December 9, 2023, Big White ski resort surrounding area
NORAC members Mike VE7KPZ and Jane VE7WWJ along with their nephew Tristan volunteered at this year's Big White Winter Rally.
The crew awoke at 3 AM to drive to down the Okanagan valley and up to the Big White ski resort surrounding area where the rally was being held.
They then provided tactical radio support for the event, in the position of "blocker". This position effectively blocks a side road on the rally course and offers tactical radio support for course clearing, emergency coordination, etc.
The morning and afternoon stages were in different locations so a move was made around 2 PM to the afternoon blocking position. This more remote position required the use of cross-band repeat (on Mike's Kenwood TM-D710GA) as just a handheld transceiver did not have enough oompf to get into the main event repeater.
The rally stages finished around 9 PM and the crew got home and into bed around 11 PM - that was quite the day!
Kudos to the other Okanagan HAMs that volunteered as well. It was nice to hear so many familiar calls. And kudos to Chris VE7EQN and OCARC for allowing the event to use the VE7RBG repeater.
We always look forward to seeing the recap of the event on TSN and YouTube (a couple of months after the event) but nothing beats the front-row seat experience of actually being there as a volunteer. Check out the full recap below.
73,
Mike VE7KPZ
We are sad to announce that a long time NORAC member Doug (Robert) Reid VE7TVT passed away in the morning hours of December 5, 2023. He would have been 84 on December 13th.
Doug is best known as the Voice of RSS: "This is VE7RSS. A NORAC Repeater".
Also as NORAC's Sunday Morning Net Controller (which he operated single handed for countless years), past NORAC President, past Editor of the RagChew, and NORAC Life Member.
Doug was a retired high school teacher specializing in all things video. He had many stories of his father who worked at CBC in the infancy of TV Broadcasting.
Doug's joy was joining HAM radio nets (both HF and VHF), collecting all kinds of audio/video recording equipment, and listening to his huge collection of vinyl records.
The Cowichan, the Fraser and the Kicking Horse have been long recognized as Canadian Heritage Rivers.
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is Canada’s national program for recognizing, celebrating and conserving the natural, cultural and recreational values of 41 rivers across Canada.
These three BC rivers have recently been added to the POTA system by the VE7 mapping lead.
This is good news for Parks On The Air operators as it means easier access to great operating locations. The increased potential for concurrent activations will make POTA Rover awards a tiny bit easier to achieve.
POTA rules state that you must be within 30.5m (100’) of the river to activate it.
Check out the new additions:
Cowichan River National Heritage Area CA-6131
Fraser River National Heritage Area CA-6132
Kicking Horse River National Heritage Area CA-6133
The Tailgate Okanagan Ham Radio Party on October 22, 2023 was a success.
It was wonderful to meet many new Hams and get some great deals.
Meeting in Peachland near the A&W, about 20-30 people attended.
The organizers say that they would like to return this to an annual event.
