What we do
SAARC is a diverse club with many skills and activities available through our members. Anything from assisting you with antenna assembly and erection, to measuring the performance of your equipment and antennas.
Becoming a Ham: We can teach you how to become a radio amateur using the most modern and accepted methods that will all but guarantee you will be successful in obtaining your basic or advanced certificate. We have mentors (Elmers) that are more than willing to share their experiences in amateur radio with you and you can see how an operating shack functions and perhaps even get a chance to talk to people around the world. We even have a couple of examiners as members of our club for when you’re ready to write your Industry Canada exam and become a ham. The club holds Basic and Advanced courses in the fall of every year. These are popular courses that put you in front of a real ham radio station learning from someone that is experienced and successful as a trainer.
Those who wish to study on their own can download the ISED amateur basic license question bank here.
Technical Assistance: We have experienced electronics technicians capable of repairing and aligning any type or vintage of equipment and putting it back into as-new operating condition. As well, we have a huge reservoir of knowledge when it comes to creating equipment and antennas by people who have plenty of experience.
Radio Loan Program: We have available a small assortment of HF radios for short-term loan of about three months. If you are a new ham or do not have an HF radio and would like to get onto the HF bands, please contact us.Equipment currently available is listed on the Loaner Equipment page.
Monthly Meetings: You can learn new techniques on just about anything dealing with ham radio and will rub shoulders with some of the most experienced amateur radio operators in the province of Alberta. Come on out and join us. The meetings are fun and educational. We often have guest speakers that we bring in from all across the province to dazzle and delight us. Everyone is welcome!
Events: Every year we put together a field day event that is well attended and is open to everyone to participate. Field day is an emergency simulation with tight rules set by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and it takes talent and energy to setup a complete station in an hour and be on the air having conversations (QSO) with other stations around the globe using emergency power.
We also hold social events from time to time as well with the whole family invited to participate. These events provide us all with a way to meet the others and their families and have a fun time together. For instance one of our members puts on an annual Corn Roast at his property that everyone is welcome to.
Our Repeater: We also are the keepers of our excellent repeater VE6CAM on 146.88 MHz. This repeater is located 50 km north west of Lethbridge on the Black Spring Ridge. It provides coverage all over southern Alberta and is entirely off the grid in terms of power.
We are affiliated with the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC).
Join the Club: Keep up-to-date on the happenings of our club on this site and feel free to contact us to join the group. Our dues for 2022 are only $25.00 for the year. Join us now and welcome to SAARC.
Volunteer: We are currently looking for the following volunteer positions:
Club Treasurer:
- Keeps accurate financial records for the club and reports financial status to the membership.
- Provides financial statements for the Societies Commission.
- Responsible for paying all relevant bills and charges to the club.
- Accepts payments, acknowledges payments, and informs members of their membership status.
Keeps inventory of all club equipment and location. - Signing authority (shared).
Club Knowledge (training) Director:
- Assumes responsibility for organizing knowledge upgrading of the membership through meeting presentations, special guests and sharing of information among the membership. (Could also include organizing new amateur training program.)