The following are selected excerpts from the RAC News pages 70cm Synthetic Aperture Radar still a threat (Jan 31, 2000)During the week of January 24th to 28th 2000, Ken Pulfer VE3PU representing the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), and Walt Ireland WB7CSL , representing the ARRL attended meetings of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) at Orlando in Florida to defend the 430 to 450 MHz band against a proposed allocation for Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR).A Synthetic Aperture Radar carried on a satellite bounces echoes off the earth to produce terrain maps useful in monitoring environmental problems. Most such radars operate in the 1200 MHz and the 5000 MHz frequency range, but there is a unique requirement for a new radar operating around 450 MHz. Radars at frequencies between 420 and 470 MHz can penetrate the forest canopy and return echoes from about a metre below the surface of the earth. They can therefore provide information about the soil moisture, and general health of tropical forests. Many countries, including several European countries and the USA have an interest in building and flying a 430 MHz SAR, but at present there is no international frequency allocation for such a purpose. Spaceborne SARs may use transmitter powers in the kilowatt range, and have antenna gains of about 30 dB, since they must hit the ground with a strong enough signal to produce an echo detectable back at the satellite. Ever since WRC 95, there have been proposals for a spaceborne radar allocation around 430 MHz, but the allocation has been opposed by the IARU because of possible interference to amateur radio, and by the US military, because they operate ground based radars in the same frequency range. The SAR proponents have the environmental movement and many third world countries on their side. Since WRC 97, VE3PU has been attending ITU study group meetings and presenting arguments showing that existing SAR designs, if flown, would cause severe interference to amateur radio, and in particular to Moon bounce and satellite operations. We can expect that this issue may surface again at WRC 2000, and at WRC 2003, so that continued vigilance is required.
Canadian preparations for WRC 2000 shift into high gear The Canadian Preparatory Committee, chaired by Bruce Gracie of Industry Canada in Ottawa, is entering the home stretch as Canadians assemble final proposals for the next World Radio Conference to be held in Istanbul in May, 2000. But preparing involves a lot more than just putting together the wish list. Canada must look at the proposals from other countries and other regions, and decide whether or not to support them, or to try to get them changed into proposals that we could support. RAC representatives are participating at all levels, to ensure that our interests and concerns are taken into account. For more details, visit the DARF web site at: http://www.igs.net/~darf/darfnews.htm
VE5AQ Honoured The Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Mr. Allan Davies, VE5AQ has been chosen as the 1998 recipient of the Hall of Fame Award. Mr. Davies will shortly be inducted into the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame as a Member. The Board and Executive of Radio Amateurs of Canada extend sincere congratulations to Mr. Davies on this auspicious occasion.
Industry Canada has requested that all amateurs check their information and report any errors or omissions to the Industry Canada Amateur Radio Service Centre at the phone numbers or addresses listed below. Clubs should verify the currency of the information for their club station sponsor and report any changes.
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