The Radio Amateurs of Canada have posted their Contest Rules for the 2024 Winter Field Day Contest.

RAC Canada Winter Contest 2023: December 30

December 2023 has been declared Youth on the Air Month.  To learn more about this event go to

December is Youth On The Air (YOTA) Month!

As their 75th Anniversary year closes out we wish the club  all the best in the future.

To see the latest edition of their newsletter go to

https://wm-no.glb.shawcable.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en&id=732410&part=2

Congratulations to those Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association members that participated in the Radio Amateurs of Canada Winter Field Day Contest. Their call was VX7NA

Multi Operator Multiple Transmitter (MOMT)
Call Score CDN RAC DX QSOs Mult Award
VE6RAC 786,510   Points
N6RO 687,800         Points
VE5RAC 454,800    Points
VE7RAC 436,540    Points
VA2RAC 325,472   Points
VX7NA 154,840      Points
VY2RAC 86,080      Points

The World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) starts tomorrow. It will be held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from November 20 to December 15 and RAC Special Advisor Paul Coverdale, VE3ICV, will participate as a member of the Canadian Delegation. Watch this space for regular updates.

More info at

World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23)

CECA will participate in a simulated emergency test on Nov 29 2023 from 0900-1300 hrs. If you are interested in participating contact Devan

Received from the ARRL

RRL Bulletin 31  ARLB031
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  November 14, 2023
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB031
ARLB031 ARRL Hails FCC Action to Remove Symbol Rate Restrictions

The FCC Commissioners unanimously voted to amend the Amateur Radio
Service rules to replace the baud rate limit on the Amateur HF bands
with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit to permit greater flexibility in data
communications.

“The Federal Communications Commission today adopted new rules to
incentivize innovation and experimentation in the amateur radio
bands by removing outdated restrictions and providing licensees with
the flexibility to use modern digital emissions,” announced FCC.

The announcement can be found online at,
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-398409A1.pdf .

The new rules can be found online at,
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-23-93A1.pdf .

“Specifically, we remove limitations on the symbol rate (also known
as baud rate) — the rate at which the carrier waveform amplitude,
frequency, and/or phase is varied to transmit information —
applicable to data emissions in certain amateur bands,” concluded
the FCC Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
adopted November 13, 2023. “The amateur radio community can play a
vital role in emergency response communications but is often
unnecessarily hindered by the baud rate limitations in the rules.”

Consistent with ARRL’s request, the amended rules will replace the
current HF restrictions with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit. “We agree
with ARRL that a 2.8 kilohertz bandwidth limitation will allow for
additional emissions currently prohibited under the baud rate
limitations while providing sufficient protections in the shared
RTTY/data subbands,” concluded the FCC Report and Order.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, hailed the FCC’s action to
remove the symbol rate restrictions. Roderick stated that “this
action will measurably facilitate the public service communications
that amateurs step up to provide, especially at times of natural
disasters and other emergencies such as during the hurricane season.
Digital technology continues to evolve, and removing the outmoded
data restrictions restores the incentive for radio amateurs to
continue to experiment and develop more spectrum-efficient protocols
and methods while the 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit will help protect the
shared nature of our bands. We thank Congresswoman [Debbie] Lesko
(AZ-08) for her efforts on behalf of all Amateurs to get these
restrictions removed.”

In a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM), the FCC proposes
to eliminate similar restrictions where they apply in other bands.
“We propose to remove the baud rate limitation in the 2200 meter
band and 630 meter band – and in the very high frequency (VHF) bands
and the ultra-high frequency (UHF) bands.

“Additionally, we seek comment on the appropriate bandwidth
limitation for the 2200 meter band, the 630 meter band, and the
VHF/UHF bands.”

ARRL has previously expressed its support for eliminating the symbol
rate limits in favor of bandwidth limits where they apply on the VHF
and UHF bands but suggested that the bandwidth limits themselves be
reviewed in light of today‘s technology and tomorrow‘s
possibilities. Similarly, when eliminating the baud limits on the
2200 and 630-meter bands, consideration should be given to what, if
any, bandwidth limits are appropriate.

The FCC will announce a period for public comment on the additional
proposed changes based upon publication of the FNPRM in the Federal
Register.
NNNN
/EX

The BC Emergency Alert System will test on Nov 15 2023 at 1:55pm. More information may be found at

https://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/test

The following was received from the ARRL

ARLB029 W1AW 2023/2024 Winter Operating Schedule

ZCZC AG29
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 29  ARLB029
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  November 6, 2023
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB029
ARLB029 W1AW 2023/2024 Winter Operating Schedule

Morning Schedule:

Time                  Mode     Days
——————-   —-     ———
1400 UTC (9 AM EST)   CWs      Wed, Fri
1400 UTC (9 AM EST)   CWf      Tue, Thu

Daily Visitor Operating Hours:

1500 UTC to 2045 UTC – (10 AM to 3:45 PM EST)

Afternoon/Evening Schedule:

2100 UTC (4 PM EST)    CWf      Mon, Wed, Fri
2100  ”      ”         CWs      Tue, Thu
2200  ”  (5 PM EST)    CWb      Daily
2300  ”  (6 PM EST)    DIGITAL  Daily
0000  ”  (7 PM EST)    CWs      Mon, Wed, Fri
0000  ”      ”         CWf      Tue, Thu
0100  ”  (8 PM EST)    CWb      Daily
0200  ”  (9 PM EST)    DIGITAL  Daily
0245  ”  (9:45 PM EST) VOICE    Daily
0300  ”  (10 PM EST)   CWf      Mon, Wed, Fri
0300  ”      ”         CWs      Tue, Thu
0400  ”  (11 PM EST)   CWb      Daily

Frequencies (MHz)
—————–
CW: 1.8025 3.5815 7.0475 14.0475 18.0975 21.0675 28.0675 50.350 147.555
DIGITAL: – 3.5975 7.095 14.095 18.1025 21.095 28.095 50.350 147.555
VOICE: 1.855 3.990 7.290 14.290 18.160 21.390 28.590 50.350 147.555

Notes:

CWs = Morse Code practice (slow) = 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM
CWf = Morse Code practice (fast) = 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM
CWb = Morse Code Bulletins = 18 WPM

CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW
bulletins.

