Welcome to the official Web Site of VE1CR - Sydney Amateur Radio Club 



V E 1 C R
SYDNEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB


           


Mailing Address:                                     Telephone:     (VE1DM, Bill) (902) 562-5898
Sydney Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 34
Sydney NS   B1P 6G9
CANADA


ITU (IARU) Region 2   Zone 9
CQ Zone   5
Grid   FN96vc
Lat/Long:   46.120225 -60.196776
Nova Scotia Province (Cape Breton Island) group: IOTA Ref. No. NA-010


Please (OBSERVE CURRENT COVID-19 RULES !) come and visit us - EVERY SATURDAY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 1:00 PM - at 11 St. Bridget Street, Sydney, NS... EVERYONE WELCOME !                                                                                           Please come and visit us - EVERY SATURDAY FROM 10 AM UNTIL 1:00 PM - at 11 St. Bridget Street, Sydney, NS... EVERYONE WELCOME !



    Club president: George, VE1GV   [email protected]

    Club email:  [email protected]


SARC Constitution

Code of Conduct (proposed)




Please come visit us on Saturday Mornings at the club at
11 St. Bridget St., Sydney, NS. , 10 AM until 1 PM...

Please observe the latest NS Covid-19 restrictions.
NS Coronavirus Restriction Updates


See our location on GOOGLE Map.

ECHOLINK: VE1CR-R, Node 104517
IRLP: VE1CR, Node 2435, Sydney, 147.570 simplex (temporarily out of service)

APRS Node: VE1IMD located at North Mountain, Victoria County - freq: 144.390 MHz
Station Info: VE1IMD MARCAN UIDIGI

Ron's MARCAN info page






NEW MEMBERS and RENEWALS WELCOME - - PLEASE RENEW or JOIN US NOW for 2020-21 !
***The club year runs from September to August. Dues are due in SEPTEMBER every year.
TO JOIN US:
Simply send a cheque or money order to our mailing address above, along with your callsign and contact info.

Dues are only $20 per year for full membership (licensed amateur) or associate membership (individual interested in amateur radio) plus $10 for NSARA membership for a total of $30 annually. Support the fine work that SARC and the NSARA does for YOU!










Congratulations to Enos, VE1YR, on his 55th anniversary in amateur radio !
...also congratulations to Mike MacDonald, VE1ASE, for being our newest member !
August 10, 2019.


(Enos is 2nd from left, and Mike is 2nd from right.)









Mark, VE3PZR gave a very comprehensive demonstration of DMR, hotspots and how to obtain equipment - Saturday, September 1, 2018.


VE1GV photo




Jim, VE1PPA visited with SARC members - Saturday, July 28, 2018.






GREAT NEWS ! Saturday, March 24, 2018 - Brian, VE1MBT, scored 90% on his Advanced Amateur qualification.



Brian is congratulated by club president, George, VE1GV, with Stuart, VE1AJ and Robert/Bob, VA1RM/VA1BOB.




"The RULES"

RBR-4 � Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations
in the Amateur Radio Service

Issue 2 - January, 2014 - These are the rules for amateur radio operation.

"No person shall, except under and in accordance with a radio authorization, install, operate or possess radio apparatus"...
In other words, if you don't have at least your Basic qualification, you should not even have amateur transmitting equipment in your possession !

see: Radiocommunication Act: R.S.C., 1985, c. R-2


also: Radiocommunication Regulations SOR/96-484


   For questions or official complaints, contact:
    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
    Amateur Radio Service Centre
    2 Queen Street East
    Sault Ste. Marie ON   P6A 1Y3

    Telephone: 1-888-780-3333 (Toll free)
    Fax: 1-705-941-4607
    Email: [email protected]

      Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)


    For those who wish to know the best practices in amateur radio, here is a great resource:

Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur
(Edition 3, June 2010. IARU)











Bill (VE1DM) with Electro Voice model 731 - June 11, 2016. Bill is admired and respected for his innumerable contributions to amateur radio and SARC in particular, and is our most beloved member. He is known for his warmth and caring for others! We salute you, Bill!










VE1GV photo

Here is Frank, VE1FEK, in the bucket attaching balun to our Yagi at Marconi Centre - July 11, 2018. Thanks Frank !



Please come visit us on Saturday Mornings at the club at
11 St. Bridget Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia.

...from 10 AM until 1 PM or so...

See our location on GOOGLE Map.






