The Monitor

Our Annual Party was held once again at the Knight’s of Columbus Hall on Dec. 18th. and the 26 appreciative members and spouses who attended enjoyed a great meal.

Musical entertainment was provided and Santa Claus took time off from his busy schedule to make an appearance and dispense goodies.

Thanks again to Paul VE3IUA for arranging the event.
 

QST January 2002
DIGITAL VOICE: THE NEXT NEW MODE?  Digital voice systems use is on the rise.  Do they have a place in Amateur Radio?
SIX METERS FROM YOUR EASY CHAIR.  Take one abandoned lawn chair, add some Ham ingenuity, and voila, an effective 6-meter squalo.
 

Don’t forget about the upcoming symposium planned right here in Brantford on Saturday January 12th, 2002.  Time will be from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Best Western Inn, 19 Holiday Drive, Brantford.  Cost is $10.00 at the door.  This will be a day of APRS information and demonstrations so if you are interested, please plan to attend.
 

A group of US amateurs have obtained an FCC experimental license to operate on several spot frequencies between 435 and 500 kHz.  It has not taken them long to set up their first QSO.

Dennis Du Vall W7QHO reports that Hank Brown, WC2XSR/6DJX and Dennis, WC2XSR/7QHO achieved two way CW communication on 480 kHz, 0615 UTC, 9 Dec 2001.  Hank was using an ART-13 (100 watts input) and Dennis was on a GP-7 (100 watts out).  Hank is in Lancaster, CA, and Dennis is in Glendale, a distance of approximately 50 miles.

They decided to seek approval based on a need for experimentation in below noise level communications, and to assess the band for reliable medium range emergency communications.

The group applied to the FCC and has recently been granted a five-year experimental license to operate on five frequencies - 440, 470, 480, 495 and on 166.5 kHz.  The license allows for participation from anywhere in the US, and names and stations can be added to the current approved list by notifying the FCC.

Transmitter power is limited to 400 watts, and antenna radiated output is limited to 200 watts ERP.  There are no constraints on radiated mode, as long as transmission bandwidth is less than 6 kHz.
 

you bring an HT to your wedding and it interferes with the wireless mikes in the church.
you have a coffee maker next to the power supply.
you've ever looked up and noticed three cars stopped and watching you cast into trees with a rod and reel.
you’ve got blamed for TVI when you weren't even home because of the big antennas.
you have talked to well over 10,000 people, and said the same thing to each one - "59 Ontario, over.”
you float-charge unsealed lead-acid batteries in the house, and somehow think it's part of emergency preparedness, when in reality, it's an emergency waiting to happen.
you go ballistic if someone refers to your mobile rig as a "CB set”.
you have a crisis when your XYL is waiting for you in black nitee and 3X4DX just was spotted on 20 CW very loud.  What do you do???
the only room in your house that doesn't have some kind of ham rig in it is the bathroom, you go "portable" in there.
you tell your friends about the good MUF last night (max. usable freq.) and one girl slaps you.
the preacher in church talks about fire and brimstone and you wonder what kind of antenna will hold up to the heat.
you solder the coax connector on, then realize you forgot the ring!  So, you take it apart, put the ring on the coax, then solder it back again... only to find you put the ring on backwards!
you look for a new house without antenna/tower restrictions.
you can’t resist sniffing the flux vapors while you’re soldering.
you know what RF burn feels like.
you pick up the phone and say "QRZ?" instead of hello
you say “Roger”, “Over”, “Back to You” or “QSL” while having a conversation on the phone or in person.
your family weekend activities are scheduled around the Contest that's going on.
you can no longer use the fast food drive thru or bank drive thru without stopping and taking off one or more antennas from the car.
you wonder what someone is laughing about when they say “Hi”.
…… more next month!
 

Another new low-frequency distance record is being claimed.  New Zealand DX tests coordinator Bob Vernall, ZL2CA, reports that on December 15, John Currie, VE1ZJ, in Canada, managed to receive and positively identify 136-kHz signals from ZL6QH, in New Zealand.

"ZL6QH transmitted a low-speed frequency-shift-keyed test signal in the 136-kHz band as a beacon transmission for all hours of local darkness," Vernall said.  The path from ZL6QH near Wellington to VE1ZJ in Sydney, Nova Scotia, has been calculated at 15,645 km--around 9700 miles.
 

