Halifax Amateur Radio Club

"In public service since 1933"

The Halifax Amateur Radio Club was founded first in 1933 and is one of the oldest in Canada. The Club membership is committed to public service and works closely with the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) in Nova Scotia, assisting with emergency radio communication in times of disaster. The call sign VE1FO is used when Club members are operating portable away from the Club station.

Halifax Amateur Radio Club - recent DX Activities include:

1) Field Day - June 2006

2) Janvrin Island DX-pedition May 2006

3) Field Day - June 2007

4) Museum Ships on the Air Weekend - June 2007

5) Bon Portage Island DX-pedition July/Aug 2007 in association with (prior to and after) the IOTA contest where VC1W was used.

6) Brier Island DX-pediton May 22 - 24, 2009 - VE1FO/p

7) Campobello Island DX-pediton - May 28 - 31, 2010 - VE1FO/9

8) Field Day 2010 - from York Redoubt in Halifax - June 2010

9) Brier Island DX-pediton May 12 - 15, 2011 - VE1FO/P

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1) Field Day - June 2006

Field Day activities for the Halifax Amateur Radio Club in 2006 took place at Historic York Redoubt at the entrance to the Halifax Harbour. The Club operated in the 2-Alpha class, using the Club call sign – VE1FO

York Redoubt is a 200-year-old fortification, situated on a high bluff overlooking the spectacular entrance of Halifax Harbour. York Redoubt's original batteries were built in 1793, at the outbreak of war between Britain and revolutionary France. When French warships were reported in the western Atlantic, harbour batteries were hastily erected to secure Halifax from attack by sea. Over the years the site was enlarged and strengthened. Edward, Duke of Kent made several improvements between 1795 and 1800. By the early 1860s, advances in artillery design had made the site obsolete. The rearmament of York Redoubt caused a complete reconstruction and enlargement of the site. Despite the dramatic changes in appearance, the role of the new Redoubt remained much the same as the old.

Its lofty vantage point gave York Redoubt an important communications role. In the 19th century York Redoubt and the Halifax Citadel used signal flags to keep each other informed of ships' movements.

During the First World War, the site was used as barracks for assigned infantry and for troops waiting to go overseas. Between 1940-42 the Fire Command Post for harbour defences was built at York Redoubt. Early in the Second World War, the Redoubt was the nerve centre for harbour defences, including an anti-submarine net which stretched across the harbour's entrance from the Redoubt to McNabs Island. York Redoubt remained in military use until 1956.

Today, the public can wander among the armament and 200-year-old fortifications while enjoying the fresh air and panoramic views of Halifax Harbour and the open Atlantic.

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2) Janvrin Island DX-pedition May 2006

Janvrin Island DX-pedition IOTA – NA-10 & CIsA – NS-10 May 12 to May 14, 2006

Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club in Nova Scotia and guests from the Summerside ARC in Prince Edward Island operated as VE1FO (CW and SSB) from Vollmer’s Lodge on Janvrin Island – IOTA NA-10 and CIsA NS-10, from early evening on Friday May 12th through the afternoon of Sunday May 14th.

Janvrin Island is a small island that is connected by a bridge to Isle Madame, also connected by bridge to Cape Breton Island, the northerly-most part of Nova Scotia Canada.

Members of the DX-pedition team included:

Scott (VE1QD) and spouse Sue

Dick(VE1AI) and spouse Sandra

Howard (VE1DHD) and spouse Jean

Gary (VE1RGB) and spouse Bev

Frank (VE1FHW) and spouse Carol

Ken VY2RU) and spouse Ella (VE1PEI)

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5) VE1FO/p - Bon Portage Island DX-pedition - July 25 to August 1, 2007

The group of Radio Amateurs from the Halifax Amateur Radio Club (HARC) that most recently activated VC2W (2006) and VC9W (2005) are now heading to Bon Portage, Nova Scotia, with call sign VC1W for IOTA 2007. Prior to, and following the IOTA contest, the group will operate using the callsign of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club – VE1FO/p. The group expects to land on Bon Portage on Tuesday, July 24th and be on the air by Wednesday July 25th.

