ve3ips

Markham Honda Indy Scanner Frequencies

Posted on 1 Day Ago by ve3ips

There may be some updates as late as Thursday night once Indy car updates any frequency or line up changes

Spotter Guide

INDYCAR Radio Image

INDYCAR Radio Frequency:

450.7500

Bust of Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2

#2 driver first name:Josef

#2 driver last name:Newgarden

#2 driver team:Team Penske

#2 radio frequency:(P) 464.9250 / (B) 469.6000

Driver of the #2 Josef Newgarden's Car Livery

Bust of Scott McLaughlin, driver of the #3

#3 driver first name:Scott

#3 driver last name:McLaughlin

#3 driver team:Team Penske

#3 radio frequency:(P) 466.8250 / (B) 464.6750

Driver of the #3 Scott McLaughlin's Car Livery

#4 driver first name:Caio

#4 driver last name:Collet

#4 driver team:A.J. Foyt Enterprises

#4 radio frequency:(P) 463.0125 / (B) 467.6875

Driver of the #4 Caio Collet's Car Livery

#5 driver first name:Pato

#5 driver last name:O’Ward

#5 driver team:Arrow McLaren

#5 radio frequency:(P) 460.5625 / (B) 469.4375

#6 driver first name:Nolan

#6 driver last name:Siegel

#6 driver team:Arrow McLaren

#6 radio frequency:(P) 460.6625 / (B) 463.8375

Driver of the #6 Nolan Siegel's Car Livery

Bust of Christian Lundgaard, driver of the #7

#7 driver first name:Christian

#7 driver last name:Lundgaard

#7 driver team:Arrow McLaren

Home Country Flag of Christian Lundgaard

#7 radio frequency:(P) 460.7625 / (B) 459.7750

Driver of the #7 Christian Lundgaard's Car Livery

Bust of Kyffin Simpson, driver of the #8

#8 driver first name:Kyffin

#8 driver last name:Simpson

#8 driver team:Chip Ganassi Racing

#8 radio frequency:(P) 457.0250 / (B) 461.1125

Driver of the #8 Kyffin Simpson's Car Livery

#9 driver first name:Scott

#9 driver last name:Dixon

#9 driver team:Chip Ganassi Racing

#9 radio frequency:(P) 456.6500 / (B) 461.1875

Driver of the #9 Scott Dixon's Car Livery

#10 driver first name:Alex

#10 driver last name:Palou

#10 driver team:Chip Ganassi Racing

#10 radio frequency:(P) 467.0375 / (B) 464.0375

Driver of the #10 Alex Palou's Car Livery

Bust of David Malukas, driver of the #12

#12 driver first name:David

#12 driver last name:Malukas

#12 driver team:Team Penske

#12 radio frequency:(P) 466.2125 / (B) 464.6000

Driver of the #12 David Malukas's Car Livery

Bust of Santino Ferrucci, driver of the #14

#14 driver first name:Santino

#14 driver last name:Ferrucci

#14 driver team:A.J. Foyt Enterprises

#14 radio frequency:(P) 467.0750 / (B) 458.9125

Driver of the #14 Santino Ferrucci's Car Livery

#15 driver first name:Graham

#15 driver last name:Rahal

#15 driver team:Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

#15 radio frequency:(P) 466.9125 / (B) 468.8875

Driver of the #15 Graham Rahal's Car Livery

Bust of Romain Grosjean, driver of the #18

#18 driver first name:Romain

#18 driver last name:Grosjean

#18 driver team:Dale Coyne Racing

#18 radio frequency:(P) 467.2000 / (B) 469.9375

Driver of the #18 Romain Grosjean's Car Livery

Bust of Dennis Hauger, driver of the #19

#19 driver first name:Dennis

#19 driver last name:Hauger

#19 driver team:Dale Coyne Racing

#19 radio frequency:(P) 463.6000 / (B) 464.9375

Driver of the #19 Dennis Hauger's Car Livery

Bust of Alexander Rossi, driver of the #20

#20 driver first name:Alexander

#20 driver last name:Rossi

#20 driver team:ECR

#20 radio frequency:(P) 457.6750 / (B) 459.1625

Driver of the #20 Alexander Rossi's Car Livery

Bust of Christian Rasmussen, driver of the #21

#21 driver first name:Christian

#21 driver last name:Rasmussen

#21 driver team:ECR

Home Country Flag of Christian Rasmussen

#21 radio frequency:(P) 469.9250 / (B) 465.9625

Driver of the #21 Christian Rasmussen's Car Livery

#26 driver first name:Will

#26 driver last name:Power

#26 driver team:Andretti Global

#26 radio frequency:(P) 464.3000 / (B) 463.2125

Driver of the #26 Will Power's Car Livery

Bust of Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27

#27 driver first name:Kyle

#27 driver last name:Kirkwood

#27 driver team:Andretti Global w/ Curb-Agajanian