Nice job on the sign, Stuart !





New Members Always Welcome!


SEPTEMBER MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL (2020 - 2021) TIME IS HERE!
Dues are only $20 per year for full membership (licensed amateur)
or associate membership (individual interested in amateur radio) plus $10 for
NSARA membership for a total of $30 annually. Support the fine work that SARC and the NSARA does for YOU!
***Please remember that membership dues are necessary to finance club operations - especially the Cape Breton
linked system and Echolink! If you live in the area served by our repeaters and USE them, then please join the club and contribute to their maintenance !


Donations of equipment, tools, or funds are always appreciated.


See our location on GOOGLE Map.








SARC IRLP Node 2435
The SARC IRLP Node 2435 is on-air in Sydney on 147.570 simplex. (temporarily out of service)

For more vital information see:  Click for vital IRLP info.




Don't forget:
NSARA CONTEST:   March 1, 2020.

(NOW the NSARA contest takes place each year on the FIRST Sunday in March.)
Click for more info.





2 Meter Wake-up Net - Weekdays at 07:30 AM.
The 2 Meter Wake Up Net was established by Percy - VE1PLV. Controllers are Bob - VE1DR, Al - VE1ZS, Norm - VY2NR, Mike - VE1MWJ, Max - VE1XAM, and of course Percy. We operate five days a week, including most holidays, and we run from 0730 to 0845 hrs if traffic justifies the use of the repeaters.







EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

IARU Emergency Telecommunications Guide - 1 September 2016



EXERCISE HANDSHAKE

On the last Tuesday of every month at 19:00 AST/ADT, there is an Emergency Radio Communications Exercise that takes place on the NS VHF amateur radio network, on Echolink, and on HF at 3675 kHz. An assigned NET Control Operator, at a scheduled EOC Center, takes �check-ins� from: Municipal EMO Stations, EOC�s, ARES, Canwarn and individual Amateur Radio Operators throughout the province. The name of this exercise is �Exercise Handshake�. It is extremely important that all SARC members take the time to check in to this NET Control, and identify themselves as members of SARC. The statistics or activity counts that are generated from this exercise are used as part of a justification or assessment of a region�s AR communications participation. If our participation is high it is much easier to apply for funding, surplus equipment, or support resources. If participation is low the numbers will indicate a lack of support activity on our part.

REMEMBER: "EXERCISE HANDSHAKE" is
on the last Tuesday of every month, at 19:00 AST/ADT.


Click for more information on Exercise Handshake.

Click here for the "ATLANTIC AMATEUR" summary of the latest Exercise Handshake.

ATLANTIC AMATEUR - Ham Radio for Atlantic amateurs









EXECUTIVE MEMBERS for 2019 / 2020

President: George, VE1GV     ve1gv@juno.com   [email protected]

First Vice President: Paul, VE1DPG

Second Vice President: Mike, VE1CYO

Treasurer: Brian, VE1MBT

General Secretary: Robert, VA1RM / VA1BOB

Past President: Bill, VE1DM







SARC Cape Breton VHF linked system


The Sydney Amateur Radio Club operates five repeaters
on Cape Breton Island (IOTA NA-010):


VE1CR Sydney, now 146.940 (-) (prevoiusly 146.610 -)   ECHOLINK: VE1CR-R   NODE No. 104517    QRZ.com listing

VE1HAM Rear Boisdale 146.880 (-)    QRZ.com listing (Note: Major upgrade was completed on 21 May 2013.)

VE1CBI Cape Smokey 147.240 (+) QRZ.com listing(Note: Major upgrade was completed on 9 June 2013.)

VE1KIL Kiltarlity (Margaree) 146.730 (-)    QRZ.com listing

VE1HK Hunter's Mountain (new location as of 04 Aug 2014) 146.610 (-)    QRZ.com listing

(The above 5 are all now continuously and permanently linked via UHF. Some amateur radio organizations would call this "hard-linked" although the linking here is by UHF)

The Oban repeater,VE1OBN 147.105 (+) near St. Peters, is operated by the NSARA.
It is UHF linked to VE1HAM, so it is permanently linked to the SARC Cape Breton repeaters. QRZ.com listing

To link the Cape Breton system (via Oban) to the mainland UHF backbone, dial: 196*, to disconnect: 197*.

