2025-10-18, 07:31:48
This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada
with this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. UK REGULATOR IMPLEMENTS MORE LICENSE CHANGES
Ofcom has moved ahead with Phases 2 and 3 of changes announced earlier that affect amateur radio licensees. These actions follow Phase 1 in February 2024 which adjusted power limits and expanded operating freedoms.
Hams with intermediate callsigns have the option to replace their number "2" series call prefixes with an M8 or M9 and can either retain or replace their existing suffix. These are voluntary changes at the moment but in five years, the regulator will change all remaining calls. The regulator is also limiting licence-holders to a single personal callsign and will be revoking all but the one chosen to be kept. Hams are also getting the option to change their callsigns every five years. Other changes, including those affecting special-event stations, can be found by searching the ofcom website for:
"Amateur Radio Implementing Phase 2 and 3"
-- Jeremy Boot G4NJH (via amateur radio newsline)
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
2. York Region Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Date :Saturday, November 8, 2025
Location :Aurora Legion - 105 Industrial Pkwy. North, Aurora.
Times :Vendors: 07:30, General Public at 09:00-12:30
Cost :General admission $10
Talk-in :VE3YRA : 145.350 Tone 103.5
Notes :We're excited to be back for our 45th Annual Hamfest.
:There is no ATM on site.
:Snacks will be available for purchase.
ublic please respect the opening time to give Vendors time to set up
Webpage :https://yrarc.org/yrarc-hamfest/
Email :hamfest @ yrarc.org
-- RAC events Listing
ITEMS OF INTEREST
3. Amateur Radio Runs with the Chicago Marathon
Amateur radio operators serve their communities across the United States in many ways, both before and When All Else Fails®. Using their skills as communicators, their personal equipment, the “hams” provide a needed boost to public safety radio systems. The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held on October 12, 2025, featured 55,000 runners from around the world. And, for this 17th year, a team of 155 amateur radio operators from 6 states assisted the 2000 medical personnel volunteering for the event.
Amateur radio operators were partnered with the medical teams to help coordinate responses, arrange for re-supplies, and provide situational awareness for the organizers.
There are 5 local radio clubs that have repeaters in tall buildings throughout the city to help reach some of the far ends of the course, but also deployed were 5
portable UHF repeaters, in Grant Park and in other select places where there was a need for backup resources. Organizers wanted to make sure every team had at least three ways to reach the Forward Command tent in Grant Park.
One hundred ham radio operators were stationed at the 20 course medical tents and one medical hub. In the Forward Command tent, the hams had 10 net
control operators and logging specialists. For several years, APRS has been used to track some of the medical personnel in the Grant Park area. This has been a useful tool since the post-race scene is crowded with thousands of runners and friends.
-- see the article in ARRL news for full details
4. SAQ Grimeton will Air United Nations Day Message on October 24, 2025
On October 24th 2025, SAQ is scheduled to air a message to the World, promoting Peace, Unity, and Global Partnerships. The unique Alexanderson alternator is
scheduled for one transmission over the antenna on VLF 17.2 kHz CW. The schedule for SAQ is:
13:20 UTC Live YouTube broadcast begins.
13:30 UTC Start-up of the Alternator.
14:00 UTC Transmission of a message
SAQ is the only remaining pre-electronic radio transmitter that has been preserved and is still functional.
Amateur Radio Station SK6SAQ
The Amateur Radio Station “SK6SAQ” will be QRV during the day on the following frequencies: CW 3517.2 kHz - 7017.2 kHz - 14017.2 KHz and SSB 3755 kHz -
7140 kHz.
https://alexander.n.se/saq-scheduled-to-air-on-un-day-oct-24th-2025/
--The Alexander association (via daily.hamweekly.com)
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC
with this week's bulletin.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. UK REGULATOR IMPLEMENTS MORE LICENSE CHANGES
Ofcom has moved ahead with Phases 2 and 3 of changes announced earlier that affect amateur radio licensees. These actions follow Phase 1 in February 2024 which adjusted power limits and expanded operating freedoms.
Hams with intermediate callsigns have the option to replace their number "2" series call prefixes with an M8 or M9 and can either retain or replace their existing suffix. These are voluntary changes at the moment but in five years, the regulator will change all remaining calls. The regulator is also limiting licence-holders to a single personal callsign and will be revoking all but the one chosen to be kept. Hams are also getting the option to change their callsigns every five years. Other changes, including those affecting special-event stations, can be found by searching the ofcom website for:
"Amateur Radio Implementing Phase 2 and 3"
-- Jeremy Boot G4NJH (via amateur radio newsline)
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
2. York Region Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
Date :Saturday, November 8, 2025
Location :Aurora Legion - 105 Industrial Pkwy. North, Aurora.
Times :Vendors: 07:30, General Public at 09:00-12:30
Cost :General admission $10
Talk-in :VE3YRA : 145.350 Tone 103.5
Notes :We're excited to be back for our 45th Annual Hamfest.
:There is no ATM on site.
:Snacks will be available for purchase.
ublic please respect the opening time to give Vendors time to set upWebpage :https://yrarc.org/yrarc-hamfest/
Email :hamfest @ yrarc.org
-- RAC events Listing
ITEMS OF INTEREST
3. Amateur Radio Runs with the Chicago Marathon
Amateur radio operators serve their communities across the United States in many ways, both before and When All Else Fails®. Using their skills as communicators, their personal equipment, the “hams” provide a needed boost to public safety radio systems. The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, held on October 12, 2025, featured 55,000 runners from around the world. And, for this 17th year, a team of 155 amateur radio operators from 6 states assisted the 2000 medical personnel volunteering for the event.
Amateur radio operators were partnered with the medical teams to help coordinate responses, arrange for re-supplies, and provide situational awareness for the organizers.
There are 5 local radio clubs that have repeaters in tall buildings throughout the city to help reach some of the far ends of the course, but also deployed were 5
portable UHF repeaters, in Grant Park and in other select places where there was a need for backup resources. Organizers wanted to make sure every team had at least three ways to reach the Forward Command tent in Grant Park.
One hundred ham radio operators were stationed at the 20 course medical tents and one medical hub. In the Forward Command tent, the hams had 10 net
control operators and logging specialists. For several years, APRS has been used to track some of the medical personnel in the Grant Park area. This has been a useful tool since the post-race scene is crowded with thousands of runners and friends.
-- see the article in ARRL news for full details
4. SAQ Grimeton will Air United Nations Day Message on October 24, 2025
On October 24th 2025, SAQ is scheduled to air a message to the World, promoting Peace, Unity, and Global Partnerships. The unique Alexanderson alternator is
scheduled for one transmission over the antenna on VLF 17.2 kHz CW. The schedule for SAQ is:
13:20 UTC Live YouTube broadcast begins.
13:30 UTC Start-up of the Alternator.
14:00 UTC Transmission of a message
SAQ is the only remaining pre-electronic radio transmitter that has been preserved and is still functional.
Amateur Radio Station SK6SAQ
The Amateur Radio Station “SK6SAQ” will be QRV during the day on the following frequencies: CW 3517.2 kHz - 7017.2 kHz - 14017.2 KHz and SSB 3755 kHz -
7140 kHz.
https://alexander.n.se/saq-scheduled-to-air-on-un-day-oct-24th-2025/
--The Alexander association (via daily.hamweekly.com)
This concludes this week's bulletin. Does anyone require repeats or clarifications?
Hearing none, This is V_3___ returning the frequency to net control.
Bulletin sent from Official Bulletin Manager VA3PC