The following information is from the VE100VIMY website at https://ve100vimy.ca/tm100vimy/
The operations from the Canadian VIMY war memorial site will commence 0000z April 1 and continue to April 10 with 17 operators and 2 stations operating multi-mode from 160 to 10m as band conditions allow.
TM100VIMY will be the call sign used by the operation at VIMY as, about a decade ago, Canada agreed that French law would apply to the VIMY site. North American operators should be aware that the IARU region 1 band plan will be used. This primarily affects the following: 160m is 1.8 to 1.85 MHz, 80m is 3.5 to 3.75 MHz, 40m is 7.0 to 7.2 MHz,
The operations are not open to the public due to security restrictions and our agreements with the agencies involved.
If your group is planning on a public (special event, press) demonstration of a contact with TM100VIMY, please contact so that we can discuss how to make your event a success.
Note that the radio club F8KHW from the town of HARNES (62) will activate portable, Saturday, 08 April 2017, all day, on VHF (relay of ARTOIS 145.687.5 and BLU), HF (40 and 20 m) voice, maybe CW and PSK on WAILLY LES ARRAS (62), near Arras, to commemorate the centenary of the battle of ARRAS which took place jointly with that of VIMY, on 09 April 1917 during WW1.
Les opérations du site canadien commémoratif de guerre VIMY débuteront le 1 er avril et continueront jusqu’au 10 avril, avec 17 opérateurs et 2 stations opérant en mode multimédia de 160 à 10 m selon les conditions de la bande.
TM100VIMY sera l’indicatif d’appel utilisé par l’opération à VIMY puisque, il y a une dizaine d’années, le Canada a accepté que la loi française s’applique au site VIMY. Les exploitants nord-américains doivent savoir que le plan de bande de la région 1 de l’IARU sera utilisé. Cela affecte principalement les éléments suivants: 160m est de 1,8 à 1,85 MHz, 80m de 3,5 à 3,75 MHz, 40m de 7,0 à 7,2 MHz.
Les opérations ne sont pas ouvertes au public en raison de restrictions de sécurité et de nos ententes avec les organismes concernés.
Si votre groupe planifie une démonstration publique (événement spécial, presse) d’un contact avec TM100VIMY, veuillez communiquer avec afin que nous puissions discuter de la réussite de votre événement.
Notez que le radio club F8KHW de la ville de HARNES (62) sera activé portable, le samedi 08 avril 2017, toute la journée, en VHF (relais d’ARTOIS 145.687.5 et BLU), HF (40 et 20 m) voix, peut-être CW et PSK sur WAILLY LES ARRAS (62), près d’Arras, pour commémorer le centenaire de la bataille d’ARRAS qui a eu lieu conjointement avec celle de VIMY, le 09 avril 1917 pendant WW1.
The VE100VIMY project began in 2012 when Don Studney, VE7DS, led the formation of the Richmond BC based Vimy Commemorative Station Society. Since then planning and preparation has been done in Canada with support from Amateur Radio clubs, Radio Amateurs of Canada, Hammond Radio, Radioworld (Calgary and Toronto) and Spiderbeam (Germany).
In the lead-up to the operations in Vimy from April 1 to 9, the planning group challenged individuals and clubs across Canada to activate VE100VIMY/VEn. The overwhelming response to this invitation has been an energizing experience for all involved. Starting on January 1 operators in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island activated VE100VIMY/VE1 and VE100VIMY/VY2. They logged more than 8,000 contacts in their one-week activation and passed the torch for one week each to VE2, VE3, VE4, VE5 and currently VE6, VE7, VY0, VE9, VO1, VY1, VE8 and VO2 are yet to come as of today’s date.
Since the first of the year there have been more than 18,000 contacts made in over 100 countries, 32 zones and all six continents using 160 through 2 metres. 20 metres was used for 65% of all contacts and the QSO count in Canada will continue until the end of March. Many Amateurs are seeking certificates offered for working VE100VIMY in as many of its activations as possible. Details for the certificates and photos of many of the activating operators may be found at https://ve100vimy.ca/.
So far more than 90 operators have been involved in the Canadian activations. Boyd, VO1CBS, has created a very active VE100VIMY Facebook page with photos and activation information. Spotting can also be done using new.dxsummit.fi.
VE100VIMY on-air activity will culminate with a 24-hours-a-day operation for nine consecutive days from the actual Vimy battle site in France. The call sign used in France will be TM100VIMY.
Canadian Amateurs in the past have used special event prefixes for various events, centennials and currently Canada 150. Never has one call sign been used by all Canadian call sign areas in a coordinated special event like the Vimy Centennial commemoration. Truly, the Vimy activators and their contacts are making Canadian Amateur Radio history.
The centenary of the Battle will be marked in April by formal ceremonies to be held at the base of the monument which will be attended by Heads of State. Approximately two kilometres away, but still at summit level, a commemorative Amateur Radio station with the call sign TM100VIMY, will operate from April 1 to April 9. There will be two stations and appropriate antennas working on a 24-hour basis. The event is being organized by the Vimy Commemorative Station Society, a registered in British Columbia Society, in coordination with a number of leading Canadian Amateurs.
The Vimy site has been visited on three recent occasions by members of the Vimy Commemorative Station Society Executive for purposes of logistics planning and antenna siting. Radio noise levels were assessed in April of 2015 and found to be low. Present plans are to cover 160-10 metres using CW, RTTY and SSB. Special efforts will be made to aim good signals at Canada which lies at a somewhat unfavorable bearing from the QTH.
For security reasons the shack will not be open to the public nor to visiting Amateurs. Contact will have to be made the hard way – on HF.
Operators have been recruited from across Canada and France. Many are experienced contesters and DXpeditioners. The Executive may be contacted at .
Stay tuned for more information on VE100VIMY in the next two issues of The Canadian Amateur magazine.
Hugh McCully, VE3AYR
Publicity Director
Vimy Commemorative Station Society