The mainland link is via VE1RTI in Antigonish, the provincial hub repeater. So by dialing 196* on any Cape Breton repeater, you are linking all Cape Breton repeaters (via Oban) to the UHF backbone through VE1RTI. (Antigonish) Once this is done, you can link to any other maritime repeater, including VE1RTI, using the appropriate link code.

For example, suppose you wish to connect to the Fredericton repeater, VE1BN. After linking to the mainland UHF backbone by dialing 196* and hearing the voice announcement confirming the link, then dial 150*, and you are connected. Of course, please identify your station as per regulations, before inputting any tones! Please also consider that unnecessary linking/unlinking/linking for amusement may be irritating to other operators. We all pay dues to our respective clubs, and we expect members to act responsibly.

SEE: NSARA "M A V C O M" Linked Repeater Instructions and Procedures.

Atlantic Amateur Operating Information

List of Maritime repeaters and link codes:   Maritime Link Codes

Visit the Nova Scotia Amateur Radio Association page:   NSARA page

NSARA I R L P information

Wondering how the Maritime Repeater System is linked by UHF?
Here is an excellent PowerPoint explanation by Bill, VE1MR:

Repeater Use and Linking Systems updated 2015

All local amateurs are also encouraged to ensure that their SARC Club and NSARA dues are currently paid and up to date. All amateurs should also realize, while they are using the SARC repeater system, they should conduct themselves appropriately and RESPECTFULLY, and any and all use of the SARC repeater network system is a privilege. Please be CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS !!! If you live in the area served by our repeaters and USE them, then please join the club and contribute to their maintenance ! From time to time SARC may take the network out of regular service for technical adjustments, special events and communications exercises. In the event of this occurring only emergency traffic will be permitted by the NET Controller. SARC also wishes to thank the NSARA for their much needed assistance in providing the equipment for our upgrades. All visiting amateurs are welcome to use our repeater network. This repeater network is for the pleasure and enjoyment of everyone, 73 to all.





KB4SVP's OUR COFFEE SHOP


Check out Richard's, KB4SVP - Our Coffee Shop page.

Also, check EchoLink KB4SVP-R Node # 354980
to connect with Our Coffee Shop.




Please come visit us on Saturday Mornings at the club at
11 St. Bridget St., Sydney, NS. , 10 AM until 1 PM...

See our location on GOOGLE Map.



SYDNEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
NEW MEMBERS and RENEWALS WELCOME - - PLEASE RENEW NOW for 2020-2021 !
***The club year runs from September to August. Dues are due in SEPTEMBER every year.
REGULAR MEMBERS 2020 - 2021 (so far...)

As of Apr. 11, 2021.

*VE1DM    Bill Appleton   *Life Member
*VE1YR    Enos Ash   *Life Member

VE1AG    Andrew Gillan
VE1AJ    Stuart MacLeod
VE1ASE    Mike MacDonald
VE1AWA    Roy MacIntosh
VE1AWI    Archie Guy
VE1BVD    Phil Irons
VE1CKT    Gordon Sheriff
VE1CRR    Bob Roper
VE3CWR    Gerard Randall
VE1CYO    Mike Butler
VE1DEW    Donald Wareham
VE1DPG    Paul Gillis
VE1FEK    Frank King
VE1FHK    Frank Kober
VE1FJG    Fred Gillespie
VE1GV    George Ernst
VE1GWE    Greg Weir
VE1HF    Daryl Stevens
VE1HP    Raye Mossman
VA1IRO    Jarrod David
VE1KRL    Carol Guy
VE1LAV    Lavato Harrietha
VE1LL    Jim White
VE1MBT    Brian Timmons
VA1RM / VA1BOB    Robert Bob McGrath
VE1SN    Earl Osborne
VE1SVP / KB4SVP    Richard Bascom
VE1TB    Pierre LeBlanc
VA1UD    Dave Hart
VE1VR    Anna Abraham
VE1WH    William Stewart
VE1YL    Diane Ernst
VE1ZV    Robert Smith

N1CSO    Ed Gillespie


VE1SMC    Shane McDougall *Honorary Member

Associate Members:
Ben Edelenbos


39 MEMBERS






"Silent Key" is an endearing and respectful term for a deceased amateur radio operator. Since the early days of amateur radio, the Morse key played a vital role in amateur communication. In the beginning, it was the only means of communicating. Now that there are a multitude of voice, video, and digital communication modes, Morse code is still a vital, vibrant, and popular way for amateurs to enjoy radio, and the Morse key remains an enduring symbol of amateur radio. For proof, just check the lower end of 20M on any day the band is open!
"Silent Key" is sometimes abbreviated "SK" - when sent without spaces, this prosign means "end of contact".
We miss all our Silent Keys. Their contributions to amateur radio in Cape Breton are an inspiratation to us all. Let us remember them fondly!

