10 ~ North Shore News - Sunday. July 16, 2000 Ham tag origin in dispute Fram page 3 ative to give his call sign,” said Frazer (aka, VEZEF). “He's known by his” first name and his call sign more than his last name.” Why hams? No one knows. preci why amateur radio operators are called hams. Some believe it’s an acronym for home amateur mechanic, others claim it’s the first initials of three college students who were early radio amateurs. B Costs Depending on how sophisticated you want to be, a transmitter/receiver can cost $200 ro $20,000. It costs nothing for an initial call sign and basic amateur radio operator certificate. Since it’s a worldwide hobby, amateurs have their own free trade agreement of sorts. Many countries, Canada included, have recip- rocal agreements that allow viskers to operate their sta- tions on foreign soil. For example, American amateurs can operate their stations in Canada and vice versa. @ North Shore Amateur Radio Club . The North Shore Amateur Radio Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the offices of the North and West Vancouver Emergency Program at the Gerry Brewer Building, 147 E. 14th, North Vancouver. Call NSARC president Greg Soderling (VE7SOD) at 929-4060 or membership director Andy Martin (VE7VVX) ‘at 924- 3776 for information. @ Ham radio on the Web Federal amateur radio licens- ing: ; Radio Amateurs of Canada: American Radio Relay League: B.C. Amateur Radio Co- ordination Council: Coming in Sunday Focus NEXT week in Sunday Focus Marcie Good revisits North Van’s wartime shipbuilding industry. To suggest a feature story that deserves to be “in Focus” write to Martin Millerchip, North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale: Ave., North Vancouve:, V7M 2H4, fax 985-2104 or e-mail . it it’s news, then it’s in the News. From paac 3 high frequency, ultra high trequeney and shortwave Sone frequencies are used by amateurs who practice digital packet radio. They send text and graphics from one computer to another via radia waves and a modem, They can even use a Videocassette recorder hooked toa TV transmitter to share real time video with other hams who have a similar set-up. The most sophisticated hams send their signals to Global Positioning, Satellites which can track moving or stationary receivers. “In the early days of radio there were many people who said it had no future, it was a waste of time,” Frazer said. “It very quickly became the main means of transmitting information across the Adlantic Ocean to the point where it almost threat- ened the survival of some of the submarine cable services.” NSARC helped provide the communications hub for the Sun Run 10-kilometre race and the ‘Trans-Canada Trail Relay in the spring. Members joined forces during the last weekend of June for the annual Field Day, a 24-hour continennwide contest spon- sored by the American Radio Relay League, the ham associa- tion in the U.S. Clubs across North America raced against the clock ro contact as many hams as possible in a simulated emer- gency from makeshift facilities. Scores are being tabulated and won't be announced until September, NSARC set up its tem- porary station ar the quarry near Cypress Bowl Road. NSARC’s team is a six-time Canadian champion. “No matter where you are in the world, if you look up the local ham club or group, you're instandy part of the scene,” said Frazer. During a trip with his wife to the Queen Charlotte Islands two years ago, Frazer was navigating “the logging roads and switched on his radio and became quickly acquainted with four hams. “Everywhere we went as we got near their town, they insist- ed we stop by and come in for a visit or a drink.” In the meantime, the Queen Charlotte hams gave verbal directions around the tricky logging roads. “We ended up in places we never would've found.” Back at Hansen’s shack, there’s a lot of activity on the airwaves. But his attempt to add to his Qsi. card collection is stymied this night. Because it’s the 4th of July, many American Hams are active. A man in Minnesota is conversing with the crew of a ship off the Pacific Coast of Panama. Another ham in New York is on the air with Russian mariners. “Victor Echo Seven Charlie Alpha, do you copy?”, he says after adjusting the position of the antenna that towers over his backyard. The long distance signal is weak, and there are more landlubbing American hams jumping on to share the | PATHFINDER, OYOTA “XE 4RUNNER SRS 2002 ‘2000 $38, adie 538,91 oO: standard =. : standard standard ° “ standard ©: ‘standard ‘ optional standard standard standard standard ‘standard standard standard: “ standard “anti-theft system ”-slandard standard >. standard: . standard _Standard privacy glass” power. windows/locks air conditioning -° cd player ~ keyless entry aluminum alloy whecls oF, REGENCY NISSAN standard standard cain: 30-0 lease sp¢hes to tho 2001 Pusttindar KF {5C1G71 AOD). Downpayment oF + 412001 Patninaer only Of” conkee to the 200 Xlecra {8CLGSG ACO). incudew 2000 Toyota aunnor SAS V6 Vaker Pack “a” wth S-apyes trarainiagion. 2000 "Truck Of the Year by Aulomnobil Joumntats Aseodeton sf Canads. Gee your Nissan Deater far deute. waves alive le Cong EN AND ©” Browse on SUNDAYS brs otent ne NEWS photo Paui McGrath MARKUS Hansen sends a Morse code message during Field Day at Cypress Provincial Park. The commercial real estate agent contacts fellow hams around the world from his radio shack in the den of his Delbrook home. Independence Day cheer with those offshore. Mariners use ham radio frequencies routinely because the cost of satellite telephone equipment and service is prohibitive. Hansen switches to a Morse code channel. That’ 's another reason why hams are useful, keeping alive the universal language of dots and dashes. When all else fails —~ even voice contact over the air — Morse code is there. “This guy is talking to a guy in Texas and he’s in Finland. Right now the band is open to that area. There’s still a lot of code going on. When it comes to commu- - nications under very difficult conditions, when there’s a lor of noise, code seems to get through, The brain is really amazing in its ability to distinguish’ benween tones and pick out the noise and stuff.” standard . standard standard ! standard standard standard 700 Marine Drive “North Vancouve $8,023, Tita Cospation $20,313 Ledsne ave CAG, cxce enced, é . Based on 24,000 Jory are entra. Deaiers arg hee fo sal inital prices: oy Conese enna saorines er 0) Pocuiaerots Peee! Eeeesiny