User:Ciw308

CIW308 is CFARS Call sign  see www.cfars.ca

Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System ( CFARS ) www.cfars.ca

Generally, CFARS was designed to improve the radio communications service provided over the years on the amateur frequencies SEE RACby:

a. being an adjunct to existing Canadian military radio facilities, thus providing an extra means of communication when necessary;

b. eliminating a recurring problem of interference, mainly caused by increasing congestion of the amateur radio bands SEE RAC - the main cause of delays in handling of phone patches and message traffic; and

c. ensuring that military amateur stations in isolated or remote locations would not be shut down because licensed radio amateurs were not available to operate such stations.

History: WW II:

1. Possibly the first close association between the amateur radio fraternity RAC in Canadaand the military in Canada occurred during WWII at which time the "Call to Arms" saw many of the electronics and communicator trade positions in all three services (army, navy and air force) filled by ham operators. Many of these amateurs formed the nucleus of the Forces communications training cadre and it is a well-documented fact that the experience and expertise of the ham operators contributed greatly to an effective communications system.

AFARS:

2. Shortly after the war, on 8 August 1946 to be exact, under the auspices of the RCAF, the Air Force Amateur Radio System (AFARS) was implemented. This program operated successfully for 6 years until 31 August 1952, at which time a portion of the program integrated with the Civil Defence Communications Organization. AFARS was made up of approximately 500 licensed amateur radio operators from across Canada and carried out such roles as providing communication in the area of search and rescue, assistance during national emergencies, and operating weekly nets on a regional and national basis. The program was funded by what is now DND, and operated on various frequencies allocated outside the amateur radio bands.SEE RAC It published an excellent quarterly magazine and provided various types of communications equipment on a loan basis to its members. MID 1950 ON - PHONE PATCH TRAFFIC:

3. Perhaps the most visible association and, as far as the military is concerned, the most beneficial service in terms of morale, provided by the amateur radio fraternity SEE RACover the past 25 years or so, has been the provision of a person-to-person voice traffic link in the form of "phone patching" performed by ham operators for service personnel stationed in remote and isolated locations so they may communicate with their families at home.

4. The first recorded and publicized accounts of this morale boosting communications service appeared in the 1956/57 period and involved Canada's first peacekeeping force which was deployed in the Middle East (Egypt) with the United Nations Emergency Force. A young and enterprising Staff Sergeant whose call was VE3AHU set up the first Middle East ham station to operate phone patches back to Canada. This same station operated successfully for about 10 years until the UN was abruptly asked to leave. CFARS stations are on the air from the Middle East daily from El Gorah Sinai and from the Golan Heights; also from Western Sahara and Yugoslavia, etc. Further, for the past 20 years or more, phone patches have been operated for servicemen in the Far North and from HMC Ships on sea deployments.

5. Not enough can be said for the hundreds of amateur operators in Canada who have devoted their valuable time and equipment to operate informal traffic nets over the years. The communication service provided through ham radio has been and continues to be tremendously popular as far as individual service personnel and their families and relatives are concerned; this can be seen from the impressive traffic volume figures. It is without a doubt a key morale booster for DND personnel serving at remote and isolated posts around the world.

PROBLEM AREAS:

6. With such an effective communication service operating over the years, why the need for a formal radio system...CFARS? Up until about 1976, there did not appear to be a need, and then unfortunately, two particular problems were encountered which delayed the traffic process for extended periods and, in some cases, made it necessary to temporarily close down particular stations.

7. The first problem was the increasingly difficult task of finding licensed military amateur radio operators who were willing to volunteer to serve in isolated or remote locations. The courses and the on-job training given at many of the military amateur radio clubs to assist personnel to obtain their amateur radio licences, and in a few cases the willingness of some military amateur radio operators to do a second tour of duty at remote locations did not provide a viable or permanent solution.

8. The second problem encountered was that of interference which at times was intentional jamming and which delayed the traffic process for extended periods. Interference for the most part can be attributed to rapid growth in the hobby and to the subsequent crowded conditions in the amateur bands.SEE RAC CFARS:

9. Because of the Department of National Defence Now DND Canada desire to continue this worthwhile communications service and as a result of the problems already described, National Defence Headquarters decided to launch a program to be known as the Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System - CFARS.

10. Basically, CFARS was organized to operate in a somewhat similar fashion to the United States Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) Military_Auxiliary_Radio_System which has operated successfully for over 50 years. Certainly, the volume of traffic would not compare to the MARS Military_Auxiliary_Radio_System program, but if the volume of our informal nets over the past 25 years was any indication, quite a number of affiliate stations would be needed to operate CFARS. As such, the basic operational concept was that CFARS would:

a. operate on specifically allocated frequencies outside the amateur radio spectrum;SEE RAC

b. provide membership to include military installation stations, military amateur radio unit/club stations and a number of designated volunteer affiliated licensed amateur radio operators;

c. operate using quasi-military voice and operating procedures;

d. operate on several different radio nets, for example: a Northern net, a Maritime or HMC Ships net, a United Nations Canadian Contingents nets, a National net, and a Training net; and

e. use international call signs while operating within its own framework.

