For immediate release: August 30, 2024

Basic Qualification Course (see below for Advanced)

The Fall 2024 RAC Basic Qualification course will be starting on September 15. Registration is now underway.

Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again offering an online Amateur Radio course so that individuals from all across Canada can obtain their Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Basic Qualification.Course information: 

The course will again be conducted with the assistance of the Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club (AVARC) of Nova Scotia.

This course prepares students for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Basic Qualification Level Operator Certificate exam to operate on allocated Amateur Radio frequencies.

It is open to everyone across Canada and even abroad. Classes will be recorded, so occasional absences are not a problem.

Schedule and Cost:

Date: The course will be held on Thursdays and Sundays commencing on Sunday, September 15 and end in late November.

Time: Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 9 pm (1800 – 2100)  Eastern Time and Sunday afternoons 1 pm to 4 pm (1300 – 1600) Eastern Time. There may also be a handful of additional classes if necessary.

Cost: The registration fee for the course is $50 plus GST/HST. The cost of the Basic Study Guide is extra and an order link will be provided upon completion of payment.

Read more… 

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Advanced Qualification Course: starts September 22/23

The Fall 2024 RAC Advanced Qualification course is starting soon! Registration is now underway.

Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again offering an online Advanced Qualification Amateur Radio Course so that individuals can upgrade their qualifications.

With your Advanced Certificate, you can run higher power, operate a remotely-controlled station, obtain operating privileges when travelling overseas, set up repeaters, be the trustee for club stations and even become an Accredited Examiner (AE) if you have the Morse code qualification. 

Note: You need to be a RAC Maple Leaf Operator Member to register for this course. If you are not already a RAC Maple Leaf Operator Member, you can upgrade easily. A registration form will be provided but you will need to be a Maple Leaf Operator Member to be able to see it and to register. Please stay tuned for more information. 

Course information:

The course will be 10 sessions in length and each session will be two hours long.

In order to offer maximum flexibility, we will be running two Advanced courses so students will be able to choose one of the following two options:

Courses are offered on Sunday afternoons or Monday evenings and two hours in duration.

Sunday afternoons:

Sunday afternoons at 1 pm Eastern Time (10 am PT / 2:30 NT) starting on Sunday, September 22 and ending on Sunday, December 15

Monday evenings:

Monday evenings from 8:30 pm Eastern Time (5:30 pm PT / 10 pm NT) starting on Monday, September 23 and ending on Monday, December 16

Note: There will be no classes on these dates:

• Sunday, October 13 and Monday, October 14 due to Thanksgiving.
• Sunday, October 27 and Monday, October 28 due to the CQ WW SSB Contest.
• Sunday, November 24 and Monday, November 25 due to the CQ WW CW Contest.

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Read more… 

August 1 - 2, 2024 - a bit south of Three Valley Gap, BC

Austin VE7QH had indicated that he would be in the Okanagan for a family reunion on BC Day long weekend. He suggest to Mike VE7KPZ that he might venture out a couple of days early to go do a Summits on the Air activation. Mike had just the summit in mind: the 2386m Joss Mountain VE7/ON-003, west approach.

Joss Mountain had been on Mike's list of summits to activate for some time, primarily because it is a feasible overnight summit (no tent required) with a vintage 1921 fire lookout atop its peak. But really, the sunset views in Luke Gibson's video showcasing the location begged a visit in real life.

Austin and Mike met up early on August 1 leaving Vernon in Mike's Unimog on mostly secondary roads and FSRs.

The team reached the Joss Mountain trailhead at ~1500m around 11 AM.

The sign at the trailhead hinted at the effort required for the endeavour ahead (black diamond - most difficult).

Progress was made slow and steady through the steep forest section. 

Gaining the sub-alpine, many toads were observed eating grasshoppers - this was unexpected but fun to see.

A good rest was had in the last of the trees before the big push along the ridge up to the final summit. Can you spot the lookout in the above picture?

Packs were heavy, not because of the radio gear, but because at this time of year water sources are very scarce. Mike carried 7 litres of water for the 24 hour trip, Austin 6.5.

Some route finding was required...

... but the route was found without any backtracking.

The trip to the top took approximately 8 hours, double the time expected.

It was steep and hot, but fortunately the bugs weren't all that bitey at the summit.

The team was pretty happy after a long day on trail. Austin's inReach calculated our distance travelled at 5.6 km and just over 1000m of elevation gain.

Upon reaching the lookout, the first priority was to get dinner going. Water was boiled and food rehydration started, then masts up for the antennas.

On to operation: Austin jumped on 40m QRP CW via his KX2 and Packtenna EFRW...

... and Mike on 2m SSB and FM (both 5 watts) via his IC-705 and Ed Fong DBJ-2 roll-up J-pole.

