Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
General News
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.
SET 2018 Oct13
Oct 12th
SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST 2018 October 13
The Scenario: Please see Stephen’s post below
Possible useful info:
National HF ARES Frequencies
SSB Frequencies Tactical
75 M ‐ 3.675 MHz LSB Alfa
40 M ‐ 7.135 MHz LSB Bravo
20 M ‐ 14.135 MHz USB Charlie
17 M ‐ 18.135 MHz USB Delta
15 M ‐ 21.235 MHz USB Echo
10 M ‐ 28.235 MHz USB Foxtrot
CW Frequencies Tactical
80 M ‐ 3.535 MHz Golf
40 M ‐ 7.035 MHz Hotel
20 M ‐ 14.035 MHz India
17 M ‐ 18.075 MHz Juliett
15 M ‐ 21.035 MHz Kilo
10 M ‐ 28.035 MHz Lima
Digital Frequencies Tactical
80 M ‐ 3.596 MHz Mike
40 M ‐ 7.096 MHz November
20 M ‐ 14.096 MHz Oscar
17 M ‐ 18.096 MHz Papa
15 M ‐ 21.096 MHz Quebec
10 M ‐ 28.096 MHz Romeo
IRLP Reflector 9302
ARES Red Deer system
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Location | State | Call | Use | |
| 146.5550 | 0 MHz | 103.5 | Rimbey | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 444.5500 | +5 MHz | 91.5 | Red Deer | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 447.6000 | -5 MHz | 110.9 | Buck Lake | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 448.7500 | -5 MHz | 107.2 | Crossfield | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 449.8750 | -5 MHz | 107.2 | Alix | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 449.8750 | -5 MHz | 103.5 | Sundre, Limestone Mtn | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN |
CAARC system
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Location | State | Call | Use | |
| 145.2100 | -0.6 MHz | Nordegg | AB | VE6PZ | OPEN | ||
| 145.4300 | -0.6 MHz | Big Valley | AB | VE6UK | OPEN | ||
| 146.9100 | -0.6 MHz | Rocky Mtn House | AB | VE6VHF | OPEN | ||
| 147.1500 | +0.6 MHz | Red Deer | AB | VE6QE | OPEN | ||
| 444.7500 | +5 MHz | Red Deer | AB | VE6QE | OPEN |
SARA system
| Frequency | Offset | Tone | Location | State | Call | Use | |
| 145.2100 | -0.6 MHz | Nordegg | AB | VE6PZ | OPEN | ||
| 145.3300 | -0.6 MHz | 114.8 | Red Deer, Pine Lake | AB | VE6REP | OPEN | |
| 145.4100 | -0.6 MHz | 114.8 | Sherwood Park, CBC Tower | AB | VE6NHB | OPEN | |
| 145.4300 | -0.6 MHz | Big Valley | AB | VE6UK | OPEN | ||
| 146.5550
145.4900 |
0 MHz
-0.6 MHZ |
103.5 | Rimbey
Olds |
AB
AB |
VE6YXR
VE6OLS |
OPEN
OPEN |
|
| 146.6100 | -0.6 MHz | 114.8 | Calgary, CBC Tower | AB | VE6OIL | OPEN | |
| 146.6100 | -0.6 MHz | 100.0 | Lamont, Elk Island Park | AB | VE6TNC | OPEN | |
| 146.7300 | -0.6 MHz | 100.0 | Athabasca | AB | VE6BOX | OPEN | |
| 146.8200 | -0.6 MHz | Delia | AB | VE6HB | OPEN | ||
| 146.9100 | -0.6 MHz | Rocky Mtn House | AB | VE6VHF | OPEN | ||
| 147.0750 | +0.6 MHz | 141.3 | Innisfree | AB | VE6YHB | OPEN | |
| 147.0900 | +0.6 MHz | 100.0 | Pigeon Lake | AB | VE6PLP | OPEN | |
| 147.1200 | +0.6 MHz | Brooks | AB | VE6EID | OPEN | ||
| 147.1500 | +0.6 MHz | Red Deer | AB | VE6QE | OPEN | ||
| 147.3000 | +0.6 MHz | 123.0 | Edmonton | AB | VE6TOP | OPEN | |
| 147.3300 | +0.6 MHz | 100.0 | Edmonton, River Cree Casino | AB | VE6JN | OPEN | |
| 224.7600 | -1.6 MHz | 100.0 | Edmonton | AB | VE6HM | OPEN | |
| 442.9000 | +5 MHz | 141.3 | Bonnyville | AB | VE6YHB | OPEN | |
| 442.9000 | +5 MHz | 114.8 | Calgary, CBC Tower | AB | VE6OIL | OPEN | |
| 442.9000 | +5 MHz | 123.0 | Jarrow | AB | VE6HDY | OPEN | |
| 443.5750 | +5 MHz | 114.8 | Sundre, Limestone Mtn | AB | VE6MTR | OPEN | |
| 444.1750 | +5 MHz | 123.0 | Kingman | AB | VE6MTR | OPEN | |
| 444.4250 | +5 MHz | 114.8 | Delia | AB | VE6GWR | OPEN | |
| 444.4250 | +5 MHz | 141.3 | Westlock | AB | VE6MTR | OPEN | |