11. The CFARS designers had realized from the start that to organize and operate the system could take considerable time. Up to 1976, the CFARS program had been mainly in the initial concept stage; various development aspects had yet to be worked out and finalized.

These included:

a. an allocation of a full range of frequencies;

b. obtaining IC ( Industry Canada ) approval for designated radio amateurs to operate outside the amateur bands;

c. the publication of a comprehensive CFARS operating manual see [cfars.ca cfars.ca];

d. the tasking of a command and control organization;

e. the formulation of exactly how many networks should be operated;

f. the possibility of publishing a periodic CFARS News bulletin; and

g. various other administrative details.

12. It was generally agreed that the long range outlook would be to operate a traffic and phone patch service for Canadian Forces personnel wherever they were located, be it sea deployments, the far North, United Nations peacekeeping operations and other locations where the number of service personnel would warrant the service.

13. In April and May of 1978, trials were conducted by operating on a CFARS frequency of 13972.5 kHz - just outside the 20-metre amateur band. Participants included military amateur stations at Ismailia and the Golan Heights in the Middle East and thirteen amateur stations in Canada. The selection of the Canadian stations was made on advice received from the Ismailia station.

Temporary international call signs were issued. The trials were conclusively successful, with the traffic volume having increased dramatically above that normally handled within the amateur bands. Worthy of note, tests which had previously been carried out by IC on similar equipment as that used by the Ismailia station during the CFARS trials had already shown that frequency tolerances and stability were well within those allowed by radio regulations.

EEI FORMAT INFORMATION;

EEI (Essential Elements of Information) is the traffic format that is being used by CFARS, FEMA, MARS and other agencies throughout the world. This format will eliminate the confusion between various agencies during future combined exercise or actual events.

Information on this site was taken from the CFARS.CA web site as provided by CFARS management.

CFARS POLICY:

1. National Defence Headquarters fully supports the development and promotion of CFARS as well as amateur radio activities to enhance their application and promote viable personal and public oriented communications means.

2. The Director General Information Services Operations (DGISO) at National Defence Headquarters Tunneys is the co-ordinating agency for the organization and the establishment of military and amateur affiliated CFARS stations. DGISO is also the agency which ensures that proper liaison is maintained with recognized Amateur Radio organizations and the Department of Communications on matters concerning the CFARS program.

3. Establishment of CFARS installations and operation on foreign soil shall be governed by applicable agreement between the Canadian Military Contingent or unit commander and the host country authorities.

4. DGISO is the authority for the command and control of the CFARS. As such, he acts as the executive agent for the support, co-ordination and execution of the CFARS program for all geographical areas. He ensures the integration of requirements and plans into the total CFARS program.

5. As the authority responsible for the success of the CFARS program, DGISO shall, as required, continue to develop, co-ordinate and disseminate policies, directives and procedures concerning administrative, operational, logistical and training matters and maintain liaison with the Canadian Government and DND regulatory agencies on matters pertaining to the operation of CFARS.

6. As with other means of military communications, reliability, security and speed are the three fundamental requirements of the CFARS. Reliability shall always be considered before security and speed.

7. Common sense and good judgement must prevail in the planning and conduct of the CFARS communications. The correct use of procedures established in this manual is essential to the effective management and operation of CFARS.

== LETTER OF AGREEMENT WITH IC - 25 FEB 80 ==

1. The following letter under IC file 6202-7-1 (DOS-P-O) dated February 25, 1980 was sent to the Director Frequency Spectrum Management and is quoted in paras 2 to 4 below. The letter was signed by Mr. L.V. Decloux, the Acting Director, Operations Branch, Telecommunication Regulatory Service.

2. "The importance of the Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System (CFARS) has been clearly demonstrated during the year it has operated on a trial basis. As well, CFARS has demonstrated its capability to operate without causing interference to other services.

3. "Therefore, as discussed at the meeting with you and members of this Department, February 18, 1980, we are authorizing the operation of the Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System in consideration of the following:

a. It will be operated as a Canadian military communication service.

b. All communications shall be of a personal or welfare nature.

c. The number of affiliate stations is to be limited to seventy-five. (This number was later increased to one hundred in a IC letter dated 3 Jun 81.)

d. The Department of National Defence will inform the Director of Operations, Industry Canada of the name and address of all operators participating in this service, their amateur call sign and their military call sign. All additions, deletions or site relocation's will be forwarded immediately.

e. Affiliate members may only use those emissions associated with the nearest amateur band in accordance with their amateur station licence and radio operator's certificate.

f. DND must ensure that all affiliate members hold a valid amateur station licence.

g. Operation from foreign countries is limited to Canadian operated stations located on Canadian Armed Forces Bases in such countries.

h. The CFARS service shall operate on assigned frequencies only.

j. Industry Canada reserves the right to examine the CFARS operation, and amend or withdraw this authorization.

k. Any changes to the CFARS operation must be approved by the Director of Operations, Industry Canada.

4. "I wish to thank you and the members of your Department for the co-operation extended to us in the development of this authorization."

End