RAC Ontario Sections Bulletin for Jan 14, 2023
Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week’s bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. The vital role amateur radio plays in emergency communication in Canada
Amateur radio emergency communication is a vital service provided by amateur radio operators, also known
as “hams,” in Canada and worldwide. These operators volunteer their time and resources to assist with
communication during emergencies and disasters, when traditional means of communication may be unavailable
or overwhelmed.
In Canada, amateur radio emergency communication is coordinated by the Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES), a national organization that is part of the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC). ARES consists of trained
amateur radio operators ready to assist with communication during emergencies and support other organizations
such as the Canadian Red Cross or The Salvation Army and local emergency management agenci
One of the key advantages of amateur radio emergency communication is that it is not dependent on infrastructure,
such as phone lines or the internet. This makes it a reliable means of communication when other systems are down
or damaged. Amateur radio operators can use various modes of communication, including voice, text, and data,
to transmit information over short and long distances.
In summary, amateur radio emergency communication is an essential service provided by volunteers in Canada
and around the world. While modern digital radios offer many advantages, it is important for operators also to be
proficient in traditional analog modes to ensure reliable communication during emergencies.
— see the full article at the last wire podcast https://www.lastwire.ca/
— editor’s note: ARES is being replaced by the RAC Auxiliary Communications Service, on-line documentation
hasn’t caught up yet
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
2. World Radio History has a Amateur/DX Section of Publications
You can find everything from back issues of “73 Magazine” to “Hombrew” and “Ham Radio Magazine”
Find it at: https://worldradiohistory.com/Home-DX.htm
3. Amateur Radio Operations at the US Military Academies
The Service Academies Radio Group (SARG) was recently formed for alumni and amateur radio operators
who are interested in the five U.S military academies.
William Curry, W5CQ, founder and net control operator for the SARG Net, said two months ago there was
a new interest in forming a group and net. He noticed that only one military academy, West Point, W2KGY,
was still operating a club station. At one time, every military academy had an operating club station.
The SARG net meets every Thursday at 2200 UTC on 7.280 MHz, and every Saturday at 1600 UTC on
14.338 MHz. All amateur radio operators, whether they are veterans, or just have an interest in the military or
history of the academies, are invited.
— For additional information about the SARG Net, contact Curry at [email protected].
4. ARRL Volunteers On the Air Operating Event is Underway
ARRL’s yearlong operating event, Volunteers On the Air, or VOTA, began January 1, 2023. The event is
organized as part of ARRL’s 2023 theme, “Year of the Volunteers,” which recognizes the contributions of
ARRL member volunteers, and offers opportunities to become more active in amateur radio and ARRL.
VOTA encourages participants to make contacts with ARRL members and volunteers, earning points for
each contact. Point values have been assigned (see the Points Table at vota.arrl.org). All scoring is automatically
calculated through ARRL’s Logbook of The World (LoTW, www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world). If you are
already an LoTW user, continue to upload your QSOs there to participate. If you’re a new LoTW user, visit
Getting Started with LoTW. https://lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/getting-started/
As part of the event, there will be week-long activations by W1AW portable stations operating in all US states
and territories. W1AW/# portable operations are worth 5 points for each contact, and they can be contacted
on all bands and modes. There’s also an opportunity to earn the W1AW Worked All States Award. There will
be two week-long W1AW operations from each of the 50 states.
Join the fun! Visit the official VOTA website for further details: vota.arrl.org.
— ARRL website
This concludes this week’s bulletin.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC
RAC Ontario Sections Bulletin for JanUARY 14, 2023