#27 radio frequency:(P) 468.4875 / (B) 467.8875

Driver of the #27 Kyle Kirkwood's Car Livery

Bust of Marcus Ericsson, driver of the #28

#28 driver first name:Marcus

#28 driver last name:Ericsson

#28 driver team:Andretti Global

#28 radio frequency:(P) 469.3000 / (B) 469.7500

Driver of the #28 Marcus Ericsson's Car Livery

#45 driver first name:Louis

#45 driver last name:Foster

#45 driver team:Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

#45 radio frequency:(P) 466.3125 / (B) 467.8375

Driver of the #45 Louis Foster's Car Livery

Bust of Mick Schumacher, driver of the #47

#47 driver first name:Mick

#47 driver last name:Schumacher

#47 driver team:Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

#47 radio frequency:(P) 468.2625 / (B) 469.2625

Driver of the #47 Mick Schumacher's Car Livery

Bust of Felix Rosenqvist, driver of the #60

#60 driver first name:Felix

#60 driver last name:Rosenqvist

#60 driver team:Meyer Shank w/ Curb-Agajanian

#60 radio frequency:(P) 461.0750 / (B) 454.5000

Driver of the #60 Felix Rosenqvist's Car Livery

Bust of Marcus Armstrong, driver of the #66

#66 driver first name:Marcus

#66 driver last name:Armstrong

#66 driver team:Meyer Shank w/ Curb-Agajanian

#66 radio frequency:(P) 452.8000 / (B) 461.7250

Driver of the #66 Marcus Armstrong's Car Livery

#76 driver first name:Rinus

#76 driver last name:VeeKay

#76 driver team:Juncos Hollinger Racing

#76 radio frequency:(P) 458.1000 / (B) 468.0750

Driver of the #76 Rinus VeeKay's Car Livery

Bust of Sting Ray Robb, driver of the #77

#77 driver first name:Sting Ray

#77 driver last name:Robb

#77 driver team:Juncos Hollinger Racing

Toronto HF Band Conditions – Work DX but what band?

Posted on June 16 by ve3ips

Band-by-Band Outlook for Toronto

160m – 40m (The Low Bands)

Day: Heavy D-layer absorption remains normal. 40m is usable for regional NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) work, but long-distance paths are closed.
Night: Good. Because the Kp-index is sitting at 1, the noise floor on 40m and 80m will be beautifully low tonight. Expect crisp, clear domestic and cross-border regional contacts as soon as the sun goes down.

30m – 20m (The Workhorses)

Day/Night: Good. 20 meters is your definitive best bet for daylight DX right now. The F2 layer is stable enough to support consistent trans-Atlantic and domestic paths, and 30m CW/digital will stay alive well past local dusk.

17m – 15m (The Mid-High Bands)

Day: Fair. Paths will open sporadically throughout the afternoon, especially toward South America and the southern US, but don’t expect the wall-to-wall global openings we see when the SFI pushes past 180.

12m – 10m (The High Bands)

Day: Poor to Sporadic. With an SFI of 117, regular F2 DX on 10 meters is going to be quiet today. However, keep an eye out for Sporadic-E (Es) openings. Early summer is prime season for sudden, intense ionospheric clouds to form, which can randomly open 10m (and even 6m) for short-skip contacts up to 1,000 miles.

Summary Recommendation: If you are chasing DX , stick to 20 meters during the afternoon. If you are heading out for field operations or checking local nets, 40 meters will treat you well.

73s es Gud DX John VE3IPS

What is ARINC? – Collins Radio Services

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

What is ARINC?

ARINC (Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated) is a major provider of transport communications and systems engineering solutions for the aviation industry. In the context of daily flight operations, when pilots talk about “calling ARINC,” they are referring to the private global radio network operated by the company (now owned by Collins Aerospace).

ARINC radio operators act as data and voice relays between commercial or general aviation aircraft and ground entities—primarily Air Traffic Control (ATC) and airline Company Operations/Dispatch. They manage communications over vast oceanic or remote land areas where traditional line-of-sight radar and VHF radio coverage do not exist (such as the North Atlantic or Pacific oceanic routes).

What Frequencies Does It Use?

