Thanks to the efforts of the Surrey (BC) Emergency  Program Amateur Radio Society members kids will learn about emergency communications via amateur radio. The program will take place at the Surrey Museum.  For full details see http://www.surreyleader.com/community/140363773.html

Here is some information received from the Port Alberni Club about their swap meet.

                                                                                  Arrowsmith Amateur Radio Club

                              Third Biennual Swap Meet

When:  June 2, 2012

Where:  Alberni Valley Rescue Hall 4790 Tebo Ave.

                    (Come down Johnston Road turn left at McDonalds)

Times:  Sellers setup 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Times:  Buyers 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Sellers Tables:  $5.00 a table

Sellers Helper:  $5.00 each

Buyers entry fee:  $3.00 a person

Door prize and raffles: Icom 2300 Purchased from Radioworld

Extra tickets can be purchased for the door prize at $2.00 each

Talk in freq. 147.240 + 600

For more information listen to the Sunday net at 19:30 hrs. or

Bob   ve7mtv@gmail.com

RAC Bulletin 2012-013E – Volunteers needed for Dayton Hamvention.
2012-02-20

The Radio Amateurs of Canada will be at Dayton for Hamvention 2012 May 18th to 20th. Last year, after a decade long wait, the Radio Amateurs of Canada operated a Booth at the Dayton Hamvention. RAC officers and RAC members met with many existing members, signed up new members, introduced themselves to soon to be members, and spoke to hams from the United States and around the world including hams from China, Quatar, Germany, Japan and Great Britain.

RAC is returning to Dayton for 2012 and we are once again looking for volunteers to operate the Booth over May 18 to 20th. Last year we organized a single three hour slot for each volunteer. Your availability will determine your slot and flexibility is the watchword. Please forward your contact information and availability by email to ve4baw@rac.ca. with a cc: to our office at rachq@rac.ca. Looking forward to seeing you in Dayton!

Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW
President and Chairman of Radio Amateurs of Canada

On Sunday Feb 12^th the Coast Emergency Communications Association, a group of local ham radio operators who provide communication in times of emergency or crisis situations, conducted and Simulated Emergency Test.  Also participating were members of the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association.  This test was to confirm stable and reliable communication could be established using various modes of operation. In addition activation and mobilization plans were tested. The exercise allowed members to practice the handling of radiograms.  Stations involved in this communication exercise were located on GabriolaIsland,Nanaimo, Courtenay, Parksville, and North Vancouver. For this exercise the Emergency Management British Columbia radio room inVictoria was also activated. A total of 25 ham operators participated in this exercise.

The scenario for the event was an earthquake occurring on a previously unknown fault that runs underGabriolaIslandand out into the Strait of Georgia.  There was significant damage to general infrastructure as well as communication facilities on GabriolaIsland.Vancouver Islandalso suffered damage from aftershocks.  For the purposes of the exercise telephone service to Gabriola was severed, cell towers were impacted, and general phone service along with the cell service onVancouver Islandwas overwhelmed.

The exercise lasted for four hours.  During this period of time members used radios on VHF, UHF and HF frequencies. Stations were established in emergency operations centres, and reception centres.  This allowed the passing of radiograms up and down the east coast ofVancouver Islandand over to the lower mainland.  The content of these radiograms was operational information which dealt with the event itself as well as welfare traffic which expedited the reunification of families. Some information with respect to “injuries” and “evacuation plans” was conveyed along with requests for assistance from other agencies.

The four hour period provided time to review procedures regarding notification and deployment of personnel and resources, the evaluation of equipment, and the overall operational readiness of the group.  During this time period in excess of 100 radiograms were passed.  Overall the exercise was deemed a success by all involved. As with any exercise there were items noted that could be improved upon, however all volunteers are to be commended for their dedication to the amateur radio emergency service.

If you are interested in serving your community, by assisting with emergency communications and can meet the criteria below we are always looking for new members.

1. Live in the City ofNanaimo, or Regional District ofNanaimo,

2.  Are willing to submit to a criminal record check

3   And can provide about two hours a month

You do not have to have an amateur radio license to be part of the group. If you are interested in obtaining a license we will certainly assist you. For further information on amateur radio please visit   www.va7eca.ca, www.ve7na.ca  or www.va7mpg.ca

RAC Bulletin 2012-010E – Good News from WRC12 – A New Band at 600 metres.
2012-02-14

At its Plenary meeting held 14 February 2012 in Geneva the World
Radiocommunication Conference approved a new secondary frequency
allocation to the Amateur Radio Service at 472 to 479 kHz. Having
passed First and Second Readings it is normally a formality that this
change be included in the WRC-12 Final Acts when the Conference
concludes February 17th. The Table of Frequency Allocations would then
be amended accordingly.

The new band at 600 metres will represent the return of amateurs to
the medium waves – an area of spectrum we have not had access to since
the earliest days of radio regulation.

As a secondary user, amateur radio shares 472 – 479 kHz with the
Maritime Mobile Service who are the primary user in all three ITU
Regions and with the Aeronautical Radionavigation Service who are a
Secondary user except as noted in the following.

The new allocation to the amateur service is accompanied by several
footnotes including, i) a number of countries will identify their
intent to elevate the status of their Aeronautical Radionavigation
Service to Primary as a step in ensuring protection from secondary
users, and ii) the power which radio amateurs may use in 472 to 479
kHz will be limited to 5 watts (e.i.r.p.) except for amateur stations
within 800 km of the borders of a number of countries – principally
Russia, many of the former Soviet bloc and the Arab states. For those
affected amateurs the limit will be 1 watt.

It is, of course, up to individual administrations to authorize use of
the band by their amateurs. In the case of Canada, it seems certain
that such authorization will be forthcoming; however, the process
which has to be followed may take some time.

Canadian radio amateurs have played a central role in arriving at this
successful outcome. The documents submitted through the ITU in support
of this allocation were largely authored by Canadian amateurs – as was
the important work done in assessing the efficiency of the antennas
radio amateurs would likely use. Canadian amateurs have been present
at ITU meetings in Geneva since 2009 to advance the cause of this
allocation. Our regulator, Industry Canada, has been outstanding in
their support of our work and in ensuring today’s success. Finally,
our colleagues in the IARU, ARRL, RSGB, and DARC have all played major
roles.

Bryan Rawlins, VE3QN
Amateur Representative on the WRC12 Canadian Delegation

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Vernon Ikeda – VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor

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On Feb 13th Ottawa announced a new partnership with the Weather Network to help release accurate  emergency information. For full details go to

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/storm_watch_stories3&stormfile=National_Alert_Aggregation_Dissemination