Welcome to The Communicator
Get ready for an exciting journey into amateur radio tech in the November–December 2026 issue of The Communicator. This milestone edition celebrates 60 years of emergency communications support with the Surrey Emergency Program, bridging a passion for amateur radio with essential public safety response.
Experience real-world emergency operations as volunteer cavers deploy custom digital radio equipment to send vital text messages through 500 metres of solid limestone during a rescue in Canmore’s Rat’s Nest Cave.
Trace how British Columbia’s call-sign license plates were born out of the catastrophic 1948 Fraser River flood, and review emergency preparedness from the ShakeOut 2026 earthquake drill, and master amateur satellite tracking with specialized software.
Dive into electrical engineering history with physicist Gustav Robert Kirchhoff’s foundational circuit laws. Read about Spy Boy, a 12-year old thought to be operating a World War I spy station.
In this issue's projects, explore automated lightning-disconnect protection for your station, POTA antennas and APRS messaging, a rotator refit, Yaesu FT-817 DSP board installation and a new soldering pencil.
A review of a portable Morse code keyer, and a global DX contest action making contacts across 11,000 kilometers. Whether you operate on HF, track satellites, or experiment with gear, this issue delivers an inspiring look at the amateur radio world.
Read about an exciting new Canadian amateur radio study website.
So power up, tune in, and turn the page—The Communicator has something for every level of amateur radio and every communicator... now reaching 165+ countries.
73, and enjoy the read!
(And no, I didn't script this)
Please note that there are active links for additional content when viewed on your device.
~ John VE7TI, Editor
Contents for this issue:
- Gustav Robert Kirchoff - Physicist and mathematician 4
- Mosquito Control Pilot Killed Involving an Amateur Radio Tower 7
- Amateur Radio License Plates: A History of BC Call Signs 8
- News You Can’t Lose - The gear we never let go 12
- The Lighter Side of Amateur Radio - The Perfect Antenna 13
- A rotator refit, Yaesu FT-817 DSP board installation and a new soldering pencil 14
- The practice exam I wish I'd had 24
- Trials & Errors - The Genius of Frank Conrad 28
- Full Quieting at the Operating Desk - Clearing Cataracts 31
- A Beacon, a Schedule, and a Little APRS Magic 34
- Putting a Journey on the APRS Map 36
- Spy Boy: The radio adventures of Frank Ryder 38
- BitWise: a Morse trainer inside a circuit puzzle game 42
- Amateur Radio’s Role in a Canmore Cave Rescue 42
- The everyday multimeter and its maintenance 44
- Alternative use of the FreeDV software 47
- A Focused Control App for Real Station Use 50
- An Automated Lightning Monitor and Antenna Disconnect System for the Amateur Radio Station 52
- An Integrated Approach to Amateur Satellite Operations 60
- Chelegance Keyer - CPO16 A Keyer for the Modern Ham 64
- ShackClock: Bringing the World Into Your Ham Shack 70
- Where Else to Buy and Sell Amateur Gear 74
- The “KJ6ER PERformer” Antenna as an HOA solution! 76
- Outside the box - Dipoles On The Air 80
- Brief Report from Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026, Pacificon 2026, and xara 84
- Foundations of Amateur Radio - Ghosts in the Machine: 90
- What If Gilligan Were a Ham? 93
- Profiles of SARC members - A Family Affair on the Air 96
- Douglas Campbell Brodie - An associate of Intrepid 106
- SARC General Meeting minutes - September 9, 2026 108
- SARC General Meeting minutes - October 14, 2026 110
- SEPAR Report - ShakeOut 2026 116
- QRT: Grateful for Your Kind Words & Focused on Our Hobby 118
- Remembering Heather Brodie 119
- HAM LEFTOVERS... 121
- A Look Back at The Communicator—December 2016 122