ARINC utilizes two distinct bands depending on the aircraft’s location: VHF for extended-range coastal/domestic coverage and HF for long-distance transoceanic flights.

1. Extended Range VHF

Used out to approximately 250 nautical miles off the coast or over remote land corridors (like parts of Mexico and northern Canada) at cruising altitudes:

Domestic/Coastal West Coast (SFO Radio): Primarily uses 131.95 MHz and 130.40 MHz.
East Coast & Caribbean (New York Radio): Primarily uses 129.90 MHz (Canadian Maritimes down to Virginia) and 130.70 MHz (Carolinas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Mexico).

2. High Frequency (HF)

For deep oceanic routes, transmissions switch to Single Sideband (USB) on specific frequency families. ARINC divides these based on geographic routing networks (MWARA – Major World Air Route Areas):

Region / System	Common Primary & Secondary Voice Frequencies (kHz)
North Atlantic (NAT Families)	3016, 5598, 6628, 8825, 8906, 11309, 13306, 17946
Caribbean / WATRS	2887, 3455, 5550, 6577, 8846, 11396
Pacific (Hawaii / Asia / South Pacific)	5547, 5574, 6532, 8843, 8867, 11282, 17904
Long Distance Operational Control (LDOC)	3494, 6640, 8933, 11342, 13330, 17925 (Dedicated phone patch/operational use)

📻 Note: ARINC also operates the HFDL (HF Data Link) network globally, transmitting automated aircraft tracking and ACARS text data over dedicated digital frequencies.

How is the Radio Process Followed?

Because HF radio is subject to severe atmospheric noise and propagation changes, strict radio discipline is followed using a structured process.

Step 1: Assignment & Check-in

Before an aircraft leaves VHF radar coverage and enters an oceanic zone (e.g., crossing the “coast out” point), ATC will instruct the crew to contact ARINC (“San Francisco Radio” or “New York Radio”) to pick up their HF assignments.

The crew calls ARINC on VHF or a primary HF channel, states their routing, destination, and gives their SELCAL (Selective Calling) code.
The ARINC radio operator (RO) assigns a Primary and Secondary HF frequency based on daylight conditions (higher frequencies like 11 MHz or 13 MHz for daytime; lower frequencies like 3 MHz or 5 MHz for nighttime).

Step 2: The SELCAL Check

To prevent pilots from listening to agonizing static for an 8-hour flight, the RO performs a SELCAL check:

The pilot requests: “New York, airline 123, request SELCAL check on ABCD.”
The pilots turn down their radio volume.
The RO sends a specific 4-letter audio tone combination via the transmitter.
An incoming chime sounds and a light flashes in the cockpit.
The pilot verifies: “New York, airline 123, SELCAL checks OK, monitoring primary on 8825.”

Step 3: Message Passing and Voice Relays

Because the air-ground channel is simplex (one way at a time), interruptions are impossible. Operators use standard aviation phraseology and clear prowords:

The Initial Call: Pilots must state the frequency they are calling on to help the operator identify which tower/antenna array to use: “San Francisco Radio, Airline 55 on 5574, position.”
Relaying: If a pilot gives a position report or requests an altitude change, the ARINC RO writes it down, relays it to ATC via an internal landline/data system, receives the clearance, and calls the aircraft back using SELCAL to pass the message. The words “OVER” or “GO AHEAD” are strictly used to hand the microphone back and forth.

How Often Do Planes Need a Phone Patch?

In modern aviation, the operational need for an HF or VHF voice phone patch is extremely rare—often cited by long-haul dispatchers as something they might handle only once every few years.

Why it has declined:

ACARS & CPDLC: Almost all routine operational control text messages, weather updates, and Air Traffic Control clearances are handled silently via data link systems.
SATCOM (Satellite Communications): Most modern widebody aircraft are equipped with satellite voice systems (SatVoice). If a pilot needs to call their maintenance desk or medical services (like MedLink), they simply use the cockpit SATCOM handset, which dials out like a standard digital telephone.

When it is still used:

A phone patch is requested only when an aircraft lacks SATCOM capability or the satellite system fails while flying out of VHF range. In those scenarios, a patch will be initiated for:

Medical Emergencies: Connecting the flight deck directly to a regional medical advisory center to determine if an immediate diversion is required.
Critical Mechanical Issues: Connecting the crew to airline dispatch and fleet engineering to troubleshoot a failing system before landing.

The Patch Process: If requested, the enroute ARINC operator will shift the aircraft to a dedicated LDOC frequency. The RO physically patches the radio audio line into a standard public telephone network trunk, dials the airline’s dispatch office, and facilitates a 3-way conversation. Because it remains a simplex radio network, both the ground party and the pilots must remember to say “Over” or wait patiently for the voice-activated relays to switch directions.

