https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:31:10 +0000 MyBB https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1666 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:54:18 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1666
RAC “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day” Special Event: Saturday, April 18
https://www.rac.ca/operating/world-amateur-radio-day-april-18-2026/
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again organizing a special on-air event to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day.
Every year on April 18, Radio Amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of Amateur Radio and to commemorate the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on April 18, 1925.
The IARU has announced that the theme for this year’s World Amateur Radio Day will be “Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation”.  
Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again holding a “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day” special event in which we encourage as many Amateurs as possible to get on the air and contact as many RAC stations as possible.

• RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z on April 18. The RAC official station call signs are VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE3RHQ, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC, VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC.
  
• Those contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a special commemorative certificate noting their participation in RAC’s Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day Event.
  
• Participants simply need to complete one or more contacts, on any band and mode, with RAC official stations to earn their certificates.
  
• No logs need to be submitted; simply check back on the RAC website when instructed and enter your call sign to download your certificate.
  

--
Thank you for your continuing support. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones, stay safe and have fun while celebrating World Amateur Radio Day.
Allan Boyd, VE3AJB/VE3EM
President, Radio Amateurs of Canada]]>
RAC “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day” Special Event: Saturday, April 18
https://www.rac.ca/operating/world-amateur-radio-day-april-18-2026/
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again organizing a special on-air event to celebrate World Amateur Radio Day.
Every year on April 18, Radio Amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of Amateur Radio and to commemorate the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on April 18, 1925.
The IARU has announced that the theme for this year’s World Amateur Radio Day will be “Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation”.  
Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again holding a “Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day” special event in which we encourage as many Amateurs as possible to get on the air and contact as many RAC stations as possible.

• RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z on April 18. The RAC official station call signs are VA2RAC, VA3RAC, VE1RAC, VE3RHQ, VE4RAC, VE5RAC, VE6RAC, VE7RAC, VE8RAC, VE9RAC, VO1RAC, VO2RAC, VY0RAC, VY1RAC and VY2RAC.
  
• Those contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a special commemorative certificate noting their participation in RAC’s Get on the Air on World Amateur Radio Day Event.
  
• Participants simply need to complete one or more contacts, on any band and mode, with RAC official stations to earn their certificates.
  
• No logs need to be submitted; simply check back on the RAC website when instructed and enter your call sign to download your certificate.
  

--
Thank you for your continuing support. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones, stay safe and have fun while celebrating World Amateur Radio Day.
Allan Boyd, VE3AJB/VE3EM
President, Radio Amateurs of Canada]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1665 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:38:22 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1665 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1. Ontario QSO Party Next Weekend April 18-19th

It will be busy on the bands! The OQP shares the weekend with:
Durham Hamfest
FL State POTA
TX State POTA
GA State POTA
MI QSO Party
QC QSO Party
So dust off your HF rig and join in the fun.
To learn more about the Ontario QSO Party go to https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
Please let us know if you will be radio active: https://va3cco.com/oqp/plan.htm
-- VA3PC (OQP committee)

2.  Rideau Lakes Hamfest (sponsor Lanark North Leeds ARES)
Date    :Saturday, May 2, 2026
Location    :Smiths Falls Civitan Club, 12468 Highway 15 North,
      Smiths Falls, Ontario
Times    :Vendors: 0700 hours, Public: 0800 hours, Closes: 1200 hours.
Cost:    $5 per person (includes 1 door prize ticket / person), under 16 free.
Talk-in    :147.210 MHz, tone 151.4
Description:Hamfest includes a canteen, consignment table, and equipment testing
    facilities. In addition an examiner will be present to administer exams for
    Basic, Advanced and Morse qualifications.
    See the Web page for more information and how to book an exam.
Email    :ve3rlr @ gmail.com
Web    :https://www.ve3rlr.ca/p/httpsgoo.html

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3. An introduction to Bacula

The bulletin of 21 March, 2026 mentioned the idea of regular backups of your ham
computers' data. Here is an article on one method using open source software
called bacula which is available for linux and windows (64 bit).
https://www.ik1bxn.it/wp/2026/04/10/bacula-standalone-and-centralized-backup/
and for the source software check out   https://www.bacula.org/
-- from linuxham at groups.io (author Giorgio ik1bxn)

4.   Ham Radio History: How RTTY Became the First Mainstream Digital Data Mode

Radio Teletype (RTTY) became a popular digital mode in amateur radio through a mix of
postwar circumstances, technical curiosity, and a group of operators who looked at a 180
pound machine and thought, “This would look cool in my radio room.” Its growth reflects
both the experimental spirit of ham radio and the fact that, sometimes, if it makes noise,
prints letters, and connects to a transmitter, hams will find a way to make it communicate
with the world.
-- Full article on "On all bands"  https://www.onallbands.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]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1. Ontario QSO Party Next Weekend April 18-19th

It will be busy on the bands! The OQP shares the weekend with:
Durham Hamfest
FL State POTA
TX State POTA
GA State POTA
MI QSO Party
QC QSO Party
So dust off your HF rig and join in the fun.
To learn more about the Ontario QSO Party go to https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
Please let us know if you will be radio active: https://va3cco.com/oqp/plan.htm
-- VA3PC (OQP committee)

2.  Rideau Lakes Hamfest (sponsor Lanark North Leeds ARES)
Date    :Saturday, May 2, 2026
Location    :Smiths Falls Civitan Club, 12468 Highway 15 North,
      Smiths Falls, Ontario
Times    :Vendors: 0700 hours, Public: 0800 hours, Closes: 1200 hours.
Cost:    $5 per person (includes 1 door prize ticket / person), under 16 free.
Talk-in    :147.210 MHz, tone 151.4
Description:Hamfest includes a canteen, consignment table, and equipment testing
    facilities. In addition an examiner will be present to administer exams for
    Basic, Advanced and Morse qualifications.
    See the Web page for more information and how to book an exam.
Email    :ve3rlr @ gmail.com
Web    :https://www.ve3rlr.ca/p/httpsgoo.html

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3. An introduction to Bacula

The bulletin of 21 March, 2026 mentioned the idea of regular backups of your ham
computers' data. Here is an article on one method using open source software
called bacula which is available for linux and windows (64 bit).
https://www.ik1bxn.it/wp/2026/04/10/bacula-standalone-and-centralized-backup/
and for the source software check out   https://www.bacula.org/
-- from linuxham at groups.io (author Giorgio ik1bxn)

4.   Ham Radio History: How RTTY Became the First Mainstream Digital Data Mode

Radio Teletype (RTTY) became a popular digital mode in amateur radio through a mix of
postwar circumstances, technical curiosity, and a group of operators who looked at a 180
pound machine and thought, “This would look cool in my radio room.” Its growth reflects
both the experimental spirit of ham radio and the fact that, sometimes, if it makes noise,
prints letters, and connects to a transmitter, hams will find a way to make it communicate
with the world.
-- Full article on "On all bands"  https://www.onallbands.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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1653 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:54:13 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1653 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. RAC will be attending Hamvention 2026

RAC will once again have a booth at the Dayton Hamvention held in Xenia at
the Greene County Fairgrounds - May 15-17, 2026
Look for us at booth 2504 in Building 2. If you would like to volunteer an hour
or two at the booth, contact racgm @ rac.ca if interested.
-- TCA Magazine

2.  IARU announces World Amateur Day 2026 - April 18th.

In 1925 the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris. Just two
years later, at IRC 1927 Amateur Radio gained the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
allocations which are still recognized today. From the 25 countries that formed
the IARU over 100 years ago, the IARU has now grown to include 160 countries
in three regions around the globe.

the 2026 theme is "Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation."
-- IARU Website

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

3. Ontario QSO Party 10 point Bonus Stations

Look for the 10 point bonus stations:
VE3RHQ in OTT
VA3RAC in PET
VA3CCO in PEL
VE3CCO in LAN
VE3ODX in WEL

To learn more about the Ontario QSO Party go to https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
-- VA3PC (OQP committee)

ITEMS OF INTEREST

4.   Titanic Memorial Special Event (EG1912T) Honors Telegraph Operators

The Titanic Memorial special event, EG1912T, takes place April 10th through April 15th.

