Calgary Amateur Radio Association
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Rally Radio Recce
Maps are important for events like this. On Rally day, there will be dozens of volunteers spread across dozens of kilometers. Radio operators will need to navigate during twilight and darkness in areas where signage is sparse. The maps we make for these events are intended to help you find your way, whether you are an experienced rally radio operator, or this is your very first rally event.
The links below are for .kml files. If you need a .gpx file or another format, there are various free online conversion tools available - a quick web search will find one that suits your needs. These are not image files. They are intended to be loaded into a GPS device, APRS software, or GIS software such as Google Earth, Google Maps, Bing Maps, etc. If you want to make a printable image, then load this file into the software of your choice and print your maps from that point.
This first file contains only a context map, and is for general navigation purposes only. It shows routes to/from the venue, key event facilities, and some of the areas where extra caution may be needed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FPF5SAZ3tA-haVQQz_kO5iAaZqKjOKD0/view?usp=sharing
This second file contains only the blocker and control point locations on the course road segments.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z3Vt8jec-gbRsiulsg6z3T7MK8x-gRrO/view?usp=sharing
For those who load these maps into GPS devices, it is suggested that you disable direction instruction features while at the event. Reading and understanding the map yourself tends to work much better in these isolated areas. Radio operators have reported that GPS devices frequently provide distracting, erroneous, or even dangerous directions in remote rally venues.
73 Garry, VE6GDS
Hello all;
Soon after the time of the prior posting regarding waiver forms, the links to the forms got changed. So, the links provided in the previous posting on this topic will not work reliably. Sorry for the confusion.
To avoid a repeat of this effect, the link below takes you to the 2021 Rocky Mountain Rally Virtual Notice Board on the rally site. Technically, this virtual space is part of the competitors' area on that site, so it might be difficult for volunteers to find on their own. There is other material in that space that may not be pertinent to volunteers, but this is where the forms are posted, and I am told that they are the correct ones for radio volunteers to use.
Here is the link to the notice board:
https://rockymountainrally.com/competitors/virtual-notice-board/
Completed forms and questions about them should be sent to the event registrar: registrar@rockymountainrally.com
Thanks, everyone, and my apologies again for the confusion.
Rally Radio Operators;
As part of the terms of participation as a volunteer, and to meet insurance requirements for the event, radio operators are required to complete certain waiver documents. Since our pre-op briefing will be virtual this time, we'll need to get these forms dealt with electronically. Please complete the appropriate forms and send them to the event registrar. Below are links to the forms, their French language equivalents, and the registrar's email address.
[Edit: The links below may not work reliably. Please see the UPDATE blog posting on this subject. - VE6GDS]
This is the general waiver for everyone.
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/Waiver%252C_General_En_digital_.pdf
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/Waiver%252C_General_Fr_digital_.pdf
This year we need to complete a COVID waiver as well:
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/CARS_COVID_19_Waiver-FR-2-1.pdf
Here is the required waiver for all persons not of the age of majority (i.e. minors) who will be volunteering or present with someone who is volunteering:
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/Minor_Waiver_EN_digital.pdf
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/Minor_Waiver_Fr_digital.pdf
Finally, here is the waiver to be completed by the parents of minors:
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/CARS_Annual_Parental_Consent_Waiver_EN_digital.pdf
https://www.rallywest.com/f/vnb/176/CARS_Annual_Parental_Consent_Waiver_FR_digital.pdf
Please complete these forms, as applicable to your circumstances, and send them to the event registrar. If you have any questions about the forms, please contact the registrar.
Here is the email address of the event registrar: registrar@rockymountainrally.com
73, Garry, VE6GDS
Here is a link to the Radio Configuration and Operation Guide for the 2021 Rocky Mountain Rally. This document lists the operating frequencies for the event, presents key radio procedures, and provides recommendations for effective communication practices.
Powderface Trail can be a challenging environment for radio operations. This guide describes means of managing the difficulties that operators may encounter. Please review the related recommendations.
Please take careful note of the guidance for minimizing interference!
We will have a large number of radio operators involved in this event. So, it is very important that we minimize interference issues. The sections in this guide that pertain to cross-band configurations and digital operations are especially important.
A copy of the guide can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13l1b1QxpJGc1N1eh2KkvXGg_NzN9rznp/view?usp=sharing
The rally date is just a couple of weeks away, now!
Undoubtedly, most people heard the announcement from our premiere and provincial chief medical officer of health, yesterday. The COVID-19 virus continues to be a major factor in our daily lives and something we need to take into account when planning our rally. Since the rally is an outdoor event, we should be able to proceed under the current rules. Nonetheless, appropriate precautionary measures are still appropriate.
