1989

Communications on the air

VY9CC

Ross Ritchie (left), Guy Lavoie (centre), and Bob Scharf (right)

all of the Clyde Avenue Certification and Engineering Facility in Ottawa

install equipment for the amateur radio station at departmental headquarters.

Communications Canada VY9CC, the Department's amateur radio station, signed on the air April 3 to kick off the 20th anniversary celebrations.

For the next year, employees can experience live radio communication by contacting ham radio operators across Canada and around the world.

The station, located in the lobby of Journal Tower North, is equipped with two high frequency (HF) transceivers that operate on all amateur HF bands. Equipment for the station, mostly supplied by employees, was installed by staff from the Clyde Avenue Testing Bureau.

Employees who are qualified amateur radio operators supervise the station during hours of operation - between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. and after 4 p.m. - and help others work toward obtaining or improving their amateur radio operator qualifications. Anyone interested in learning more about the operation of the station can contact Andy Cobham at (613) 990-4735.