Do you have a NanoVNA? Looking for new ways to use it?
Mark, N6MTS created this great video presentation on common mode current and how to measure the effectiveness of a choke you build.
Mark delivers a great explanation of what common mode current is and what the impacts are. He describes how to build a simple test jig to use your NanoVNA to measure the effectiveness of chokes we can build.
Using his test jig he demonstrates a number of simple common mode chokes, and graphs their impedance at frequencies across the HF spectrum!
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/3ReRu7Yt4Ao?si=jHpRsMWPg7kNUoe8

Photo by Samantha Borges on Unsplash
Registration for RAC Basic Course Spring 2024 is underway!
https://www.rac.ca/rac-basic-qualification-amateur-radio-course-spring-2024/
For immediate release:
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.
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.
Schedule and Cost:
Date: The course will be held on Thursdays and Sundays commencing on Sunday, April 15 and ending on Thursday, June 20.
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.
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.
Instruction: 
The course instructor is RAC Atlantic Director Al Penney, VO1NO. Al was first licensed in 1977 and has been active in many areas of Amateur Radio including contesting, DXing, VHF/UHF weak signal, satellites, emergency communications and DXpeditioning. 
He has served as the President of six different Amateur Radio clubs in both Canada and the United States and currently chairs the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Band Planning Committee. Al has taught the Basic Qualification Amateur Radio Course since 1994.
Requirements:
Course material pertaining to all topics covered in the course syllabus will be provided to all registered students. Students must have a copy of the Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Study Guide provided by Coax Publications. For more information please visit the RAC Study Guides webpage.
It is essential that all students have the necessary equipment and bandwidth capable of taking the course – at least a tablet or PC and a DSL broadband connection – which will be conducted using the Zoom conference platform.
You do not need your own account on Zoom to take part in this course, but you may have to download a Zoom applet to participate.
Students will receive instructions on how to log on to the online sessions once they have registered for the course. Classes will be recorded, so occasional absences are not a problem.
Complete information about the course and a downloadable copy of the course syllabus are available at the link provided below.
Registration: 
If you would like to take part in this course please register now by completing the registration form provided on the RAC website at:
https://www.rac.ca/rac-basic-course-registration-form-spring-2024/
 
 
 
Other Amateur Radio Courses:
Amateur Radio Basic and Advanced Qualification courses are also now being provided both online and in person by Canadian Amateur Radio Clubs and organizations. Please visit the Amateur Radio Courses webpage for more information at the link provided below.
https://www.rac.ca/amateur-radio-courses/
Phil McBride, VA3QR
RAC President
Alan Griffin
RAC MarCom Director

Thanks to Dan VA3DNY for volunteering as our latest net control station operator. With Dan we operate once each 7 weeks. Please join us, we are one station away from once every 2 months before your turn comes up.  ..73

https://gbarc.ca/meet.php

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.    World Amateur Radio Day is April 18, 2024

Every year on April 18, Radio Amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves to commemorate the formation of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
on April 18, 1925.

The theme for this year’s W.A.R.D.  will be “‘A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community and Advocacy”.

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 contact as many RAC stations as possible.

RAC official stations will operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359Z on April 18.  Those contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a commemorative certificate noting their participation in the 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.

—   Phil McBride, VA3QR, President, Radio Amateurs of Canada

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.      Hamfest and Flea Market Event

Sponsor:    The Iroquois Amateur Radio Club
Start date:    Saturday, April 6, 2024
Location:    The Royal Canadian Legion , 24 Dundas St, Iroquois, ON, K0E 1K0
Talk-in:    Iroquois repeater VE3IRO 145.290 (-) CTCSS 100.0 Hz
Times:    Vendors 08:00 am and public at 09:00 am.
Admission:     $5.00 which includes a ticket for a door prize.
Description:    It's the first Hamfest and Flea Market of the year in
Eastern Ontario.
         There will also be door prize draws from vendors and a 50/50 draw.
More info:    webpage https://IroquoisARC.ca
Email:    va3xar @ gmail.com
Webpage:    https://IroquoisARC.ca

-- RAC events

ITEMS OF INTEREST
3   Solar Eclipse One Month Away
A total solar eclipse that will be seen across North America will occur on Monday, April 8th. It will be the last of its kind in North America for the next 20 years.
Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) has presentations for hams interested in participating on Wednesday, March 27 at 8;00 PM Eastern and that same day at 10:00 PM Eastern.  Both 30-minute presentations will be held on Zoom and they will feature HamSCI's Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science (FoEIS).  The presenters will take your questions during the presentations.
Presentation Link:
https://scranton.zoom.us/j/286316405?pwd=QWdwMlFPbDlYeXg5ZDg1dmYzeFdCUT09#success.
Learn about the many HamSCI's eclipse-focused operating events:
     -Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP)
     -Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC)
     -Medium Wave Recording Event
     -Time Delay of Arrival (TDOA) Event
     -Grape 1 Doppler Receiver Project
During the solar eclipse, John Landrigan, KA4RXP/MM, will be operating in the SEQP as a maritime mobile off the coast of Mazatlán, Mexico, at the beginning of
the total solar eclipse. Look for KA4RXP/MM around 14.265 MHz.
-- arrl news

