RAC Bulletin 130720

RAC Ontario Section Bulletin for July 20, 2013

This is V__3____, Official Bulletin Station for Radio Amateurs of
Canada, with this week's bulletin

NATIONAL NEWS


ONTARIO SECTIONS NEWS


ITEMS OF INTEREST

1. New CQ World Wide Contest Rules

The sponsor of the CQ World Wide DX Contest has completely rewritten
the contest rules, effective with this fall's SSB and CW weekends.
RTTY is not affected.  A new "Classic Overlay" category is for
traditional single-operator, all-band entries.  A new "Rookie
Overlay" is for amateurs licensed 3 years or less.  "Xtreme
Contesting" and "Team Competition" categories are removed.  For the
new rules visit www.cqww.com/rules.htm.  The SSB event takes place
October 26-27, the CW event November 23-24.

-- ARRL Web

2. Scouts ARISS Contact

On July 8, a successful contact was made between the Scout Canada
Jamboree, in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada and Astronaut Luca
Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign NA1SS. The contact was a telebridge
via VK5ZAI, and lasted about nine and a half minutes. 

Canada Jamboree '13, the largest gathering of Scouts in Canada,
brought up to 6500 youth, leaders and volunteers to Sylvan Lake
from July 6-13.  

-- AMSAT news

3. Detroit, Michigan Communications Failure

On July 5th, around 5:30 am, Detroit's digital trunked radio system
failed.  This system is for communication between 911 dispatchers and
Detroit's police, fire and Emergency Management Service crews.  The
failure, during the 4th of July holiday weekend, caused a backlog of
hundreds of calls.

Like most new digital systems, Detroit's is dependant on centralized
computer control.  Failure of the central computer can bring the
entire system down. The backup system also failed.  Finally, 
Michigan State Police allowed Detroit to use the state's
communication system, for the several days required to restore the
Detroit system. For more info see tinyurl.com/detroit-radio-down

-- Amateur Radio Newsline

4. Harness Saves Tower Climber

A certified tower expert who had taken apart hundreds of towers was
likely saved by his harness after he fell while disassembling a ham
radio tower above a west Edmonton home last week.

District Fire Chief Lorne Corbett said, "He had on the proper
harness, that's what saved him." When firefighters arrived,  he was
stuck 10 metres above ground.  He was able to walk to the ambulance
after being rescued.  For news coverage, visit tinyurl.com/oz6to92
(Oscar Zulu Six Tango Oscar Nine Two)

-- via Ham Radio Daily

5. HAARP Facility Shuts Down

The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) has
ended.  The 35-acre ionospheric research facility in Gakona, Alaska,
has been closed since early May.  The site is currently abandoned,
and might be dismantled next year.  One reason for the shutdown is
that the site would need expensive new diesel generators to meet U.S.
EPA standards.  For more info, visit tinyurl.com/haarp-down

-- ARRL Web