We particularly wish to honour those who participated in the rescue, especially the
radio station managers and telegraph operators Jack Phillips, Harold Bride and Harold Cottam,
who played a leading role in the telegraphic communications of the most shocking rescue
in history: the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The event will take place on all bands utilizing all modes with an emphasis on CW.
QSL cards will be available via bureau. More information is available on the EG1912T QRZ page.
-- 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]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. RAC will be attending Hamvention 2026

RAC will once again have a booth at the Dayton Hamvention held in Xenia at
the Greene County Fairgrounds - May 15-17, 2026
Look for us at booth 2504 in Building 2. If you would like to volunteer an hour
or two at the booth, contact racgm @ rac.ca if interested.
-- TCA Magazine

2.  IARU announces World Amateur Day 2026 - April 18th.

In 1925 the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris. Just two
years later, at IRC 1927 Amateur Radio gained the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10m
allocations which are still recognized today. From the 25 countries that formed
the IARU over 100 years ago, the IARU has now grown to include 160 countries
in three regions around the globe.

the 2026 theme is "Advancing the Spirit of Amateur Radio Through Innovation."
-- IARU Website

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

3. Ontario QSO Party 10 point Bonus Stations

Look for the 10 point bonus stations:
VE3RHQ in OTT
VA3RAC in PET
VA3CCO in PEL
VE3CCO in LAN
VE3ODX in WEL

To learn more about the Ontario QSO Party go to https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
-- VA3PC (OQP committee)

ITEMS OF INTEREST

4.   Titanic Memorial Special Event (EG1912T) Honors Telegraph Operators

The Titanic Memorial special event, EG1912T, takes place April 10th through April 15th.

We particularly wish to honour those who participated in the rescue, especially the
radio station managers and telegraph operators Jack Phillips, Harold Bride and Harold Cottam,
who played a leading role in the telegraphic communications of the most shocking rescue
in history: the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The event will take place on all bands utilizing all modes with an emphasis on CW.
QSL cards will be available via bureau. More information is available on the EG1912T QRZ page.
-- 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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1650 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:26:47 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1650 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1. Hamfest and Flea Market  (Iroquois Amateur Radio Club)

Date    : Saturday, April 4, 2026
Location: The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 370, 24 Dundas St, Iroquois, ON, K0E 1K0
Times    : vendors 08:00 am and general public at 09:00 am.
Cost    : $ 5.00 which includes a ticket for a door prize.
Talk-in    : repeater VE3IRO 145.290 (-) CTCSS 100.0 Hz
Description: It's the first Hamfest and Flea Market of the year in Eastern Ontario.
Webpage    : https://IroquoisARC.ca
Email    : Hamfestinfo @ iroquoisarc.ca
-- RAC Events Page

2.  47th Annual Durham Hamfest (North Shore ARC)

Date        : Saturday, April 18, 2026
Closest town    : Pickering, ON
Location    : Chestnut Hill Recreation Complex, 1867 Valley Farm Road South
          Pickering, ON, L1V 6K7
Times        : 0900 to 1200
Cost        : $10.00
Website        : https://durhamhamfest.com
Email        : VA3TCN @ ve3osh.com
Webpage        : https://durhamhamfest.com
-- RAC Events Page

3. Ontario QSO Party looking for your participation

It would be great to get participants from all multiplier areas in the 2026 OQP.
If you are in one of the named multiplier areas, why not get on for a few hours
to help out the cause, the last time all areas were activated was the year 2020.
Counties/Districts missing QSO's the past two years:
2025  Bruce  Haliburton  Huron  Timiskaming
2024  Muskoka  RainyRiver  Renfrew  ThunderBay  Timiskaming

You can let people know your intent to operate on this page:
https://va3cco.com/oqp/plan
-- Paul VA3PC (OQP Committee)

ITEMS OF INTEREST

4.   Hamdash.com  an internet based operating dashboard

Mike K9QH forwarded the site https://www.hamdash.com to me to try out.
The free, privacy-first ham radio dashboard that puts real-time DX spots,
space weather, propagation predictions, and a full operator toolkit on one
screen — no account required, no tracking, no personal data stored, just open
and operate.
it was developed by Peter, G0LIW.
-- Mike K9QH on the feld hell 30m net.

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1. Hamfest and Flea Market  (Iroquois Amateur Radio Club)

Date    : Saturday, April 4, 2026
Location: The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 370, 24 Dundas St, Iroquois, ON, K0E 1K0
Times    : vendors 08:00 am and general public at 09:00 am.
Cost    : $ 5.00 which includes a ticket for a door prize.
Talk-in    : repeater VE3IRO 145.290 (-) CTCSS 100.0 Hz
Description: It's the first Hamfest and Flea Market of the year in Eastern Ontario.
Webpage    : https://IroquoisARC.ca
Email    : Hamfestinfo @ iroquoisarc.ca
-- RAC Events Page

2.  47th Annual Durham Hamfest (North Shore ARC)

Date        : Saturday, April 18, 2026
Closest town    : Pickering, ON
Location    : Chestnut Hill Recreation Complex, 1867 Valley Farm Road South
          Pickering, ON, L1V 6K7
Times        : 0900 to 1200
Cost        : $10.00
Website        : https://durhamhamfest.com
Email        : VA3TCN @ ve3osh.com
Webpage        : https://durhamhamfest.com
-- RAC Events Page

3. Ontario QSO Party looking for your participation

It would be great to get participants from all multiplier areas in the 2026 OQP.
If you are in one of the named multiplier areas, why not get on for a few hours
to help out the cause, the last time all areas were activated was the year 2020.
Counties/Districts missing QSO's the past two years:
2025  Bruce  Haliburton  Huron  Timiskaming
2024  Muskoka  RainyRiver  Renfrew  ThunderBay  Timiskaming

You can let people know your intent to operate on this page:
https://va3cco.com/oqp/plan
-- Paul VA3PC (OQP Committee)

ITEMS OF INTEREST

4.   Hamdash.com  an internet based operating dashboard

Mike K9QH forwarded the site https://www.hamdash.com to me to try out.
The free, privacy-first ham radio dashboard that puts real-time DX spots,
space weather, propagation predictions, and a full operator toolkit on one
screen — no account required, no tracking, no personal data stored, just open
and operate.
it was developed by Peter, G0LIW.
-- Mike K9QH on the feld hell 30m net.

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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1644 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:40:22 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1644 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  The March-April 2026 issue of The Canadian Amateur is now available

The paper version is now at the printer.
To download your e-copy please visit:
https://www.rac.ca/digitaltca/
-- RAC website

2.  WRTC NOT PERMITTING NATIONAL FLAGS, SYMBOLS

Spectators and participants can expect to see plenty of things at the World Radiosport
Team Championship event in the UK this coming July. There will be antennas, rigs, cables,
microphones and keys -- and plenty of spectators to cheer on the hams using them.

What will not be evident anywhere are any emblems, flags or other symbols of national identity.
The Organising Committee of WRTC 2026 has reaffirmed the approach that was used during the WRTC
event held in 2023 in Bologna, Italy. That means that, as before, this year's teams will avoid
national symbols of any kind. This is especially significant because it is consistent with the
competition's qualification process which identifies all participants by qualification area
and not by their DXCC.

Like the Olympics, the WRTC is held every four years with different host countries each time.
They have included Brazil, Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovenia and, in the US, San Francisco,
Boston and Seattle.

-- Dave Lee M7TLB (via amateurradio newsline)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  AIRLINES REQUIRED TO UPDATE ELECTRONICS DUE TO CW INTERFERENCE

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines flying Boeing 787 Dreamliners to
inspect and repair faulty on-board transponders. According to a report at Aviation A-to-Z
dot com, the move is expected to cost U.S. airlines nearly eight million dollars.

The FAA Airworthiness Directive states that certain Boeing 787 transponders can fail when
they are exposed to continuous wave signals, including those generated by Morse code from
military transmitters. Such signals, when encountered by the aircraft’s Mode S transponder,
may cause a failure to respond to radar interrogation. Air traffic control systems rely on
those responses to track aircraft positions accurately. Without a correct reply from the
transponder, controllers may temporarily lose visibility on their radar displays.

The suspect CW is a "continuous wave" of radio energy in the 1030 to 1090 MHz frequency
range, where the aircraft transponder operates.
Tests conducted by the FAA showed a near 90 percent failure rate of interrogation attempts
in environments with CW interference, which prompted the corrective solution order.
-- from reports in amateur radio newsline and aviation websites.

4.   If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

About 10 years ago I posted about backing up your PC. Since May 2016 when I posted I would
imagine even more radio op's depend to some degree on their PC's. Even if you are a minimalist
when it comes to mixing ham radio and computers I am sure most of you have a PC and depend on
it for something. MANY times in the past I have said "I have learned my lesson" when one of
my beloved PC's either just stopped working or the OS hiccuped or was doing back flips.
When one or all of these things happen and I do say WHEN because whether you like it or not
your beloved PC will let you down. If you have not backed up it is too late and the fun begins
to see what and if you can salvage anything.

For full article see: amateurradio.com
-- Mike Weir VE9KK

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  The March-April 2026 issue of The Canadian Amateur is now available

The paper version is now at the printer.
To download your e-copy please visit:
https://www.rac.ca/digitaltca/
-- RAC website

2.  WRTC NOT PERMITTING NATIONAL FLAGS, SYMBOLS

Spectators and participants can expect to see plenty of things at the World Radiosport
Team Championship event in the UK this coming July. There will be antennas, rigs, cables,
microphones and keys -- and plenty of spectators to cheer on the hams using them.

