved up to the high frequency
bands as well.
Moving forward 80 years and ham radio is reclaiming
its low frequency roots. Very soon the 137 kHz allocation
will be approved in Canada and many countries are giving their
hams operating privileges in a band around 500 kHz. Chances
are good that this will be our newest band.
Low frequencies provide consistent propagation conditions
and are not affected by disturbances such as sunspots.
The LF presentation at the last meeting was well received
and as a result several local hams have begun experimenting.
Anyone interested in experimenting with LF should go to:
http://www.nutstreet.net/k0lr/test-tx.htm to see a very easy-
to-build 1 watt transmitter using one IC and two transistors.


NEWS FROM CHILE

Dr. Galdino Besomi CE3PG Radio Club de Chile president informs
that soon after the earthquake, the Emergency Net was activated
in the whole country, first on VHF and them in HF. All the
board and club members are actively working in close
coordination with civil and military authorities.
After three days of the earthquake the request for news about
people in the affected countryside areas is one the main
activity occupying the radio amateurs.

73,
Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH
President - Executive Committee - IARU Region 2

At the request of the International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) and the Red Chilena Nor Austral Servicio
(RECNA), all Amateurs are requested to keep all IARU
Center of Activity Frequencies clear until further
notice as health and welfare traffic is being passed
to and from Chile. Call frequencies be avoided include
28300,28500,21200,21350,14200,14350,7050,7095,3738,
3750 kHz.

Many thanks for your understanding,

73
Doug Mercer VO1DTM
Vice President Field Services
Radio Amateurs of Canada

ed: The 7095 frequency can be heard quite well here in
the evenings with earthquake traffic in Spanish.
*Anyone wanting to make inquiries about missing people
should do it through the SATERN website.


UPCOMING EVENTS

April 18 Police Half Marathon
Good Morning Walk
25 MS Walkathon
May 30 I Love Regina run


DID YOU KNOW?

In the 1920s hams were operating in the 52.5 meter band
(approx 5.7 mHz)

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

For more details on low frequency operations go to:
http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/lf_index.html


LAST MONTHS PUZZLER

Phonetics are a great help in relaying clear information. We have
an international standard now in place. Alpha Bravo Charlie etc.
What was the first suggested phonetic for the letter A back
in radios early days?

Answer: Amsterdam Baltimore Casablanca etc. were suggested
phonetics at the first International Radio Conference. Can you
imagine having to use those now?

This Months Puzzler

What operating system is known as QRSS?

Answer next month


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R.A.R.A. Membership Application 2010