The Pitcairn Island Amateur Radio Association (PIARA) plans to mount a DXpedition to Ducie Island in March.  Ducie--which became the newest ARRL DXCC entity as of November 16, 2001--has not yet been activated, making it the most-wanted DXCC entity.  Poor weather scuttled the initial attempt to land a DXpedition team on Ducie Island in November.  PIARA President Tom Christian, VP6TC, has announced that a DXpedition team now plans to depart by boat from Mangareva on March 12.  Once on Ducie Island, the Dxpedition will use a VP6 call sign to be announced at the start of the operation, which will include both SSB and CW and possibly RTTY on 160 through 6 meters.
 

SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS.  Miroslaw expects to be active as HF0POL from the Polish Base Hanryk Arctowsky on King George Island, IOTA AN-010, from January 1 to December 31, 2002.  He plans to be active using CW, RTTY and PSK31 on all HF bands, including the newer ones.  QSL via SQ5TA.
ARUBA, P4.  Martin, VE3MR is QRV as P43MR until April 2002.  QSL to home call.
 

For the first time, there's an all-ham crew aboard the International Space Station.  The Expedition 4 crew of Commander Yuri Onufrienko, RK3DUO, and flight engineers Dan Bursch, KD5PNU, and Carl Walz, KC5TIE, is settling into the ISS quarters that will be its home for the next six months.  Amateur Radio on the International Space Station school contacts already are tentatively set for January and February.

New Amateur Radio antennas carried into space for the ISS have been stowed for the time being. Current plans call for them to be installed around the perimeter of the Service Module by the Expedition 6 crew.  The new antennas will allow future operation from HF to microwave frequencies, once additional ham gear is brought aboard the ISS.
 

North American QSO Party, CW – 1800Z Jan 12-0600Z Jan 13
ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes – 1900Z Jan 19-0400Z Jan 21
North American QSO Party, Phone – 1800Z Jan 19-0600Z Jan 20
CQ WW 160-Meter Contest, CW  – 2200Z Jan 25-1600Z Jan 27
North American Sprint, Phone – 0000Z-0400Z Feb 3
North American Sprint, CW  – 0000Z-0400Z Feb 10
 

Pasco, WA: Pasco WA Olympic Torch Committee, W7P. 1200Z Jan 24 to 1200Z Jan 26. Commemorating Day 51 of the Olympic Torch Relay. 21.040 14.040 7.040 3.540. Certificate. WA7CS, 4102 Meadowsweet St, Pasco, WA 99301.
Boise, ID: Voice of Idaho, W7BOI. 1600Z Jan 25 to 2400Z Jan 26. Olympic Torch Relay through Boise. 28.380 14.293 7.225. QSL. Richard Dees, 22765 W Sandalwood Dr, Meridian, ID 83642.
Punxsutawney, PA: Punxsutawney Area Amateur Radio Club, K3HWJ. 1400Z to 2100Z Feb 2. Commemorating Groundhog Day 2002. 14.240 7.240 7.125. Certificate. Sherman Hollopeter, W3QOS, Box 20 216 E Main St, Big Run, PA 15715.
Orlando, FL: Orlando Amateur Radio Club, K4H. 1300Z Feb 7 to 1700Z Feb 10. Celebrating 55 years of Orlando HamCation. 28.405 21.275 14.320 7.275. Certificate. Quentin Jones, KU4WD, 1802 Colleen Dr, Orlando, FL 32809.
 

Tuesday Jan. 15, 2002 - Speaker: Mike Barnett VE3BSE  Subject: TBA.
Tuesday Jan. 22, 2002 - Speaker: Al Stansbury VE3MWX  Subject: Antenna's.
Tuesday Jan. 29, 2002 - Speaker: Gary Buckley VE3NCZ  Subject: TBA.
Tuesday Feb. 5, 2002 - Speaker: Ken Dobson VA3DDB Subject: APRS.
Tuesday Feb. 12, 2002 - General Business Meeting.
 