What will not be evident anywhere are any emblems, flags or other symbols of national identity.
The Organising Committee of WRTC 2026 has reaffirmed the approach that was used during the WRTC
event held in 2023 in Bologna, Italy. That means that, as before, this year's teams will avoid
national symbols of any kind. This is especially significant because it is consistent with the
competition's qualification process which identifies all participants by qualification area
and not by their DXCC.

Like the Olympics, the WRTC is held every four years with different host countries each time.
They have included Brazil, Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovenia and, in the US, San Francisco,
Boston and Seattle.

-- Dave Lee M7TLB (via amateurradio newsline)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  AIRLINES REQUIRED TO UPDATE ELECTRONICS DUE TO CW INTERFERENCE

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines flying Boeing 787 Dreamliners to
inspect and repair faulty on-board transponders. According to a report at Aviation A-to-Z
dot com, the move is expected to cost U.S. airlines nearly eight million dollars.

The FAA Airworthiness Directive states that certain Boeing 787 transponders can fail when
they are exposed to continuous wave signals, including those generated by Morse code from
military transmitters. Such signals, when encountered by the aircraft’s Mode S transponder,
may cause a failure to respond to radar interrogation. Air traffic control systems rely on
those responses to track aircraft positions accurately. Without a correct reply from the
transponder, controllers may temporarily lose visibility on their radar displays.

The suspect CW is a "continuous wave" of radio energy in the 1030 to 1090 MHz frequency
range, where the aircraft transponder operates.
Tests conducted by the FAA showed a near 90 percent failure rate of interrogation attempts
in environments with CW interference, which prompted the corrective solution order.
-- from reports in amateur radio newsline and aviation websites.

4.   If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

About 10 years ago I posted about backing up your PC. Since May 2016 when I posted I would
imagine even more radio op's depend to some degree on their PC's. Even if you are a minimalist
when it comes to mixing ham radio and computers I am sure most of you have a PC and depend on
it for something. MANY times in the past I have said "I have learned my lesson" when one of
my beloved PC's either just stopped working or the OS hiccuped or was doing back flips.
When one or all of these things happen and I do say WHEN because whether you like it or not
your beloved PC will let you down. If you have not backed up it is too late and the fun begins
to see what and if you can salvage anything.

For full article see: amateurradio.com
-- Mike Weir VE9KK

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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1639 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:52:44 -0400 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1639 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.
 
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
1.  Meshtastic Does More Than Simple Communication
 
Meshtastic has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately, as the off-grid, 
long-range radio text messaging protocol gains a ton of new users. It’s been used 
to create mesh networks in cities, during disasters and protests, in small groups 
while hiking or camping, and for search and rescue operations. Although it’s 
connected plenty of people together in all of these ways, user GreatScott! wanted
to put it to work connecting some computing resources instead. He has a garden 
shed that’s too far for WiFi, so Meshtastic was used to connect it.
All he really wanted to do was to implement a basic alarm system that would 
let him know if someone had broken in. The actual alarm triggering mechanism is 
a LED emitter-detector pair which sends a 12V signal if the infrared beam is 
broken. The sensor is connected to a Heltec ESP32 LoRa module which is set up to 
publish messages on the Meshtastic communications channel. A second module is 
connected to the WiFi at the house which communicates with his Home Assistant server.
Integrating Meshtastic devices into Home Assistant can be pretty straightforward 
but there is some configuration to get these specific modules working as an alarm. 
But with perhaps more configuration than he planned, GreatScott!’s alarm is up 
and running. Meshtastic projects often balloon into more than we had originally 
planned though, in more ways than one. You can follow along as our own attempts 
to connect all of New Jersey with this new protocol.
-- hackaday.com (via this week in amateur radio - https://twiar.net/?p=39995)
 
2. Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio Rally (RADAR) on April 4, 2026
 
RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE. 
RaDAR encourages outdoor operations with a unique challenge: make five contacts 
and redeploy as quickly as possible within four hours. The RaDAR Challenge has 
become the RaDAR Rally with some rule tweaks. Please take a look at the complete 
rules, and if interested, please make your plans and register. 
Registration is open through April 3rd UTC. If your plans change, send an 
update. This is not a contest; it is just for fun! 
Check out this intro video and the April 2026 roster at this site. 
https://www.radarrally.info/
-- Greg N4KGL (via daily.hamweekly.com)
 
3.  Big Numbers for POTA
 
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a few minutes to watch Kevin W1DED‘s YouTube update 
on the state of POTA. Kevin is on the Board of Directors of Parks On the Air. 
There are two parts to the post, first a rundown of POTA stats and growth, and then 
a discussion of new work that is being started to implement improvements in the 
program, the website, and the infrastructure.
Year    Logs Submitted        Total QSOs
2023    245,000            10.6 million
2024    333,000            13.0 million
2025    406,000            15.2 million
That’s an average growth rate of about 40% over the period.
Full article at: https://pota.news/
-- Parks On The Air.
 
4. 2026 Hamvention Award Winners Announced
 
The 2026 Awards team is pleased to announce the Hamvention Award Winners. It is always 
difficult to make our final decisions as we receive many excellent nominations. Please 
join us in congratulating these very deserving winners.
Technical Achievement Award  - Robert Famiglio K3RF
Amateur of the Year Award - Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens NP4G
Special Achievement Award - Martha Fell N3QBE and Joe Fell W3GMS
Club of the Year - Long Island CW Club
More information can be found on the Hamvention web site.
-- Michael Kalter, W8CI - Award Chairman 2026
 ]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.
 
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
1.  Meshtastic Does More Than Simple Communication
 
Meshtastic has been experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately, as the off-grid, 
long-range radio text messaging protocol gains a ton of new users. It’s been used 
to create mesh networks in cities, during disasters and protests, in small groups 
while hiking or camping, and for search and rescue operations. Although it’s 
connected plenty of people together in all of these ways, user GreatScott! wanted
to put it to work connecting some computing resources instead. He has a garden 
shed that’s too far for WiFi, so Meshtastic was used to connect it.
All he really wanted to do was to implement a basic alarm system that would 
let him know if someone had broken in. The actual alarm triggering mechanism is 
a LED emitter-detector pair which sends a 12V signal if the infrared beam is 
broken. The sensor is connected to a Heltec ESP32 LoRa module which is set up to 
publish messages on the Meshtastic communications channel. A second module is 
connected to the WiFi at the house which communicates with his Home Assistant server.
Integrating Meshtastic devices into Home Assistant can be pretty straightforward 
but there is some configuration to get these specific modules working as an alarm. 
But with perhaps more configuration than he planned, GreatScott!’s alarm is up 
and running. Meshtastic projects often balloon into more than we had originally 
planned though, in more ways than one. You can follow along as our own attempts 
to connect all of New Jersey with this new protocol.
-- hackaday.com (via this week in amateur radio - https://twiar.net/?p=39995)
 
2. Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio Rally (RADAR) on April 4, 2026
 
RaDAR is Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio, conceived by Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE. 
RaDAR encourages outdoor operations with a unique challenge: make five contacts 
and redeploy as quickly as possible within four hours. The RaDAR Challenge has 
become the RaDAR Rally with some rule tweaks. Please take a look at the complete 
rules, and if interested, please make your plans and register. 
Registration is open through April 3rd UTC. If your plans change, send an 
update. This is not a contest; it is just for fun! 
Check out this intro video and the April 2026 roster at this site. 
https://www.radarrally.info/
-- Greg N4KGL (via daily.hamweekly.com)
 
3.  Big Numbers for POTA
 
If you haven’t seen it yet, take a few minutes to watch Kevin W1DED‘s YouTube update 
on the state of POTA. Kevin is on the Board of Directors of Parks On the Air. 
There are two parts to the post, first a rundown of POTA stats and growth, and then 
a discussion of new work that is being started to implement improvements in the 
program, the website, and the infrastructure.
Year    Logs Submitted        Total QSOs
2023    245,000            10.6 million
2024    333,000            13.0 million
2025    406,000            15.2 million
That’s an average growth rate of about 40% over the period.
Full article at: https://pota.news/
-- Parks On The Air.
 
4. 2026 Hamvention Award Winners Announced
 
The 2026 Awards team is pleased to announce the Hamvention Award Winners. It is always 
difficult to make our final decisions as we receive many excellent nominations. Please 
join us in congratulating these very deserving winners.
Technical Achievement Award  - Robert Famiglio K3RF
Amateur of the Year Award - Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens NP4G
Special Achievement Award - Martha Fell N3QBE and Joe Fell W3GMS
Club of the Year - Long Island CW Club
More information can be found on the Hamvention web site.
-- Michael Kalter, W8CI - Award Chairman 2026
 ]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1638 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:55:52 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1638 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada 
with this week's bulletin.
 