This island, also known as Outer Island, was once the site of a manned lighthouse, complete with family. It is 25 km ENE of Seal Island, NS. The group in 2007 consists of the organizers Fred, VE1FA, and Helen, VA1YL, as well as Bill, VE1MR; Lynn, VE1ENT; Rich, VA1CHP; Al, VO1NO; Alan, VE1AWP; and Gary, VE1RGB (QSL).

Bon Portage is N. Lat 43 deg 27 min; W. Long 65 deg 45 min. The ARLHS lighthouse # is Can-360; Grid Square FN 73 dk, and it is part of the NA-126 NS Province South Group. NOTE: This island has never before been activated. A new Canadian Island number (CISA) NS-128 has just been issued (Jul 07).

QSL: The QSL manager for this DX-pedition is Gary, VE1RGB, as per the VC1W listing on qrz.com.

6) Brier Island DX-pedition - VE1FO/p

Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be activating Brier Island (IOTA NA 127 & Canadian Island number NS 011).

Brier Island is located at 44degrees 15’ 22” N / 66 degrees 21’ 45” W .
The callsign to be used will be VE1FO/p.

We will be operating from the Lounge of the Brier Island Lodge with a view of the Bay of Fundy and the lighthouse (CAN-374) on Peter's Island.

The dates are Friday evening May 22nd through Sunday evening May 24th.

The team includes six couples – Dick Grantham (VE1AI) and Sandra; Scott Wood (VE1QD) and Sue Roleston; Howard Dickson (VE1DHD) and Jean; Gary Bartlett (VE1RGB) and Bev; Ken McCormick (VY2RU) and Ella (VE1PEI); and Frank Wilson (VE1FHW) and Carol (VE1CBW).

We will be operating both SSB and CW on 80, 40, 30, 20, 15 and 17m. We will operate from the Brier Island Lodge ( www.brierislandlodge.com)

A special QSL card will be printed for this DX-pedition.

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7) Campobello Island DX-pedition - VE1FO/9

Several members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club and friends will be celebrating spring 2010 with their now annual Ham Radio “Spring Fling”.

Where: Campobello Island, New Brunswick – IOTA NA-014 // CisA-001
When: Friday May 28 – Monday May 31, 2010
The Team includes six couples – Dick Grantham (VE1AI) and Sandra; Scott Wood (VE1QD) and Sue; Ken McCormick (VY2RU) and Ella (VE1PEI); Howard Dickson (VE1DHD) and Jean; Gary Bartlett (VE1RGB) and Bev; and Cory Golob (N1URA) and Beckie (KB1IRZ).

Our callsign will be VE1FO/9.

We will be operating both SSB and CW on 80, 40, 30, 20, and 15 from the Island Chalets located near the bridge to Lubec Maine and the Roosevelt Compound.

A special QSL card will be printed for this DX-pedition.

QSLing:

1. For QSL's outside USA and Canada, please send one IRC or $2 US for direct reply. Cards without s.a.s.e. will be answered via the bureau.

2. For USA direct QSLs – please do NOT send a s.a.s.e. with a US stamp on it; they are not valid for use in Canada. You may however send a s.a.s.e. with the proper amount of Canadian postage, or 1 IRC, or $2 US (with tax Canadian postage to the USA is now $1.15 and the Canadian dollar is now at par with the US dollar; our group is small and we can not afford to cover the difference if only $1US is sent for a direct QSL response).

3. Bureau cards will be answered via bureau as usual.

Direct QSL requests should be send to the attention of:

Howard Dickson - VE1DHD
Halifax Amateur Radio Club
PO Box 663,
Halifax, N.S. B3J 3T3
CANADA

Campobello Island is located at 44º 51’48.05”N & 66 º 58’44.66”W near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, and lies off the south-east corner of New Brunswick and the south-east tip of the state of Maine. There is a car ferry connecting Campobello to the mainland by way of Deer Island New Brunswick, but it only runs during the summer months; so to get to Campobello Island at other times of the year, Canadians need a passport and must travel through the United States entering over the Roosevelt Campobello International Bridge from Lubec Maine.


