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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

1.  RAC Auxiliary Communicator Course

Radio Amateurs of Canada, in partnership with the City of Sudbury, is excited to introduce a new Auxiliary Communications (Aux-Comm) Training Program, designed to enhance our communication capabilities during  emergencies.

As a Non-Governmental Organization, Radio Amateurs of Canada understands the importance of effective coordination and communication during crises. The training is based on the All-Hazards Risk Assessment  methodology, ensuring we can effectively mitigate communication failures and collaborate with other organizations during a disaster.

The course is designed for experienced Amateur Radio volunteers who provide communication support during planned events and incidents, as well as communication personnel from Non-Governmental organizations and government Emergency Management services.

The goal of this 20-hour course is to provide instruction to Auxiliary Communications volunteers so that their individual and organizational efforts/expertise are appropriately integrated into the public safety/service communications support environment.

Auxiliary Communicators provide alternate communications by supporting communications with other organizations:

For more info regarding the course, please see the rac web page at:
https://www.rac.ca/rac-auxiliary-communications-communicator-course/

-- RAC CSO, Jason Tremblay, VE3XJT
  E-mail:  community @ rac.ca

2.  Simcoe County Hamfest

Date:           Saturday, September 14, 2024
Location:    Grenfel Community Centre, 1989 Sunnidale Road
Times:        Setup/vendors 0800. Public 0900-1200
Admission:     free. Vendors $5.00.
                   Donations to the Grenfel Community Centre Building fund are greatly appreciated.
Talk-in:       146.55 Mhz simplex no tone.
Description: Vendors, bring your own tables and chairs or tailgate as you like. If the weather is wet, there is lots of room in the rink.
                    We have reservations at Cottage Canoe, South East
                    corner of Dunlop Street and Ferndale Drive for lunch.
                    Please RSVP so they may prepare for us.
Email:          ve3ume @ scare-radio.com
Webpage:    http://scare-radio.com

-- Brant Smith VE3UME (rac events page)

3.  Sudbury-Manitoulin Amateur Radio Hamfest

Date:        Saturday, September 14, 2024
Location:    Garson Community Centre/Arena,
         100 Church St., Garson, Ontario
Times:    Vendors Friday: 4pm to 8pm, Saturday: 7am to 9am
Public:     9am to 1pm
Admission:     $5
Talk-in:    146.540Mhz, simplex, no tone
Email:    ve3srg @ myrac.ca
Webpage: http://ve3rmi.org/index.php/sudbury-manitoulin-hamfest-2024
-- rac events page

4.  London Amateur Radio Club Annual Hamfest

Date:        Sunday, September 15, 2024
Location:    4939 Hamilton Rd. Dorchester, Ontario
Times:    9am to 12 noon
Admission:     $8
Talk-in:    VE3OME 145.450 PL 114.8
Description:Book a table and sell some of the things you found
         and buy something you have been looking for.
         Have a coffee and see friends.
         SPECIAL EARLY DATE!! Just for this year.
Email:    LARChamfest @ gmail.com
Webpage:    http://www.larc.ca

-- rac events page

ITEMS OF INTEREST

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

RAC Auxiliary Communications (AUX-C) Communicator Course
https://www.rac.ca/rac-auxiliary-communications-aux-c-communicator-course/ 
For immediate release: August 23, 2024
 
Jason Tremblay, VE3JXTRAC Community Services Officer
community@rac.ca
Radio Amateurs of Canada, in partnership with the City of Sudbury, is excited to introduce a new Auxiliary Communications (Aux-Comm) Training Program, designed to enhance our communication capabilities during emergencies.
As a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Radio Amateurs of Canada understands the importance of effective coordination and communication during crises. The training is based on the All-Hazards Risk Assessment methodology, ensuring we can effectively mitigate communication failures and collaborate with other organizations during a disaster.
Target Audience:
The course is designed for experienced Amateur Radio volunteers who provide communication support during planned events and incidents, as well as communication personnel from Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and government Emergency Management services.
Date | Time | Location:
The course will held on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8 from 9 am to 5 pm each day in Sudbury, Ontario at:
Lionel E Lalonde Centre239 Montee PrincipaleSudbury (Azilda), OntarioP0M 1B0
Goal:
The Aux-Comm Training Program aims to improve interoperability among Non-Governmental Organizations and Emergency Management workforces, ultimately contributing to a more efficient and effective disaster response. 
The goal of this 20-hour course is to provide instruction to Auxiliary Communications volunteers so that their individual and organizational efforts/expertise are appropriately integrated into the public safety/service communications support environment.
Auxiliary Communicators provide alternate communications by supporting communications with other organizations:

• in cases where local services have failed:
  
• at emergency incidents/planned events/training exercises
  
• within the emergency management structure (Emergency Operations Centre (EOCs), etc.)
  