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
 
1.  Certificate Backlog at Amateur Radio Service Centre
 
Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has advised Radio Amateurs of Canada that 
the Amateur Radio Service Centre is currently experiencing a backlog in the printing and 
mailing of Amateur Radio certificates.
The backlog affects newly certified Amateurs as well as those who have recently upgraded 
their qualifications. ISED is working toward a resolution and expects to clear the backlog 
as soon as possible.
In the meantime, ISED’s electronic processing of new certifications, qualification upgrades 
and call sign assignments continues to operate with its usual high level of efficiency. 
These services are not affected by the delay in printing and mailing certificates.
--Dave Goodwin, VE3KG - Regulatory Affairs Officer, Radio Amateurs of Canada
 
2. Changes to the RAC Contest Management Team
 
After 22 years of exceptional service to Canadian Radio Amateurs, Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU and 
Sam Ferris, VE5SF, have retired from managing RAC’s two annual contests.
The new manager for the RAC Canada Day Contest is Jim Roberts, VE7ZO.
Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Jim now lives in Bowser, British Columbia in 
central Vancouver Island.
Jim has been an Amateur since 1967 and is a highly accomplished contester.
The new manager for the RAC Canada Winter Contest is Vlad Milutinovic, VE3JM.
Vlad became an Amateur in 1980 in his native Serbia.
Vlad has built a very large station in eastern Ontario. He is highly skilled at SO2R 
(single-op two radio) operating and an excellent host for multi-ops.
RAC and Canadian Radio Amateurs are very lucky to have two such skilled and experienced 
competitors taking over.
The outgoing managers, Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU and Sam Ferris, VE5SF, have done a magnificent 
job with RAC’s contests for over 22 years. Jim and Vlad will continue that legacy and build upon it.
– Dave Goodwin, VE3KG – RAC Contest and Awards Committee
 
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
 
3. Ontario QSO Party 2026 Rules Update
 
The OQP is coming up on April 18-19, 2026. Rules changes include:
Addition of VE3RHQ (RAC Headquarters) as a bonus station.
Phone QSO's now count 2 points (same as CW QSO's)
Contest timed adjusted - Move of 2 hours from late Saturday night to Sunday evening.
County line proximity definition (within 250m)
Full information can be found at https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
-- Paul, VA3PC
 
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
4.  The SARC Communicator for March-April 2026 is now available.
 
Articles include:
Hidden features in the Icom IC-7300 transceiver
Add Digital Television to Your ARES Tool Kit
When an app outlives its creator
Download and read your copy at https://www.ve7sar.net/communicator
-- amateur radio newsline (via John, VE7TI)
 
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
_._,_._,_]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada 
with this week's bulletin.
 
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
 
1.  Certificate Backlog at Amateur Radio Service Centre
 
Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has advised Radio Amateurs of Canada that 
the Amateur Radio Service Centre is currently experiencing a backlog in the printing and 
mailing of Amateur Radio certificates.
The backlog affects newly certified Amateurs as well as those who have recently upgraded 
their qualifications. ISED is working toward a resolution and expects to clear the backlog 
as soon as possible.
In the meantime, ISED’s electronic processing of new certifications, qualification upgrades 
and call sign assignments continues to operate with its usual high level of efficiency. 
These services are not affected by the delay in printing and mailing certificates.
--Dave Goodwin, VE3KG - Regulatory Affairs Officer, Radio Amateurs of Canada
 
2. Changes to the RAC Contest Management Team
 
After 22 years of exceptional service to Canadian Radio Amateurs, Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU and 
Sam Ferris, VE5SF, have retired from managing RAC’s two annual contests.
The new manager for the RAC Canada Day Contest is Jim Roberts, VE7ZO.
Originally from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Jim now lives in Bowser, British Columbia in 
central Vancouver Island.
Jim has been an Amateur since 1967 and is a highly accomplished contester.
The new manager for the RAC Canada Winter Contest is Vlad Milutinovic, VE3JM.
Vlad became an Amateur in 1980 in his native Serbia.
Vlad has built a very large station in eastern Ontario. He is highly skilled at SO2R 
(single-op two radio) operating and an excellent host for multi-ops.
RAC and Canadian Radio Amateurs are very lucky to have two such skilled and experienced 
competitors taking over.
The outgoing managers, Bart Ritchie, VE5CPU and Sam Ferris, VE5SF, have done a magnificent 
job with RAC’s contests for over 22 years. Jim and Vlad will continue that legacy and build upon it.
– Dave Goodwin, VE3KG – RAC Contest and Awards Committee
 
ONTARIO SECTION NEWS
 
3. Ontario QSO Party 2026 Rules Update
 
The OQP is coming up on April 18-19, 2026. Rules changes include:
Addition of VE3RHQ (RAC Headquarters) as a bonus station.
Phone QSO's now count 2 points (same as CW QSO's)
Contest timed adjusted - Move of 2 hours from late Saturday night to Sunday evening.
County line proximity definition (within 250m)
Full information can be found at https://www.va3cco.com/oqp
-- Paul, VA3PC
 
ITEMS OF INTEREST
 
4.  The SARC Communicator for March-April 2026 is now available.
 
Articles include:
Hidden features in the Icom IC-7300 transceiver
Add Digital Television to Your ARES Tool Kit
When an app outlives its creator
Download and read your copy at https://www.ve7sar.net/communicator
-- amateur radio newsline (via John, VE7TI)
 
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
_._,_._,_]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1636 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 08:48:12 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1636

Commonwealth Contest: March 14-15, 2026

https://www.rac.ca/commonwealth/

The annual Commonwealth Contest (CC) takes place very soon from 1000z Saturday, March 14 to 0959z Sunday March 15. This 24-hour CW-only contest takes place on the five HF contest bands (80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres). 
This contest has been around since 1931. Once known as the "BERU," the CC involves Amateurs in the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and their associated territories only. This gives us an exclusive shot at some very interesting DX. 
The contest is now a partnership of the International Amateur Radio Union’s (IARU) member societies for Canada (Radio Amateurs of Canada – RAC), Australia (Wireless Institute of Australia – WIA), India (Amateur Radio Society of India – ARSI), New Zealand (New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters – NZART) and the United Kingdom (Radio Society of Great Britain – RSGB).
"HQ" stations have a special status in this contest and the RAC HQ station VE3RHQ will once again be operated by Mike Kelly, VE3FFK. Other RAC call signs will be activated across Canada. 
There will also be HQ stations from many parts of the Commonwealth, with several in each of the United Kingdom and Australia.  
Take part in the RAC Commonwealth Contest. For more information on the CC, please go to rac.ca/commonwealth.  
]]>

Commonwealth Contest: March 14-15, 2026

https://www.rac.ca/commonwealth/

The annual Commonwealth Contest (CC) takes place very soon from 1000z Saturday, March 14 to 0959z Sunday March 15. This 24-hour CW-only contest takes place on the five HF contest bands (80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres). 
This contest has been around since 1931. Once known as the "BERU," the CC involves Amateurs in the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and their associated territories only. This gives us an exclusive shot at some very interesting DX. 
The contest is now a partnership of the International Amateur Radio Union’s (IARU) member societies for Canada (Radio Amateurs of Canada – RAC), Australia (Wireless Institute of Australia – WIA), India (Amateur Radio Society of India – ARSI), New Zealand (New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters – NZART) and the United Kingdom (Radio Society of Great Britain – RSGB).
"HQ" stations have a special status in this contest and the RAC HQ station VE3RHQ will once again be operated by Mike Kelly, VE3FFK. Other RAC call signs will be activated across Canada. 
There will also be HQ stations from many parts of the Commonwealth, with several in each of the United Kingdom and Australia.  
Take part in the RAC Commonwealth Contest. For more information on the CC, please go to rac.ca/commonwealth.  
]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1633 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:54:14 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1633 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  The End of an Era: Environment Canada to Silence Weatheradio on March 16th, 2026

Starting March 16, 2026, Weatheradio and Hello Weather services will be permanently disconnected.
You can get radio marine forecasts via the Canadian Coast Guard. For your local weather forecasts
and alerts, visit the interactive weather map or download the WeatherCAN app.

-- Environment Canada Website (and many news outlets)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.  ACS-GH Virtual Presentation: BANDING TOGETHER WITH HAMCLOCK - March 11, 2026

Presented By Rob Schuetze VE3XBI, YRARC Director of Emergency Communications
HamClock is an essential daily tool for every amateur radio operator.  It delivers real-time
propagation reports, solar weather data, world clocks, and satellite tracking—all at a glance.
With critical information instantly available, HamClock helps you make smarter communication
decisions and improve on-air effectiveness every single day.
Register before March 9th at    reupva3rie @ gmail.com

-- Rosemarie Upfield  VA3RIE
Communications, Education/Training Coordinator
Golden Horseshoe (GH) Section

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.    Community HamClock Backend Server Now Available

The first known community backend server for HamClock is now available for all HamClock users.
The project, hamclock.com, is free for anyone to use and will keep existing HamClock installs
running indefinitely.