| 444.5500 | +5 MHz | 91.5 | Red Deer | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 444.7000 | +5 MHz | 123.0 | Edmonton | AB | VE6TOP | OPEN | |
| 444.7500 | +5 MHz | Red Deer | AB | VE6QE | OPEN | ||
| 444.9500 | +5 MHz | 114.8 | Sherwood Park, CBC Tower | AB | VE6NHB | OPEN | |
| 444.9750 | +5 MHz | 114.8 | Vulcan | AB | VE6AAP | OPEN | |
| 446.9750 | -5 MHz | 114.8 | Smoky Lake | AB | VE6SSM | OPEN | |
| 448.7500 | -5 MHz | 107.2 | Crossfield | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 449.3250 | -5 MHz | 123.0 | Wetaskiwin, Bear Hills | AB | VE6MTR | OPEN | |
| 449.8750 | -5 MHz | 107.2 | Alix | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN | |
| 449.8750 | -5 MHz | 103.5 | Sundre, Limestone Mtn | AB | VE6YXR | OPEN |
IRLP nodes
AB
| NodeID | CallSign | Node City | Province or State | Frequency | CTCSS |
| 1068 | VE6HM | Edmonton – EchoIRLP #51068 | AB | 147.0600 | 100.0 |
| 1099 | VE6MO | CAMROSE ECHO/PIRLP #8137 | AB | 146.5800 | 100.0 |
| 1188 | VE6RCM | Medicine Hat | AB | 147.5700 | 100.0 |
| 1199 | VE6MO | CAMROSE – ECHO/PiRLP # 4499 | AB | 446.0000 | 114.8 |
| 1260 | SARA | Province-wide | AB | 444.9500 | 114.8 |
| 1311 | VE6ZH | Alix | AB | 147.2100 | None |
| 1353 | VE6QE | Red Deer | AB | 147.1500 | None |
| 1419 | VE6AEC | Edmonton-EchoIRLP *4191 | AB | 442.1500 | 146.2 |
| 1440 | VE6LAW | St. Albert | AB | 146.9400 | 100.0 |
| 1476 | VE6HFD | Hanna | AB | 146.8200 | None |
| 1483 | VE6LK | Aldersyde | AB | 145.4700 | None |
| 1485 | VA6KE | Lacombe | AB | 147.4200 | 203.5 |
| 1492 | VA6WM | Whitecourt | AB | 146.4000 | 100.0 |
| 1640 | VE6JBW | County of Newell | AB | 146.5500 | 110.9 |
| 1659 | VA6OK | Coronation | AB | 146.8950 | 100.0 |
| 1788 | VE6XVK | Edmonton – EchoIRLP #51788 | AB | 446.4750 | 100.0 |
| 1810 | VE6PWT | Calgary | AB | 147.5500 | 88.5 |
| 1890 | VE6AAH | ve6ars QTH Porcupine Hills | AB | 0.0000 | None |
| 3296 | VE6EN | Calgary | AB | 223.5500 | 114.8 |
Simulated Emergency Test (SET) – October 13, 2018
Oct 11th
The 2018 Simulated Emergency Test will be held on Saturday, October 13, starting 9am local time on the Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club repeater network, VE6QE etc.
This will be a virtual exercise for a train derailment. As a virtual exercise there is no need for anyone to travel to take part.
The exercise will use a Net Control Station (NCS) plus a minimum eight other stations.
Each operator participating in the exercise will receive a script detailing station location.
The following link includes the instructions and minimum specific messages noted above: SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST 2018
Hope you are able to take part.
73
Stephen Lee, VA6SGL CEC
CAARC and Red Deer & Area EC
Cell: (403) 307-1643
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
Report on CAARC 2018 Field Day
Jul 18th
Well, ARRL Field Day is over for another year. Some Central Alberta amateurs operated this event from the Red Deer County EOC Amateur Radio Station. I would like to thank CAARC for encouraging me in this venture. I also thank Rod, VE6XY, and Stephen, VA6SGL, for trying to keep me grounded. And a special thank you to Brian for helping me understand the radios and correcting the aim of the HF beam antenna and for serving as Safety Officer. Ric Henderson, now Assistant County Manager of Red Deer County, found a way to let it happen. Ryan Mysko of Red Deer County served as the Red Deer County EOC member of our planning team. And a big Thank You to him for being patient with the preparations and testing and facilitating our access to the county’s radio station.
