NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. If war is declared, these ham radio enthusiasts could be crucial.
An article from the LA Times about the resurgence of Amateur Radio in
Taipei since licensing
began in 1984.  There are about 25,000 hams on the island now.
See the full article by Stephanie Yang in the LA Times (October 27, 2022).
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/sto...il-defense
-- Thanks to the Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League [CTARL].

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST

2.  Hunting For Non Directional Beacons

It's CLE time once again. This is a challenge for all newcomers to NDB
listening and the ultimate
test of your medium frequency receiving capabilities. Can you meet the
challenge?
'CLE's are 'Co-ordinated  Listening Events, and NDB DXers around the
world focus their listening
time on one small slice of  the NDB spectrum. (Frequencies between 400.0
- 419.9 kHz.)
A good target for all NA listeners is YPO on 401 kHz in Ontario. Listen
for its upper sideband CW
identifier on 401.392 kHz.
When tuning for NDBs, put your receiver in the CW mode and listen for
the NDB's CW identifier,
repeated every few seconds. Listen for U.S. NDB identifiers
approximately 1 kHz higher or lower
than the published transmitted frequency since these beacons are
modulated with a 1020 Hz tone.
All NDBs heard in North America will be listed in the RNA database
(updated daily) while those
heard in Europe may be found in the REU database. Beacons heard outside
of these regions will be
found in the RWW database.
-- by Steve VE7SL (Amateur Radio Newsletter)

3. Ham Radio "Gamification"

Setting operating goals has been useful in ham radio. They often
provided a reason or incentive
to get on the air and make some contacts. I followed the typical award
sequence of Worked All
States (WAS), Worked All Continents (WAC), DX Century Club (DXCC), and
so forth.
Over time, I’ve come to realize that some amateur radio activities
include the elements of gamification.
Gamification is a hot topic in user interface design, online learning,
and other computer-based systems.
The basic idea is to incorporate gaming techniques into activities to
increase user engagement.
Gamification can be used to make ham radio activity more fun and to more
fully engage the participants.
Traditional radio contesting is clearly a competition and has the
elements of keeping score, having
leaderboards (after the contest) and having teammates. However, most
contests provide painfully slow
feedback. The official results may not be posted until 6 months later.
(The 3830 Scores website was
created to bypass this delay by sharing scores immediately.) Contesting
is obviously a game, so where’s
the gamification?
If you are getting stale in your ham radio operating, perhaps one of
these gamified programs would be
good motivation for you. It could be SOTA or POTA (both include chasing,
so you can do it from home),
or maybe some other program out there.
-- 73 Bob K0NR  (Amateur Radio Newsletter)

4. Central States VHF Society Celebrates 54 Years

The Central States VHF Society (CSVHFS), the oldest group in the country
devoted to weak
signal VHF, held their 54th annual conference on July 21 - 23, 2022.
Over 130 amateurs attended
the event, which was held in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
This year's conference highlighted the recent activity with 222 MHz
Worked All States (WAS), as well
as the Fred Fish Memorial Award (FFMA), the VHF Spring Sprints, and the
year-long competition,
States Above 50 MHz.
-- More information about CSVHFS is available on their website,
www.csvhfs.org.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. Edmund Fitzgerald Anniversary-Special Event at Dossin Museum (Michigan)

W8F – Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event Amateur Radio Station, will
operate Sat., November 5, 2021
11 AM EST – 3:30 PM EST hosted by The Livonia Amateur Radio Club,

Along with the Dossin’s many events in November that commemorate the
sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald,
the Livonia Amateur Radio Club (LARC) will operate a Special Event radio
Station, W8F, at the Museum.
We will be contacting other amateur radio operators around the country
and the world, to tell them the Fitz’ story.
We issue a special confirmation certificate to those “hams” who make
contact with us. Museum visitors are
welcome to observe our operation in DeRoy Hall; information will be
available about this event, LARC,
and Amateur Radio, at https://livoniaarc.com/2022/10… or email
info@livoniaarc.com
-- TWIAR website

2. Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Lab Transforming into Global Science Center

Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (TSCW) was awarded the Save
America’s Treasures (SAT)
grant of $500,000 from the National Parks Service and National Endowment
of the Arts that will be used
to preserve the laboratory of inventor Nikola Tesla and restore it into
a museum and global science center.
The $500,000 in funds is critical to ensure the exterior stabilization
and restoration of the circa 1901 laboratory
building at Wardenclyffe. The structure is an international landmark
with historic significance as the only surviving laboratory of science
visionary Nikola Tesla; it is recognized as one of the key sites in global
technology history for its part in the science, aerospace,
telecommunications, and research hub that
emerged in the Long Island / New York corridor. Mr. Tesla immigrated to
America’s shores and made world-altering discoveries right here in New
York. Tesla Science Center is working each day to educate the public and
preserve Tesla’s legacy, and these much-needed federal funds will help
fulfil that mission.”
Read more – LongIsland.com – https://bit.ly/3VhcjZL  (TWIAR news)

3. 11+ SCIENCE AND TECH MUSEUMS YOU CAN TOUR VIRTUALLY

https://interestingengineering.com/cultu...-virtually
These virtual tours are a great way of visiting some of the best science
and tech museums around the globe.
--  Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec  (Radio HF Internet Newsletter)

