OUR 90th YEAR!
As one of our efforts to commemorate this special year, KWARC members will be using the Special Events call sign VC390IC during the period of June 18 to July2, 2012. Industry Canada, with overall responsibility for radio communications policy and practices, grants these special call signs to amateur operators in a geographical area to recognize significant events.
During our annual Field Day exercise, in addition to the call sign, we will be using both vintage and modern receivers and transmitters both to practice operating in “emergency” conditions, as well as compete with other amateur operators across North America as a measure of our operating efficiency and proficiency. This emergency preparedness exercise has been held across the continent since 1933.
Amateur radio operators, besides partaking in a fun and challenging pastime, also serve the community in times of need. In the past, KWARC has provided radio communication services for local events, and continues to be part of the emergency planning and training programs conducted in the City of Kitchener, and in the Region of Waterloo.
You may find more about the club and its history by following the links at the top of this page. For more information on Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) see ARES on Wikipedia and ARES on RAC's site. Information on amateur radio and Environment Canada’s CANWARN program can be found on Environment Canada's CANWARN page.
Most QSL cards resemble a “post card”, and serve to confirm a two way communication between two operators. This appears to have begun in 1916 in the US, and then reappeared there again in 1919. The first such card mailed in Britain was in 1922.
Each QSL card becomes an operator’s calling card, and as such can be both functional, (giving the details of the contact such as date, time, frequency and mode, and specific details or comments), and fanciful, with photos or artwork that can characterize the operator or the locale. Collecting QSL cards is just another aspect of hobby of amateur radio.