I was on a flight that needed Medical assistance and they got a Collins operator on the horn to make a phone patch.

John VE3IPS

An ARINC phone patch via International Air/Ground Voice Service (operated by Collins Aerospace) usually costs between $1.50 to $4.00 per minute, though actual rates vary based on your specific communications platform (VHF, or satellite links like Inmarsat or Iridium). Many business aviation operators pay for these voice/data packages through bundled, per-aircraft monthly flat fees rather than per-minute.

The exact cost of setting up these calls depends on a few specific variables:

Subscription Platform: ARINCDirect (part of Collins Aerospace) provides multiple Flight Support Services tiers depending on aircraft size and operational needs.
Third-Party Providers: SatVoice and direct-to-cockpit dialing are billed on a per-minute basis depending on which satellite communication (SATCOM) provider is onboard.
Direct Air-to-Ground: Flight crews requesting patchs on HF or VHF Voice Services from centers like New York or San Francisco Operating Procedures Handbook generally see those usage fees bundled into their operator contract, or passed along via standard telephone toll rates for third parties.

I listen to 8846 all the time when band conditions warrant it and yes interesting traffic at times

John VE3IPS

Join Us for FM Montano: Radio Communications in the Mountains

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

What has your RADIO CLUB DONE LATLEY BESIDES COMPLAINING ABOUT WHO BRINGS COOKIES OR MAKES COFFEE?

On Friday, May 22, 2026, the ARI Genoa Section opens its doors to members, enthusiasts, and curious young people to discover the secrets of mountain radio communications and the “FM Montano” project.

What happens when your smartphone loses signal just as you’re on a lonely trail? In an age dominated by hyper-connectivity, mountains often remind us that digital technology has its limits. And that’s where radio comes in: a fascinating, timeless, and, in many cases, vital tool.

The ARI (Italian Radio Amateurs Association), Genoa Section, invites all citizens, from expert radio amateurs to simple hikers, to a special meeting dedicated to safety and radio technical culture in rural and mountainous areas.

The event: “Communicating in the Mountains – FM MONTANO”

The meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, at 9:00 PM , at our headquarters ( Italian Radio Amateur Association, Genoa Section, Salita Carbonara 65b, 16125 Genoa) . Two exceptional speakers, Davide IZ1FUM and Giacomo IU1LBK , will take us on a technical and practical journey through the peaks.

The evening’s themes will touch on key points for anyone who frequents our hills:

Radio and Security: Technical and operational aspects for communicating effectively where the internet doesn’t reach.
Innovation and the Web: We will discover the “FM Montano” platform , analyzing direct experiences and field tests.
Legality and Ethics: An essential guide to permitted bands (PMR, CB, Amateur Radio) for navigating the airwaves in compliance with the rules and avoiding becoming “pirates.”

An invitation open to all (especially young people)

This evening isn’t a closed club for insiders. The ARI Genoa chapter wants to reach out to anyone with a radio in their backpack or drawer:

OM members who want to learn more about portable operating techniques.
PMR and CB users (hikers, scouts, mushroom hunters) who want to improve their skills.
Young people and students fascinated by technology and the resilience of independent communication systems.

Where and when

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM
Location: ARI Genova ODV Headquarters (Salita Carbonara 65b – 16125 Genoa)

Admission is free, subject to availability. Come and discover how a small radio can transform into an irreplaceable adventure companion. We look forward to seeing you for an evening of sharing, technique, and passion!

80M or 75M Phone Nets History in Toronto

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

Both the CJ (Chicken Junction) Net and the Sanderson Hour are legendary, long-running institutions on the 80-meter band (specifically the 75m phone section) with rich roots in Ontario amateur radio history.

Here is a breakdown of the history and backgrounds of both nets:

The CJ (Chicken Junction) Net

The Chicken Junction Net—often simply called the CJ Net—is one of Ontario’s oldest, most enduring evening traffic and ragchew nets.

