• AmateurRadio

Amateur radio, often called ham radio, is both a hobby and a service in which participants, called "hams," use various types of radio communications equipment to communicate with other radio amateurs for public service, recreation and self-training. It is a licensed service, requiring certification through Industry Canada to possess and operate Amateur Radio equipment.

B.C. Wireless's Amateur Radio Callsign is VA7BCW.

While similar in some regards, Amateur Radio is distinct from Community Wireless Networking in that participants of Community Wireless Networking do not require licensing and tend to utilize Internet-centric web technologies and consumer / business applications.

Amateur Radio, on the other hand, has tended to focus on many older and well established technologies and is focused on technical experimentation. Amateur Radio may not be used for business purposes, and some other applications.

Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. An estimated six million people throughout the world are regularly involved with amateur radio.

The term "amateur" is not a reflection on the skills of the participants, which are often quite advanced; rather, "amateur" indicates that amateur radio communications are not allowed to be made for commercial or money-making purposes.

Amateur Radio Clubs and Associations

• List of AmateurRadioClubs in British Columbia

• Canadian Amateur Radio Email Database - Listings of Amateur Radio Clubs, Email contacts and resources in Canada.

• Radio Amateurs of Canada - National meta organization representing Canadian Amateur interests

• American Radio Relay League - National meta organization representing American Amateur interests

Frequency Lists

• List of AmateurRadioBandPlans, outlining modes of operation on different amateur frequency allocations;.

Activities

Amateur Packet Reporting System

APRS (AutomaticPacketReportingSystem) is an amateur radio based system for real time tactical digital communications of information of immediate value in the local area. See AutomaticPacketReportingSystem for more information.

Direction Finding

Direction Finding refers to the establishment of the direction from which a received signal was transmitted.

D-STAR

D-STAR is a high speed digital technology for Amateur Radio, supporting digital voice, messaging and mapping applications.

D-STAR list: http://dstar.wikidot.com/canadian-dstar-repeaters

Emergency Preparedness

Many Amateur Radio operators participate in AmateurEmergencyCommunications activities as well, providing assistance at special events and through the Provincial Emergency Preparedness program.

Highspeed Amateur Internet Projects

HAIP or HighspeedAmateurInternetProjects are highspeed (>= 2 Mbps) Wireless Amateur Internets operated by Amateur Radio operators. These networks provide VoiceOverIP, Web, Email and a variety of other services within the AmateurRadioService.

Internet Radio Linking Project

IRLP or the InternetRadioLinkingProject links repeaters throughout the world over the Internet. Operators on any IRLP enabled repeater or node can connect their local system to a remote IRLP node by dialing an access code. Voice traffic is carried in real-time over the Internet permitting real-time communications between operators hundreds of kilometers apart.

A list of IRLP nodes in BC and area can be found on BritishColumbiaIRLPNodeList.

Voice

VHF and UHF voice communications are popularly used throughout Amateur Radio. Simplex communication (between individuals such as using a "Walkie Talkie" are used on frequencies set aside for that purpose, and Repeaters are positioned throughout the Province for individuals to talk in groups, and over great distances where range between two individuals is to far to communicate directly.

Voice Nets

Voice Nets take place regularly and are used by amateurs to check in, coordinate activities and often just to RagChew. Some nets are accessible via HF only, while others might take place on local repeaters, simplex frequencies or digital modes such as DStar. Check out AmateurRadioNetsOfInterest for a listing of nets.

Repeaters/Simplex Lists

• Two meter repeater list

• http://www.bcarcc.org/forforty.pdf

Some popular local repeaters with decent coverage, facilities and folks to chat with:

• Callsign	Frequency/offset	PL Tone	IRLP Node Number	Owners/User Groups
  VE7BAR	145.530-	127.3 Hz		BurnabyAmateurRadioClub
  VE7RHS	145.270-	100.0 Hz	1000	UBC ARS
  VE7RHS	441.975+		1010	UBC ARS
  VE7RPT	145.940-	-	1694	BCFMCA
  -	146.505			ScanBC / Under 30 net
  -	146.565			BC Wireless

Winlink 2000

Winlink 2000 (WL2K) is a worldwide system of volunteer resources supporting e-mail by radio, with non-commercial links to internet e-mail. These resources come from Amateur Radio, the Military Affiliate Radio Systems (MARS), and other volunteer organizations. The system provides valuable service to emergency communicators, and to licensed operators without access to the internet.

• http://www.winlink.org/

Winlink Packet Frequencies

A map showing Winlink Packet and Pactor RMS's can be found on the Winlink Site. See also the BritishColumbiaWinlinkPacketList for a list of RMS's in BC and area.

-- CategoryAmateurRadio