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Radio Canada DX Group Web Site

Welcome to the new collaborative web site for the Radio Canada DX Group.
It is powered by MediaWiki - a powerful Open Source community project served on Fedora Linux.

The "Radio Canada DX Group" is a non-profit, 11-meter SSB (Single Side Band), Citizens Band Radio Group, established in 1969.

• It replaced "Radio Free Canada" which was adopted in Saskatchewan sometime in the middle 60's.
• Our Group is open to all Canadians and we take great pride in representing our country to the rest of the World.
• Our aim is to promote a degree of professionalism in the Canadian "Theatre of Radio Operations" and to unite the collective voice of Canadians.
• Our Group enjoys a worldwide reputation of first class Radio Operation.

Our new Guestbook is now open!

ATTENTION! The National Roster for the Radio Canada DX Group is once again open due to popular demand.

• • We will posting an updated current roster for each province.
  • If you are looking for a RCDX Group number please contact Doug (RC02)
    

Alternate Group Frequency

• • If DX is heavy members are encouraged to monitor CH35 LSB (27.355mhz) instead of the usual CH38 LSB (27.385mhz).
  • If DX is heavy during a Sunday night checkin we will move the net to Ch35 LSB (27.355mhz).
  • Scheduled time for the checkin will remain the same (7:55pm CDT to 10:05pm CDT)

New Stuff
Updated January 8th, 2011

The Group is doing installations for mobile setups by appointment (contact Doug ).

• • Several members donate their time to perform the installs. You provide lunch and coffee (lots of coffee!).

DX is still coming in strong! Keep checking the band for opening even late in the late evening.

December 18th, 2011 - Radio Canada Christmas Cheer Board hamper delivery went well today.

• • Doug did an excellent job of putting together hampers with a wide assortment of foods and baking supplies.
  • Thank-you Doug and thanks to Rob RC283, Diane RC282, Glen RC333 and Ross RC4455 for delivery assistance.

Check-ins have resumed for Fall 2011 every Sunday ch 38 7:55-10:05PM CDT

• • We remind anyone who is interested in CB radio we are here to help with installation of a radio and antenna whether mobile or base. It a lot of fun!

DX is coming in HEAVY from around the world!

• • With Solar Flux hitting 140-150 range South Pacific stations from Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand are easily worked.
  • Keep tuned for band openings during the morning Grayline to Europe, Noon for South America and Grayline openings to the South West.

NOTE March 19th Breakfast meeting location changed to Johnny's Marion Restaurant.

• • See Current Events for details and map.

Ontario Roster actively adding new members

• • We've had a number of requests for Radio Canada membership numbers from Ontario.
  • We opened the Ontario roster and have been actively recruiting there.
  • The active Ontario roster is now online.

Check out CB Radio Magazine online

• • They've got a ton of new reviews and articles all about CB radios, CB antennas, related CB equipment

Humour In the episode of the famous TV comedy series (in the UK) "Hancock's Half Hour" called "The Radio Ham", Tony Hancock says:

• "It's a wonderful hobby. I have friends all over the world. None in this country, but all over the world!" quoted from here

Cool Science - February 6th, 2011

• • marks the first time in human history the entire surface of the Sun is now visible in real-time thanks to STEREO
• The Propagation page now has 4 auto-updating views of the Sun
  • Two views of the surface and two of the corona taken by each of the two STEREO satellites.
  • Use these images to keep visual track of the Sun's activities (and the effect on DX propagation).

Previous Postings

Check out review of NEW Magnum 257HP radio

Winter Bunny Hunt! Scheduled from February 26th, 2011

• • Starting 8:30PM at St. Vital Mall between The Bay and London Drug.
  • A Bunny hunt (or Fox hunt) is a fun game of "Marco Polo" using the radio.
  • If you've never tried it or haven't in years come out and enjoy the fun!
  • There are plenty of coffee breaks and socializing too!

