Wednesday 23 September 2015

Updates.....

Several updates have been done to the site over the past few weeks.  As noted in previous entries we have had the Ontario and Quebec island lists reviewed by local experts, and as a result a few name changes and removals have happened.

We have also changed a number of the six figure Maidenhead Grids to eight figure grids, to give our activators a better idea where a particular island is.  It was discovered that in one particular six figure grid there are four activated islands, the use of the eight figure grids allows us to narrow the locations right down.

There are still a large number of activated islands in the database, whose actual location cannot be found.  This is true in many provinces, and is originally due to poor initial record keeping a long time before CIA came along on the scene.  We are working hard to try to find their actual locations.  If you come across an activated island with no grid reference, and know where it is, please let us know so we can bring the record up to date.

We're also thrilled to see the large up-swing in island activations in Ontario and Quebec this year.  Hopefully this trend will catch on in the rest of the country.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Green Island ON-122

Next Friday, Sept 25th, Bob, VA3QV is planning to activate Green Island which is also known as ON-122, and is located in the City of Ottawa at Grid FN25dk.

The timing will be 1200 local to 1600 local.


Frequencies will be the usual CIA SSB frequencies: 7.250, 14.250 to 14.260,  21.350, and 28.450....all depending on what the propagation is that day.


Location of Green Island, ON-122

Green Island is home to the Royal Canadian Air Force Memorial, and it is very fitting that Bob has chosen to activate the island during this month.  We celebrate this year the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and especially those gallant RCAF fighter squadrons that took part in that historic event.

The RCAF Memorial on Green Island





Friday 18 September 2015

Late Notice !!

Sorry about the very late notice, but I have just received word that Jose VA3PCJ, and Bob VA3QV, will be activating Rideau Island ON 297 from Brewers Park in Ottawa.

Bob and Jose will be on 40m for the Ontario Stations and then on 10-15-20 depending on band conditions for the rest.  They will be using the unofficial CIA operating frequencies are 7.250, 21.350, 14.250-14.260 (main) and 28.450 mHz phone

The should be on the air before 1300 local and close down around 1700 local.

Wednesday 9 September 2015

Quebec Island Grids

A huge "Merci Beaucoup" goes out today to Gilles, VA2MAM, who has very kindly taken the time to check the list of Quebec Islands for mistakes, and has also provided us with their Maidenhead Grid locations.

Due to the work Gilles has done, we will be making some adjustments to the Quebec Islands list as at least one island listed, and granted a number, is not an island at all, but part of a peninsula.

This is all part of the on going work being done behind the scenes to make sure the locations and islands grids are as accurate as possible.

Once again, Merci Beaucoup Gilles !!

Ontario Island Grids

Many thanks to Jose, VA3PCJ, who has kindly checked the Ontario island locations and provided us with an abundant of information to fill in some blanks, and some new grid locations.

There will be some changes coming to the Ontario island list as some of the currently listed islands cannot be found at all, on any official, or unofficial list.   Many of the missing islands, even on the original reference material that CIsA used, does not show their locations.

Thanks for your help Jose, it's really appreciated!

Friday 4 September 2015

Rideau Island - ON-297

We have yet another island activated in Ontario!  Jose, VA3PCJ, and Bob, VA3QV have successfully submitted the paperwork for Rideau Island in Ottawa, which is now also known as ON-297.  This means Jose has done the hat-trick of island activations in three weeks!!


Rideau Island is bordered by both the Rideau Canal and Rideau River, which meet at the island’s southern-most point forming ‘Hog’s Back’, and the Ottawa River at its northern end.  

Jose's has done a nice write up on his Blog, read about it HERE.

So there you have it, in Ottawa you don't have to travel far to activate an island any longer !!