Mike made his first QSO with Paul VE7KWA of Vernon (large collinear vertical and power) (~85 km). Other notable 2m SSB and FM contacts were Peter VE7PAE in Salmon Arm (6 watts and a 4 element beam) (~60km), Orin VE7BEE in Keremeos (large beam and power) (~200 km) and Daniel VA7GOV via his vehicle mobile from the Walmart parking lot in Vernon (~85 km). In total Mike put 9 contacts in the log.

HF was not performant with only one contact on 20m after considerable calling on both 40m and 20m. A recent solar storm may have been the cause. Austin moved over to the 2m station and filled his log with a 5 additional QSOs to make his activation a success as well.

All QSOs made while viewing one of the nicest sunsets ever seen.

And then it was time for bed.

The team slept inside the fire lookout.

Around 2 AM an aurora check showed a slight sky glow to the north.

In the morning the team was awoken by a family of curious marmots. The larger marmot was named Dolly (shown above), the smaller one Jolene (not shown).

Breakfast was had and then a decision was made to pack up and start heading down. The SOTA activations had been successful with at least four 2m QSOs each so no need to keep trying with the terrible HF band conditions.

Austin signed the guest book and then it was time to head down the mountain.

The trip down was less arduous, although not without effort. The team made a controlled descent back to the truck within 3.5 hours.

Of course now each team member was carrying less than 2 litres of water for the return trip - a significant pack weight savings.

At the truck celebrations were had with ice-cold 0.0% beers and freezies and then back down the FSRs for the drive back to Vernon. A quick stop at Noisy Creek for a dip in Mabel Lake to wash off some dirt was quite refreshing. Back in Vernon the team concluded the day with a delicious meal of wood-fired pizzas and cappucinos at Masiero Pizzeria Napolitana.

Reflecting on the trip it is always good to have both 2m and HF abilities on summits. If HF band conditions are poor like they were on this date, 2m for the win.

Really big thanks to all of the 2m chasers in the Okanagan who had the patience to work us well after our advertised activation time. Additionally, thanks to all of the other hams who had 146.52 MHz in their scan banks and came back to our CQ calls.

It was a fun trip.

73 and thanks,
Mike VE7KPZ with Austin VE7QH 

In Memoriam: Cary Benson, VA7MXY

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Cary Benson, VA7MXY, on August 1, 2024.

Cary was diagnosed with brain cancer in June, and despite his brave battle, he could not fight any longer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Maggie, and their son, Aiden.

Cary’s journey in HAM radio began in 2022. He earned his Advanced Qualification in 2023 and was deeply involved with NORAC. He contributed to the technical committee, reviewed and taught the Basic Qualification course, and played a key role in organizing events.

He was a familiar and cherished presence at regular club meetings, outings, and Sunday morning nets. Cary also helped organize and participated in the 2023 and 2024 Backcountry Camping QSO Party at Grizzly Lake, as well as the Spring 2024 Radio Camp at Fintry.

Those of us fortunate enough to know Cary will remember him for his quick wit, self-deprecating humor, selflessness, and intelligence. NORAC and HAM radio brought great joy to Cary, opening doors to new friendships and experiences that enriched his life.

In Cary's honor, we propose that the weekend nearest April 20 “420” be established as the annual Cary Benson Spring Radio Camp. This will serve as a lasting tribute to Cary and his contributions to our community.

In his memory, we invite everyone to send a farewell message to VA7MXY above the Maximum Usable Frequency, ensuring that Cary’s spirit lives on forever in the electromagnetic spectrum.

At this difficult time, the family requests privacy.

Michal Hoppe, VE7MHX

Colin Parkes, VA7EEH

Howard Sisson, VA7PWF

Repost of a press release from our national amateur radio club, Radio Amateurs of Canada:

ISED Gives Advance Notice of Update of Basic Amateur Radio Exam Questions

For immediate release – July 6, 2024

On July 5, 2024, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) posted the following announcement on its website:

“Working with the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) plans to update the Basic Amateur Exam questions and answers in early 2025. An advance copy, in PDF format, will be posted in the coming months on our Downloads page so that instructors and examiners can update their material before the transition. After this update, ISED will perform a similar review of the Advanced Amateur Exam, with new exams expected after 2025.”

As indicated in the announcement, this is the result of a RAC initiative – which was presented to ISED in 2022 – and over a year of hard work by the members of RAC’s Examination Standards Committee (ESC). The final details of the update to the Basic Amateur Exam are being worked out now. ISED must put the completed draft of the Basic Question Bank through some internal processes before it can be published. 

ISED will publish the new Basic Question Bank on its website several months before it is implemented to allow instructors, authors and candidates the opportunity to adjust to the changes. The existing Basic Question Bank will be used until the new bank is implemented sometime in 2025. 

RAC’s Examination Standards Committee is now working on recommendations for updates to the Advanced question bank. 

You can see ISED’s announcement at these links:

• Amateur radio exam generator (canada.ca)
• Accredited examiners (canada.ca)

Dave Goodwin VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Radio Amateurs of Canada
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