2010/2011 Christmas Cheer Board hamper list is posted and updated as we get donations. Radio Canada DX Group Annual Dinner December 11 at Aalto's dinner room. 7pm - 9:30pm BUFFET closes at 8 sharp! Menu service is always available. Posted latest roster October 24, 2010 - Welcome all new members

Bunny Hunt June 12th, 9pm St. Vital Center near London Drugs!

• • Same format as previous bunny hunts. All Welcome - need only a working AM CB radio to participate. We'll gather at St Vital at 9PM - new grid will be picked.

NOTE TO MEMBERS - there will be no checkin on Easter Sunday April 4th, 2010

• • Regular checkins will resume the following Sunday.

Saturday of March 13th, 2010

• • Another fun night of bunny hunting with 8 teams participating. Major fog rolled in during the event adding another level of difficulty and fun. Radio conditions were also quite unpredictable for all teams making for some interesting hunts. Lots of fun! Be sure to catch the next one.

UPDATED MEMBER ROSTER posted

• • Welcome all new members to the Group. For a complete up-to-date list of members with their callsigns check out the ROSTER
    

UPDATED Christmas Cheer Board hamper list posted.

• • If you are interested in helping with delivery please advise ASAP. Delivery is scheduled for Dec.20th
    
    
  • The first Bunny/fox hunt held in recent memory on October 10, 2009 was a great success. Thanks to Rob RC283 for organizing the event.
    
  • 8 Teams started the first hunt covering a grid bordered by the Red River, the south and east perimeter and Marion street.
  • Hunting went until after 1am.
  • Tons of fun! If you're interested in taking part in the next hunt check the Current Events page for the schedule.
• There will be no Check-in October 11th, 2009 due to Thanksgiving. Check-ins will resume the following Sunday.
• DX has been active almost daily for weeks now. Mostly short skip to the U.S. mainland states. Some rarer stations are starting to be heard. Good hunting!
• Starting May 11th,2009 11 Meters Radio will be open extended hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays til 10pm
• Some DX activity lately. Still waiting for Sunspot Cycle 24 to get going...
• Our 500th consecutive check-in!!! Congratulations to all Radio Canada members who made this possible!
• Added a new link on the sidebar for the Check In co-ordinator schedule. If you would like to participate as a co-ordinator for a Check In please contact Doug. And you don't have to have a "big station" either!
• For those of you who may be interested in field operations from time to time check out videos on www.youtube.com by "goathiker". Very entertaining and well shot look at portable DX operations by a man, his pack goats and some friends.

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Radio Group Related

Message from Doug RC02 for January 2009

SUPPORTERS OF THE RADIO CANADA DX GROUP OF MANITOBA DONATIONS TO HELP RUN THE CLUB. WE DO NEED FINANCES TO RUN THE CLUB ALL YEAR. ALL DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED.

• DOUG RC 0002
• IRWIN D RC 0763
• VINCE M RC 0227
• LARRY RC 0648

WE HAD 30 PEOPLE AT THE SUPPER ON DEC 13, 23 MEMBERS & 1 RCKC MEMBERS & 6 GUESTS. I AM SORRY THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE WERE NOT. YOU MISSED A LOT OF FUN. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS WHO SOLD / BOUGHT TICKETS & DID THE DELIVERIES. IT WAS A LOT EASIER ON ME THIS YEAR. THE FAMILIES WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR HAMPERS & EVEN SURPRISED WITH THE AMOUNT IN THE HAMPERS & # OF PEOPLE DELIVERING THEM.

Reminder to All Radio Canada Members!