Our condolences go out to the family of our longtime member Danny Randall, VE1RA, who passed away on December 2, 2019. Online Obituary for Danny Randall

List of Sydney Amateur Radio Club SILENT KEYS - MS Word OR pdf










SATURDAY MORNING RAGCHEW



Here are the friendly members of the SARC ready to welcome you to the Saturday morning ragchew! EVERYONE IS WELCOME - especially those interested in getting licensed as an amateur radio operator!

Every Saturday, from 10 AM 'til 1 PM...


Enos     Daryl   Richard   George        Frank   and           Bill










VE1VAS   /   VA1VAS
MARCONI National Historic Site Callsigns


The Sydney Amateur Radio Club operates and maintains
VE1VAS / VA1VAS at the Marconi National Historic Site.
For more MARCONI related information, please visit:
VE1VAS / VA1VAS - SARC Marconi Page.



VA1 VAS QSL Card.

This card depicts the Marconi National Historic Site, Glace Bay, NS.
Why not visit the Marconi National Historic Site

Another interesting page is the Marconi National Historic Site Wikipedia article.




Marconi Commemorative Stations EI100YXQ to VA1VAS




Also, check out The Cape Breton Wireless Heritage Society page.



Poldhu Amateur Radio Club - GB2GM



Kerry Amateur Radio Group and Marconi's BALLYBUNION station




Spotlight on Marconi�s Transatlantic Wireless Work In Canada by Henry M. Bradford from "DISTANT SPARKS" the Long Island Radio & Television Historical Society publication Vol. 13, Issue 1, copy 2.
Thanks to Mr. Bradford and the Long Island Radio & Television Historical Society!

"Marconi's Three Transatlantic Radio Stations In Cape Breton"
-by Henry M. Bradford
Read before the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, 31 January, 1996.
(Reproduced with permission: Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society Journal, Volume 1, 1998.)







Michael McCormack's Lumiere 2014 "BEACON" video





SOLAR TERRESTRIAL INDICIES FOR TODAY

                       

Interested in propagation and what the sun is doing today?

Solar and Terrestrial Indicies from qsl.net: Daily Solar & Terrestrial Indices

This is sunspot cycle 25:

VERY INFORMATIVE - Weekly ARRL Bulletins

The K7RA Solar Update

The K7RA DX Bulletin

"The 10.7 centimeter solar flux index (SFI) jumped to a Cycle 24 record of 262 on January 4. (2014)"

See ARRL News



Space Documentary 2015 | The SUN, SPACE & UNIVERSE

The SUN (Full HD 1080p) Amazing Documentary from Discovery HD Channel



Waiting For The Next Sunspot Cycle: 2019-2030




INTERESTED IN DX SPOTTING?

Latest 50 HF DX spots on DX SUMMIT

Latest spots from DX WATCH

Here is a DX world map for propagation: - DXMAPS.COM

NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Project
"The NCDXF, in cooperation with the IARU, constructed and operates a worldwide network of high-frequency radio beacons on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930, and 28.200 MHz. These beacons help both amateur and commercial high-frequency radio users assess the current condition of the ionosphere Each beacon transmits once on each band once every three minutes, 24 hours a day. A transmission consists of the callsign of the beacon sent at 22 words per minute followed by four one-second dashes. The callsign and the first dash are sent at 100 watts. The remaining dashes are sent at 10 watts, 1 watt and 100 milliwatts. At the end of each 10 second transmission, the beacon steps to the next higher band and the next beacon in the sequence begins transmitting." (quoted from the IBP pages)

Transmission Schedule: THIS PAGE SHOWS THE BEACONS' TRANSMISSIONS IN REAL TIME.

Here is a good introduction to the system:
NCDXF/IARU International Beacon Project Introduction


ARRL W1AW Weekly DX News Bulletin (updated every Thursday) See which DX stations are on-the-air and when.





