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1995-02-25
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SB RAC @ CANADA < VA3RAC $RAC_9502.18
RAC NEWS BULLETIN 03-95 INTERNET EDITION - 18 FEBRUARY 1995
Issued at RAC Administrative Office
614 nNorris Court, Unit 6
Kingston, ON K7P 2R9
Editor: Cam Inglis VE3UXN <CAMERON.INGLIS@GTM-INC.COM>
Internet Transmission: Steve Cutway VE3GRS <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA>
IN THIS BULLETIN
DETAILS ON THE WILD ROSE COUNTRY AWARD
SPECIAL PREFIXES - COMMEMORATING END OF WAR IN EUROPE
NEW 144 MHZ RECORD
AMATEUR RADIO DEFENSE FUND
CANADIAN YOUNG AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD 1995
CANADA SUPPORTS IARP
REPORT YOUR ADDRESS CHANGE PROMPTLY TO RAC
HEFTY FINES FOR ILLEGAL OPERATIONS IN THE US
RADIO BEDLAM IN ISRAEL
THIS MONTH IN TCA
DETAILS ON THE WILD ROSE COUNTRY AWARD
The Wild Rose Country Award is available to all Amateurs and Shortwave
Listeners who log stations from within the province of Alberta.
1. There is no fee for the award, sponsored by the Amateur Radio League of
Alberta.
2. VE6 stations require 30 contacts, all other VE's require 20. USA
stations need 15, and international stations need only 10.
3. Canadians please enclose a SASE, USA stations please use a green stamp
or 2 IRCs, and international stations 4 IRCs or a green stamp.
4. There are no band, mode, satellite restrictions.
5. There are no time restrictions.
6. For Canadians with access to IPARN, they count as well.
7. Packet BBS contacts count.
8. The award is designed for all Amateurs, whatever mode.
9. Send to VE6SRC, Stu Crawford, 6354 Bowview Rd. N.W., Calgary, Alberta,
T3B 2H8, Canada.
SPECIAL PREFIXES - COMMEMORATING END OF WAR IN EUROPE
On 10 February 1995, Industry Canada Quebec Region gave permission for
all Canadian Amateurs to use special prefixes to mark the 50th Anniversary of
the end of the Second World War in Europe. This is part of the "Canada
Remembers" programme sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
From 0000 UTC 25 March 1995 through 2359z 28 May 1995, Canadian Amateurs
may use special prefixes as follows:
Regular Prefix Special Prefix
VA2 VX2
VA3 VX3
VA7 VX7
VE1 CJ1
VE2 CJ2
VE3 CJ3
VE4 CJ4
VE5 CJ5
VE6 VX6*
VE7 CJ7
VE8 CJ8
VE9 CJ9
VO1 XO5
VO2 XO4
VY1 XN5
VY2 XN4
*The CJ6 prefix was unavailable in Alberta as there is another special event
using that prefix during this period.
NEW 144 MHZ RECORD
From ARRL Headquarters, Newington CT
December 12, 1994
A new tropospheric ducting, continental distance record has been
reported on the 144 MHz amateur band. On November 5, Rene Shaw, WB4MJE, of
Big Pine Key, Florida, and Serge Szpilfogel, VE1KG, of Halifax, Nova Scotia,
worked over a 1687 mile path. The previous record was 1468 miles, set by
K5WXZ and K1RJH, and had stood since October 1968. WB4MJE is crucially
located for this work at the southern tip of the Florida Keys.
This information comes from Al Ward, WB5LUA, who maintains VHF and UHF
North American distance record information for QST's ''World Above 50 MHz''
column. Records are published in April QST each year.
AMATEUR RADIO DEFENSE FUND
From VE6JY
It is evident that our hobby is being threatened by municipal
regulations and bylaws governing the installation of Amateur radio towers and
antennae. Meanwhile, federal regulations address this situation but an
increasing number of municipalities are instituting by-laws attempting to
regulate these installations. Industry Canada has encouraged Amateurs (CPC
2-0-03 provisional) to consult with their neighbours and the municipality
before erecting a tower so as to address their concerns. While the
municipalities have no jurisdiction over these installations pertaining to
height and siting, it is felt that every possible effort should be made to
address this and come to a reasonable solution between the interested parties.