4.  Linux in the Ham Shack -  Episode #485: QSLing Deep Dive

Hello and welcome to Episode 485 of Linux in the Ham Shack. In this
episode, the hosts discuss the art
and science of sending and receiving QSL cards, either physically or
digitally. There are several methods
and it can be something of a chore to navigate. We hope you enjoy this
episode and have a great week.
Podcast available at:    https://lhspodcast.info/  (approx: 40 minutes)
-- Amateur Radio Newsletter



Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC

Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Net Report
Wednesday October 19:30 EDT
Net Controller: Marvin VE3VCG (replacing Richard VE3OSR on this date)
Topic: Prior Knowledge of VA3YOS

Notes:
The link between our club repeaters VE3OSR and VE3GBT was not functional on this date. The non-functional link caused Marvin to shift the club network to the repeater VA3YOS. VA3YOS is not a club repeater. William (Bill) Walpole is not a GBARC club member. Marvin, in his capacity as net controller, asked Bill for permission to use the repeater for the club net in advance.

VA3YOS is located at a site east of Owen Sound and has an estimated elevation of 440 meters. This height provides the repeater with an excellent coverage and a large footprint. Moving the 2 meter GBARC net to VA3YOS offered a good opportunity to test it has a backup repeater to the club repeaters and note the coverage area. There were good signal reporters from all 2 meter stations. VA3YOS does not have Echolink service and so there were no Echolink participants during the live net. However John VA3KOT monitored and logged participants on the club repeater VE3OSR and reported those stations to net control. Those stations have been included in this report.

Participants in the 2 meter portion of the GBARC net were asked to discuss their prior knowledge or use of the repeater VE3YOS.

2 Meter Net Log:
VA3EAC Janet Paisley
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3RQY Greg Owen Sound
VE3KOT John Owen Sound
VE3DGY Doug Owen Sound
VE3JMD Jim Port Elgin
VE3PCP Rob Inverhuron
VA3MFO Jim Mount Forrest
VA3TS Tom Shallow Lake
VA3FYB Eric Owen Sound

Participants via VE3OSR
Ko4DXQ Bob Tennessee via Echolink on VE3OSR
VA3MIO Maureen Wiarton – via VE3OSR

80 Meter Net Log
VA3MFO Jim Mount Forrest
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3FJN Colin Hamilton
VE3RQY Rob W Owen Sound

For our next meeting on tuesday 25 oct at M'Wikwedong Centre on 3rd ave west, we will use the north lot for parking and enter via the north side doors. 
The door will be open at 630. upon entering please sign in to the GBARC form and sanitize hands and wear a mask. We will be using the Resource room which is in the south hallway past the kitchen on the left (second room). Masks can be taken off during the meeting. 
See you all there.
Greg VE3RQY

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program for 2023 applications due soon

The RAC Affiliated Club Insurance Program is an extra-cost service made
available to RAC Affiliated
clubs. It provides comprehensive liability coverage to protect against
liability claims arising from accidents
or damage incurred during normal club activities. Liability coverage is
often requested by external groups
such as businesses, libraries or municipalities as a prerequisite for
the organization of (or participation in)
public events held in areas administered by other groups.

The RAC Insurance Program operates on a not-for-profit, cost-recovery
basis. Fees collected cover the
costs of the insurance provided by the insurer; administrative costs
associated with the program are
absorbed by RAC and are paid for by RAC members’ membership fees.

For full details, see the RAC website under programs.

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST

2. New Transponder Bandplan for QO-100 geostationary amateur satellite
announced.

Among other changes, AMSAT has allocated a new ‘broadcast’ spot
frequency which is intended for the
news services of amateur radio organisations.
The RSGB’s news service GB2RS has been transmitted via QO-100 for some
time and has already
clocked-up 70 broadcasts, with an audience within the footprint of the
satellite which covers almost half
of the world’s surface.
Following the announcement, GB2RS will be moving to the new broadcast
frequency of 10489.855MHz
immediately. The transmission is at 0800UTC every Sunday.
-- RSGB news

3. Ramada Inn in Xenia, OH is closing

Dayton Hamvention® has announced that the Ramada Inn in Xenia, Ohio, is
closing.
The Dayton Daily News is reporting that the city of Xenia will take full
possession of the Ramada Inn
on November 1, 2022. The land will be incorporated into the Xenia Towne
Square revitalization project.
Hamvention, the largest annual ham radio convention in the US, will be
held May 19 - 21, 2023, at the
Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia. A list of other
accommodations can be found on
the Hamvention website at
https://hamvention.org/travel-parking/accommodation/.
-- arrl news

4. The K7RA Solar Update

Sunspot numbers and solar flux increased this week (September 29 through
October 5), as expected with
the solar cycle progressing toward a probable peak in summer 2025.
Average daily sunspot number increased from 105.1 to 111.4, and average
daily 10.7 cm solar flux
from 138.4 to 149.2. Compare this to a year ago, when average daily
sunspot number was just 59.4 and
solar flux was 89.8.
Last week there were two new sunspot groups on September 30, one more on
October 1, three on
October 3, and one more on Thursday, October 6.
There has been noticing improved 10 meter propagation with openings
lasting all day, now that the
autumnal equinox passed two weeks ago and with higher sunspot numbers.
-- full article at arrl news

HF Net 3783KHz (N.B. VE3OSR was out of service; VE3OZW RIchard ran the VHF portion of the net on VE3GBT Paisley)
Topic: Open mic.