4.  HamCation sets attendance record

 From February 9 to 11, 2024, the Orlando Amateur Radio Club hosted the 77th annual Orlando HamCation at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando - an 87-acre lakefront fairground. HamCation enjoyed splendid weather throughout the weekend, with temperatures hovering around the mid-seventies and no rainfall.
This year’s attendance reached a record high of 25,321, making 2024 the largest attendance in HamCation history.

-- via Amateur Radio Daily:
https://daily.hamweekly.com/2024/03/hamcation-sets-attendance-record/

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

Net Control
VA3TS - Tom

VHF/Echolink
VE3DDU Ray - Nottawasaga
VA3RCA Kevin - Alliston
KO4DXQ Bob - Soddy Daisy, TN
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VA3EAC Janet - Paisley
VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs
VA3DNY Dan - Owen Sound
VE3DGY Doug - Anan
VE3WI Dave - Port Elgin
VE3RQY Greg - Brooke

HF – 3.783 MHz
VE3GIO - Larry
VE3FJN - Colin Hamilton
VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs
VE3DGY Doug - Anan
VA3DNY Dan - Owen Sound
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VE3WI Dave - Port Elgin


Topic
Your favourite hand held radio

A lively conversation was had, many points made, enjoyed by all.

I really like the style of this new HF all mode field radio in the form factor of a Handie Talkie.
I mentioned it on the net tonight, and thought I'd share some info!
Check it out here:

https://oh8stn.org/blog/2024/01/16/new-h...om-lab599/

73,
Kevin VA3RCA

The 27th Annual Ontario QSO Party 2024
To be held on the third full weekend of April
1800Z April 20 to 0500Z April 21, 2024
and 1200Z to 1800Z April 21, 2024

Check back for further details

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.    Visiting Hams Get Expanded Priviledges Under New License System

Visitors from a list of countries no longer need to make a separate application for a licence; they need only append VK slash before their home callsign, and the permission lasts up to 365 days.

The Australian Media and Communications Authority has posted a list of countries with currently recognised foreign licence equivalents who may operate under Australian licence rules. The ACMA makes it clear, however, that hams seeking to relocate to Australia will still need to apply for a licence in VK and receive a new VK home call.
-- details: https://www.acma.gov.au/overseas-amateurs-visiting-australia

-- Amateur Radio Newsline Friday Mar 8th Edition

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2. Ontario QSO Party coming up April 20 and 21, 2024

This will be the 27th Ontario QSO Party. We share the weekend with Michigan and Quebec so turn on your HF radios and join in the fun. There will be some
rule changes this year, and the website will be updated shortly.  The OQP counts for the QSO Party Challenge Contest.  
-- see:    http://www.va3cco.com/oqp   for details

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  W8EDU in Cleveland, Ohio is excited to invite Amateurs to participate in the CHU Eclipse Data Collection Project!

Our goal is to study how the eclipse affects radio wave propagation, helping us understand the ionosphere’s recombination time. To achieve this, we need your
help recording Canada’s time standard station CHU for two weeks surrounding the April 8th eclipse. Anyone with a KiwiSDR or a rig capable of interfacing with
analysis/recording software like Fldigi is encouraged to join the effort!  This project has already garnered enthusiastic support from various communities, including the ARRL, the RAC, and the Ham Radio Citizen Science Investigation.  
To join us and contribute valuable data, simply visit our website and follow the instructions to set up your station and notify us about your participation.
see:   https://w8edu.wordpress.com/chu-eclipse-data-collection/
Please reach out to eclipse-research@case.edu if you have any questions or comments.
-- Case Western Reserve University  (full article on arrl.org news)

4.  Scientists use whey protein sponges to extract gold from computer parts.

Scientists have discovered a food byproduct, whey protein, is capable of recovering gold from electronic waste, making the recycling process substantially more
efficient than it once was. With this byproduct, the energy cost of the entire recycling process can be 50 times lower than the value of the gold extracted from
electronic components. The team found they could extract around 450mg of gold from 20 motherboards using this method.

E-waste is quickly becoming one of the biggest untapped money-making industries in the world. Right now, e-waste startups are making $85,000 per day from recycling gold and copper from electronic waste. As this industry ramps up over the next few decades, recyclers will want more efficient ways to process electronic
waste.  This sponge technology provides them with just that.

-- By Aaron Klotz (Tom's Hardware.com - 31Jan2024 edition)

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