Industry Canada would prefer a non-confrontational solution. At this time,
Industry Canada is being approached for their position on this issue. CPC
2-0-03 can be obtained from your regional office of Industry Canada.
There is at present a test case: VE6FQ vs the County of Strathcona, near
Edmonton, Alberta where an amateur is directly challenging the bylaw as
opposed to merely having his own tower and antenna approved. If successful,
it will likely spell easier times for Amateurs in other municipalities. If
the appeal is not successful, it will mean an escalation in the movement of
municipalities in opposition to our case which could affect Amateurs in any
municipality in Canada. The case is at the Alberta Court of Appeals stage.
It is estimated that the cost to proceed with this appeal could exceed what
most would be willing or able to pay. Because of the implications to all
amateurs, it seems fair that we share the cost. Legal counsel has advised
there is a very good chance of a ruling in our favour.
It is conceivable that an Amateur Legal Defense Fund could be set up.
While it will take some time to activate this fund, there is an immediate need
to raise funds to assist the present case. In view of this and possible
future problems, an interim trust fund to aid the legal defense of Amateurs
has been established.
Donations may be made in person or by mail to : CANADA TRUST, 13318-50th
St.,Edmonton, Alberta T5A 4Z8. Donations must be made payable to Account #
501744 Branch 681 (Amateur Fund). Donations may be made in person at any
Canada Trust branch across Canada.
The object of this fund is to assist Amateurs with legal costs and
disbursements for cases that could affect all Amateurs e.g. antenna tower
problems and radio interference problems such as the Ravenscroft case in
Ontario. The idea, in view of the large increase in our numbers, is to have
the fund in place before the fact. A committee will be established to set
guidelines which will determine whether or not a case will be supported.
The funds interim administrators are : Lorne Ingrey VE6AWI, Don Moman
VE6JY and Heinz Paeuser VE6LDX. Questions may be addressed to any of the
above Amateurs.
CANADIAN YOUNG AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD 1995
The York Region Amateur Radio Club is calling for nominations for the
1995 Young Amateur Of The Year. The award will be made on recommendation by a
panel of YRARC directors. Nominations are welcome from any official of a RAC
affiliated club anywhere in Canada.
Details of the candidate, with his or her age and accomplishments in the
field of Amateur Radio will form the basis for the judging. The information
may be anywhere from a few paragraphs to two pages. A photograph and any
supporting articles would be useful.
Submissions including details about the sponsor and sponsoring club
should be forwarded by April 30, 1995 to: Terry Vanhattem VE3VHT, York Region
Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 28590, Aurora, Ontario L4G 6S6.
The February YRARC Splatter reprinted a letter from Alex Hoenig VO1ALX,
winner of this award last year. He lives in Portugal Cove, Newfoundland.
Along with the recognition associated with this award comes some cash, part of
which Alex donated to his local club to help with their repeater system
improvements. He wasn't sure how the rest of his award was going to be spent
but some ideas he had for the money all related to Amateur Radio. If you work
HF you may hear Alex on 20 meters.
CANADA SUPPORTS IARP
Dr. Bruce Gracie, Head of Industry Canada's International
Telecommunications section, reports the approval of the resolution and
provisions for an International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) at a meeting of
the permanent executive committee of CITEL (COM/CITEL), recently held in
Montevideo Uraguay.
The permit will make it easier for Amateurs to operate from countries in
this hemisphere. RAC President, J. Farrell Hopwood VE7RD, had asked IC to
support the resolution.
IARU Region II Vice-President Tom Atkins VE3CDM, who has worked on the
permit issue over a number of years states, "We are moving ahead. The next
stage is to have it approved by the General Assembly of the Organization of
American States (OAS)."
