Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
VE6BLD
Welcome to the CAARC web site. I have been a Ham since 1978 and am active on most modes from HF to UHF Satellite communications.
Posts by VE6BLD
EMO worker tries to drum up enthusiasm for ham radio
Oct 14th
EMO worker tries to drum up enthusiasm for ham radio
In an emergency, ham radio is an essential form of communication, Mike Johnson says
A free workshop about ham radios will be held in Sackville on Oct. 22. (Nicole Williams/CBC)
A ham radio probably isn’t the first form of communication a person thinks about in an emergency, but sometimes, it’s the only one that works.
Ham radios can use wireless transmission to send messages to battery-operated radios.
And they can be useful when large storms knock out telecommunications, says Mike Johnson, the Cumberland Regional Emergency Management co-ordinator.
He is partnering up with EOS Eco-Energy and the West Cumb Amateur Radio Club to hold a free workshop in Sackville to try get more people interested in ham radios.
Different technology
Johnson, who is also a member of the WestCumb club in Amherst, N.S., said that when we lose essential communications such as cellphones, landlines and the Internet — a ham radio can come to the rescue. Hurricane Michael, which struck Florida this week, devastated normal channels of communications.
Storms that knock out telecommunications for long periods of time create more problems for co-ordinated emergency response, he said.
He said he’s already seen how ham radios could help in New Brunswick.
In January 2017, a massive ice storm knocked out power to thousands in the northeast for days.
Operators dwindling
“It became very difficult,” said Johnson.
Today, ham radios are considered a hobby more than a necessity, and not many people know how they work.
“Our numbers are dwindling,” Johnson said of the amateur radio clubs.
But younger members are needed, especially since the clubs’ services may be needed even more as the climate changes.
“We still use Morse code to this day,” he said.
Requires a test
Johnson said there are a few steps to becoming a ham radio operator.
“You need to study, take the test, once you pass it’s a one-time cost,” he said. “It’s good for life.”
After that, it’s just buying the equipment to use. Equipment for amateur radio costs between $300 and $5,000.
The workshop will be held at the Sackville Royal Canadian Legion on Monday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m.
October 17th General Meeting
Oct 14th
The Next CAARC General Meeting will be held on Wednesday October 17 at 7:30PM .
You will be able to sign up for membership at the meeting.
We will meet at the Red Deer County Protective Services Station Number 6 building located at 249 Clearview Drive east of the Westerner Park. Go south of 19th Street on 40th Ave . Turn left on Clearview Drive and follow it to the east around the corner south to the Red Deer County Protective Services Station Number 6 Building on the east side.
See the google map below.
SABRE-27 High Altitude Balloon
Sep 17th
Hi
The weather is looking promising so we’re going to give it another try this Saturday, September 29.
Please pass this on to anyone you think may be interested.
73, Bruce – VE5BNC
Unfortunately we’ve had to postpone the flight due to terrible weather. (near freezing, 40km winds and a mix of snow and rain).
I’ll re-send an announcement when we have it rescheduled.
Thanks
Bruce
Hi Bob
The Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club is planning on flying a VHF voice repeater on our next flight on September 22. Please pass this on to anyone you think will be interested.
SABRE-27 High Altitude Balloon is scheduled to be launched on Saturday, September 22 at 15:00 UTC (Weather Permitting)
Some of the particulars are:
SABRE-27 High Altitude Balloon Amateur Radio Payloads
2 meter, 1 watt Simplex Repeater (a Store and Forward or Parrot Repeater)
Repeater Simplex Frequency 147.540MHz (Up-link and Down-link)
Repeater ID: VE5AA
Two – APRS Trackers sending information on Altitude, Latitude, Longitude
VE5AA-11 500 MW beacon every minute also with Telemetry of Temperature and Battery Voltage
VE5AA-12 500 mW beacon every minute, timed to interleave with VE5AA-11 beacons
A 10 mW CW beacon on 433.9 (+- as it will drift with temperature)
People can view the location of SABRE-27 by searching for the APRS tracker ID’s on aprs.fi
or use link https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%
The payloads will ascend with the balloon and descend with a parachute, total time 3 to 4 hours
Anticipated height is at least 90,000 feet (18miles) variable
Of particular interest to many Radio Amateur may be the 2m Simplex Repeater operating at a height of 18 miles above earth, that should provide a fairly wide coverage, possible west to BC, east to Ontario, and south to the northern States. Range of the extended repeater coverage will vary depending on height of repeater at various times but may be usable for approximately 3 hours.