The updated pandemic protocol (see below) provides guidance on protecting ourselves, and each other, from the spread of the virus.
All rally radio operators are required to review this protocol and take reasonable steps to implement its guidance. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dana or me.
Please download a copy via this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IB3wbR-YDbexZLi0V3fdk2jEOSFJDCeE/view?usp=sharing
The Rocky Mountain Rally is just three weeks away!
It has been over a year since our last full scale event, so we're all a little rusty at this. Below you will find a link to the Radio Operations at Rallysport Events '101' Guide. Please take the time to download a copy and review it prior to the pre-op briefing.
This document was written to help our radio operators get comfortable with common rally terminology. While the guide is oriented at people who have had little exposure to rallysport, everyone who is considering participation in the upcoming event is encouraged to review it. The pre-op briefing will assume that everyone is familiar with the contents of this guide.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XiRVGSoiaBk-b6m1cNHDxQgPAZNpoWZ4/view?usp=sharing
Hello Rally Radio Operators!
To help you get ready for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Rally, here is a link to the updated packing and preparation guide for radio operators. This guide is primarily oriented at new or returning folks. Given that we have not held a rally for over a year now, even experienced operators will benefit from a quick read of this material.
Not everything listed in the guide is a requirement for participation as a radio operator. However, this list is based on the experiences of operators who have completed many prior rally events. Please consider the material covered by this guide as you make your own preparations.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rxKqqcKhOOmQvIRnKWatzsi-0LsEnOp9/view?usp=sharing
Keep checking this blog regularly. As the event approaches, there will be other materials and information posted here that you'll want to review.
A rally radio operations pre-op briefing meeting is planned for:
Wednesday, 29 September 2021 19:00 to 20:00 hrs Zoom virtual meeting (Link to be provided later)
We will be covering a variety of topics including emergency procedures. All prospective RMR radio operators are requested to attend. If you cannot make it, please let Dana (VA6DJH) or me know beforehand.
More preparation and training material will be posted in this forum between now and the training session. Please check this forum regularly to ensure that you have the latest information prior to the meeting. In the interests of time, it will be assumed that all radio operators are familiar with the RMR 2021 materials posted to this forum prior to the meeting.
Hope to see you there!
Hello Rally Radio Operators;
Dana and I received input suggesting that some operators would appreciate additional guidance on preparing their vehicles for a rally event. For those who may be looking for something like that, here is a set of helpful checklists.
The contents of this document are condensed from various sources. It includes material provided by two of our most experienced and mechanically adept field radio operators (Harry, VE6HRY; Dave, VE6DED).
This guide covers a wide range of topics that affect the reliability of a vehicle and its usefulness to a radio operator at a rally. These checklists are not requirements for participation as a volunteer. Rather, these are items that each operator should think about and make appropriate choices. You know your own vehicle, your own driving style, and your own needs best. Use these checklists to help you.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FvNygR-WBhNopNv0ZqtrJV8iC5vgjatj/view?usp=sharing
I hope that we'll see you at the upcoming Rocky Mountain Rally!
Registration Now Available!
The Rocky Mountain Rally volunteer registration webpage is now available. Here is the information you will need to sign up as a radio operator for this event.
https://www.rallywest.com/signup/volunteer/RockyMountainRally
When you visit this URL, a unique tag is generated. If you bookmark the link, with that unique tag in the URL, you'll be able to go back to your registration record and make updates later.
Note that clicking on this link more than once means that you are signing up more than once!
rallywest.com does NOT send an email confirmation to you about your registration. To check if your information was saved, or to modify the registration - visit or reload the URL that had the unique tag.
If you are considering coming to volunteer as a radio operator, then please complete the signup page. If you're not sure you can make it, then indicate in the Comments text box that you are "tentative" for now, but please do sign up. If we have no registration information for you, then it's difficult to assign a role or to contact you if there are urgent changes.When indicating the radio equipment that you plan to bring to the rally, try to be as generic as possible. It's much easier to deal with "50 watt mobile radio with APRS and a quarter wave magnetic mount antenna" than a bunch of make/model numbers with which we may not be familiar.
Please double check that the email address and phone number(s) that you enter on the registration form are correct. Messages that bounce back at us are not getting to you! It's also important to have valid contact information, should a change occur at, or just prior to, the event.
There are two dates listed on the signup form.
The main event is on Saturday October 2. This is the primary day where volunteers are needed. You also have an option to indicate availability on the Friday October 1st - there are some course setup and recce traffic (open road - no racing) happening the day before the main event. If you indicate availability on the Friday, the event organizers may ask you to also fill a role on this day.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
We hope you'll be joining us for a great time at the Rocky Mountain Rally!
73, Dana, VA6DJH Garry, VE6GDS