Look for more details on this subject in upcoming editions of The
Canadian Amateur magazine.
REPORT YOUR ADDRESS CHANGE PROMPTLY TO RAC
If you move, it is important to report your change of address as soon as
you can. Oakville Amateur Radio Club bulletin editor, Lynda VE3RDS,
discovered that even though you pay to redirect your mail when you move, you
may find 2nd class mail not being rerouted. Since TCA is mailed 2nd class,
you could find your monthly magazine going somewhere besides your new home.
RAC won't know this is happening because the magazine is not returned. If
your magazine subscriptions are important to you, be sure to notify publishers
of your address change.
The correct mailing address for Radio Amateurs of Canada is: 614 Norris
Court, Unit 6, Kingston, Ont., K7P 2R9.
HEFTY FINES FOR ILLEGAL OPERATIONS IN THE US
If you think your last traffic ticket was painful, wait until you see
what the FCC has to offer. The commission's new fine schedule includes a $625
penalty for "assorted minor violations," and a $1,250 fine for failure to
identify your station. Unauthorized use of equipment can cost you $5,000.
Running excessive power, failing to respond to an FCC communication, or
operating on an unauthorized frequency will set you back $10,000 under the new
schedule, and transmitting indecent material or words could cost $12,500.
Causing malicious interference to another ham is $17,500, and failing to
permit an FCC station inspection carries a hefty $18,000 price tag.
But if you really want to help reduce the US national debt, try sending
a false SOS. Illegal distress communications now cost $20,000 per
transmission.
In addition, the FCC has the authority to adjust its fines; these are
just the base amounts recommended for first-time offenders.
RADIO BEDLAM IN ISRAEL
Interference from pirates and jammers on the 2 metre band in Tel-Aviv is
so bad that Tuesday Amateur nets are sometimes turned into shambles.
Recently, there was an explicit request made at a time when the net was really
hurting. The Amateurs were requested not to jam the jammers, but leave the
nefarious signals uninterfered with so that those doing the fox-hunting could
get a good fix on the jammers. Amazingly, the interference stopped.
According to Hagal International - Israel Ham News, complaints to the Ministry
of Communications have not resulted in any solutions even though jammers can
be identified.
In Israel, it is a criminal offence to operate an unlicensed transmitter
but the country is apparently full of commercial stations operating without
licences in major centres. One of these illegal stations that can be heard
from 25 Kms away, plays music, takes call-ins, relays news on the hour from a
legal national radio network and has so many commercials that songs don't run
to the end. According to the Amateur newsletter, the country is full of these
stations and they're making money hand over fist, operating completely in the
open with their owners and radio personalities well known.
With all of this going on, Amateur radio operators are not surprised
that their complaints are not being dealt with. One illegal commercial
station operated from 1973 to 1994 from a ship outside the territorial waters
so as not to be closed down. Another AM station still operates illegally from
a ship and has been broadcasting for more than five years.
THIS MONTH IN TCA
The new-look March issue of The Canadian Amateur features a cleaner,
redesigned appearance and the good news that Industry Canada has put the
application of EMCAB-2 on hold. There is also an answer to the question: Can
you keep your call when you move to another province?
The latest census of amateur radio licences in Canada is presented, plus
details of progress on an International Amateur Radio Permit and the
involvement of a Canadian in setting a new terrestrial 2m distance record.
There are details of the VHF/UHF bandplanning group and the cover and feature
article this month details the first year of operation of the very busy RAC
Outgoing QSL Bureau.
All this, plus the usual extensive selection of letters, Silent Keys,
regular columns, contest and DX reports, Club Corner news, YL News, QUA,
Rogues-Gallery, ARES, Public Service, Section News, bench and homebrewing
tips, shortwave listening, the Swap Shop, upcoming hamfests and fleamarkets
and propagation forecasts - all in the March issue of The Canadian Amateur,
coming to your mailbox this month.
73 de VA3RAC Steve VE3GRS at the keyboard <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QUEENSU.CA>