With the passing of HamClock creator Elwood Downey (WB0OEW), HamClock will stop working
in June unless users point their installations to a new backend service. Updating existing HamClock
installations is a simple task. Users have two options, updating their hosts file, or updating the
command used to start HamClock. Both require only simple text changes.
Hamclock.com is run by Bruce Edrich (W4BAE) and is built upon open-hamclock-backend.
Headlines from Amateur Radio Daily are made available to HamClock via open-hamclock-backend.
-- daily.hamweekly.com website

4.  WQ2XDM - New US experimental callsign for radio propagation tests at 40 MHz & 70 MHz

John, K9JMS recently received permission from the FCC to carry out propagation tests at 40 MHz (8m)
and 70 MHz (4m) and was granted the callsign WQ2XDM for a period of two years.
Note that this is NOT an amateur radio licence and no two way communications are allowed.
Its purpose is strictly for "scientific and engineering-based propagation research".
The 40 MHz and 70 MHz bands are NOT amateur radio bands in the United States and this is a case of
someone getting a permit to make narrow band digital transmissions and seeing if the signals are heard.
The licence has the following conditions attached...
8m band - 40.660 to 40.700 MHz - 10-watts ERP max (FT8 & WSPR)
4m band - 70.000 to 70.200 MHz - 25-watts ERP max (FT8 & WSPR)
-- EI7GL blogspot.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]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  The End of an Era: Environment Canada to Silence Weatheradio on March 16th, 2026

Starting March 16, 2026, Weatheradio and Hello Weather services will be permanently disconnected.
You can get radio marine forecasts via the Canadian Coast Guard. For your local weather forecasts
and alerts, visit the interactive weather map or download the WeatherCAN app.

-- Environment Canada Website (and many news outlets)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.  ACS-GH Virtual Presentation: BANDING TOGETHER WITH HAMCLOCK - March 11, 2026

Presented By Rob Schuetze VE3XBI, YRARC Director of Emergency Communications
HamClock is an essential daily tool for every amateur radio operator.  It delivers real-time
propagation reports, solar weather data, world clocks, and satellite tracking—all at a glance.
With critical information instantly available, HamClock helps you make smarter communication
decisions and improve on-air effectiveness every single day.
Register before March 9th at    reupva3rie @ gmail.com

-- Rosemarie Upfield  VA3RIE
Communications, Education/Training Coordinator
Golden Horseshoe (GH) Section

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.    Community HamClock Backend Server Now Available

The first known community backend server for HamClock is now available for all HamClock users.
The project, hamclock.com, is free for anyone to use and will keep existing HamClock installs
running indefinitely.

With the passing of HamClock creator Elwood Downey (WB0OEW), HamClock will stop working
in June unless users point their installations to a new backend service. Updating existing HamClock
installations is a simple task. Users have two options, updating their hosts file, or updating the
command used to start HamClock. Both require only simple text changes.
Hamclock.com is run by Bruce Edrich (W4BAE) and is built upon open-hamclock-backend.
Headlines from Amateur Radio Daily are made available to HamClock via open-hamclock-backend.
-- daily.hamweekly.com website

4.  WQ2XDM - New US experimental callsign for radio propagation tests at 40 MHz & 70 MHz

John, K9JMS recently received permission from the FCC to carry out propagation tests at 40 MHz (8m)
and 70 MHz (4m) and was granted the callsign WQ2XDM for a period of two years.
Note that this is NOT an amateur radio licence and no two way communications are allowed.
Its purpose is strictly for "scientific and engineering-based propagation research".
The 40 MHz and 70 MHz bands are NOT amateur radio bands in the United States and this is a case of
someone getting a permit to make narrow band digital transmissions and seeing if the signals are heard.
The licence has the following conditions attached...
8m band - 40.660 to 40.700 MHz - 10-watts ERP max (FT8 & WSPR)
4m band - 70.000 to 70.200 MHz - 25-watts ERP max (FT8 & WSPR)
-- EI7GL blogspot.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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1630 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:06:04 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1630 Radio Amateurs of Canada Responds to to the Closure of the Weatherradio Service in Canada

https://www.rac.ca/rac-responds-to-the-closure-of-the-weatherradio-service-in-canada/

For immediate release | February 25, 2026Le texte français suit  –

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is saddened to learn about the closure of the Weatheradio service provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

For decades, Weatheradio has been a trusted and resilient source of real-time weather alerts and public safety information for Canadians – particularly in rural, remote and northern communities where cellular and internet coverage can be limited or unreliable.

Continuous broadcast weather alerts have assisted in supporting emergency preparedness, severe weather awareness and community resilience. Many Amateur Radio operators and emergency volunteers have relied on these broadcasts as part of their situational awareness during storms, wildfires and other public safety events.

RAC recognizes the evolving nature of communications technology, however any transition away from dedicated broadcast alerting services must ensure that no Canadians are left without timely access to critical warnings. Redundancy in emergency communications systems is not a luxury – it is a necessity.

Amateur Radio operators across Canada remain committed to supporting emergency management partners at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Our volunteers stand ready to assist with communications support when conventional systems fail or become overloaded.

Radio Amateurs of Canada encourages continued dialogue with government and public safety stakeholders to ensure that Canada maintains a robust, accessible and resilient national alerting framework that serves all communities effectively."

Allan Boyd, 
VE3AJB/VE3EM
President Radio Amateurs of/du Canada ]]> Radio Amateurs of Canada Responds to to the Closure of the Weatherradio Service in Canada

https://www.rac.ca/rac-responds-to-the-closure-of-the-weatherradio-service-in-canada/

For immediate release | February 25, 2026Le texte français suit  –

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is saddened to learn about the closure of the Weatheradio service provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

For decades, Weatheradio has been a trusted and resilient source of real-time weather alerts and public safety information for Canadians – particularly in rural, remote and northern communities where cellular and internet coverage can be limited or unreliable.

Continuous broadcast weather alerts have assisted in supporting emergency preparedness, severe weather awareness and community resilience. Many Amateur Radio operators and emergency volunteers have relied on these broadcasts as part of their situational awareness during storms, wildfires and other public safety events.

RAC recognizes the evolving nature of communications technology, however any transition away from dedicated broadcast alerting services must ensure that no Canadians are left without timely access to critical warnings. Redundancy in emergency communications systems is not a luxury – it is a necessity.

Amateur Radio operators across Canada remain committed to supporting emergency management partners at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Our volunteers stand ready to assist with communications support when conventional systems fail or become overloaded.

Radio Amateurs of Canada encourages continued dialogue with government and public safety stakeholders to ensure that Canada maintains a robust, accessible and resilient national alerting framework that serves all communities effectively."

Allan Boyd, 
VE3AJB/VE3EM
President Radio Amateurs of/du Canada ]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1629 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 16:39:28 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1629 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  RAC Amateur of the Year Award 2025:   Fred Archibald, VE1FA and Helen Archibald, VA1YL

The RAC Board of Directors takes great pleasure in selecting Fred Archibald, VE1FA, and
Helen Archibald, VA1YL, of Port Williams, Nova Scotia as the recipients of the RAC
Amateur of the Year Award for 2025.

Fred and Helen Archibald have been pillars of Amateur Radio in Canada for decades. While
the award traditionally reflects contributions within a given year, their sustained excellence in 2025
– combined with a lifetime of service – made them compelling joint recipients.

Their partnership – spanning more than 50 years of marriage and decades of Amateur Radio dedication
– reflects teamwork, resilience and service at the highest level.

Radio Amateurs of Canada sincerely congratulates Fred Archibald, VE1FA, and Helen Archibald, VA1YL,
on being named the RAC Amateurs of the Year for 2025. An article about the Award will be included in
the March-April 2026 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

-- Allan Boyd, VE3AJB, RAC President  (Full article on the RAC website)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

2.  What the heck is FT2?

The fastest digital mode ever created, it uses 3.8 second cycles.
Based on the WSJT-X 72 bit payload it uses shortened tones to achieve the short cycle.
It requires a good signal to decode (-12 vs FT8 at -24), and tight time synchronization.
The first qso was completed on Feb 16, 2026 taking only 11 seconds, 4x faster than FT8.
See the full information and downloads at https://ft2.it
The installation packages now support W64, W32 and linux OS.
-- amateur radio weekly news

3.    Anytone AT-D890UV full duplex satellite HT (plus DMR)

This new HT has full duplex capability to allow users to work satellites.
It requires fixed frequencies as no automatic doppler shift is available, but is now
the only unit available on the "new" market with this capability.
For the full writeup see     https://www.amsat.se/2026/02/16/
-- amsat-SM bulletin (via amateur radio weekly news)

4.  BUNKERS ON THE AIR PROGRAM EXPANDS

The links between amateur radio and history grow stronger every day as hams have discovered from all our
special event stations and awards schemes. In the UK, Bunkers on the Air began with Royal Observer Corps
bunker sites in 2005 with radio and history education in mind.