• Check-ins are scheduled every Sunday 7:55PM-10:05PM on ch 38 LSB
  
• Christmas Cheer Board Raffle Tickets are now available
  • We need as many members as possible to sell raffle tickets.
    We sold-out last year and would like to repeat that success again this year. Please contact Doug for information

---

• Solar Cycle 24 is still sleeping. Solar activity has been very quiet and last week an old Cycle 23 sunspot briefly appeared and quickly faded out.
• An updated Solar Cycle prediction for Cycle 24 has been posted by NASA. Sadly the next cycle is expected to be below previous predictions and remain fairly inactive for most of 2009. Look for Sporadic-E openings along the grayline especially around the Spring Equinox in March.
• A handy coax loss calculator from Times Microwave
• January 5th, 2009 - WoW! DX started rolling just after midnight CDT from out of nowhere. Within 10 minutes it was a full channel pileup from Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan and elsewhere. At 1:34AM it was still coming in S9.
• Propagation Service center for 11M - a website dedicated to propagation information for the 11m DX'er
• Welcome to our newest members!
  • DAVE S - RADIO CANADA 8270
  • ANDY M - RADIO CANADA 7874
  • VERA K - RADIO CANADA 1960
• Christmas Message from Doug Radio Canada 02 - here
• DX rolling today</font> - Short hop DX is coming in today. Heavy QSB at times. Eastern Canada, Maryland, and Illinois heard so far.
• CB radio microphone wiring pin-outs - website listing many common CB and Export radio microphone pin-outs
  
• CB Radio Magazine Featured Article - cbradiomagazine.com is a website dedicated to the 11m CB/DX enthusiast.
  • It features many great articles and how-to's with lots of photos. To highlight this interesting resource we'll be featuring a sample of articles.
  • This week check out "How to Mount a CB in a Vehicle" here

• The K7RA Solar Update - From the Arrl.org website...
  • The latest Solar Report indicates increasing solar activity which is welcome news for DX'ers. The whole article can be read here

• Navigation Changes - The location of some pages has changed in order to improve site navigation. The goal is provide related information on the same page.
  • All radio propagation related information which is useful when one is DX'ing is now contained on the propagation page and linked on the navigation sidebar.
  • General radio information such as related websites and articles are located on the General radio information page and linked on the navigation sidebar.
  • The current Manitoba Member roster is now linked off the Quick Links sidebar. With more and more new members joining the group it's a quick and handy reference tool.

• 

  
  Bluetooth Hands-Free Device for the Car - The Manitoba Government as with many jurisdictions is considering banning cell phone use in vehicle without a hands-free unit. This poses a potential issue for mobile 2-way radio use but for a small simple and portable hands free unit for cellular phone use check out the Tritton VX Visor. It links to any BlueTooth capable phone. It has two built-in microphones, one unidirectional and the other omnidirectional. The unit automatically can switch between modes and can detect vehicle movement to automatically connect with your cell phone.A unique feature is a built-in OLED screen to provide CallerID and other information.
  
