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Industry Canada
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2014-03-07
Today, March 6th, Industry Canada released a new set of amateur radio exam questions based on recommendations made by RAC and launched a new exam generator.
"This is good news that we were eagerly anticipating."“ says Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW, President of RAC. "We were pleased to work with IC on this issue of significant importance to amateur radio operators and RAC will continue to work with Industry Canada to provide Canadian radio amateurs with the best possible circumstances to pursue their hobby."
The new exam generator can be accessed at the following URL: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00040.html
Background:
In December of 2012 Industry Canada put out a Request For Proposals (RFP) to update the amateur radio question bank used for examinations to qualify radio amateurs. RAC provided a proposal and subsequently entered into a contract with Industry Canada in January 2013 to update the amateur radio question bank. RAQI was engaged by RAC to collaborate on the French language component of the contract.
The review team examined more than 3000 questions and 12000 answers used for the Basic and Advanced examinations in English and French and aimed for perfection in every one. Technical and linguistic accuracy were equally important in the review. Changes included correcting factual errors, replacing obsolete language and examples, making questions and answers clearer and ensuring that questions addressed current amateur radio practices and regulations. The team accomplished most changes through the editing of existing questions but also recommended that obsolete questions be deleted and new questions added. Comments from radio amateurs in response to the RAC bulletins on the question bank review aided the team in identifying where changes were needed.
On March 13, 2013, Radio Amateurs of Canada complete its work and delivered a comprehensive and detailed set of recommendations to Industry Canada.
Transition:
Now that Industry Canada has implemented the updated question banks, RAC will prepare information identifying where changes have been made to assist instructors in modifying their course materials and examiners in preparing for the change. As has been mentioned in previous bulletins, the curriculum has not been changed. The topics addressed in the exams and consequently in courses and educational material remain the same. The changed questions are clearer, more accurate, more understandable and more relevant to modern amateur radio.
Francophones should immediately see a significant improvement in the French language questions.
"RAC put a great deal of effort and expertise in working with IC to update the question banks and looks forward to competing for contracts on significant projects related to amateur radio if the opportunity presents itself in the future." stated Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, Vice-President and Regulatory Affairs Officer.
-----------------------------
Previous RAC Bulletins relevant to subject matter:
http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2013/16
http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2013/11
http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2013/8
http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2012/47
Contact information:
Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW, RAC President: ve4baw@rac.ca
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, RAC Vice-President and Regulatory Affairs Officer: ve3xra@rac.ca
RAC Communications (Vincent Charron, VA3GX): hq.communications@rac.ca
**-----**
Vernon Ikeda - VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor
2014-03-03
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and RFinder are excited to announce a
new business partnership agreement effective March 1st. RAC endorses
RFinder as the official Worldwide Repeater Directory for all Canadian
amateur radio operators.
The RFinder is a steadily growing worldwide repeater directory
including IRLP, Echolink, AllStar, DStar, MotoTRBO and even Winlink
information. RFinder currently have over 175 countries in the directory.
Access to the World Wide Repeater Directory is provided by any version
of the RFinder smartphone apps on Android, iPhone and iPad/iPod Touch.
The same user-id enables access from any version of the RFinder app,
the browser interface (web.rfinder.net), or through a growing list of
third-party memory programming applications such as RT Systems radio
programmers and CHIRP open source software. One subscription, access
to worldwide repeater data from any computing device on Windows,
Linux, OS X, web, Android iPhone and soon on Windows Phone!
Canadian hams purchasing the RFinder application will financially
benefit the Radio Amateurs of Canada through the terms of this new
agreement.
"Obviously, going forward, we encourage all Canadian Amateurs to
consider RFinder as their repeater directory provider. RAC staff and
volunteers will proactively work with RFinder on providing repeater
directory information updates for Canada as repeater directory
information is a constantly changing environment" notes Glenn
MacDonell, VE3XRA, RAC Vice-President.
"Our partnership with RAC and the Amateur Radio community in Canada is
a milestone in the development of RFinder - The World Wide Repeater
Directory. We offer the same agreement with Radio Amateur societies
world wide. This is a unique opportunity for each geography on Earth
to have their own branded Repeater Directory while giving their local
Hams access to repeaters all over the world, and financially
supporting the local Amateur Radio advocacy group. We will translate
to any language" says Bob Greenberg, W2CYK, creator of RFinder.
Canadian RFinder users will see a new graphic feature; the RAC logo
appearing on their app as well.
RAC is the voice of amateur radio for all Canadians and is also a
member society of the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union).
Contact information:
RAC: Vincent Charron, VA3GX/VE2HHH, Director Communications and
Fundraising - hq.communications@rac.ca
RFinder: Bob Greenberg, W2CYK, creator - w2cyk@rfinder.net
Vincent Charron, VA3GX/VE2HHH
Director of Communications and Fundraising – Radio Amateurs of Canada
- hq.communications@rac.ca
**-----**
Vernon Ikeda - VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Pointe-Claire, Québec
RAC Blog Editor/RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor
Gary Pearce KN4AQ shows what's involved in Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF)
ARDF - Amateur Radio Direction Finding - is the European style on-foot version of Fox Hunting. This program, from the ARVN vault, is the 2006 USA ARDF Championship that qualified hams for the world ARDF event that year. Don't worry about "2006," this isn't all about results. It's about the people, the techniques and the equipment involved in this fascinating aspect of ham radio.
Watch HamRadioNow Episode 134: ARDF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y-tLH0HzO8g
Previous editions: http://www.youtube.com/user/HamRadioNow/videos
The new UK amateur radio TV show TX-Factor clearly impressed Gary as he makes repeated mentions of it in the introduction to this video.
You can see what Gary was referring to by watching TX-Factor at: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/february/
tx_factor_ham_radio_show_released.htm
Chelmsford / Colchester ARDF: http://www.forjac.co.uk/df/df.htm
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and RFinder ( http://www.rfinder.net/blog/ ) are excited to announce a new business partnership agreement effective March 1st. RAC endorses RFinder as the official Worldwide Repeater Directory for all Canadian amateur radio operators.
The RFinder is a steadily growing worldwide repeater directory including IRLP, Echolink, AllStar, DStar, MotoTRBO, and even Winlink information. RFinder currently have over 175 countries in the directory.
Access to the World Wide Repeater Directory is provided by any version of the RFinder smartphone apps on Android, iPhone and iPad/iPod Touch. The same user-id enables access from any version of the RFinder app, the browser interface ( web.rfinder.net ), or through a growing list of third-party memory programming applications such as RT Systems radio programmers and CHIRP open source software. One subscription, access to worldwide repeater data from any computing device on Windows, Linux, OS X, web, Android iPhone and soon on Windows Phone!
Canadian hams purchasing the RFinder application will financially benefit the Radio Amateurs of Canada through the terms of this new agreement.
"Obviously, going forward, we encourage all Canadian Amateurs to consider RFinder as their repeater directory provider. RAC staff and volunteers will proactively work with RFinder on providing repeater directory information updates for Canada as repeater directory information is a constantly changing environment" notes Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, RAC Vice-President.
"Our partnership with RAC and the Amateur Radio community in Canada is a milestone in the development of RFinder - The World Wide Repeater Directory. We offer the same agreement with Radio Amateur societies world wide. This is a unique opportunity for each geography on Earth to have their own branded Repeater Directory while giving their local Hams access to repeaters all over the world, and financially supporting the local Amateur Radio advocacy group. We will translate to any language!" says Bob Greenberg, W2CYK, creator of RFinder.
Canadian RFinder users will see a new graphic feature; the RAC logo appearing on their app as well: https://www.rfinder.net/websearch.html
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