VA3KOT John Owen Sound NCS
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VA3MFO Jim Mount Forest
VE3RQY Greg Owen Sound
VE3WI Dave Port Elgin
VE3VCG Marvin Paisley
VE3OZW Richard Mildmay
VE3PCP Rob Tiverton
AC8IY Clair SW Michigan

Net Controller — VE3OZW Richard - South Bruce

Topic for discussion -
1. Open mic

VHF/Echolink
KO4DXQ Bob - Soddy Daisy, TN
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VE3WI Dave - Port Elgin
VE3KHQ Fred - Kincardine
VE3RQY Greg - Brooke
VE3PCP Rob - Inverhuron
VA3EAC Janet - Paisley
VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest

73 to all

Greg VE3RQY has taken the lead in the QNI contest ... but it's early days yet!

   

I'm trying to take advantage of some of my down time to get a new tower up with a 2-element Mosley 40m beam on top.  The beam has been in a box at my front door for a few years now and I have had the tower sections in the back of my yard for almost the same amount of time.

The tower is a light duty Wade but the boom for the Yagi is 15' and the elements are 46'  long.  I am anchoring the tower with guy lines at the 30' and 40' mark.  I needed some headroom for the guy lines so the support for the lines protrude 5' out of the ground.  I used 1.7" Schedule 40 pipe with 1/4" walls and sank this 5' into the ground with lots of contrete.  Inside the 1.7" pipe is another 1-1/2" Schedule 40 pipe with 1/4" walls so the supports are very rigid.




Even though the tower is not free standing, I still used just over 1 cu. yd. of concrete and 8" of stone for drainage.  The concrete had to be hand-bombed from the street to the back of my yard.




This afternoon I started fabricating two torque arms out of 2" x 2" angle iron.  My guy lines will attach at the torque arms and prevent the tower from twisting in on itself.  The upper guy wires will be 40' which would require me to break the guy lines up so they don't couple with the antenna.  



I found I could make neat and precise work of my angle iron cuts using a 10" Dewalt mitre saw, an 80 tooth metal cutting blade and a cheap speed controller to keep the saw around 1800 rpm.

This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada
with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  Call for Nominations of Candidates for Regional Directors:
    Atlantic, Midwest and Ontario North/East Regions

The Secretary of Radio Amateurs of Canada Inc. hereby solicits
nominations for the positions of
Director for the Regions of Atlantic, Midwest and Ontario North/East
(postal codes K and P).
If required, an election for this position will be held in December
2022. The Director will take
office on January 1, 2023 for a two-year term.
All original nominations and supporting documentation, including the
biographical sketch, must be
received by the Secretary of RAC at the address indicated below by 12
noon on
Friday, December 2, 2022.
-- See the RAC website for full details

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST

2. A big dangerous sunspot

One of the biggest sunspots in years has just rotated over the sun's
northeastern limb. AR3112
has a mixed-polarity magnetic field that harbors energy for strong
X-class solar flares.
The appearance of this dangerous sunspot could herald two weeks of high
solar activity as it transits
the Earth-facing side of the sun.
Full story @ Spaceweather.com

3. GET READY FOR SCOUTING'S JOTA-JOTI EVENT

Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTA-JOTI) is the
world’s largest Scout
event taking place on the internet and over the airwaves. Held every
year in October, the event
connects millions of young people around the world for a full weekend of
online activities that
promote friendship and global citizenship. In 2022, JOTA-JOTI takes
place from 14 to 16 October.
For the JOTA side of the event, Scouts and Guides all over the world
connect with each other by
means of amateur radio. Short-wave and digital radio signals carry their
voices to virtually any corner
of the world. It's the sheer excitement of having a live conversation
with a fellow Scout or Guide at
some other place in the world that attracts so many young people to this
event.

Event planning information or resources can be found on the K2BSA
website at K2BSA.net.
-- Amateur Radio Newsline

4. Internet Archive looking for Amateur Radio material

Internet Archive has begun gathering content for the Digital Library of
Amateur Radio and
Communications (DLARC), which will be a massive online library of
materials and collections
related to amateur radio and early digital communications. The DLARC is
funded by a significant
grant from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications foundation (ARDC) to
create a digital
library that documents, preserves, and provides open access to the
history of this community.

The library will be a free online resource that combines archived
digitized print materials,
born-digital content, websites, oral histories, personal collections,
and other related records and
publications. The goals of the DLARC are to document the history of
amateur radio and to provide
freely available educational resources for researchers, students, and
the general public.

All collections in this digital library will be universally accessible
to any user and there will be a
customized access and discovery portal with special features for
research and educational uses.

Gizmodo report:
https://gizmodo.com/internet-archive-see...1849619444