RAC Appoints New Deputy Community Services Officer

For immediate release: Radio Amateurs of Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Tremblay, VA3JXT, as its Deputy Community Services Officer (CSO) effective immediately. Jason recently represented RAC at the International Amateur Radio Union’s General Assembly Emergency Communications Workshop in Lima, Peru (as shown in the photo) and he has extensive Emergency Communications … Continue readingRAC Appoints New Deputy Community Services OfficerRadio Amateurs of Canada

A BC Hydro report reveals over 60% of BC residents are still not prepared for power outages and over 50% do not have emergency kits. All this despite last Decembers record setting windstorm. To learn more go to

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-hydro-preparing-for-winter-storms-1.5369222

The 2020 Awards Committee has opened their nominations. The closing date for nominations is Feb 15 2020. To learn more go to

The following information from the ARRL

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) North Valley Station (old Fire Station 77) was burglarized recently. The thieves broke into the radio room and took virtually everything including the lights. While they were careful in removing the radios — brackets and all — they chose to vandalize the room after they were done. LAPD has taken a report and processed the area for fingerprints. The list of stolen items is available. Area amateurs were asked to watch ham radio classified ads and inform the LAFD ACS if any of the listed items are shown. Serial numbers for all radios are available. The members will soon begin to raise funds to replace the equipment and to better secure the facility. Donations to LAFD ACS are being accepted and appreciated. – Dan Tomlinson, NR6V, Los Angeles City Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) Battalions 10 and 17 Communications Unit Leader [Thanks to Duane Mariotti, WB9RER, for forwarding this report to the ARES E-Letter –ed.]

Amateur radio operators aided local residents during recent power outages in California. To learn more go oto

https://www.hmbreview.com/news/ham-radio-operators-seek-greater-role-in-emergencies/article_c0e228b8-0657-11ea-9f93-53cb1b5fb037.html

There is a new Winlink Gateway in Laz Paz Mexico.. Updated frequency list below.

Hams in several countries have gained access to the 60 M frequencies. To learn more go to

http://www.arrl.org/news/access-to-60-meters-continues-to-expand

When a ATV ridge ran into trouble ham radio came to his aid. To learn more go to

The site below has several articles on emergency planning that may be of interest to you.

https://www.vicnews.com/tag/greater-victoria-emergency-preparedness/

On October 7, 8 and 9, 2019, the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and CubeSat NB hosted the first of three Preliminary Design Review (PDR) meetings for the Canadian CubeSat Project initiated by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The Canadian Space Agency is providing support and guidance to 15 teams of university and college students across Canada who are building satellites. These satellites are in the “CubeSat” format, based on a standardized architecture of 10 cm cubes. All 15 proposed satellites will be deployed from the International Space Station (ISS), possibly starting in 2021.

Radio Amateurs of Canada was present because many of the CubeSat projects are proposing to use Amateur Radio frequencies. RAC Atlantic Director Dave Goodwin, VE9CB, attended the PDR to offer RAC’s insight into these projects and to discuss the processes required to secure frequency coordination for these projects through the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU).

At the meeting at UNB, six teams led by students from UNB, the Université de Moncton, New Brunswick Community College, the University of Prince Edward Island, Dalhousie University (NS), Memorial University of Newfoundland with C-CORE, the Université de Sherbrooke (QC) and Concordia University (QC), presented their work to date on designing six satellites. They sought feedback and suggestions from other teams as well as the federal government agencies – the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – and NanoRacks, the US-based company that provides launch services for the Canadian CubeSat Project.

Following the Fredericton event, similar meetings were also held in London, Ontario and Victoria, British Columbia for Preliminary Design Reviews of the nine other CubeSats in the Canadian CubeSat Project in Ontario, western Canada, and northern Canada.

Designing and constructing CubeSats is a complicated, multi-year process. These projects will develop these students’ skills in many facets of engineering, science, technology, business and project management. Once in orbit, these satellites will assist pure and applied scientific research. Some of these satellites may offer facilities that Radio Amateurs across Canada and around the world can use.– Dave Goodwin, VE9CB and Brent Petersen, VE9EX.