Origins: The net dates all the way back to the 1960s (and likely earlier). In historical Ontario club newsletters from 1969, it was regularly highlighted alongside the Ontario Phone Net as a premier 75m checkpoint for passing traffic and checking local propagation.
The Frequency Dance: Over the decades, the net has shifted across the 75m phone band due to changing band conditions and interference. Historically, it logged time on 3.790 MHz and 3.775 MHz. In its modern iteration, it has established a home around 3.760 MHz.
The Name: The moniker “Chicken Junction” began as a tongue-in-face piece of classic ham humor, referring to a casual, bustling crossroads where operators gathered nightly to hatch up conversations, swap stories, and talk about everything under the sun.
Modern Day: The net still runs 7 nights a week at 8:00 PM Eastern (00:00 UTC). For a long stretch, controllers like Randy (VA3XV) out of Eastern Ontario have kept the tradition alive, keeping the frequency welcoming to anyone who can bounce a signal into the net control station.

The Sanderson Hour

The Sanderson Hour is a masterclass in how a casual group of friends can accidentally build an absolute fixture of Canadian HF radio history.

The Late 1960s “Hunt”: The net began organically in the late 1960s or very early 1970s. A group of friends would gather nightly on either 40m or 75m. In those early days, there was no fixed frequency; operators had to hunt across the dial every single night just to find where the group had landed.
Claiming 3.762.5 kHz: Tired of playing hide-and-seek on the airwaves, Bill Atcheson (VE3AUJ) suggested that he spin the dial early, park on a clear frequency, and hold the spot for the evening group. They landed on 3.762.5 kHz, and it remained anchored right there at 9:00 PM Eastern every single night.
The Namesake: The original net founder and regular chairman was A.H. “Sandy” Sanderson (VE3AHW). When Sandy passed away on February 18, 1988, Bill (VE3AUJ) polled the regular roundtable to see if they should keep the nightly tradition going. Not only did they want to keep it alive, but Fred Warburton (VE3KU) suggested they officially christen it “The Sanderson Hour” in Sandy’s honor.
The Crew: For decades, the net was a stable of iconic Ontario signals, featuring legendary names and callsigns like Fred Hammond (VE3HC of Hammond Manufacturing fame), Bill Atcheson (VE3AUJ), Ralph Cameron (VE3BBM), and Paul Cassel (VE3SY). The net traditionally focused on lighthearted check-ins, technical troubleshooting, and as the old-timers used to put it, “solving the problems of the world.”

Both of these nets represent the classic golden era of 80m/75m regional roundtables—where an antenna cut for the band and a bit of evening NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation was all you needed to feel connected to the local amateur community.

John VE3IPS I miss the old days!

Help we are Broke – Wanna buy some scrap metal? Canada’s Soft Power icon comes to an end in order to save money to buy Submarines. Bye Bye Snowbirds Hello Frequency List!

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

Canada’s iconic Snowbirds aerobatic team is not immediately cancelled, but they will be grounded for several years following the conclusion of their 2026 flying season. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is permanently retiring its aging fleet of 1960s-era CT-114 Tutor jets due to mounting safety and maintenance concerns.

The Canadian Department of National Defence confirmed that the iconic nine-plane formation will be put on a multi-year pause. The Snowbirds will not perform again until new, modern replacement aircraft (the CT-157 Siskin II) are procured, which officials estimate could take until the early 2030s.

We have a $90 Billion NATO budget that well has not been spent yet. Its a great MOU promise but it really hurts Canada’s Soft Power. Italy has taken citizen pride with the expansion of their Air Show team “Frecce Tricolore” with great press and social media presence that is positive.

Canadian airshow frequencies vary by performer, but the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Snowbirds primary frequency is 272.100 MHz, while the CF-18 Hornet Demo Team primarily operates on 333.300 MHz and 366.700 MHz.

Common frequencies used across Canadian airshows include:

RCAF Snowbirds (431 Air Demonstration Squadron)

Primary / Show Frequency: 272.100 MHz (AM)
Air-to-Air / Solos: 116.000 MHz & 117.000 MHz (AM)
Comm Check / Inbound: 243.450 MHz [1, 2, 3]

RCAF CF-18 Hornet Demo Team

Primary / Air-to-Air: 333.300 MHz (AM)
Alternate / Practice: 366.700 MHz (AM)
Ground / Operations: 323.300 MHz [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Air Show Control & Airspace Management

Show Radar / Boss Control: 118.000 MHz (VHF)
Public Address Link: 123.600 MHz (VHF) or 303.800 MHz (UHF)
Air Show Hold: 123.100 MHz (VHF) [, 2]

Note: All frequencies utilize AM (Amplitude Modulation) and are typically scanned together on aviation-band radios for best coverage.

Locking in the local infrastructure frequencies gives you the full picture of the show choreography. At massive events like the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS) in Toronto and the Abbotsford International Airshow in BC, the “Airboss” coordinates the highly restricted airspace, manages the tight timing windows between acts, and handles emergency standbys.

