Quarter Century Amateur Radio Club
VE6QCR 146.640 Stony Plain--VE6BOX 146.730 Athabasca--VE6PP 146.820 Whitecourt--VE6SS 146.880 Pigeon Lake All have 100Hz tone and offsets are all -600 KHz
Weekly Newsletter and Swap & Shop Listing 1/13/2021 by Paul, VE6UFO
Top of the season to all the Ukrainian folks that celebrated their Christmas Jan 7 and New Years coming up on Jan 17.SK:
Bill Guthrie, VE6OLD of Lacombe who was very well known for his
presence at the Red Deer Picnic and other events, passed away from
cancer Dec. 31 at the age of 76.
SPECIAL BULLETIN REGARDING QCARC MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS AND RAC INSURANCE
FEES
QCARC became a RAC affliated club many
years ago so that we could support their efforts. RAC is a very
beneficial organization and here are some good reasons to be a RAC
member:
1) Local Level: RAC works
with municipalities on such issues as regulations governing the
placement of antennas. It also assists Amateur Radio clubs and other
organizations in Public Service and Emergency Services (ARES) functions
throughout the year. RAC also provides assistance to members wishing to
install antennas and towers following Industry Canada’s (now called
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) tower policy
including CPC-2-0-03.
2) Regional/Provincial/Territorial Levels: RAC works with these governments on such issues as Distracted Driving Legislation and Emergency Services.
3) National Level: RAC represents all Amateurs on the Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board and works with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on important issues such as tower legislation, RF interference and spectrum grabs by business. It costs RAC thousands of dollars to maintain membership in the Radio Advisory Board of Canada and to attend spectrum planning and interference meetings on your behalf and your RAC membership helps to pay these costs.
4) International Level: RAC is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) which works with the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to preserve and expand our frequency spectrum allocations. RAC pays its IARU dues based on the total number of Amateurs in Canada, and not just RAC members so it needs the support of members. RAC also sponsors a representative at the World Radiocommunication Conferences in Geneva, Switzerland to protect existing spectrum and open new spectrum such as the recent allocation at 60 metres at WRC-15. It is expensive to send a representative to Geneva and RAC coordinates the Defence of the Amateur Radio Fund so that Amateurs can contribute to this cost.
5) And beyond…: RAC also supports the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) and provides opportunities for students to experience the thrill of communicating with astronauts on the International Space Station.
6) Their bi-monthly magazine called " The Canadian Amateur" is a very interesting resource and is included with RAC memberships.
In addition to supporting RAC we are also are able to participate in the affiliated club insurance program. This a very good program. The club gets coverage for liability in its activities and asset coverage for all club owned equipment and the club members get insurance for liability while engaged in their own personal amateur radio related activities. Specific details of the coverage can be reviewed at: RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program. If you have a look, you will see that the pricing structure dictates that the club is charged way more for QCARC members who aren't also members of RAC than members that do also belong to RAC. This isn't something new, but it has gone up 30% since last year. Specifically, they are now charging the club $14.25 per year for each member who is not a RAC member and the charge to the club per RAC member is only $1.25. (For several years it was 11.00 and 1.00.) Because we only charge 10.00 per year for club dues, we have been for many years losing money on these memberships. The total extra cost of this in the 2021 RAC insurance renewal, with the club having 72 non RAC members was $936.00. This situation has always put a significant dent in our financial picture on an annual basis. We have always wanted to run a good club at a low cost to members and that is why dues have not increased. However, if you aren’t a member of RAC please consider joining them or alternatively if you are able to make a small monetary donation to QCARC when you renew your membership and offset this cost it would be a big help, but please don’t feel obligated to do either. If you are able to, GREAT but we do realize times are tough and if you can’t that’s ok. This information has already been relayed to the members who are due for renewal and we hope they can help. If you don't need to renew this year, please give it some thought for your next renewal. On behalf of the entire QCARC executive, thanks for your consideration and cooperation in this matter.
JOIN LOCAL COVID COFFEE RAGCHEWS
ON VE6QCR & VE6PP REPEATERS
THURSDAYS AT 10 AM
AND ON THE FT. SASK CLUB
REPEATER 147.270 +600 SATURDAYS AT 9:30 AM
STOLEN EQUIPMENT TRAILER/TOWER –
SEE LINK BELOW!!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R4XLXSBeogFU0cibX9vHHEoRzKFOH7_0FA9Jk05EBf0/edit?usp=drive_web
Large ham radio friendly acreage for
sale: 74 Acres 50
minutes NE of Edmonton on the North Saskatchewan River. RF quiet area on
a beautiful nature/outdoor lovers paradise adjacent to Redwater Natural Area.
