Page 41 January February 2018 TCA

RANDOM THOUGHTS...

Why more YLs should be Amateurs...

I was tempted to protest the warm weather Realizing the hot water was melting the snow pack on
because I knew very well what was about to the roof and chilling the flowing water, I cleared away
happen when it got cold again. As expected, it some of the snow from that side of the Hamvan and,
Dirk Moraal, VY1NM did suddenly cool down, and what had been as soon as I was out of hot water, I went inside to
Box 75
Tagish, YT Y0B 1T0 pretty, sparkling drips of water on a warm make more. My Soul Mate (a mellifluous suffix in
sunshiny day became, in a few hours, sharp Morse code!) smiled pleasantly and sweetly asked
The season had so far weapons, swords of Damocles as it were, what I was doing. I was glad of the opportunity to
been particularly mild at the hanging over us, waiting for the door to slam display my cleverness and explained the problem,
shack at the edge of the before dropping on our heads. how the warm spell had caused the sun to melt the
forest. The rest of Canada snow on the roof of the Hamvan and how this had
was enjoying a spell of real Coincidentally, a few mornings later I found then trickled down and frozen the side door solid, and
winter, and that made it myself needing a test tool from the Voyager how of course I had also thought to try the driver’s
quite different from past Hamvan which had temporarily been door. It too was frozen, I reported.
winters when I might have reincarnated from the noble position of Mobile
been the Amateur who Ham Shack, to Mobile Tool Box for the Old We had a pleasant chat over a cup of tea and then I
casually mentions that the Airplane. As I suspected, the side door was ventured out again into the still winter air leaving
temperature had “warmed frozen solid. The mobile antenna, still on duty, behind a vapour trail all the way to the van. By now
up from minus 47°C to was also frozen to the roof but I did not try to the water I had poured on the door seals was also
minus 42°C”. move it. I paused briefly to wonder what the well and truly frozen so I could do nothing more than
SWR might have been. try to melt it along with the rest of the ice.
The weather had been kind,
without even the need to This particular New Year, ice had become a After another half‑hour with no sign of the door
dust off the driveway. New universal problem and the rotator under the opening I was about to give it up until spring thaw,
Year’s Day however Yagi way up on its little mast was frozen as when the mellifluous suffix wandered over to the
changed all that and we well, but fortunately I had the foresight to leave opposite side of the minivan, shovelled some snow
enjoyed a heavy snowfall it pointing in the general direction of the rest of from the other side door, reached down and slid it
followed by a few days in Canada. open. She then slowly walked back to the cabin
the minus 40s, followed by humming – I can’t prove this, of course – “Fool On
a week or more of I happily chipped away at the ice for a while The Hill”. I stood perfectly still, tilted my toque back,
temperatures up around the until I broke a finger nail (Mesdames et and rubbed my forehead. Of course! The snow had
melting point. Those who Mesdemoiselles, I now think I may understand melted on the side facing the sun. But it had not on
had complained about the how you might feel about that) and so I the shaded side. So dear readers, this helps explain
cold could now complain decided a kettle of hot water would be more why I want more YLs to be Hams. We, I, need the
about the slush and muck useful. Now, I have never endorsed this for use support.
on the road, and next on glass in cold WX (nor on frozen rotators),
morning, about the ice that so I planned to trickle hot water down the side Remember yours on Valentine’s Day.
coated everything. door seals. Which I did. It was cold enough so
this idea was, how shall I put it, ill advised. – And 73, to all, from here.

Update on Proposed Revisions to the Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations
In August 2017, the Government of Canada invited comments All respondents noted above were consistent in their concern
on proposals for the revision of the Canadian Table of about the proposed changes to the Canadian Table for the new
Frequency Allocations (the Canadian Table), as outlined in the 15 kHz wide, 60 metre Amateur allocation following the 2015
consultation paper entitled: “Proposed Revisions to the World Radiocommunication Conference, that it not be limited to
Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations (2017) Edition”. 15 watts (EIRP) but instead allow up to 100 watts PEP (ERP)
consistent with the power now authorized on the existing five
The consultation is now closed and the comments are posted 60 metre spot frequencies.
on the Innovation, Science and Economic Development
(ISED) website. All letters of comment can be read on the Innovation, Science
and Economic Development Canada website at:
Of the eight responses in total, five respondents commented https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt‑gst.nsf/eng/sf11346.html
on matters concerning proposed changes to the Canadian
Table on radio allocations for the Amateur Service. These Amateurs should note that the proposed changes have not come
respondents were: Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, as an individual; into effect yet, and will not do so until “RBR‑4 – Standards for
Joe Craig VO1NA, on behalf of the Marconi Radio Club of the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service” is
Newfoundland; Norm Rashleigh, VE3LC, on behalf of the updated. Until that time, the existing five channels continue to be
Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club; Richard Ferch, VE3KI, on the only authorized Amateur frequencies at 5 MHz.
behalf of the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC); and the
Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) of which RAC is For more information visit: http://wp.rac.ca/proposed‑revisions‑
to‑the‑canadian‑table‑of‑frequency‑allocations/
an Executive member.
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