Worldwide BOTA's Jason Dale, 2EØJIV, told Newsline that, as with other nations, US BOTA is closely modeled
after the one in the UK. With some bunker sites still considered sensitive areas, BOTA established an activation
zone giving plenty of room for permitted activations without having to infringe on the bunker itself. In the UK
and the US and several other countries, that's 1,000 meters from the center of the bunker itself.

The worldwide platform hosts each country's available awards and bunker databases as well as lists of new
countries - and newly added bunkers. Specific rules and local maps are available on each country's individual site.
Best of all, said Jason, some portable loggers, such as Ham2K, have also gotten into the act and have already
added BOTA into their software.
Canada's BOTA site is :    https://wwbota.net/cabota_1/      (now at 1750 entries).
-- amateur radio newsline

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  RAC Amateur of the Year Award 2025:   Fred Archibald, VE1FA and Helen Archibald, VA1YL

The RAC Board of Directors takes great pleasure in selecting Fred Archibald, VE1FA, and
Helen Archibald, VA1YL, of Port Williams, Nova Scotia as the recipients of the RAC
Amateur of the Year Award for 2025.

Fred and Helen Archibald have been pillars of Amateur Radio in Canada for decades. While
the award traditionally reflects contributions within a given year, their sustained excellence in 2025
– combined with a lifetime of service – made them compelling joint recipients.

Their partnership – spanning more than 50 years of marriage and decades of Amateur Radio dedication
– reflects teamwork, resilience and service at the highest level.

Radio Amateurs of Canada sincerely congratulates Fred Archibald, VE1FA, and Helen Archibald, VA1YL,
on being named the RAC Amateurs of the Year for 2025. An article about the Award will be included in
the March-April 2026 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

-- Allan Boyd, VE3AJB, RAC President  (Full article on the RAC website)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

2.  What the heck is FT2?

The fastest digital mode ever created, it uses 3.8 second cycles.
Based on the WSJT-X 72 bit payload it uses shortened tones to achieve the short cycle.
It requires a good signal to decode (-12 vs FT8 at -24), and tight time synchronization.
The first qso was completed on Feb 16, 2026 taking only 11 seconds, 4x faster than FT8.
See the full information and downloads at https://ft2.it
The installation packages now support W64, W32 and linux OS.
-- amateur radio weekly news

3.    Anytone AT-D890UV full duplex satellite HT (plus DMR)

This new HT has full duplex capability to allow users to work satellites.
It requires fixed frequencies as no automatic doppler shift is available, but is now
the only unit available on the "new" market with this capability.
For the full writeup see     https://www.amsat.se/2026/02/16/
-- amsat-SM bulletin (via amateur radio weekly news)

4.  BUNKERS ON THE AIR PROGRAM EXPANDS

The links between amateur radio and history grow stronger every day as hams have discovered from all our
special event stations and awards schemes. In the UK, Bunkers on the Air began with Royal Observer Corps
bunker sites in 2005 with radio and history education in mind.

Worldwide BOTA's Jason Dale, 2EØJIV, told Newsline that, as with other nations, US BOTA is closely modeled
after the one in the UK. With some bunker sites still considered sensitive areas, BOTA established an activation
zone giving plenty of room for permitted activations without having to infringe on the bunker itself. In the UK
and the US and several other countries, that's 1,000 meters from the center of the bunker itself.

The worldwide platform hosts each country's available awards and bunker databases as well as lists of new
countries - and newly added bunkers. Specific rules and local maps are available on each country's individual site.
Best of all, said Jason, some portable loggers, such as Ham2K, have also gotten into the act and have already
added BOTA into their software.
Canada's BOTA site is :    https://wwbota.net/cabota_1/      (now at 1750 entries).
-- amateur radio newsline

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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1626 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:25:14 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1626 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. SWR Magazine February Edition is now available.

This month, we bring you inspiring stories, technical insights, experiments, and that human touch
that makes amateur radio so special. In this issue, you will find:
- Stories and expeditions that showcase the adventurous spirit of DX.
- Exploration of new bands and satellites, for those who enjoy going beyond the horizon.
- Practical guides and equipment analysis, perfect for improving your station and experimenting with
new setups.
- Anecdotes and real-life experiences that remind us why radio remains a space for authentic and
resilient connection. And more content specially prepared for everyone who lives and breathes
radio every day.
You can find the online version (English) here:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/kqkyd/SWR-February-2026-English/#p=1
-- SWR Magazine

2.  NEW HAMPSHIRE POISED TO OK HAM RADIO LICENSE PLATES

Amateur radio operators in New Hampshire are eagerly awaiting the passage of a measure by their state
lawmakers to create a new vanity license plate type for motor vehicles that “clearly identifies the owner
of the vehicle to be an amateur radio operator.”

A public hearing was held last month on the House Bill which would “authorize the creation of vanity
license plates and decals that identify amateur radio operators by their FCC call sign. If the owner chooses
not to display their call sign they may use a standard issue plate featuring a lightning bolt symbol to
indicate their status as a licensed amateur radio operator.”

If lawmakers approve the bill, it would still need the signature of Gov. Kelly Ayotte before becoming law.
Gov. Ayotte has shown support of ham radio, proclaiming June of last year "Amateur Radio Month" in
recognition of radio operators' important roles in public service and emergency communications.
--Sel Embee, KB3TZD (via QRZ.com)

3.    Amateur Radio Software Award Nominations Open

The Amateur Radio Software Award is seeking nominations for outstanding software developed for ham
radio. Nominations should promote innovative, free, and open source projects.
Submissions are being accepted until February 28th.

The Amateur Radio Software Award is an annual international award for the recognition of software
projects that enhance amateur radio. The award aims to promote amateur radio software development
which adhere to the same spirit as amateur radio itself: innovative, free and open.

See previous award recipients, read the rules, and check out the FAQ at    https://arsaward.com/
-- amateur radio daily news

4. HamSCI 2026: Discovering Science Through Amateur Radio

Registration for HamSCI 2026 is now open. The 9th annual workshop will take place at Central Connecticut
University March 14-15.

This year's theme, "Discovering Science Through Ham Radio", celebrates the community's achievements,
including Personal Space Weather Station deployments, meteor scatter propagation studies and the promotion
of WSPR as a propagation sensing tool. The workshop is expected to feature more than 50 poster and oral
presentations, plus invited tutorials, and a banquet with a keynote address by a prominent member of the
community.
more info at:  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2026
-- arrl news

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. SWR Magazine February Edition is now available.

This month, we bring you inspiring stories, technical insights, experiments, and that human touch
that makes amateur radio so special. In this issue, you will find:
- Stories and expeditions that showcase the adventurous spirit of DX.
- Exploration of new bands and satellites, for those who enjoy going beyond the horizon.
- Practical guides and equipment analysis, perfect for improving your station and experimenting with
new setups.
- Anecdotes and real-life experiences that remind us why radio remains a space for authentic and
resilient connection. And more content specially prepared for everyone who lives and breathes
radio every day.
You can find the online version (English) here:
https://online.fliphtml5.com/kqkyd/SWR-February-2026-English/#p=1
-- SWR Magazine

2.  NEW HAMPSHIRE POISED TO OK HAM RADIO LICENSE PLATES

Amateur radio operators in New Hampshire are eagerly awaiting the passage of a measure by their state
lawmakers to create a new vanity license plate type for motor vehicles that “clearly identifies the owner
of the vehicle to be an amateur radio operator.”

A public hearing was held last month on the House Bill which would “authorize the creation of vanity
license plates and decals that identify amateur radio operators by their FCC call sign. If the owner chooses
not to display their call sign they may use a standard issue plate featuring a lightning bolt symbol to
indicate their status as a licensed amateur radio operator.”

If lawmakers approve the bill, it would still need the signature of Gov. Kelly Ayotte before becoming law.
Gov. Ayotte has shown support of ham radio, proclaiming June of last year "Amateur Radio Month" in
recognition of radio operators' important roles in public service and emergency communications.
--Sel Embee, KB3TZD (via QRZ.com)

3.    Amateur Radio Software Award Nominations Open

The Amateur Radio Software Award is seeking nominations for outstanding software developed for ham
radio. Nominations should promote innovative, free, and open source projects.
Submissions are being accepted until February 28th.

The Amateur Radio Software Award is an annual international award for the recognition of software
projects that enhance amateur radio. The award aims to promote amateur radio software development
which adhere to the same spirit as amateur radio itself: innovative, free and open.

See previous award recipients, read the rules, and check out the FAQ at    https://arsaward.com/
-- amateur radio daily news

4. HamSCI 2026: Discovering Science Through Amateur Radio

Registration for HamSCI 2026 is now open. The 9th annual workshop will take place at Central Connecticut
University March 14-15.