AMATEUR RADIO LICENSING




Want to become a licensed radio amateur, or upgrade your quailfications? This Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (formerly Industry Canada) page should be your first stop:
Amateur Radio Service

Please be aware that the I.S.E.D.C. site is never fully up-to-date!
e.g. There is no longer a 12 WPM Morse Code qualification,
and there is a new Basic Question Bank (01 June, 2022 edition) at:
http://apc-cap.ic.gc.ca/datafiles/amateur_basic_questions_en.pdf

AND you can do a practice Basic exam (I advise people to do MANY): HERE.

The exam generator, question bank, practice tests, etc., for BASIC and ADVANCED are on the Amateur Radio Exam Generator page.
I urge you to be familiar with the material on THIS page. Your exam will be generated from the questions contained there.
Please BEWARE of material from other sources!
Candidates have wasted time studying outdated/piecemeal/cobbled together and unofficial exam preparation materials...!!!

Please contact me at [email protected] or 902-736-9404 for guidance in studying. I can help. I know some neat practice tricks to help you. (especially with Block Diagrams)
Please do not listen to people who may try to discourage you from writing a test, or from doing well.

I know that you want to do the best you can ! Remember, the pass mark on BASIC is 70%,
but Honours standing is 80%, and that is what you want for full privileges. (access to all frequency bands)

The fee for each test is $20.00, with a reduced rate ($5.00) for SARC members.
Please contact me one week or so before any potential testing date,
in order to make arrangements to write a test. I can give a test ANY TIME that is convenient for both of us.
Although testing is done informally and with low stress, ISEDC has strict rules for testing procedure and reporting of results.

-Robert (Bob) McGrath, accredited examiner for SARC
I am also a substitute teacher - all grades/all subjects. (NS #663179)

If you are careful - This BASIC material from 2009 might be helpful.
It is dated, but it could be a useful guide to your studying for the BASIC test.




ADVANCED testing resources and links:


I am also happy to arrange an Advanced Qualification test for you, pretty much any time.
Phone me (above number) and we can arrange a convenient time and place. Also call for ANY questions you may have.
This is not "rocket science", but it just takes a bit of work and understanding. I can help - just ask.


Advanced question bank ( in .pdf)

Advanced practice test

YouTube - Advanced Question: 1 - 4 - 4 - Resonant Frequency Calculation

YouTube - Advanced Question 1 - 5 - 7 Q - Factor Calculation

This is A 1 - 5 - 7, but was previously A 1 - 5 - 1 in old question bank.
(just an example of how things change)
- BE SURE TO ALWAYS USE THE CURRENT QUESTION BANK !






"The RULES"

RBR-4 � Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations
in the Amateur Radio Service

Issue 2 - January, 2014 - These are the rules for amateur radio operation.




Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has good information for the anyone interested in amateur radio:
Radio Amateurs of Canada's Amateur Radio REQUIREMENTS page.

RAC Beginner Information

Here is a link to: RAC's ExHaminer study/testing software.

Visit the club on any Saturday morning and the friendly folks there will advise you.

Or you can email us:
ve1cr@qsl.net   [email protected]


For comprehensive study materials for Basic and Advanced, why not visit:
  COAX PUBLICATIONS: Publications For the Radio Amateur
Purchase of a study guide includes access to their web-based Student Success Pages, and other great resources !





TECHNICAL AND PROJECT LINKS:

SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY: What is SMT?
SMT - Easier Than You Think !
Breadboarding With SMD




IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION and CLUB Links:

MARITIME AMATEUR - Ham Radio for Maritimers by Maritimers - NEW SITE !

NSARA - Nova Scotia Amateur Radio Association

Westcumb Amateur Radio Club page

Halifax Amateur Radio Club

Brit Fader Memorial QSL Bureau

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC's new site)..... (old RAC site)

"CCC"   Calgary Communications Club




Claude Bouchard VE2BUB on QRZ.com





Video: The DXer and the Technician
- produced by Pascal, VA2PV.




Here is a very useful amateur radio site by Mark, VE3PZR: foxhollow.ca




This is a very educational page by our own member Daryl, VE1HF:     VE1HF.com

Be sure to check out his    Project Blog .




Greetings to all You are visitor number 





Please view and sign our guestbook!




Please visit again soon, and get YOUR page on QSL.NET !
This is a wonderful service to amateur radio !


Click here for the SARC gallery page...


Please come visit us on Saturday Mornings at the club at
11 St. Bridget St., Sydney, NS. , 10 AM until 1 PM...

See our location on GOOGLE Map.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to copy items or photos on this page for your page, please ask first, and give credit to the source.

73, Sydney Amateur Radio Club