
SB RAC @ CANADA < VA3RAC $RAC_9603.13
RAC NEWS BULLETIN 03-96 INTERNET EDITION - 13 MARCH 1996
Issued at RAC Administrative Office
614 Norris Court, Unit 6
Kingston, ON K7P 2R9
Editor:     Jacques d'Avignon VE3VIA      <monitor@limestone.kosone.com>
Internet Transmission:  Steve Cutway VE3GRS     <cutways@qucdn.queensu.ca>


IN THIS BULLETIN
EDITOR'S RAMBLINGS
VE3DWK AND VE3AR JOIN THE IARU EMC COMMITTEE
MORE SPECIAL CANADIAN PREFIXES
HAM LICENCE FEES IN BELGIUM
THE ARRL LETTER UPDATE 1996 03 23
RADIO PROPAGATION NUMBERS
NOTICE No. DGRB-002-96


                              EDITOR'S RAMBLINGS

      This editorial page does not have one theme only.  It is now getting too
mild to do any work on your antennae, if you have not done so yet, wait till
next December.  In the meantime, get ready for the Summer.

      With Spring in the air, says he with the temperature still in the frigid
zone, it is time to think of Field Day and how you can attract the public to
see and understand the role of amateur radio in the community.  It is a golden
opportunity to show the general public one aspect of our hobby that is not
well known. When you have to use your emergency communication system for real,
it is not the time to try and sell the hobby to the general public but it is
time to provide the emergency communications. Get the media involved at Field
Day, and prepare carefully for this occasion.

      If you recall, a few months ago, we had a survey going on the
distribution channels for this monthly bulletin.  We definitely did not get
the response that I had anticipated!  I have calculated that at least 2 to
3000 readers around the world have access and/or read this monthly bulletin.
If we accept that the normal  response to a survey is about 15%, we should
have received between 300 to 500 answers.  Well, what we have received is a
maximum of 150 answers!  And what was the regular answer?  "Keep all the
distribution channels open, and if you have to cut one, do not cut mine!"

      I am amazed and also greatly disturbed by the general lack of response
from the membership.  I suspect that this situation has evolved from the
following line of thinking:  "Why should I answer?  My neighbour will
answer..."  With this attitude, we may lose what we have gained over the years
and will have only ourselves to blame.  I see a repeat here of the election
results situation of last fall where only a small minority of the eligible
members voted and then a vocal minority started to complain ... Get involved,
it is your association.  Be an active member.  To those who have sent answers
to our survey, "Thank you".


                 VE3DWK AND VE3AR JOIN THE IARU EMC COMMITTEE

      International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 EMC Committee Chair
Noel Donawa, 9Y4NED has appointed Douglas Leach, VE3DWK as Secretary to a new
Region 2 Electromagnetic Working Committee.  The committee has been struck by
the IARU Region 2 Executive to coordinate information and to follow-up on
electromagnetic interference matters throughout IARU's North and South
American regions.  Before retiring, Doug was CEO of a major electronic
corporation marketing electronic measurement equipment, including that used
for EMC testing.

      VE3AR, Bill Loucks will also serve on this same committee.  Before his
retirement, Bill was employed by Ontario Hydro in the engineering department.
He has also been involved  with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
investigating and resolving EMC problems for the visually impaired Amateurs.


                        MORE SPECIAL CANADIAN PREFIXES

      Industry Canada has authorized all Canadian Radio Amateurs to use
special prefixes to mark the 50th anniversary of UNICEF, the United Nations
agency concerned with the protection of children victimized by war.  From 0000
UTC March 30 until 2359 UTC May 30, 1996, Canadian amateurs may replace their
normal callsign prefix with a special prefix as follows:

      Regular Prefix    Special Prefix

      VE1-9             VD1-9
      VA2               VC2
      VA3               VC3
      VA7               VC7
      VO1               VO7
      VO2               VO8
      VY1               VY7
      VY2               VY8

Forwarded by: Dave Goodwin VE2ZP


                          HAM LICENCE FEES IN BELGIUM

      So you think that you are paying too much for your licence!  In the last
few weeks, we have learned from a Belgian ham, that the fees for a full
licence in Belgium are about 125 or approximately $250/year (CANADIAN).  The
licence is sub-divided in fixed, portable and mobile units, and one has to
purchase each unit separately (batteries not included!)

      In addition, one must purchase special "taxation" stamps to affix to the
licence to validate it, just like the stamps that we had to use on our cheques
in Canada, many moons ago!  These special stamps cost another $15/year.  So to
operate in all three modes - fixed, portable and mobile - the yearly fees will
be in the neighbourhood of $265/year.  Lets hope that Canada never gets to
those rates!