• The Communications Unit and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
  
• AuxCommRoles and Responsibilities
  
• Interoperable Communications
  
• Incident Communications
  
• Incident Radio Communications Plan
  
• Incident Communications Centre
  
• Team Management and Accountability
  
• Resources, Safety and Deployment
  
• Best Practices
  
• Interoperability and Radio Networks
  

• SOP Exercise
  
• Power Outage
  
• Train Derailment
  
• Severe Storm/Flood
  

RAC Basic and Advanced Courses: Fall 2024
For immediate release: August 19, 2024

Basic Qualification Course (see below for Advanced)

The Fall 2024 RAC Basic Qualification course will be starting on September 15. 

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… 

-------
Advanced Qualification Course

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 twooptions:
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.
  

To all forum readers: If you know of anyone wanting to take a Basic amateur course, please pass on the following to them.  This is RAC's online course, ably instructed for many years by RAC Atlantic Region Director Al Penney, VO1NO.

thanks & 73
Dave, VE3WI
----------------

Good day,

Registration for the upcoming Basic Amateur Radio Course, serial 2024-3, has just opened:  https://www.rac.ca/rac-basic-qualificati...fall-2024/

The course will start on 15 September, and wrap up in late November.  You will be sent the course instructions and log-on information after registering.

I look forward to meeting you in September!

73
Al Penney
VO1NO / VA1AVR
Course Director

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1.  Hurricane Ernesto Update

The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Ernesto had become a Category 1 hurricane.  A hurricane warning has now been issued for Bermuda and dangerous rip currents are likely along U.S. East Coast beaches this weekend, August 17 - 18.
Frequency Plan: 
20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 1800 UTC until we lose propagation at night. 
40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 2300 UTC.  
The net will remain active on this frequency for as long as propagation allows.
Saturday 
20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 1100 UTC.
40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 1230 UTC.
the net will suspend operations at 11:30 UTC Monday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct its daily net.  The forecast track shows the center of Ernesto is  expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Saturday, August 17.  Sunday off the NorthEast Coast of US Monday impacting Nova Scotia Tuesday impacting  Newfoundland.
-- full article at arrl news (with additions by VA3PC)

ONTARIO SECTION NEWS

2.  Ottawa (Carp) 2024 Hamfest
Sponsor:    Ottawa Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Date:          Saturday, September 7, 2024
Location:    Carp Agricultural Fairgrounds,
                   3882 Carp Road, Ottawa, Ontario
Times:        Commercial Vendor Setup: 7:30 am
                   Private Vendor Setup: 8 am
                   Public: 9 am - Noon
Cost:          Admission: $6. Children 12 and under are free.
Talk-in:       VE2CRA, 146.94-, 100 Hz
Description: The region's largest fleamarket and hamfest.  
                    All of the big Ham Radio retailers are going to be there!
                   Major door-prize draws.
                  Coffee and snack concession in the lobby area.
                  Volunteer organizations and displays, including RAC,
                  ARES, QCWA, etc will be present.
Webpage:    https://oarc.net/hamfest2024
Email:          hamfest @ oarc.net
-- rac events page

ITEMS OF INTEREST

3.  HAARP Research to be Active August 13-20

HAARP will be conducting a research campaign August August 18-20 UTC, with operating times as specified on the news bulletin from amateur radio daily news.
All HAARP transmissions will be between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz. Actual transmit days and times are highly variable based on real-time ionospheric and/or  geomagnetic conditions.
August 18  1730-2330 UTC
August 19  1730-2330 UTC
August 20  1730-2330 UTC
The scientific goals of these experiments range from studies on the effects of ionospheric conditions on GPS satellite signals to the generation and propagation of extremely low frequency/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) waves.
More information can be found at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/pars2024
-- amateur radio daily news

4.   ARRL Contest portal is reported back on-line

The portal provides all of your ARRL contest interests (Log Submission, Logs Received, Raw Scores, Searchable access to scores and Contest Records, Log Checking Reports, Online Certificates, Club Membership Eligibility lists, etc).
 From here you can access everything from the starting bell of a contest to your post-event certificate of accomplishment.