This year's theme, "Discovering Science Through Ham Radio", celebrates the community's achievements,
including Personal Space Weather Station deployments, meteor scatter propagation studies and the promotion
of WSPR as a propagation sensing tool. The workshop is expected to feature more than 50 poster and oral
presentations, plus invited tutorials, and a banquet with a keynote address by a prominent member of the
community.
more info at:  https://hamsci.org/hamsci2026
-- arrl news

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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1617 Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:11:10 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1617 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1.  Virtual Seminar - PASSING VOICE TRAFFIC -  FEBRUARY 11 2026

What is the Principle, Purpose, Process, Function and Formats of Voice and Data Messaging in an Emergency Situation.
Register before February 9th at reupva3rie @ gmail.com
-- Presented By Rosemarie Upfield, VA3RIE, Communications, Education/Training Coordinator
Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS), Golden Horseshoe (GH) Section

ITEMS OF INTEREST

2.   Hamvention 2026 Theme and Logo Announced

Hamvention has released the theme and logo for the 2026 Dayton Hamvention show that will take place May 15-17.
This year's theme is "Radio Adventure" referencing exploration of the many avenues ham radio offers.
Radio has always been about exploration — of ideas, technologies, distances, and possibilities.
From the earliest spark-gap pioneers to today’s digital experimenters, satellite operators,
 contesters, emergency communicators, and outdoor enthusiasts, amateur radio continues
to be a gateway to discovery.
Hamvention will take place at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.
-- hamvention.org

3.    open-hamclock-backend aims to keep HamClock ticking

A group of ham radio operators have stepped up to keep HamClock operating beyond
it's scheduled sunset in June. An open source replacement for the backend processes
required to keep the popular HamClock project alive is well under way.
This open-source replacement backend is now being developed that recreates the same
data feeds HamClock expects, using publicly available sources such as NOAA, space-
weather services, PSK Reporter, and DX information sites. From the HamClock’s point of
view, nothing changes — it connects to the same paths and receives the same data formats,
without any firmware modification.
The system is free, open-source, and designed to run locally on a small Linux system,
allowing individual hams or clubs to keep existing HamClocks fully operational.
Currently, open-hamclock-backend is designed to be self-hosted, requiring any user
wishing to extend HamClock's usefulness beyond June to run the software themselves.
However, options are being considered for a centralized version to be stood up for all
HamClock users to take advantage of.
-- full article on HamWeekly.com

4. DELAY FOR BOUVET ISLAND 3YØK DXPEDITION

The DXpedition to the most remote uninhabited island on our planet is facing a delay.
If you’re keeping your ears tuned for the start of the 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island,
the thing you’re going to need more than good propagation, sufficient power, a good
antenna and, of course, good timing is…patience. The team’s plans have been delayed
by about two weeks, according to their website. Their sailing vessel is undergoing
additional maintenance to secure it for the journey to the remote island. The team
writes: “While this delay is disappointing, the safety of our team remains our highest
priority.” According to the team, nothing else about the team’s game plan has changed
and after three years of planning, they are looking forward to being QRV before too long.

-- Graham Kemp VK4BB (amateur radio newsline)

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1.  Virtual Seminar - PASSING VOICE TRAFFIC -  FEBRUARY 11 2026

What is the Principle, Purpose, Process, Function and Formats of Voice and Data Messaging in an Emergency Situation.
Register before February 9th at reupva3rie @ gmail.com
-- Presented By Rosemarie Upfield, VA3RIE, Communications, Education/Training Coordinator
Auxiliary Communication Service (ACS), Golden Horseshoe (GH) Section

ITEMS OF INTEREST

2.   Hamvention 2026 Theme and Logo Announced

Hamvention has released the theme and logo for the 2026 Dayton Hamvention show that will take place May 15-17.
This year's theme is "Radio Adventure" referencing exploration of the many avenues ham radio offers.
Radio has always been about exploration — of ideas, technologies, distances, and possibilities.
From the earliest spark-gap pioneers to today’s digital experimenters, satellite operators,
 contesters, emergency communicators, and outdoor enthusiasts, amateur radio continues
to be a gateway to discovery.
Hamvention will take place at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.
-- hamvention.org

3.    open-hamclock-backend aims to keep HamClock ticking

A group of ham radio operators have stepped up to keep HamClock operating beyond
it's scheduled sunset in June. An open source replacement for the backend processes
required to keep the popular HamClock project alive is well under way.
This open-source replacement backend is now being developed that recreates the same
data feeds HamClock expects, using publicly available sources such as NOAA, space-
weather services, PSK Reporter, and DX information sites. From the HamClock’s point of
view, nothing changes — it connects to the same paths and receives the same data formats,
without any firmware modification.
The system is free, open-source, and designed to run locally on a small Linux system,
allowing individual hams or clubs to keep existing HamClocks fully operational.
Currently, open-hamclock-backend is designed to be self-hosted, requiring any user
wishing to extend HamClock's usefulness beyond June to run the software themselves.
However, options are being considered for a centralized version to be stood up for all
HamClock users to take advantage of.
-- full article on HamWeekly.com

4. DELAY FOR BOUVET ISLAND 3YØK DXPEDITION

The DXpedition to the most remote uninhabited island on our planet is facing a delay.
If you’re keeping your ears tuned for the start of the 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island,
the thing you’re going to need more than good propagation, sufficient power, a good
antenna and, of course, good timing is…patience. The team’s plans have been delayed
by about two weeks, according to their website. Their sailing vessel is undergoing
additional maintenance to secure it for the journey to the remote island. The team
writes: “While this delay is disappointing, the safety of our team remains our highest
priority.” According to the team, nothing else about the team’s game plan has changed
and after three years of planning, they are looking forward to being QRV before too long.

-- Graham Kemp VK4BB (amateur radio newsline)

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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1614 Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:27:46 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1614 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. WARC Bands — What Are They Good For?

For many amateurs, the WARC bands — 30 meters (10.100-10.150 MHz),
17 meters (18.068-18.168 MHz), and 12 meters (24.890-24.990 MHz)
are like that quiet fishing spot by the lake you hesitate to tell
others about. They’re peaceful, they’re underrated, and they’re the
perfect escape from the big, popular, congestion-prone bands.

The WARC bands were established in 1979 at the World Administrative Radio
Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. The result: 250 kHz of additional
space granted to amateur radio operators, spread across three HF bands.

But like all things in ham radio, these bands come with some quirks,
limitations, and unique personalities.

- Quiet is Good
When everyone else is locked into radio combat on the major bands, the
WARC bands stay refreshingly civilized.

- Awesome Propagation
All three WARC bands hit propagation sweet spots, making them surprisingly
versatile.

- Polite Operators
The WARC bands tend to have a courteous vibe.

- Laboratory for Experimenting
Because they’re less crowded, WARC bands are a prime location for low power
experimentation and antenna testing.

-- see full article at amateurradio.com (Mark Haverstock, K8MSH)

2. SpottedHam.com Launches Real-Time Custom Keyword Alerts

A new web-based tool for the amateur radio community, SpottedHam.com,
has launched to provide hams with a more granular way to monitor the bands.
Unlike traditional clusters, SpottedHam allows users to create custom
watchlists for specific callsigns, POTA references, or specific bands
and modes.

The system monitors live spotting data and sends an immediate email
notification to the user the moment a match is found.

Developer Robert Campbell/KM6HBH designed the tool to be mobile-first,
ensuring that activators in the field and operators in the shack have a
clean, clutter-free interface. The service is currently free to use and
supports global spotting data, including UK and European POTA references.

Interested operators can find the live spotting table, an easy way to spot
themselves, and sign up for alerts at: https://www.spottedham.com
-- daily.hamweekly.com

3.  HamClock Project to Sunset June 2026

A message posted to the HamClock website earlier today announced that the HamClock
project will no longer receive updates. The message stated that while the project
has ended, HamClock devices should continue to operate until June 2026, at which
point it's expected data will no longer be pushed to the application.

HamClock is a popular cross-platform application that visualizes a range of
customizable data helpful to ham radio operators. As of 2023, HamClock was
installed on more than 2,600 devices across the globe.

The creator and maintainer of HamClock, Elwood Downey (WB0OEW), had become a
silent key on January 29th, 2026.

Additional information about HamClock as well as the source code is available
via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
-- daily.hamweekly.com

4.  Amateur Radio Digital Communications Offer Funding Opportunities for Hams

ARDC continues to accept grant applications from organizations aiming to
advance the hobby of amateur radio and beyond. The next application deadline
is on February 1st, but three additional rounds of applications will be
accepted on April 1st, July 1st, and September 1st.

ARDC makes grants to programs and organizations that aim to advance our
mission and vision, with the strategic goals of getting more people learning,
experimenting, and doing with amateur radio and digital communications technology.