NPARC Big Event 24
Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club
Saturday, February 2, 2002, St Catharines ON

Burlington Spring Fleamarket
Burlington Amateur Radio Club
Saturday, February 16, 2002, Burlington ON
 
HAMEX 2002
Peel and Mississauga Amateur Radio Clubs
Saturday, March 23, 2002, Brampton ON
 
Durham Region Amateur Radio Hamfest
North Shore and South Pickering ARCs
Saturday, April 27, 2002, Whitby ON

Annual Spring Hamfest and Fleamarket
Skywide ARC
Saturday, May 11, 2002, Etobicoke ON
 

In for a Penny, In for a Pound
Howard Hewer ISBN 0-7737-3273-X

I received this book as a Christmas gift and found it to be an easy read.  It’s about the adventures and misadventures of a RCAF wireless operator in Bomber Command during WWII.

Nineteen year-old Howard Hewer dreamed of being the next Billy Bishop, but certain events during his training steered him to a career as a wireless operator.  The book describes his vital role in air operations over Europe and the Mediterranean.

Hewer found life in the belly of a Wellington, or “Whimpy” busy at the radio controls identifying his plane’s position and detecting false codes from the enemy.  One mission in particular saw his plane take flak and crash-landed on the desert floor.  Hewer was trapped, his legs crushed against his radio, the engines of the plane threatening to explode.  His many missions were at times comical, at others tragic leaving the reader a lasting impression.

Richard La Rose, VE3RLX

Tom has recently obtained his code endorsement and is in the market for an HF radio.  He is currently cleaning out his shack to make room and has some used CB gear for sale.  Give Tom a call if you can help or just call him to say “congratulations”.

From: RAC Headquarters
Date: January 1, 2002

Subject: VE3CFL Amateur of the Year 2001

The RAC Board of Directors take great pleasure in announcing their election of Charles Leggatt, VE3CFL of Toronto, as the Canadian Radio Amateur of the Year for 2001.

Charles served in the Royal Corps of Signals, 1941-1945, and came to Canada in 1953.  He worked as an assistant chief engineer with a US company, which worked on the Avro Arrow project.  After that project was scrubbed in the 1960s Charles sold insurance and trained salespeople.  He is also a sailor and writer.

Charles' contributions to amateur radio are many and earned this award for his tireless work in providing instruction and training so others may become radio amateurs.  Because of his work over the past 12 years some 200 persons have become licensed radio amateurs.  Charles has served as a relay station for the Mississauga Maritime net for the last 13 years.  In April 2001 Charles received the prestigious "Yachtsman of the Year" sail trophy recognizing his safety at sea contributions through amateur radio.

An engraved silver tray, will be presented to Charles by Bob Cooke VE3BDB, RAC Ontario - South Regional Director.

ON PACKAGING FOR A ROWENTA IRON:  Do not iron clothes on body.
ON CHILDRENS' COUGH MEDICINE:  Do not drive car or operate machinery.
ON A HAIR DRYER:  Do not use while sleeping.
ON A BAG OF FRITOS:  You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
ON A BAR OF DIAL SOAP:  Directions: Use like regular soap.
ON A FROZEN DINNER:  Serving suggestion: Defrost.
ON A HOTEL-PROVIDED SHOWER CAP:  Fits one head.
ON TESCO'S TIRAMISU DESERT:  Do not turn upside down. (Printed on the bottom of the box.)
ON AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PACKET OF NUTS:  Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.
ON A JAPANESE FOOD PROCESSOR:  Not to be used for the other use.
ON A SWEDISH CHAINSAW:  Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands.
ON MARKS & SPENCER BREAD PUDDING:  Product will be hot after heating.
ON NYTOL (A SLEEP AID):  Warning: may cause drowsiness.
ON A KOREAN KITCHEN KNIFE:  Warning keep out of children.
ON A STRING OF CHINESE MADE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS:  For indoor or outdoor use only.
ON SAINSBURY'S PEANUTS:  Warning: contains nuts.

DOBSON - Ken and Sandra are very pleased to announce the birth of Natalie Simone (7lbs 8ozs.) born Sunday, December 30th, 2001 at Brantford General Hospital. Grandparents, Ron and Bonnie Sahagian along with Rick and Louise Imola are delighted with Ken and Sandy's second bundle of joy. Great-grand-child to Elva Dobson of Simcoe and fourth for Anthony and the late Teresa Rossi of Brantford. Aunts/Uncles, Karen and John, Robin and James and Brenda and Nathan along with godparents Jason and Diane De Angelis are thrilled as well. Special thanks go to Dr. Cowan, Dr. Swan, staff at Brant Community Healthcare System, Majestic Limo, Friends and family not mentioned.