3 towers incl 110 foot and 2 tilt overs; 48 and 64 feet. Newly
renovated Shack in the heated shop with feed lines and grounds. See
listing for details: https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/22593097/57223-rge-rd-203-rural-sturgeon-county-none Call VE6TR - Rob if you have more
interest and questions. 780-940-9826
The Edmonton Area 2M SSB
net is on 144.200 USB Sundays at 10:00am and 8:00 PM
Winlink
Wednesday emails can be sent via Winlink to Alex, VA6MCP. Instructions on how
to do this are on the website www.wcar.ca
AR100 Hamfest - The celebration of
100 years of amateur radio in Alberta. THIS
EVENT HAS BEEN DELAYED UNTIL AT LEAST 2022 but they still need volunteers
to fill the committee positions. PARTICIPATION FROM ALL CLUBS IN
ALBERTA IS WELCOME! If you can volunteer to be on the committee or help
with this hamfest in any other way, please contact Robert Septou, VE6AIA rseptou@telus.net or phone 780-437-2504.
Edmonton Area 5 day WX forecast:
Wednesday 1/13 freezing rain and snow Low -4
High 0
Thursday 1/14 sunny Low
-9 High -1
Friday 1/15 mix of sun and cloud Low
-3 High 0
Saturday 1/16 sunny Low -9 High 2
Sunday 1/17 mix of sun and cloud Low
-3 High 1
To Join QCARC or renew your
membership, the form is on our website www.qcarc.net
Membership dues and donations can be e-transferred to mail@qcarc.net
I HAVE EMAILED A MEMBERSHIP FORM AND RENEWAL OPTIONS TO ALL MEMBERS WHOSE MEMBERSHIPS ARE EXPIRING THIS YEAR
When needed, QCARC helps its
members or the family of silent keys with tower work and station dispersals. We
can sell your items for you at the flea markets or swap and shop. If you need this
type of assistance contact VE6UFO at 780-232-7012 or mail@qcarc.net
Another benefit of being a member
is that you can purchase items at MRO Electronic Supply with your proof of
QCARC membership.
QCARC SELLS DONATED ITEMS AT FLEA MARKETS
TO RAISE MONEY TO OPERATE OUR REPEATERS AND KEEP MEMBERSHIP DUES LOW. IF
YOU HAVE ITEMS TO DONATE PLEASE ARRANGE PICKUP WITH PAUL VE6UFO AT mail@qcarc.net OR
780-232-7012. THANKS VERY MUCH TO ANYONE WHO HAS RECENTLY DONATED ITEMS TO THE
CLUB.
QCARC weekly 2 meter net and Swap &
Shop Wednesday 8:30PM on VE6QCR and VE6PP repeaters. If you have any items wanted
or for sale you can list them live on air during the swap & shop or call /
text Paul VE6UFO at 780-232-7012 or email mail@qcarc.net
After the Wednesday night 2m net
stations are encouraged to stick around for a fun round table ragchew QSO
session.
Do
you know of a new ham or a ham getting back into radio after years away
from the hobby that needs equipment and/or help getting a station set
up? We can help!!! mail@qcarc.net
RAC NEWS
Ernest Clintberg VE6EC is the RAC Director for
AB NT NU and Stephen Lee VA6SGL is the Alberta Deputy Director for RAC.
If you are not a RAC member, please consider
joining as RAC helps protect and advance amateur radio in Canada and around the
world. RAC members who are also members of RAC affiliated clubs such as QCARC
get special insurance coverage. Details of this coverage are found at https://www.rac.ca/insurance/
Happy Birthday to:
Ron VE6VJ
Jim VE6JRR
HAM RADIO FUNNY OF THE WEEK
Definition: Dummy Load -- A measure of the stress exerted on a tower by a ham who climbs the tower without a safety belt.
On QRZ there are
some impressive Alberta stations such as VE6FI, VE6WZ, VE6SV, VA6DX and VE6JY
to check out as well as many others so next time you hear a big signal search
the call sign and check it out.
TECH TIPS/BUILDERS CORNER
These are from
previous newsletters and new content will be added occasionally.
NEW!! Directional Finding (Bunny Hunting) Techniques and plans for building a high gain cubical 2 meter quad antenna and sniffer
http://www.qcarc.net/VE6OB%20Bunny%20Hunting%20Article.pdf
If you are re-using coax make sure there is good continuity and check it with a
wattmeter and dummy load - MOST USED FLEA
MARKET COAX IS GOOD FOR THE SELLER, NOT THE BUYER!!
Dipole
Antenna Length Calculator (everythingrf.com)
For sale by Todd VA6TGS an Alinco DX-SR8 HF Transceiver,
comes with face disconnect kit. Encoder (Tune) wheel is a little loose but
works fine. Good starter rig. Asking $400. Todd also
has a Motorola MSR2000 repeater box VHF 30w. Crystal controlled. Box only,
no duplexer or controller. Offers or trades. Free to good cause .Todd can be
reached by phone at 780-706-0075.
Wanted by Blair, VE6AGH an RCAF WWII transmitter model
AT-12. It's Air Force blue, about 18 inches high, 9 inches wide and 14 inches
deep and has handles on the top and front. Blair can be contacted at
403-327-8207 or ve6agh@yahoo.ca
From the VE6GHP estate near Brooks, AB:
64' tower with HF and VHF antennas, Needs to be taken down. Not sure what the
antennas are or what the price is but it may be free for the taking to whoever
takes it down.