DIGITAL = BAUDOT (45.45 baud), BPSK31 and MFSK16 in a revolving schedule.

Code practice texts are from QST, and the source of each practice is
given at the beginning of each practice and at the beginning of
alternate speeds.

On Tuesdays and Fridays at 2330 UTC (6:30 PM EST), Keplerian
Elements for active amateur satellites are sent on the regular
digital frequencies.

A DX bulletin replaces or is added to the regular bulletins between
0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Thursdays and 0100 UTC (8 PM EST) Fridays.

Audio from W1AW’s CW code practices, CW/digital bulletins and phone bulletin is available using EchoLink via the W1AW Conference Server named “W1AWBDCT.”  The monthly W1AW Qualifying Runs are presented here as well.  The audio is sent in real-time and runs concurrently with W1AW’s regular transmission schedule.

All users who connect to the conference server are muted.  Please
note that any questions or comments about this server should not be sent via the “Text” window in EchoLink. Please direct any questions  or comments to w1aw@arrl.org .

In a communications emergency, monitor W1AW for special bulletins as  follows: Voice on the hour, Digital at 15 minutes past the hour, and CW on the half hour.

All licensed amateurs may operate the station from 1500 UTC to 2045 UTC (10 AM to 3:45 PM EST).  Be sure to bring a reference copy of your current FCC amateur radio license.

The weekly W1AW and monthly West Coast Qualifying Runs are sent on the normal CW frequencies used for both code practice and bulletin transmissions.  West Coast Qualifying Run stations may also use 3590 kHz.

Please note a W1AW Qualifying Run replaces a regularly scheduled
code practice transmission on any particular day and time.

The W1AW Operating Schedule may also be found on page 28 in the
November 2023 issue of QST or on the web at,
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule .
NNNN
/EX

From the Nov 2 2023 ARRL Letter

Special event stations will offer many opportunities for amateur radio operators to honor Veterans and make contacts for Veterans Day.

The K1USN Radio Club will be on the air on Saturday, November 11, 2023, to show their appreciation for those who have served in the military. The club station is located at 85 Quincy Avenue in Braintree, Massachusetts. K1USN will be on the HF bands on SSB, CW, and FT8, and they will begin operating at 1300 UTC and run until 2100 UTC. K1USN QSL cards will be available for all who contact the station.

The American Legion Post 111 Amateur Radio Club, KA4TAL, in South Carolina will also operate on November 11 from 10 AM to 3 PM ET on 14.255, 7.264, 14.275, and 7.185 MHz. Email talarc.ka4tal@gmail.com for electronic contact certificates.

On the same day, the Liberty ship S.S. John W. Brown, K8JWB, will hold National Liberty Ship Day. The event honors those who served in the military and operated, protected, and built all 2,710 World War II Liberty ships, including the Merchant Marines, the Navy Armed Guard, and the female shipyard workers recruited during the war. Operations will be on 14.250, 7.225, and 21.300 MHz, from 0200Z – 0800Z. QSL cards will be available by mail from Project Liberty Ship PO Box 25846 in Baltimore, Maryland.

In Ohio, the Central Ohio Radio Club will hold their third annual Veterans Day Check-in Net on November 11, beginning at 11 AM ET. They will use their main VHF repeater, W8AIC, on 146.76 MHz (PL tone 123.0 MHz). All amateurs can check in and share stories about their own military experience, or information about family and friends who have served. A special QSL card will be mailed to each ham who contacts the station.

The Charles County Amateur Radio Club in Maryland will host their special event, The Ghost Fleet at Mallows Bay, on November 11 from 1400Z – 2100Z. Mallows Bay is the site of more than 100 shipwrecks and is now the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, the first national marine sanctuary in the state of Maryland. K3SMD will operate on 40 (7.270 Mhz), 20, and 15 meters on phone and FT8. QSL cards will be mailed to those who contact the station by Michelle Sack, N3YRZ, at PO Box 1182 in Waldorf, Maryland.

Also on November 11, the United States Marine Corps will celebrate its 248th anniversary (it was officially formed on 11/10/1775) and Veterans Day. The USS Midway CV-41 COMEDTRA amateur radio station, NI6IW, will be on the air from 1700Z – 2359Z on 14.320, 7.250, and 14.070 MHz. The station will use PSK31, D-STAR, the PAPA System repeaters, and a wide-area amateur radio network of 57 additional repeaters on 19 hilltops. These will provide extensive coverage of the Southern California region and beyond. A QSL card will be available for every operator who contacts NI6IW.

A complete list of special event stations, including Veterans Day stations, is available at www.arrl.org/special-event-stations. Type “Veterans” in the keyword search bar to find the stations.