The local frequencies to plug into your scanner banks for those specific shows are formatted below.

1. Toronto CIAS (Canadian International Air Show)

Because the CIAS takes place over the waterfront at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), the aircraft operate inside a specialized “show box” over Lake Ontario, usually staging out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (CYTZ) or Pearson International (CYYZ).

CIAS Airshow Infrastructure Frequencies

119.200 MHz (AM): Airboss Primary (“Boss Control”) – The central frequency for the entire event. Every performer must check in here before entering the show box.
118.000 MHz (AM): Show Radar / Discrete Coordination – Used by the secondary controllers to track inbound high-performance jets and manage the hand-offs.
123.100 MHz & 123.300 MHz (AM): Air Show Hold – The “holding pens” where aircraft circle over the lake out of sight while waiting for their exact performance window.
123.600 MHz (AM): Discrete Ground / PA Simulcast – Used for ground crew coordination and tracking sync issues with the ground-based PA announcements.

CYTZ (Billy Bishop Island Airport) Tower & Control

Since many of the support planes and some performers use the Island Airport, these are essential for monitoring arrivals and departures:

118.200 MHz (AM): Toronto Island Tower (Primary)
118.350 MHz / 118.700 MHz (AM): Tower South / Tower North
121.700 MHz (AM): Ground Control

2. Abbotsford International Airshow (CYXX)

As Canada’s largest airshow, Abbotsford operates out of its own international airport, meaning regular commercial traffic (like WestJet) and fire-retardant air tankers often weave between the performers.

Abbotsford Airshow Infrastructure Frequencies

120.000 MHz (AM): Airshow Discrete / Airboss – Dedicated show-box control channel for coordinating the active performance area.
119.150 MHz (AM): Performance Discreet / Simulcast – Frequently used to feed cockpit audio from high-performance single-ship acts (like the CF-18 Demonstration Team or visiting USAF tactical teams) straight to the ground spectators.
333.300 MHz (UHF): CF-18 Tactical Air-to-Air – Keep this programmed during the Abbotsford weekend; the Canadian Hornet demo pilots heavily favor 333.3 AM for their inner-flight checks and arrival coordination.

CYXX (Abbotsford Airport) Active Air Traffic Control

119.400 MHz (AM): Abbotsford Tower (Inner Control – Primary for active runway space)
121.000 MHz (AM): Abbotsford Tower (Outer Control)
121.800 MHz (AM): Ground Control
295.000 MHz (UHF): Military/Tower UHF link
119.800 MHz (AM): ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service – essential for tracking local weather and active runway changes)

Pro-Tip for the Field: If you use a scanner with a “Close Call” or “Signal Stalker” RF capture feature, leave it running in the background. Teams like the USAF F-22 or F-35 demonstration wings frequently pull fresh, unpublicized tactical frequencies out of their flight manuals depending on local coordination limits.

Canadian CHU Economics and savings will be used for buying submarines

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

The benefit of CHU is propagation study, frequency accuracy, time signals and well Canada’s Soft Power out to the world.

The permanent shutdown of Canada’s iconic shortwave time signal station, CHU, on June 22, 2026, represents the end of a century-old broadcasting legacy.

While the National Research Council (NRC) has not publicly itemized a standalone dollar figure for operating the 3330 kHz, 7850 kHz, and 14670 kHz transmitters, the financial realities behind the decision fall into a few distinct categories.

1. Macro-Level Cost Reductions at the NRC

The decision to silence CHU lines up directly with broader, multi-year spending cuts mandated by the Canadian federal government.

According to the NRC’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan, the research council is implementing a strategy to cut spending by roughly $95 million for the current fiscal year, a number that escalates to a $190 million reduction in annual expenditures by 2028–29.
Eliminating older, specialized legacy infrastructure like shortwave transmitters is a direct casualty of this operational spending freeze.

2. Estimated Operational Savings

Engineers and radio community analysts point out that while CHU’s operational cost is essentially “a rounding error” in a multi-billion dollar national scientific budget, the ongoing maintenance of the physical site in Southwest Ottawa is not free. Conservative industry estimates place the immediate operational savings at roughly $250,000 to $500,000 CAD annually. This includes:

Electricity/Utilities: Driving continuous RF power (3 kW on the lower/upper bands and 5 kW on the 7.85 MHz frequency) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, requires a massive baseline power draw. Older transmitter designs are notoriously inefficient—often pulling double their rated output power from the grid.
Component Maintenance: Sourcing specialized parts, high-power vacuum tubes, and maintaining the antenna arrays and feed lines at the site requires niche technical upkeep.
Personnel & Logistics: While automated, the physical plant still demands engineering hours, security, inspections, and administrative overhead.

