All posts by va7mpg
Ian Macfarquhar, VE9IM, Receives Recognition from RAC for Excellence of Service.
The RAC Board has formally recognized VE9IM for his long term contributions to RAC. Ian has been a pillar of RAC for over a decade. He has served as Vice President through a number of Presidents and filled in as Acting President on many occasions. At our recent public meeting in southern Ontario RAC honoured Ian with a plaque presented before his colleagues.
Ian is currently RACs representative to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). The Space Agencies have entrusted ARISS with the task to organise ARISS School Contacts. When a contact is scheduled, volunteering amateur satellite operators set up a ground station in the selected school.
Ian is a resident of New Brunswick and is a consulting electrical engineer.
AMATEUR RADIO IN ONTARIO GETS POSITIVE PRESS
With the recent severe weather in Ontario some folks have started to realize the value of amateur radio. Here is some positive press with even a mention of BC
http://www.thewhig.com/2015/05/25/communications-is-amateur-radio-groups-specialty
RAC Comments on ARRL Proposed Changes to US HF Band Plans
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) published proposed changes to the US HF band plan for comment in the April edition of QST. Being proactive, the RAC Band Planning Committee reviewed their proposals for potential impacts on Canadian Amateurs.
Most of the proposed ARRL changes increase the sub-bands allocated to digital operations by extending the existing frequency limits upwards into band segments usually used for phone communications outside the US. While the RAC Band Planning Committee understands and supports the ARRL’s goal to provide additional space to accommodate the growth in digital modes, the proposed changes will have unintended consequences. As Canadian phone operations in the 80m and 40m bands take place primarily below the current US phone sub-bands to minimize mutual interference, the effect of the proposed changes would be to reduce the space available to Canadian Amateurs. On 40m and 20m, the proposed changes would also negatively impact DX phone operations throughout the Americas, and the rest of the world.
RAC has formally communicated our concerns to ARRL with the request that they include these concerns in their consideration of any changes to the US sub-bands.
George Gorsline, VE3YV
RAC International Affairs Officer
RAC HQ ON THE MOVE
The mailing address will not change as the office is relocating down the hallway within the same building.
RAC Chief Information and Technology Officer
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE TO CONDUCT TEST MAY 30 2015..
The National Hurricane Centre has announced they will conduct their annual test on May 30th 2015. To get all the information go to
ALBERTA ARES REQUESTS 14.135,7.135 AND 3.675 REMAIN CLEAR DURING THEIR FIRE EMERGENCY
Fires in Alberta have resulted in the activation of Emergency Management Alberta and the subsequent activation of amateur radio assets. RAC requests that Canadian and US amateurs honour the request of Alberta ARES that priority be given to Alberta amateurs on 14.135, 7.135 and 3.675 in their support of the Alberta government during the emergency.
Bill Boskwick, VE4BOZ
RAC Chief Field Services Officer
ve4boz@rac.ca
NTS AND ARES ARE NOW SEPARATE MANUALS
Next week the ARRL will release two separate manuals, one NTS and one ARES. Here is the release from the ARRL
The week following Dayton Hamvention will see the release of the new and updated ARES Manual. The ARES Manual and NTS Manual have together long been part of a single publication, The Public Service Communications Manual. The two manuals will now be separate publications. NTS leadership is currently reviewing and preparing to update the NTS Manual.
The new ARES Manual includes several new additions – inclusion of ICS forms 213, 205, and 214 for ARES use; an expanded discussion on training resources; clarification on the role and purpose of RACES; and copies of all current ARRL MOUs. The update is the first in over two decades and was a collaborative effort of field organization leaders, federal partners, and ARRL staff. The new manual will be made available online as a downloadable PDF.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BRITISH COLUMBIA CHANGES THEIR TWITTER ACCOUNT
The following is a release from Emergency Management British Columbia regarding their twitter account
Please be advised EMBC has changed the name of its @EmergencyPrepBC Twitter account to @PreparedBC. This is to better align the channel with EMBC’s new one-stop preparedness website, PreparedBC, and promote consistent information sharing.
Please update your online lists and contacts to reflect the change. You can also help spread the word by mentioning @PreparedBC on your own Twitter accounts and Facebook pages.
The remainder of EMBC’s social media channels will re-branded PreparedBC in the next few weeks.
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATIONS IN NEPAL DISCONTINUED MAY 18 2015 AFTER SECOND EARTHQUAKE..
Amateur Radio operations were resumed in Nepal after the second earthquake struck. These operations have now been shut down as the infrastructure has been returned to near normal operations. To read the latest update go to
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/nepal-amateur-radio-earthquake-relief-response-again-suspended