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RAC Will Not Attend Hamvention this Year / RAC ne sera pas à la Hamvention cette année
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For immediate release | Pour diffusion immédiate
April 8, 2025 | avril 8, 2025
At its meeting on March 27, 2025, the Board of Directors of Radio Amateurs of Canada voted unanimously to cancel RAC’s plans to operate a booth at Hamvention (Dayton) in Xenia, Ohio in May. This decision was not taken lightly and was made with deep regret as our members and volunteers always look forward to attending this significant international event.
Lors de sa réunion du 27 mars 2025, le Conseil d’administration de Radio Amateurs du Canada a voté à l’unanimité l’annulation du projet de RAC de tenir un kiosque à la “Hamvention” (Dayton) organisée en mai à Xenia, en Ohio. Cette décision n’a pas été prise à la légère et a été rendue avec un profond regret, car nos membres et bénévoles ont toujours hâte d’assister à cet important événement international.
The relationship between Canada and the United States has become increasingly strained due to recent trade disputes and tariffs imposed by the US government. Adding to these challenges, controversial remarks from US leaders, including suggestions of Canada becoming the 51st state, have heightened concerns about Canadian sovereignty.
Les relations entre le Canada et les États-Unis sont de plus en plus tendues en raison des récents différends commerciaux et des tarifs douaniers imposés par le gouvernement américain. En plus de ces défis, les remarques controversées faites par divers dirigeants américains, au nombre desquelles les suggestions selon lesquelles le Canada deviendrait le 51e État, ont accru les inquiétudes concernant la souveraineté canadienne.
For Canadians, these tensions have had tangible impacts and there has been a decline in cross-border travel and tourism.
Pour les Canadiens, ces tensions ont eu des répercussions tangibles et se sont notamment traduites par une réduction des voyages transfrontaliers et du tourisme.
It is a complex and evolving situation, but it is our hope that we will be able to return to Hamvention in future years and we hope that Canadian Amateurs who do attend the event will have a safe and enjoyable experience.
Il s’agit là d’une situation complexe et susceptible d’évoluer d’heure en heure, mais nous espérons que nous pourrons retourner à la “Hamvention” dans les années à venir, et que les amateurs canadiens qui assisteront à cet événement vivront une expérience agréable en toute sérénité.
Allan Boyd, VE3AJB/VE3EM
RAC President / Président de RAC
Commonwealth Contest 2025
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The annual Commonwealth Contest (CC) takes place very soon from 1000z Saturday, March 8 to 0959z Sunday March 9. This 24-hour CW-only contest takes place on the five HF contest bands (80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres).
Once known as the “BERU,” the CC involves Amateurs in the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations and their associated territories only. This gives us an exclusive shot at some very interesting DX.
Update of Basic Amateur Radio Exam (ISED)
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New Basic Amateur Radio Question Bank
For immediate release – July 15, 2025
On January 27, 2025, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released the new Basic Qualification Question Bank for Amateur Radio.
This new Question Bank will be used for all Basic Amateur Radio Certificate examinations starting today July 15, 2025.
Candidates, instructors and authors of Amateur Radio Study Guides may want to study the new Question Bank which is available for download from the ISED website at the link provided below.
Since early 2023, Radio Amateurs of Canada has had a committee of 20 instructors and Accredited Examiners (AEs) working to update and improve the quality of the 984 questions, 984 correct answers and 2,952 distractors (incorrect answers) in the Question Bank. This was the first major update to the Question Bank since 2013.
RAC Basic Course: Fall 2025
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The course is now underway. Please visit the Basic Course registration page at the link provided for more information.
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.
RAC Response to Proposal to US FCC about Satellites
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For immediate release
July 25, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has taken note of the concerns raised by Canadian and international Amateurs regarding a proposal submitted to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by AST, a US-based company.
The proposal seeks limited authorization to use the 430 MHz to 440 MHz spectrum – including other non-Amateur bands – for satellite telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) functions during unspecified emergency scenarios.
Read more: RAC Response to Proposal to US FCC about Satellites
WordPerfect on Linux
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Retrofuturism - Anachronistic Technology and HAM Radio
The figure above may seem rather silly. It shows WordPerfect 8.0 for UNIX running - roughly the equivalent of WordPerfect 4.2 for MSDOS - mid to late 1980s. WordPerfect 6.0 for MSDOS is shown running in the DOSBOX, an emulator for MSDOS - late 1990s). Finally WordPerfect X.13 is shown running in a virtual machine that is running Windows 7. All of these are running under Linux Mint 21.x. The laptop on which they are running is an old ASUS X55U, with motherboard manufactured in 2013.
Aurora Borealis
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What is the Aurora?
The aurora borealis or Northern Lights is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs in the northern hemisphere of the planet. It also occurs in the southern hemisphere where it is known as the aurora australis. Aurora are known to exist on comets, brown dwarfs, other planets and on some moons. Aurora are caused by solar wind interacting with magnetic fields and atmospheric particles. Atmospheric particles become energized and form what is known as plasma. Plasma is energized or ionized gas. It is the fourth state of matter and has been so identified since about 1972. Yes, your high school teachers who taught you the three states of matter were...well...not current in their physics. You see plasma every day when you see the sun, an operating fluorescent light or an operating neon light.