We encourage all Radio Amateurs regardless of their location or type of equipment, to take participate, and take advantage of this opportunity to get some DX? through a 2meter qrp repeater up in the sky.
Lets see what kind of radio coverage we can get.
Thanks
Bruce – VE5BNC
Jack Humphries VE6JRH/VA6IX Silent Key
Apr 15th
It is with sadness we announce the passing of Jack Humphries VE6JRH/VA6IX from Olds. Jack received his Amateur Radio license in June 2001 and had been very active on the bands ever since. Jack was very instrumental in helping many hams obtain their licenses and he made many friends on HF and VHF. Jack worked many stations around the world on various bands and was always listening and ready to engage everyone in a meaningful conversation. He will certainly be missed.
Jack’s funeral service will be held on Friday April 20th at 11:00 A.M. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3802 57 Ave. Olds.
The following is from a profile of Jack, written on the CAARC web site October 30, 2003.
I grew up on a farm southwest of Drumheller, Alberta, just south of the Horse Shoe Canyon. I came down with Diabetes Mellitus in 1947, which certainly changed my way of life.
My father took ill in 1950 and my work load at age eight got considerably heavier, with lots of chores to do. Dad then suffered a stroke in 1952 and work around the farm got a lot harder. I started driving truck and hauling grain when I was ten years old. Dad passed away in 1953 when I was eleven. I had a younger brother and two younger sisters.
I met my XYL in Calgary during 1960 and we went our separate ways until we married in 1965. We lived in Calgary, on 42nd Street SW, had two children, a boy and a girl. We subsequently moved to Olds, Alberta in 1969. We bought a shoe store in 1974 and sold it during the devastating inflationary early eighties. I presently work in Life Insurance and Mutual Funds as an independent broker.
Please click this link to read the complete profile of Jack.
Dov/4Z4DX announces special event stations
Dec 2nd
From Earl Rubin
4X, Israel:
Dov/4Z4DX announces that special event stations will be operating from several HOCOTA
locations between Dec. 22 and 24. QSOs will count towards a special award as well. QSL only by EQSL.CC and LOTW
4X2XMAS-Tabor mountain,
4X3XMAS-Caeserea,
4X4XMAS-Nazareth,
4X6XMAS-Arbel,
4X7XMAS-catholic church Beer Sheva,
4X9XMAS-Nitzana .and
4X0XMAS- Shivta
For more info please check QRZ.COM
New CAARC Executive for 2107- 2018
Nov 17th
Congratulations to the new executive. Click this link to see them if you are logged in to this web site.
Baofeng UV-5R dual band winner.
Nov 17th
The Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band VHF / UHF Amateur Hand Held Radio
was won by Richard VA6RGB.
Congratulations!
(no Picture as he left early).
2017 Voyageurs Rendezvous APRS
Jul 3rd
I will be travelling with the 2017 Voyageurs Rendezvous providing water support with my jet boat. They will be traveling from Rocky Mountain House to The Pas MB from 1 July to 23 July as part of the Canada 150 celebrations. This will commemorate the worlds longest canoe race from Rocky Mountain House to Montreal which occurred during Canada’s 1967 Centennial year. Although I will not be using an APRS radio, I will be using iAPRS to track our journey via the cellular network whenever I have cellular service. If anyone is interested in tracking our progression, they can look for my little canoe under VE6DDD-10. Not sure what the cell service will be like but will give it a go anyhow. More info can be found at www.voyageursrendezvous.ca
Thanks
Darcy VE6DDD
Silent Key
Apr 1st
Silent Key:
VA7RCG Roger Gibson , died on March 5th 2017, Celebration of Life will be held at Delburne Community Hall on Saturday, April 29th at 1:30 pm.
Roger was Deputy Director of Emergency Management, a volumteer firefighter with Delburne Fire Rescue and a member of CAARC.
Open microphone, coffee, tea and desert. All welcome.