A Bit of Campobello History:

Campobello had had a rich and varied History, the French being the first European settlers in the early 1700s, but the Treaty of Utrecht placed Campobello under English control in 1713. Settlers of Scottish and Irish descent arrived on the Island from New England in 1765, and in 1767, Captain William Owen received an island land grant from the Governor General of Nova Scotia and named the island Campobello.

Trade in the early days included cured fish, lumber and potash shipments to England, shingles and cordwood to Boston, and a West Indies market for salt pollock in exchange for rum. Commercial activity included brickyards, sawmills, a tannery and a soap factory. A strong market for fish existed in New York and the manufacture of wooden boxes for shipping fish became a significant industry. By 1850, the Island population had increased to 865d, and by 1862 to 1,039.

The late 1860's were not good years on Campobello. Corporate business folded, shipping and foreign trade declined dramatically, and there were few, new settlers. Campobello's shipping and trading had pretty well ceased by 1871 when a new industry developed in the late 1870's, with a resurgence in the 1920s – rum running. A second new industry bloomed during the 1880's, when Campobello became a popular summer vacation destination for the wealthy on the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada. Boston and New York businessmen constructed luxurious hotels and well-to-do families from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Ottawa and Montreal escaped to Campobello for the summer.

James Roosevelt, father of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, first visited the Island in 1883, purchased several acres of land and had a summer home constructed; other wealthy visitors did the same.

With the opening of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Bridge in 1962, the island become more accessible and now over 100,000 people visit Campobello each year.

The fishing industry – the harvesting of lobster, scallops, clams, sea urchins, herring, cod, pollock, mackerel and pen-raised salmon remain the mainstay of Campobello, although tourism is a steadily increasing Campobello industry.

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9) Brier Island DX-pedition 2011 -- VE1FO/P

Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club will be activating Brier Island (IOTA NA 127 & Canadian Island number NS 011).

Brier Island is located at 44degrees 15’ 22” N / 66 degrees 21’ 45” W .
The callsign to be used will be VE1FO/P.

We will be operating from the lounge of the Brier Island Lodge with a view of the Bay of Fundy and the lighthouse (CAN-374) on Peter's Island.

The dates are Thursday evening May 12th through Sunday evening May 15th, 2011.

The team includes seven couples – Dick Grantham (VE1AI) and Sandra; Scott Wood (VE1QD) and Sue Roleston; Howard Dickson (VE1DHD) and Jean; Gary Bartlett (VE1RGB) and Bev; Ken McCormick (VY2RU) and Ella (VE1PEI);  and, Eric Mills (VE1AST) and Ann. Each year we look forward to activating an island in the Maritime Provinces, having fun on the radio, honing our culinary skills, and enjoying wonderful fellowship.

We will be operating both SSB and CW on 80, 40, 30, 20, 15 and 17m. We will operate from the Brier Island Lodge ( www.brierislandlodge.com)

A special QSL card will be printed for this DX-pedition.

QSLing:

1. For QSL's outside USA and Canada, please send one IRC or $2 US for direct reply. Cards without s.a.s.e. will be answered via the bureau.

2. For USA direct QSLs – please do NOT send a s.a.s.e. with a US stamp on it; they are not valid for use in Canada. You may however send a s.a.s.e. with the proper amount of Canadian postage, or 1 IRC, or $2 US (with tax Canadian postage to the USA is now $1.15 and the Canadian dollar is now above par with the US dollar; our group is small and we can not afford to cover the difference if only $1US is sent for a direct QSL response).

3. Bureau cards will be answered via bureau as usual.

Direct QSL requests should be send to the attention of:

Howard Dickson - VE1DHD
11346 Peggy's Cove Rd., Seabright, N.S. B3Z 3A7
CANADA

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For information on the Canadian Island Awards (CIsA), go to the Radio Amateurs of Canada web site at: http://www.rac.ca/service/awards2.htm#Canadian%20Islands

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Updated: 10 May 2011 by VE1DHD Howard for the Halifax ARC.