3. High Efficiency of Retained Infrastructure

Importantly, the shutdown does not mean the NRC is getting rid of its atomic clocks or stopping its timekeeping duties. The fundamental core expense—maintaining the primary cesium clocks and the ensemble at the time laboratory—remains unchanged because the NRC is legally mandated to maintain official Coordinated Universal Time for Canada (UTC(NRC)).

Instead, the cost savings come from abandoning the expensive delivery mechanism (high-power shortwave radio) in favor of near-zero-marginal-cost digital delivery paths that the NRC already operates:

Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers for internet synchronization.
The NRC web clock.
The telephone talking clock.

The Community Perspective

For the scientific and amateur radio communities, the cost savings are widely viewed as marginal compared to the lost utility. Organizations like HamSCI have fought the shutdown, emphasizing that CHU’s stable, continuous carriers served as an invaluable, free “meta-instrument” for citizen scientists analyzing the ionosphere, space weather, and auroral propagation—a nationwide scientific utility that half a million dollars of annual budget savings will be hard-pressed to replace.

Thanks to HamSCI (an american group) protesting since we haven’t seen anything coming from the government funded Radio Amateurs of Canada with any seriousness.

In fact, many local nets do not discuss CHU or our Weather Radio service being shut down except a Sorry Guys and limited interest from the ham radio clubs.

John VE3IPS

We will rely on the Internet until someone pulls the plug on it and puts its citizens in a no-internet world like they do in other non-democratic countries.

I am starting to understand why many see a broken Canada that is on its way to socialism, a version that many Canadians wish to live in. The Universal Income Benefit will feed you when AI owns your job or the country. You will own nothing and be happy!

Remember the Green frequencies:

Posted on June 10 by ve3ips

As Ten , and Six, meters have been opening up, remember the Green frequencies:

29.4FM and 51.0FM.

Monitor them. Give a call when the bands are open.

Dennis Starks
Military-Radio-Guy

KBØSFP

Dont Forget the California Highway Patrol on Low Band VHF. These are my favorites:

42.080

WNUH521

103.5 PL

AMB2 GAT B

Amber 2 – Base – Redwood City (91)

42.440

WNVK355

131.8 PL

PNK GAT B

Pink – Base – San Francisco (32)

Law Dispatch

John VE3IPS

The Art of Local Sourcing: A Portable Operator’s Secret Weapon

Posted on June 8 by ve3ips

There is a distinct satisfaction in landing in a new city, hitting a local shop, and rigging up a functional HF station for less than the price of a panini. For the traveling radio operator, this kind of “local sourcing” is a legitimate secret weapon.

Take my recent operation in Venice. My 4-foot telescoping whip was proving to be a noisy nightmare in the city, so I needed to adapt quickly. A 20-meter loop or a rooftop dipole off the apartment patio seemed like the best play. I took the Vaporetto three stops to a hole-in-the-wall hardware store—the kind of place that looked like it had been selling nails since the 1600s. I walked out with a roll of wire, some bamboo poles, and a roll of duct tape, aiming to fashion an impromptu inverted vee.

While many operators stress over packing high-end resonant dipoles or heavy telescoping verticals, buying a simple spool of DC cable or “zip-cord” speaker wire locally solves two massive headaches: TSA security interrogation and strict luggage weight limits.

Navigating the European Carry-On Squeeze

Let’s be honest: airlines like SwissAir have adopted some seriously disturbing carry-on allowances for inter-EU travel. They’re basically Ryanair in a nicer uniform. Knowing this ahead of time for a SWISS flight from Venice to Zurich, I had to get creative to avoid their cash-grab baggage fees.

On these routes, the rules are strictly enforced:

Standard Carry-on: Max 55 x 40 x 23 cm (must fit overhead).
Weight Limit: A razor-thin 8 kg (17.6 lbs).

To beat the scale, I literally wore my station. I wore my heavy Blundstone boots and a thick jacket, stuffed my FT-817 and its battery into my pockets, and crammed my tech vest with my camera and iPad just to keep my main bag under the limit.

Pro-Tip: If you are traveling with a transceiver or sensitive components, always keep them in your smaller personal item (like a laptop bag). That bag is guaranteed to stay under the seat with you. The larger overhead carry-on can easily get gate-checked into the cargo hold if the flight is packed.

