ised

Two New Bands for Canadian Amateurs

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RBR-4 Update: July 2022 | Mise à jour sur IPR-4 : juillet 2022

RBR-4 Update: July 2022

For immediate release:

Dave Goodwin, VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer

On July 28, 2022, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released an update to a very important document for Canadian Radio Amateurs: “RBR-4 – Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service”.

The document specifies what frequencies we may operate on and with what bandwidths.

There are two major new additions to our spectrum:

  • 472 to 479 kHz, also known as 630 metres: on this new band, we are allowed to run a maximum of five watts EIRP, using emissions with a maximum bandwidth of 1 kHz.
  • 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz in the 60 metre band: this is a new worldwide allocation. Canadian Amateurs are allowed to run a maximum of 100 watts ERP, using emissions with a maximum bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

The new 60 metre band is in addition to our existing fixed-frequency allocations at 5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405 kHz. The new 15 kHz-wide allocation overlaps our existing authority to use 5358.5 kHz. Canadian Amateurs are unique in having authority to use 100 watts ERP on the four spot frequencies and on the new 15 kHz worldwide segment. Amateurs in most countries are limited to 25 watts or less and may operate only in the new 15 kHz-wide segment.

Please note that Amateur Radio is a Secondary radio service on these bands. Amateurs may not cause harmful interference to Primary users and we may not claim protection from interference by Primary users.

There are other small changes in RBR-4 that bring Canadian Amateur Radio regulations in line with changes agreed at several previous World Radio Conferences (WRCs) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Radio Amateurs of Canada would like to thank former Regulatory Officer Richard Ferch, VE3KI, for his dedicated work over several years to bring these changes forward.

You can find the English version here:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10650.html

You can find the French version (IPR-4) here:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/fra/sf10650.html

If you have any questions, please contact RAC Regulatory Affairs Officer Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, at [email protected]

Dave Goodwin, VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Radio Amateurs of Canada
[email protected]

RAC Canada Conference 2022 logo

ISED Releases Updated Policy on Amateur Radio and Examinations

Posted on by VA3DBJ

April 2022

ISED Releases Updated Policy on Amateur Radio and Examinations

On March 22, 2022, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released updated versions of two important policy documents: RIC-1 – Guide for Examiners Accredited to Conduct Examinations for Amateur Radio Operator Certificates and RIC-3 – Information on the Amateur Radio Service.

Both documents were updated to reflect the changes made to the Radiocommunication Regulations, specifically the rescinded ISED $20 examination fee for Amateur Radio Operator Certificates and the removal of certificates that are no longer issued by ISED. Other revisions include “editorial corrections for clarity” and the conversion to electronic format of the form to apply to become an Accredited Examiner.

Comments and suggestions may be directed to the following address:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Spectrum Management Operations Branch
235 Queen Street Ottawa ON  K1A 0H5

You can find the updated documents at these links:

English

RIC-1: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01007.html
RIC-3: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01008.html

Registration is now underway for RAC Basic Winter 2021 Course!

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For immediate release:

Radio Amateurs of Canada is once again offering an online Amateur Radio course so that individuals from all across Canada can obtain their Amateur Radio Operator Certificate with Basic Qualification while continuing to practise social/physical distancing.

The course will again be conducted with the assistance of the Annapolis Valley Amateur Radio Club (AVARC) of Nova Scotia.

This course prepares students for the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Basic Qualification Level Operator Certificate exam to operate on allocated Amateur Radio frequencies.

Schedule and Cost:

Date: The course will start on Thursday, January 14 and will finish in late March.

Time: Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 pm to 8:30 (1800 – 2030) Eastern Time (1900 – 2130 Atlantic Time) and Sunday afternoons 1 pm to 3:30 pm (1300 – 1530) Eastern Time (1400 – 1630 Atlantic Time).

Cost: The registration fee for the course is $50 plus GST/HST. The cost of the Basic Study Guide is extra and an order link will be provided upon completion of payment.

Instruction: 

The course will use the GoToMeeting web-based service. Students will receive instructions on how to log on to the online sessions once they have registered for the course. Classes will be recorded, so occasional absences are not a problem.

The course instructor is Al Penney, VO1NO. Al was first licensed in 1977 and has been active in many areas of Amateur Radio including contesting, DXing, VHF/UHF weak signal, satellites, emergency communications and DXpeditioning. He has served as the President of six different Amateur Radio clubs in both Canada and the United States and currently chairs the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Band Planning Committee. Al has taught the Basic Qualification Amateur Radio Course since 1994.

Course material pertaining to all topics covered in the course syllabus will be provided to all registered students. It is also provided in PDF format below.

Students must have a copy of the Canadian Amateur Radio Basic Qualification Study Guide provided by Coax Publications. For more information please visit the RAC Study Guides webpage.

It is essential that all students have the necessary equipment and bandwidth capable of taking the course – at least a tablet or PC and a DSL broadband connection.

Download (PDF, 446KB)

Registration: 

If you would like to take part in this course please register now by completing the registration form provided on the RAC website at:

https://www.rac.ca/basic-course-registration-form-winter-2021/

Other Amateur Radio Courses:

Amateur Radio Basic and Advanced Qualification courses are also now being provided both online and in person by Canadian Amateur Radio Clubs and organizations. Please visit the Amateur Radio Courses webpage for more information at the link provided below.

Amateur Radio Courses

Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA
RAC President and Chair