  
• Check out the Discussion forum.
• November 3rd, 2008
  • Just when you thought it was not possible to have any DX at the Solar minimum last night Michigan and Ohio were coming in 5 by 7 with some fading (QSB) around 9pm. Wonders never cease with HF.
• November 2nd, 2008
  • Not much DX happening in the last while. Solar Cycle 24 has started but is very slow to get going. Hopefully the winter solstice will bring it's usual increase in DX.
• September 3rd, 2008
  • The latest Member Roster has been posted
• June 5th, 2008
  • Added an 11m DX cluster spot to the Propagation section. Useful for overseas DX opportunities.
  • Added link to the QRZ11m.net 11m callsign database.
• May 25th, 2008
  • More DX coming in over the past few days. Lots of short skip conditions to the U.S.
• May 19th, 2008
  • DX coming in form the southern U.S. and the west coast of Canada this weekend.
  • Good to hear from our Radio Canada chapters on the west coast again.
• Last check-in of the 2007/2008 season will be held on May 25th
  • Check-ins will resume September 7th, 2008 for the 2008/2009 fall/winter season
  • Regular monthly breakfast and supper meetings will continue as usual. Please check the current events page for details.
• April 12th, 2008
  • Welcome Todd G from Winnipeg - another new member of the Radio Canada Group. Todd is callsign Radio Canada 427
• March 25, 2008
  • Welcome! Tony N from Winnipeg - our newest member Radio Canada 959
• March 16, 2008
  • For those who drive pickup truck, vans or other large vehicles, RC64 Rob operates Xtra-Mile Truck Wash in Headingley (5540 Portage Avenue, R4H 1E8, 204-831-1083) cleverly hidden behind the Co-op formerly Big Sky Truck Stop.
• March 16, 2008
  • Starting with tonight's check-in we're rotating members to help with the Sunday Check-in nets. This gives others Radio Canada members a chance to help out and give them input into the group on the air. Wayne and Doug's tireless efforts over the past many years are greatly appreciated. The Manitoba Chapter of the Radio Canada DX Group has been continuously active for decades thanks in large part to their efforts and others in the group. Thanks again.
• January 19th, 2008
  • Tony the tailor will be at the breakfast measuring interested people for jackets and taking deposits
    • Tony's shop is Honesty Sportswear at 822 Main Street. Tel 582-8831
• January 13th, 2008
  • Welcome to our newest member Duane F. from Transcona. His callsign is Radio Canada 296.
• December 15/16th 2007
  • DX opening were stronger over the past two days than they have been for quite some time. Openings to the Rockies and Eastern Canada were usable for a couple of hours around midday. Perhaps the next Solar Cycle has finally started...
• December 15, 2007
  • Annual Radio Canada Christmas Dinner was held at Alto's dining room and attended by 41 members. Thanks to all those who participated. The raffle draw was held and a winner picked. Doug (RC02) will be contacting the winner.
• November 18, 2007
  • Ross (RC4455) - I got an email from Dxzone.com this morning after months of (unsuccessfully) trying to contact them, to add a link on their CB radio organizations page. I gave up and hadn't thought about it for a couple of months and then an email from them appears. Miracle! Anyway I'm putting the reciprocal link back on the main page.
• Christmas Cheer Board 2007/2008
  • Message from Doug -- It WAS DECIDED @ THE RADIO CANADA SUPPER ON OCTOBER 20 THAT WE WOULD DO ANOTHER XMAS CHEERBOARD DRAW & DO 3 HAMPERS AGAIN THIS YEAR. TICKETS ARE 3 / $ 5.00 WITH THE PRIZES BEING A $ 250 MEAT ORDER OR $ 250 FISHING GEAR OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH OR A MOBILE SSB RADIO. DRAW DATE IS DEC 15 @ THE XMAS SUPPER. WE WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTING EITHER CASH OR FOOD DONATIONS. IF YOU CAN HELP US WE APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SELL TICKETS CALL ME OR DROP BY & PICK SOME UP. IF YOU WANT TO DONATE FOOD OR CASH WE WILL GLADLY ACCEPT IT.

• RADIO CANADA DX GROUP JACKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. HURRY! THERE IS A $30 DISCOUNT UP UNTIL DECEMBER 1ST, 2007.
  • Please contact Doug for details
  • Tony the tailor will be at the supper on October 20th measuring interested people for jackets
    • Tony's shop is Honesty Sportswear at 822 Main Street. Tel 582-8831
  • Update! Tony will also be at the RCDX Breakfast on November 17th, 2007

• September 12, 2007
  • A new discussion forum area has been added to the Radio Canada website. You are invited to participate in discussions, create topics, etc. There are radio and non-radio related categories.
  • Thanks to Ray RC173 for helping move this along - much appreciated!

• Check-ins will resume Sunday, September 9th, 2007 from 7:55pm to 10:05pm
  • Radio Canada DX Group custom QSL cards now available!!!
  • These professionally printed QSL cards prominently display an outline of our great country complete with the crests of every province and territory.
  • On the reverse side important details of a QSO confirmation are listed in an easy to read font.</li>
  • Only $7.50 for 50 cards plus tax. Available at 11 Meters radio Shop

• Darryl (RC483) stringing the Christmas lights on the tower 2006

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