For information contact Helen 403-378-4988 or geporter@eidnet.org
Wanted by Ric, VE7CUP 2 or 3 position remote antenna switches, working or not. Ric is also
in search of a 3 to 5 element 15m monoband yagi that can be disassembled for
shipping to BC. If you can help Ric out with any of these items, please email ricmartin@telus.net
For
Sale by Bill VA6RQ
New in Box AR270B
2M/70cm Ringo Vert Ant 5.5-7.5db for $275 Radio World price - $333
New in Box Hygain VB-64DX 4Elm 6M Beam ant for $195 Radio
World price - $225
New in Boxes (2) Cushcraft A148-10S 2m 10El yagi ants $195
each Radio World price -$259 if
you buy both it comes with a used co-phasing harness
USED CDE CD-45 light duty Rotator (good condition) $100
USED Hygain Ham III med duty rotator well used (new bearings) $100
If you are interested in Bill’s items please email him at va6rq@rac.ca
FOR SALE BY PAUL VE6UFO – THESE ITEMS ARE ALL NEW IN BOXES – IF INTERESTED, PLEASE CONTACT PAUL AT 780-232-7012 or mail@qcarc.net
(2) LDG 200 watt balun RBA-1:1 RETAIL 42.00 ASKING 30.00 each
(2) LDG 200 watt balun RBA-4:1 RETAIL 42.00 ASKING 30.00 each
Yaesu speaker/microphone model MH-34 RETAIL 50.00 ASKING 30.00
Universal multimedia headset with microphone RETAIL 25.00 ASKING 18.00
Daiwa model CN-460 140/450MHz 15/150 watt cross needle SWR and power meter RETAIL 100.00 ASKING 70.00
Diamond 1.8-200MHz 5/20/200 watt SWR power meter model SX-200 RETAIL 148.00 ASKING 100.00
Icom DTMF microphone HM-154T FOR IC 7000 OR 7100 RETAIL 98.00 ASKING 60.00
Kenwood multifunction microphone MC-47 RETAIL 80.00 ASKING 50.00
Yaesu MH31 hand mic with 8 pin round cable for FTDX3000 and other rigs Asking 30.00
Wanted by Kevin VE6KJM
Kevin is looking for Tiny Trackers or other small APRS
devices. If you have any for sale email Kevin at ve6kjm@gmail.com
Ernie VA6EJR va6ejr@gmail.com
Mitch VE6OH ve6oh@rac.ca
NEW – Don VE7DXE in Victoria, BC has
established www.hamshack.ca which is a
great new site with a fully functional buy and sell feature and other new
resources being added all the time. Check it out often!!
The Surrey Amateur Radio Club has
a great newsletter and the latest edition can be found at https://bit.ly/SARC21JanFeb
Another good resource
including solar conditions is https://www.wm7d.net
Know
someone interested in becoming a radio amateur? Resources for home learning
include Hamstudy Basic available through Amazon, and Coax Publications for
Basic and Advanced study manuals https://www.coaxpublications.ca/
Further, Cold Lake Amateur Radio Society (CLARS) hosts a training website http://www.clares.ca/va6hal%20training.html
for Basic and Advanced.
Various 40 and 80 meter
ragchew groups take place all morning long from about 7:00AM until 10 or later.
Look around the bands for an opportunity to join in on an interesting QSO.
Saskatchewan weather net
8:00AM Sask time 3.753 MHz
Aurora Net 2300
UTC 7.100 MHz
Saskatchewan Net 0100 UTC
3.735 MHz
Alberta Public Service
Net 0130 UTC 3.700 MHz
BC Net 0130 UTC 3.729 MHz
160 meter ragchews take
place 9:00 PM or later usually on frequencies above 1.890 MHz.
Weekly
Alberta ARES Net Sunday
9:00AM mountain time 3.750 MHz
Edmonton Area 2 meter SSB
net Sunday 10:00AM and 8:00 PM 144.200 MHz USB
Trans Canada Net Sunday 2:00PM
18:00 UTC 14.140 MHz
Sunday
6PM VE6KM B linked to ref001C is the international DSTAR Net
Sunday Evening Aurora Net
9:30PM Central time 7.100 MHz
Monday
8:00PM on VE6KM B linked to reflector REF016B is the Alberta DSTAR Net
Monday Amateur Radio
Information Net 3.729 MHZ right after the BC net about 0230 UTC
NARC weekly 2 meter net
Tuesday 7:30PM on VE6HM repeater 147.060 -600
IRLP Trans Canada net
Wednesday 9:00AM on VE6HM repeater 147.060 -600
Winlink Wednesday please check out www.wcar.ca for information
Friday
7:00PM on VE6KM B linked to ref001C Canadian Dstar Net
IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS OF
INTEREST THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER, EMAIL mail@qcarc.net
73, Stay well and
be safe. Have a good week!!
Paul VE6UFO, QCARC Secretary Treasurer and Net Manager