The buck stops with me for this event. Please tell me what could have been organized better.
Although we did not make a lot of contacts, several Central Alberta hams are now more familiar with the radios at the county station. We managed to make contacts with Connecticut, Alaska and Hawaii, among other places, as well as Alberta. Someone responded to our digital CQ but we were not set up to be quick enough on the reply. I also sent a CW QRL on what appeared to be a clear code frequency, someone answered, unfortunately, I was not confident enough to follow up. So we had no digital or CW contacts although we did make our presence known in both modes for a very little while on each. We will be better prepared next time.
The CAT connection between the logging program and the Kenwood TS-480HX had failed approximately one hour into Field Day. We now have to investigate the cause and figure out the resolution of this problem. This did not stop us from making contacts but provided a potential for our logging the contact in the wrong band.
I did try to send a formal NTS format message on its way to the Alberta Section manager. Maybe I started too late, about 11:15 Sunday. Using my truck mounted mobile, I asked if anyone would accept a formal message for forwarding on repeater VE6REP at least once, but I did not hear anyone accept. I did ask a couple of more times.
We did not try WinLInk because I could not make it work in pre-Field Day Trials. Winlink is not needed by itself for Field Day but it facilitates messaging which can be used to earn more points. More investigation and preparation are needed for this before the next Field Day.
Unfortunately, in all the confusion, we did not get any photographs or videos.
Ryan says that he is quite enthusiastic for this exercise to happen again. He was impressed by the way the radios had been tested and problems corrected. He is also planning to create a write-up for the Red Deer County newspaper.
Thank you to all who participated:
Ryan, “VE62B”
Rod, VE6XY
Stephen, VA6SGL
Brian, VE6CKC
Mike, VE6MIM
Sylvia, VE6SYL
Maria, VA6TFL
Darcy, VE6DWG
Helge, VE6HNO
Andre, VA6ARJ
Emily St-Hilaire
and thanks also to the local amateurs who responded on 146.490 MHz.
Here is a copy of the summary file created by our N3FJP ARRL Field Day Log. This was part of the submission to the ARRL. Note that although the stated number of simultaneous transmitters is 1, the rules allow one free VHF station to also operate.
ARRL Field Day
1. Field Day Call Used: VA6RDC GOTA Station Call:
2. Club or Group Name: Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
3. Number of Participants: 13
4. Number of transmitters in simultaneous operation: 1
5. Entry Class: Check only one.
__A. Club or non-club portable
__B. 1 or 2 person non-club group portable
_____List calls of operators:
__C. Mobile
__D. Home station commercial power
__E. Home station emergency power
X F. Emergency Operations Center
6. Check All power sources used.
__Generator
X Commercial mains
__Battery
__Solar
__Other (list)
7. ARRL / RAC Section: AB
8. Total CW QSOs: 0 X 2 = Total CW QSO points: 0
9. Total Digital QSOs: 0 X 2 = Total Digital QSO points: 0
10. Total Phone QSOs: 23 X 1 = Total Phone QSO points: 23
11. Total QSO points: 23
12. Power Multiplier (select only one)
__5 Watts or less and Battery powered = 5
X 150 Watts or less = 2
__Over 150 Watts = 1
13. Power Multiplier: 2
14. Claimed Score: 46
15. Bonus points claimed: Please check each block as appropriate and
include required proof of points with your submission. All bonus points
will be verified at ARRL HQ and added to your score.
__100% Emergency power
X Media Publicity
__Set-up in Public Place
__Information Booth
__NTS message to ARRL SM/SEC
X W1AW Field Day Message
__Formal NTS messages handled (# 0)
__Satellite QSO completed
__Natural Power QSOs Completed
__Site Visited by invited elected official
__Site Visited by invited served agency official
__Educational Activity Bonus
__Youth Element achieved (# 0)
__GOTA Bonus (total bonus points: 0)
__Submitted using the b4h.net applet
__Social Media
__Safety Officer
Total Bonus Points Claimed: 200
16. I/We have observed all competition rules as well as all regulations for amateur radio in my/our country. My/our report is correct and true to the best of my/our knowledge. I/We agree to be bound by the decisions of the ARRL Awards Committee.