It can be reached at: contests.arrl.org 
Looking for the National Contest Journal contest information?
Go here: ncjweb.com
-- 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

Net Controller — VE3OZW Richard - Otter Creek

Topic for discussion -

1. Do you use a cellphone holder in your vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, bicycle, canoe, boat, etc etc  What do you use?  (I use Quad Lock)

2. What is your preferred Operating System?  (I prefer Apple but use Windows in the shack and have been trying out Linuxmint)  Linux mint can be found at https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php .  It is easy to install and use on old laptops or computers.  Bring those old laptops back to life...
OR
3. Open mic 

VHF/Echolink

KO4DXQ Bob - Soddy Daisy, TN
VA3RCA Kevin - Alliston
VE3DDU Ray - Nottawa
N9AIM Bob - Brownsburg IN
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs
VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3VCG Marvin - Paisley
VA3EAC Janet - Paisley
VE3RQY Greg - Brooke
VA3DNY Dan - Owen Sound
VE3YRB Sarah - Owen Sound
VA3VBE Mark - Mildmay

HF – 3.783 MHz

VA3MFO Jim - Mount Forest
VE3BQM Bernie - Georgian Bluffs
VA3RCA Kevin - Alliston
VE3DDU Ray - Nottawa
VA3DNY Dan - Owen Sound
VA3VBE Mark - Mildmay
VE3XBO Bart - Meaford (mobile)

73

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. SUNSPOT COUNTS HIT A 23-YEAR HIGH

The sun is partying like it's 2001. That's the last time sunspot counts were as high as they are now. The monthly average sunspot number for July 2024 was 196.5, according to the Royal Observatory of Belgium's Solar Influences Data Analysis Center. This eclipses every month since Dec. 2001: Solar Cycle 25 wasn't expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be a weak cycle like its immediate predecessor.  If that forecast had panned out, Solar Cycle 25 would be one of the weakest solar cycles in a century. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 has shot past Solar Cycle 24 and may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century.

Is this Solar Max? The jury is still out. Sunspot numbers may continue to rise in the months ahead and, based on the behavior of previous cycles, we can confidently expect high solar activity for at least 2 to 3 more years.
Stay tuned!
-- spaceweather.com (Aug 3rd edition)

2. International Dog Day Special Event Stations
Highlight Need for Rescue Efforts

International Dog Day is August 26th. Hams are hoping to spotlight the need for rescue, assistance, adoption and donation around the world. Visit the website dogdayradio.org for details, or see the QRZ.com page of  L1DOG.  Look for other "DOG" callsigns for the special event stations.
--  Caryn, KD2GUT (via hamweekly.com)


3.  FCC Approves Satellites for Cellular Broadband

The FCC has approved the launch of a low-earth orbit communications array of five satellites on V-band that is expected to open the door for US smartphones to make use of space-based cellular broadband services.  The satellites have been given the OK to operate in the 37.5 to 42 GHz range for space-to-Earth communications; and the ranges of 47.2 to 50.2 GHz and 50.4 to 51.4 GHz for Earth to space communications.  The approvals are granted to Texas-based AST Space Mobile for what the company is characterizing as the largest communications array in history in low-earth orbit.

-- FCC, YAHOO/FINANCE (via amateur radio newsline)

4.   W1AW to QSY on 17 Meters for CW Beginning on Friday, September 6, 2024, Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will begin using a new 17-meter frequency for its scheduled CW transmissions due to increased  activity near the current bulletin frequency. In order to reduce the possibility of interference, W1AW will move to 18077.5 kHz.  
-- 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

GBARC Net Log
7 August 2024
Net Control, Tom VA3TS

Topic: What would you like to do in amateur radio you have not already done?

Participants:

Echolink:
KO4DXQ – Bob in Lake George NY
VE3DDU - Ray
KB1VWZ - Noah Atlanta, GA

Paisley Repeater (VE3GBT)
VA3MFO - Jim
VE3VCG - Marvin
VA3EAC – Janet

Owen Sound Repeater (VE3OSR)
VE3RQY - Greg
VE3YRB – Sarah
VA3DNY – Dan
VE3BQM – Berne

80 Meters (73 round)
VA3MFO – Jim
VE3BQM – Berne
VE3VCG - Marvin
VA3EAC - Janet
VA3DNY – Dan
VE3RQY - Greg