OSCARC Newsletter for April 2010
The regular monthly meeting was called
to order at 1936EDT, Apr 06, 2010.
Members Present:
Peter VE3JR(MUW), David VE3RER, Peter VE3EYI (chairman), Bill VA3WTT (treasurer), Alex VA3XLO, Dave VA3ETE, Jean VE3WAD, Tim VE3IXN, John VA3JE, Ward VE3WGK (president), Neil VE3NGS, VE3PRX (secretary), Bill VA3PPC, Hugh VE3JNL
Regrets: Jay VE3EMP
Visitors: John Hansen, John Greenshie VE3OJG
The Minutes of last meeting were presented by Chairman: It was determined that 3WTT, 3PPC, 3JR all had a hand in installing the external speakers for the shack. A motion to approve the Minutes as amended was made by Ward WGK and seconded by David RER. Carried.
On-going business:
-John JE said that the nametag project is still proceeding, but slowly.
-Ward WGK told the group that our satellite antenna needs realignment and that our other antennas and feed lines also need attention. Neil NGS volunteered to help with antenna work as required. Ward also said that there are the makings for a fan dipole in the storage area but it needs rebuilding and a feedline obtained before it can be installed. He also said that he will talk to Shauna about getting a PO issued for antenna work to Doug Joice, who is a rigger.
-Discussion about obtaining a second dual band rig has been deferred because of the repair expenses to our current radio.
-Our dual band radio is back from repair and FM mode is once again functional. But it appears not to have been frequency calibrated as requested. The error is not huge but caution is urged when operating close to band edges.
-A letter has been sent to Industry Canada requesting the designated holder of the club radio licence be updated to show David Pilot as the official holder of the VE3OSC licence. David is a Ham and a staff member of the Science Center. Industry Canada has confirmed that that VE3OSC is part of a block of callsigns designated for club use only.
-It was mentioned that since paper handouts at the shack have been discontinued there are scans available of the old ones on the OSC website, but the quality is poor. Perhaps someone would be interested in regenerating them for inclusion on the Club website??
-Alex XLO knows someone who could make a banner for the outside of the shack. He will get more detail.
-The paper logbook for 2009 is missing!!! If you find it or have any clues where to look contact Bill WTT.
-It was agreed that the Club would participate in the Ontario QSO Party contest. John JE will coordinate the logistics.
From the floor:
-We have several old radios taking up space in the storage area. We need suggestions on what to do with them. e.g. Move/use/destroy/donate…??? Contact Ward WGK with suggestions, up to and including launching into the Sun. Help accelerate Cycle 24.
-It was suggested we look into setting up a remote weather station with the reading displayed outside the shack for the public. It was pointed out that years ago there was a weather station on display at the Science Center. Further discussion will be required on this topic.
-Peter EYI noted that Canadian hams now have full access to the band 135.7 – 137.8 khz.
Legal ERP is quite low and only narrow mode modulation is allowed.
Google QRSS for info on rrrreeeaaaallllyyyy slow CW and check http://www.rac.ca/en/news/bulletins/2010/7/. Previously Canadian hams needed a
permit to operate for a specific period and for a specified purpose.
-Peter JR reports that 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy and he plans to do at least one of his regular operating stints in full uniform.
President’s report:
- nil
Secretary’s Report:
- nil
Treasurer’s Report:
-The Club is still solvent.
Future Presentations:
May/04 = Ian IJS on D-Star
Jun ???= Possibly Ward WGK on the
Canwarn system.
??? = Dave ETE on receiving signals from
weather satellites and reconstructing the images.
(We need people willing to do a presentation at any future meeting. It can be long or short. If you don’t think you can fill a slot on your own we can combine two shorter topics. All suggestions and offers to present gratefully received. Contact Peter ve3eyi@gmail.com. )
Station Activity:
-Jean WAD said she is not having much success contacting ISS or satellites in general. Hopefully things will improve when the antenna pointing issue is resolved. She also reported that she had a QSO with Crete (SV9), five minutes after Tim IXN, our resident translator, had left the shack.
Break: called at 2034 for recharging and eyeball QSOs
Presentation(s): Starting at 2045 Dave ETE gave a brief demonstration of his very neat homebrew antenna used to capture weather pictures on 137Mhz from the NOAA satellites.
He showed a sample of a picture he had downloaded. He has offered give a full talk on it at a future meeting.
Then John JE, using a video projector to illustrate the fine points, talked about the Sat32 program we use in the shack to control our satellite radio and antenna. He demonstrated how to call up various satellites and how the pointing angles are determined. He also spoke about how the program automatically tunes the radio to compensate for Doppler shift and the importance of keeping the program supplied with current orbital parameters for the satellites so the antenna tracks correctly. The uplink and downlink features of many of the available satellites was discussed as well as how to determine the probability of two stations being able to establish contact during a pass.
Afterwards the Chairman thanked Dave ETE and John JE for their talks, Jean WAD for providing coffee and cookies and adjourned the meeting at 2148 EDT
The OSCARC meets at 1930 local on the first Tuesday of the month, unless it is a holiday, in which case the second Tuesday. Check in with Security from the lower parking lot down the hill on the south end of the building. Keep an ear on VE3TWR 145.410/r on the drive in. Visitors are welcome.
73
/p