Date: 06/26/2018
Call: VA6RDC
Signature: John Allen
Address: c/o Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Address: P.O. Box 1103
Address: Red Deer, Alberta T4N 6S5
Address: CANADA
E-Mail Address: …snipped/sja…
Operating Period: 2018/06/23 18:40 – 2018/06/24 16:05
Total Contacts by Band and Mode:
Band CW Power Dig Power Phone Power Total %
—- — —– —– —– —– —– —– —
40 0 150 0 150 7 150 7 30
20 0 150 0 150 12 150 12 52
2 0 150 0 150 4 150 4 17
GOTA 0 150 0 150 0 150 0 0
— —– —– —– —– —– —– —
Total 0 0 23 23 100
18. List all callsigns of all operators and number of QSO’s completed of the GOTA Station:
Submission file created by N3FJP’s ARRL Field Day Contest Log
Version 5.8
Here is a copy of the ADIF log file created by our N3FJP ARRL Field Day Log. An alphanumeric list of stations worked by band/mode during the Field Day period based on this document was submitted to the ARRL. The 12 contacts before 2200 UTC were from the County Office EOC Radio Station. The 9 contacts after 2200 UTC were made from the temporary portable station established in Rod’s, VE6XY’s, RV camper trailer with a “balcony antenna“ clamped to its roof access ladder.
START-OF-LOG: 3.0
CREATED-BY: N3FJP’s ARRL Field Day Contest Log 5.8
CONTEST: ARRL-FIELD-DAY
CALLSIGN: VA6RDC
LOCATION: RED DEER
ARRL-SECTION: AB
CATEGORY-STATION: FIXED
CATEGORY-TRANSMITTER: ONE
CATEGORY-POWER: LOW
CATEGORY-BAND: ALL
CATEGORY-MODE: MIXED
CATEGORY-TIME: 24-HOURS
…several lines repeating previous information snipped/sja…
QSO: 14275 PH 2018-06-23 1840 VA6RDC 1F AB N7KE 1A EWA
QSO: 14314 PH 2018-06-23 1848 VA6RDC 1F AB K7LED 6A WWA
QSO: 14264 PH 2018-06-23 1856 VA6RDC 1F AB VA7RER 2A BC
QSO: 14206 PH 2018-06-23 1906 VA6RDC 1F AB W7OTV 4A OR
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-23 1909 VA6RDC 1F AB NF6 1E SF
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-23 1919 VA6RDC 1F AB VE7SCC 3A BC
QSO: 144 PH 2018-06-23 1919 VA6RDC 1F AB VE6HPY 1D AB
QSO: 144 PH 2018-06-23 1920 VA6RDC 1F AB VA6PPZ 1D AB
QSO: 144 PH 2018-06-23 1921 VA6RDC 1F AB VE6SNL 1D AB
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-23 1940 VA6RDC 1F AB WL7CSJ 1F AK
QSO: 144 PH 2018-06-23 2114 VA6RDC 1F AB VA6TNA 1C AB
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-23 2126 VA6RDC 1F AB VE7CMR 3A BC
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-23 2132 VA6RDC 1F AB N7VSS 1A EB
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-23 2137 VA6RDC 1F AB W6YX 5F SCV
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-24 0004 VA6RDC 1F AB W3YA 1D EPA
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 0128 VA6RDC 1F AB W7OTV 3A OR
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-24 0351 VA6RDC 1F AB W6HA 3A LAX
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 0413 VA6RDC 1F AB AA7CR 2A ORG
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 0424 VA6RDC 1F AB AA7TW 1D ID
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 0639 VA6RDC 1F AB NH6JC 2A PAC
QSO: 14000 PH 2018-06-24 1526 VA6RDC 1F AB VE7SS 2A BC
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 1541 VA6RDC 1F AB K7A 2A WWA
QSO: 7000 PH 2018-06-24 1605 VA6RDC 1F AB K7LED 6A WWA
END-OF-LOG:
Same time next year?
John Allen, VA6SJA
2018 CAARC Field Day Chairman
Online petition about radio interference
Jun 11th
Online petition about radio interference
Deadline for signatures: October 4, 2018
Radio Amateurs in Quebec have told us of a petition involving a radio station that is “generating interference on purpose”.
While we have not had a chance to investigate the specific details of the incidents the petition refers to we agree with the importance of acting to support the security of high frequency communications.
Those interested in signing the petition can do so at the following website:
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-1631
The petition will be closed for signatures on October 4, 2018 at 9:33 am.
Alan Griffin
RAC MarCom Director
BBQ Found
May 24th
Hi everyone, I’ve contacted Baker Hughes about a BBQ trailer, they have offered to donate this to the club. I’ve got it booked for June 15, 16, 17 018. Just as an FYI, they mentioned that they’ve been having trouble with the one half but said they’d most likely have the bugs worked out by the time we get it. Let’s cross our fingers and hope the whole thing works. 73 from VA6TNA
Jack Humphries VE6JRH/VA6IX Silent Key
Apr 15th