                       THE ARRL LETTER UPDATE 1996 03 23

                             DXCC Disqualification

      The ARRL Awards Committee met recently to review submitted documentation
for the 1992-93 P5RS7 operation submitted by Romeo Stepanenko.  After a review
of all material available, the Awards Committee voted unanimously to
disqualify Stepanenko from participation in the DXCC program.  This
disqualification was based upon Rule 12, Operations Ethics, and Rule 13.  The
disqualification means that Stepanenko is not eligible to participate in the
DXCC program in any manner.  This includes--as provided for under Rule 12,
paragraph (b)--disallowance of contacts made with any station or DXpedition
operated by him from the time of this action.

                 LEAVE THE H-T BEHIND IF YOU'RE OLYMPICS-BOUND

      Andrew Funk, KB7UV, a member of the Olympic Broadcast Frequency
Coordination Committee, has issued a word of warning for hams coming to
Atlanta for the Olympics:  "Leave your H-Ts at home!"

      "To say things are going to be tightly controlled is an understatement,"
Funk said, adding that all broadcast-related RF gear will be required to pass
an Olympic certification inspection in addition to that required by the FCC.
"And I once found Amateur repeater coordination difficult!" joked Funk, who is
Assistant News Operations Manager at WAGA-TV in Atlanta.

      Funk said the policy will "unfortunately have an impact upon Radio
Amateurs attending the games.  Since VHF and UHF handheld radios are known to
be easily modified for wideband use, security officers will not permit amateur
H-Ts at Olympic venues," he said.  "Some may argue that this policy is
unreasonable.  It may or may not be, but it will be in effect and enforced,"
Funk emphasized.

      Michael Smalls, the co-chair of the Olympic Broadcast Frequency
Coordination Committee was sympathetic:  "We wish it was different," he said.
"But, Atlanta is already pretty crowded."
                          Reprinted with permission.


                           RADIO PROPAGATION NUMBERS

      Here are a few Internet addresses supplied by VE6UY for the individuals
who want to know what is happening on the Sun.  Check them out.

      http://www.drao.nrc.ca  This is the Penticton Observatory.

      http://www.sel.noaa.gov/forecast.html     This is the US NOAA site.


      Remember, RAC headquarters:  rachq@king.igs.net


                            NOTICE No. DGRB-002-96

                 Consultation on radio licence fees - Phase I

      The purpose of this notice is to advise all interested parties of the
availability of a paper entitled "Consultation on radio licence fees - Phase
I", representing the first phase of Industry Canada's development of a new
radio licence fee regime. In the report, the Department presents the basic
elements of a proposed radio licence fee structure based on spectrum
consumption and spectrum scarcity.

      The paper concludes with a list of subjects that require further
exploration and discussion.  Industry Canada recognizes the importance of
obtaining public input to the further development of this new structure and
invites comment on the outstanding issues.

      Comments on this paper should be received at Industry Canada, 300 Slater
Street, 15th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C8, Attention DOSP-A, no later than
May 24, 1996.

      Copies of "Consultation on radio licence fees - Phase I" are available
from Industry Canada, in Ottawa, from the Department's regional and district
offices and via the Internet, at the following address:

      http://info.ic.gc.ca/ic-data/telecom/dgse/english/bprs.html.

February 19, 1996.                                 Jan Skora, Director General

            Radiocommunications and Broadcasting Regulatory Branch


                                    Editors

                           Jacques d'Avignon, VE3VIA
                         c/o Radio Amateurs of Canada
                           614 Norris Court, Unit 6
                             Kingston, ON K7P 2R9
                     E-mail: monitor@limestone.kosone.com

                  Packet Editor: Steve Cutway, VE3GRS@VE3CDY
            Internet Editor: Steve Cutway, cutways@qucdn.queensu.ca

             Radio Amateurs of Canada Home Page: http://WWW.RAC.CA
             Radio Amateurs of Canada E-mail:  rachq@king.igs.net

      Special thanks to Debbie Norman, General Manager RAC, who contributes
significantly to the editing and proof-reading of the bulletin.  Also
acknowledged are those who have forwarded items for the bulletin.

      The RAC News Bulletin is published monthly except July and August.  The
purpose is to  circulate Amateur Radio news and information on a timely basis
between publishing dates of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

      All material in the Bulletin may be reprinted but please credit the
Bulletin, the original author, and the original publication if one is given.

      Please submit original stories or information to the editor before the
5th of the month of publication.

      Annual subscriptions to RAC News Bulletin are available by mailing $10
before September 1.  Subscription expires every August 31.

                           Published and printed by:
                           Radio Amateurs of Canada,
                            Kingston, ON  K7P 2R9.


                           NEXT RAC E-MAIL BULLETIN

      The print version of this bulletin is sent on the 15th of the month to
RAC affiliated clubs, all Section Managers, Bulletin Managers, Official
Bulletin Stations and subscribers throughout each RAC Section.  The next
e-mail bulletin should be transmitted on or about April 15, 1996.  Watch for
it!

73 de VA3RAC Steve VE3GRS at the keyboard       <cutways@qucdn.queensu.ca>