ARDC is especially interested in projects that align with the following areas:
- Research & Development (R&D): open hardware and software systems that enable
learning and experimentation;
- Space-Based Communications: projects that create or expand access to satellite
communications for amateur radio and digital communications, engaging communities
in wireless experimentation;
- Open Source Education: scalable, open educational materials and hands-on projects
- especially for new learners and clubs.

ARDC welcomes proposals across the full range of amateur radio and digital
communications, but projects that align with these areas remain a priority.
-- 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]]> This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. WARC Bands — What Are They Good For?

For many amateurs, the WARC bands — 30 meters (10.100-10.150 MHz),
17 meters (18.068-18.168 MHz), and 12 meters (24.890-24.990 MHz)
are like that quiet fishing spot by the lake you hesitate to tell
others about. They’re peaceful, they’re underrated, and they’re the
perfect escape from the big, popular, congestion-prone bands.

The WARC bands were established in 1979 at the World Administrative Radio
Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. The result: 250 kHz of additional
space granted to amateur radio operators, spread across three HF bands.

But like all things in ham radio, these bands come with some quirks,
limitations, and unique personalities.

- Quiet is Good
When everyone else is locked into radio combat on the major bands, the
WARC bands stay refreshingly civilized.

- Awesome Propagation
All three WARC bands hit propagation sweet spots, making them surprisingly
versatile.

- Polite Operators
The WARC bands tend to have a courteous vibe.

- Laboratory for Experimenting
Because they’re less crowded, WARC bands are a prime location for low power
experimentation and antenna testing.

-- see full article at amateurradio.com (Mark Haverstock, K8MSH)

2. SpottedHam.com Launches Real-Time Custom Keyword Alerts

A new web-based tool for the amateur radio community, SpottedHam.com,
has launched to provide hams with a more granular way to monitor the bands.
Unlike traditional clusters, SpottedHam allows users to create custom
watchlists for specific callsigns, POTA references, or specific bands
and modes.

The system monitors live spotting data and sends an immediate email
notification to the user the moment a match is found.

Developer Robert Campbell/KM6HBH designed the tool to be mobile-first,
ensuring that activators in the field and operators in the shack have a
clean, clutter-free interface. The service is currently free to use and
supports global spotting data, including UK and European POTA references.

Interested operators can find the live spotting table, an easy way to spot
themselves, and sign up for alerts at: https://www.spottedham.com
-- daily.hamweekly.com

3.  HamClock Project to Sunset June 2026

A message posted to the HamClock website earlier today announced that the HamClock
project will no longer receive updates. The message stated that while the project
has ended, HamClock devices should continue to operate until June 2026, at which
point it's expected data will no longer be pushed to the application.

HamClock is a popular cross-platform application that visualizes a range of
customizable data helpful to ham radio operators. As of 2023, HamClock was
installed on more than 2,600 devices across the globe.

The creator and maintainer of HamClock, Elwood Downey (WB0OEW), had become a
silent key on January 29th, 2026.

Additional information about HamClock as well as the source code is available
via the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.
-- daily.hamweekly.com

4.  Amateur Radio Digital Communications Offer Funding Opportunities for Hams

ARDC continues to accept grant applications from organizations aiming to
advance the hobby of amateur radio and beyond. The next application deadline
is on February 1st, but three additional rounds of applications will be
accepted on April 1st, July 1st, and September 1st.

ARDC makes grants to programs and organizations that aim to advance our
mission and vision, with the strategic goals of getting more people learning,
experimenting, and doing with amateur radio and digital communications technology.

ARDC is especially interested in projects that align with the following areas:
- Research & Development (R&D): open hardware and software systems that enable
learning and experimentation;
- Space-Based Communications: projects that create or expand access to satellite
communications for amateur radio and digital communications, engaging communities
in wireless experimentation;
- Open Source Education: scalable, open educational materials and hands-on projects
- especially for new learners and clubs.

ARDC welcomes proposals across the full range of amateur radio and digital
communications, but projects that align with these areas remain a priority.
-- 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]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1610 Sat, 24 Jan 2026 09:19:39 -0500 Richard VE3OZW]]> https://www.gbarc.ca/ForumBB/showthread.php?tid=1610 This is V_3___, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of Canada with this week's bulletin.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert

Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at
age 82.

Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory
Branch from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, and led the Canadian delegation to various ITU
conferences between 1977 and 1994, when he was elected as Director of the ITU
Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU-R). He served in that leadership post from 1995 to 2003.
Jones continued his involvement with ITU as a member of the Radio Regulations Board from
2007 to 2010, and received an ITU Silver Medal at the end of his term.

Jones was an active amateur first licensed in 1959 as VE3CTM, and International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN, noted that he “was VERY helpful to amateur radio”
during his time as ITU-R director, adding that when he retired, Bob “became one of the IARU
Technical Experts and worked with us for several years on WRC matters.”

A celebration of life for Jones will be held on Saturday, January 27, in Kelowna, British Columbia.
-- arrl news

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.   NPARC Big Event 45

Sponsor:    Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club
Date:    Saturday, February 7, 2026
Location:    Firemen's Park, 2275 Dorchester Rd, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Times:    Vendors 7:30 am | Public 9:00 am | Ends approx 12:00
Cost:    General Admission $10.00, Children 12 and under FREE
Talk-in:    VE3NRS 147.240+ 107.2 Hz tone
Info:     https://nparc.ca
Email:    bigevent@nparc.ca
-- RAC Events page

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  Digital Modes Have Already Won

An interesting article by Ron VE3VN describing the migration of HF operating
to digital modes. He compares the spectrum use on the bands and how many
operators are utilizing the FT modes to fill in band slots for those rare DX
countries for confirmation contacts.
See the full article at:
https://ve3vn.blogspot.com/2026/01/digital-modes-have-already-won.html

-- Original post spotted on amateur radio weekly.com

4.  LEVEL S4 SOLAR RADIATION STORM DISRUPTS HF COMMUNICATION

The top story this week is the most severe solar radiation storm in more than 20 years.
It began on Monday, January 19th and lasted through much of the week. The National
Weather Service declared the storm to be at an S4 level - a degree of severity not seen
since October of 2023. S4 is the second highest level of this type of storm.

The storm's severity, which exceeded that of the one in October of 2023, disrupted
HF bands, challenging ham radio operators, while creating spectacular auroral displays.

-- amateur radio newsline (SPACE.COM, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, LIVE SCIENCE)

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  Bob Jones, VE7RWJ, Silent Key -- Former ITU Official and IARU Expert

Robert W. “Bob” Jones, VE7RWJ, a former top official of the International Telecommunication
Union (ITU) and Canadian telecommunications regulator, passed away on January 7, 2026, at
age 82.

Jones was Director General of the Canadian Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory
Branch from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, and led the Canadian delegation to various ITU
conferences between 1977 and 1994, when he was elected as Director of the ITU
Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU-R). He served in that leadership post from 1995 to 2003.
Jones continued his involvement with ITU as a member of the Radio Regulations Board from
2007 to 2010, and received an ITU Silver Medal at the end of his term.

Jones was an active amateur first licensed in 1959 as VE3CTM, and International Amateur Radio
Union (IARU) Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN, noted that he “was VERY helpful to amateur radio”
during his time as ITU-R director, adding that when he retired, Bob “became one of the IARU
Technical Experts and worked with us for several years on WRC matters.”

A celebration of life for Jones will be held on Saturday, January 27, in Kelowna, British Columbia.
-- arrl news

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.   NPARC Big Event 45

Sponsor:    Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club
Date:    Saturday, February 7, 2026
Location:    Firemen's Park, 2275 Dorchester Rd, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Times:    Vendors 7:30 am | Public 9:00 am | Ends approx 12:00
Cost:    General Admission $10.00, Children 12 and under FREE
Talk-in:    VE3NRS 147.240+ 107.2 Hz tone
Info:     https://nparc.ca
Email:    bigevent@nparc.ca
-- RAC Events page

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  Digital Modes Have Already Won

An interesting article by Ron VE3VN describing the migration of HF operating
to digital modes. He compares the spectrum use on the bands and how many
operators are utilizing the FT modes to fill in band slots for those rare DX
countries for confirmation contacts.
See the full article at:
https://ve3vn.blogspot.com/2026/01/digital-modes-have-already-won.html

-- Original post spotted on amateur radio weekly.com

4.  LEVEL S4 SOLAR RADIATION STORM DISRUPTS HF COMMUNICATION

The top story this week is the most severe solar radiation storm in more than 20 years.
It began on Monday, January 19th and lasted through much of the week. The National
Weather Service declared the storm to be at an S4 level - a degree of severity not seen
since October of 2023. S4 is the second highest level of this type of storm.

The storm's severity, which exceeded that of the one in October of 2023, disrupted
HF bands, challenging ham radio operators, while creating spectacular auroral displays.

-- amateur radio newsline (SPACE.COM, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, LIVE SCIENCE)

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]]>