Central Toronto Amateur Radio Club Newsletter
June 2012
The regular monthly Club meeting was held on at on 2012-06-05 at the Leaside Retirement Residence, 10 William Morgan Drive, Toronto, Ontario. The Chairman opened the meeting at 19h31 EDT.
Members Attending: Richard VA3RBZ, Ed VE3EOC, George VA3GJ, Peter VE3EYI (president) John VA3JE (chairman), Warren VE3WDE, Jeff VE3PRX (secretary), Bob VE3SRE, Bill VE3RYE, Gary VE3NMI, Don VE3AFE, Ward VE3WGK, Alex VA3XLO, Tim VE3IXN, Jean VE3WAD, Don VA3XFT, Ralph VE3RWO, Ray VE3UKO, Ori VA3XW, Bill VA3PPC, Clayton Wozney (21)
Regrets: Bill VA3WTT (treasurer), Ben VA3BLO, Paul VA3PAW, Mike Martin, Harold VE3VJJ, Michele Langlois, Ian VA3ODA (7)
New members: Eva McDonald, Stewart Russell VA3PID, Bruno Bourgoin VE3VXR (3)
Visitors: Steven Reid, Ian Gibbard VA3IGD (2)
Review of the previous meeting:
- Per the President’s email to all members and as announced at the last meeting the Newsletter now serves as the official record. The May Newsletter was distributed prior to the June meeting. Copies of the May Newsletter and raw Minutes were available for inspection by those present. and
- The Secretary asked if there were any errors or omissions noted in the May Newsletter. Given that there were none he asked for a Motion to adopt the May Newsletter as a correct account of the meeting. Motion by Ward WGK, seconded by Ralph RWO, carried by majority vote.
Business Arising from the Minutes:
-Per information from Ralph RWO regarding the Red Cross they have been advised that Ham radio has and continues to be available to them in emergencies.
-The question raised at the previous meeting regarding Paper vs Computer logging at Field Day will be address by Don XFT during his presentation.
-The kit building activity proposed by Jay EMP will be addressed after FD.
New Business
-John JE has checked with ARES Toronto and they are aware of CenTor ARC. ARES/EMO has offered a person to do a talk for us sometime in the future.
-Don XFT is working on a revision to the licence course for the Fall. Updates when available.
-Per a question at the previous meeting the Field Day rules state that Region 2 stations can enter the contest for points and contact any station for points. Stations outside Region 2 can work Region 2 FD stations but can only submit check logs.
-Ralph RWO suggested perhaps we institute regular informal get togethers in addition to the regular monthly meetings. The executive will address this after FD. Check website/Facebook for updates.
-Don XFT gave an update on his trip to the Dayton Hamfest. About 24,000 hams attended. He acquired (another) handheld and a repeater
-ARRL has uploaded videos of presentations from Dayton 2012 to Youtube: Dayton 2012 The one about spray-on antennas is quite groundbreaking.
-In response to a question from the floor regarding bringing purchased ham equipment across the border Ori XW indicated that is duty exempt but GST may apply.
President’s Report:
-Access to Room 430 is still pending. Still awaiting a decision on deploying antennas
-Our participation in Field Day using LRR grounds is approved. FD coordinator, Don XFT is working directly with LRR management on the details..
-Logo submissions are in, and EYI will distribute after FD.
-Permanent badges are in the works. Hopefully they will be available in the Fall.
-Website: Help wanted! Talk to Jeff PRX if you can assist.
Secretary’s Report:
-Jeff PRX gave updates regarding the Club’s website and Facebook and Twitter accounts. Links will be posted on the website.
Treasurer’s Report:
-In the absence of the Treasurer, Ward WTT reported on his behalf. The state of the Club’s finances is healthy. Details will be revealed to Members by email or are available by contacting the Treasurer.
-Receipts were distributed to Members for dues previously paid.
Club Station Report:
-If you have gear or items such as tables, chairs, bookcases, file cabinets, lamps, etc which you are willing to donate or provide on long-term loan to the Club please email va3cta@gmail.com.
Member’s On-air Activity:
- Ray UKO worked 10m on a homebrew inverted V: 5×7 to Polynesia (FO4BX)
- ORI XW reminded the crowd of the special event stations for the UK jubilee, Belgium WWI commemoration and the 2012 Olympics (2O1L)
Milestones:
-Please submit any significant ham-related items to va3cta@gmail.com for inclusion in the Newsletter.
Future Presentations:
-The Chairman is always open to suggestions for, or offers to give, a presentation at a meeting. Contact John JE in either case.
Break: at 2010 Thanks to Jean WAD for the cookies and LRR for coffee
Presentation:
-After the break Don XFT gave a talk and update on the Club’s preparation for Field Day 2012 which will be staged behind LRR.
The President declared the formal meeting adjourned at 2115 EDT.
The Club meets at 1930 local on the first Tuesday of the month, unless it is a holiday, in which case the second Tuesday. Check in & out with Front Desk at Leaside Retirement Residence, 10 William Morgan Drive, in Leaside. Turn North off Overlea Blvd, West of Don Mills Rd. Parking on the West side of the building. Monitor VA3XPR 441.950+ p/l 100.0 or VE3TWR 145.410- on the drive in. Visitors are welcome.
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Floobie Dust: (A term first coined in the 1976 National Semiconductor Audio Handbook, defined as “a contemporary term derived from archaic Latin miscellaneus, whose disputed history probably springs from Greek origins influenced, of course, by Egyptian linguists) — meaning here “a mixed bag.” )
From Gary NMI:
Software defined radio from Ettus Inc Using an SDR (video)
From Paul PAW: Setting up a Ham station
From Peter EYI:
ARRL Do-it-yourself project Home-built equipment group (Requires registration.)
OH6DC Typewriter CW keyboard WOW! Now that’s hi tech!!