Tactical Substitutes

By sourcing your 40m dipole materials on-site, you save yourself the hassle of explaining 66 feet of “suspicious” copper wire to a skeptical airport security agent. The same logic applies to grounding. A cheap kitchen knife or a tent peg from a local bodega makes a brilliant tactical substitute for a dedicated ground spike—and you can easily discard or donate it before your return flight.

This isn’t a new strategy for me. Years ago, on a SOTA activation in California, I snagged a $5 camera tripod at a local thrift store and lashed some discarded curtain rods to it to create a makeshift mast. This was long before the SOTABEAMS tactical poles existed, but it gave me exactly what I needed to hoist a NorCal Doublet and get on the air.

Pack light, buy local, and stay adaptable.

73, John, VE3IPS

Just grab a battery, your radio and antenna and go hit the field and try some radio fun

Remember, the Gabil 7350TC is a great “vest pocket” antenna that does wonders when clamped to a guard rail with a JAWS clamp

Dayton Hamvention Cold War Net 2026

Posted on May 20 by ve3ips

The Cold War Net (51.00 MHz FM) took place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, as part of the annual military radio net operations running concurrently with the Dayton Hamvention weekend in Xenia, Ohio.

Because this is an on-site, tactical green-radio event where operators carry period-correct manpacks and handhelds (like the PRC-6, PRC-25, PRC-77, and RT-70) around the flea market and fairgrounds, there isn’t a formal, pre-published master log of every individual portable check-in station.

However, the core operations and Net Control setup for that specific Saturday session included:

Net Control Stations (NCS)

WD8DAS & KA8TUR – Served as the primary Net Control operators managing the traffic and logging the plethora of wideband FM vintage military stations.

Primary Operating Pavilion / Staging Area

MMRCG (Midwest Military Radio Collectors Group) Pavilion – Located at spaces 7740 through 7743. This served as the primary anchor point and high-power base staging area for the Saturday military nets.

Expected / Regular Participating Check-In Stations

While dozens of field stations checked in using period-correct gear (including Czech RF-10s, German, and vintage Soviet tactical sets), regular active participants and operators associated with this specific Net run include:

N8HQY – Frequently checks into this specific 51 MHz FM net utilizing a period-correct military surplus PRT-4A / PRR-9 squad radio set.
K4CHE – A regular fixture in the military radio community known for checking into the Cold War net with an authentic, period-correct PRC-6.

The net traditionally kicks off at 1400 local time (EDT) on 51.00 MHz wideband FM (using the standard 150 Hz military tone), often running well over its scheduled hour due to the high volume of tactical military check-ins across the grounds.

Big Thanks to Jim and Steve keeping it fun and interesting

To all 51.0 MHz Net Participants and interested others:

We were pleased to be able avoid passing rain showers this last Saturday and have the MMRCG 51.0 MHz Cold War FM Radio Net at the Dayton Hamvention.

The purpose of this net was to communicate using Cold War era, meaning the period from the late 1940s through the 1980s, Military Low band FM Radios including both US and non-US sets. Operators with other compatible radios also joined.

There were 33 Stations that Checked In and lots of good information exchanged! Your Net Control Operators, including myself and Steve (WD8DAS) did our best to elicit and record pertinent information.

Many thanks to all who participated!

Jim

KA8TUR

Here is the data from the Dayton 51 MHz Cold War Net ham log converted into a clean, organized table:

51.0 MHz Cold War Net Log — May 16, 2026

**Net Control Operators:** Jim Karlow (Net Call Up) & Steve Johnston WD8DAS (Information Exchange)

| **9** | KB9BVO | Vic | Indianapolis, In | PRC-25 |

| **13** | KX9U |

| **18** | N30C | Brian | Brookville, MD | PRC-77 |

| **21** | K4IC | Mike | Monroe, NC | PRC-126 |

| **31** | N3XOD | Bob | Norristown, PA | PRC-126 |

Key Observations & Radio Trends from the Net:

The PRT-4 / PRR-9 Squad: This classic Cold War squad radio set was easily the most popular rig of the day, making up nearly a quarter of the check-ins.

Surplus Variety: Great to see a solid mix of classic green radios, from heavy-duty tactical manpacks like the PRC-25/77 and SEM-35, down to neat tactical man packs like the Czech RF-10 and German SEM52S.

Heavy Iron Long Distance: Incredible international and domestic representation on the log, proving people are still more than willing to haul some seriously cool (and heavy!) vintage gear out to Xenia.

Sasi brought his PRC-150 with him from India (I hope in carry-on) for the DX award and the Cold war radio award goes to Ray for the R107 which sounded very good

73s John VE3IPS QRP+