OSCARC Newsletter for February 2011
The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 1940EST on Feb/08/2011.
Members Present: Neil VE3NGS (president), David VE3RER, Alex VA3XLO, Jean VE3WAD, Tim VE3IXN, Bill VA3WTT (treasurer), Jeff VE3PRX (secretary), John VA3JE (chairman), Peter VE3EYI, Jay VE3EMP, Dave VA3ETE, Bill VA3PPC. Regrets: Wayne VE3IMI, Ward VE3WGK, Ori VA3XW. Visitor: Robert McAndrew VE3BGJ
The Minutes of last meeting were presented by the Secretary. There being no errors or omissions a Motion to accept them as read was made by Jean WAD, seconded by Alex XLO. Carried.
Business arising from the Minutes:
-Jay EMP’s wife has developed a couple of options for our logo. It was suggested that they be emailed to the Executive who would then have them distributed to the Membership for comment.
-David RER presented the results of his investigation into the options available for a new dual-band (2 receiver) rig for the shack. He suggested the following models were in the running:
** Alinco DR-635T/E $430
** Icom IC-2820H $599, + UT-123 DStar $300
** Kenwood TM-V710A $530 (APRS TNC)
** Yaesu FT-8800 $435
** Yaesu FTM-350R $505, APRS/TNC/Bluetooth $100
** Yaesu FTM-350AR $610, APRS/TNC/BT $100
A discussion ensued about balancing cost/features/actual requirements. Jay EMP said that he had a TK790 he could loan to the shack pending a decision on what to purchase.
- There was further discussion about installing 1-2 large flat panels to replace the display case outside the shack and on type of content which should be shown. Neil NGS said he would discuss the issue with OSC. This is an on-going process and input is requested.
General Business:
-Bill WTT reported that Stan VE3HT’s call letter licence plate has been returned to the MoT and a facsimile has replaced it in the shack. He also said that he had to generate a police report to satisfy MoT because only one plate was available. Kudos to Bill for a job well done.
President’s Report
-The VE3OSC listing on QRZ.com needs updating! After discussion it was decided to change the current password and restrict full access to the current executive and possibly one other person who would be responsible for keeping the information current.
-Neil asked if the membership would be interested in hearing from our local RAC representative at a future meeting. The response was positive and he will follow up.
-In the Milestones category Robert BGJ admitted to having a birthday coming up later in the month.
-The popular Door Prize draw was won by David RER (1RU equipment chassis donated by VE3EYI), Jean WAD (Yaesu hat donated by Radioworld), Peter EYI (call area wall map donated by Radioworld). Immediate past winners were ineligible. Donations to the prize pool are welcome, Please contact Neil VE3NGS if you have something to contribute.
Secretary’s Report: Nothing to report.
Treasury Report: Nothing to report.
Technical report: -In Ward WGK’s absence, John JE reported that the HF beam now rotates through 360 degrees and that there is no change in or progress on the fan noise situation.
Station Activity:
-David RER said that in the recent 160m contest he made 390 contacts in 20 countries using 700 watts from his home QTH.
-Jean WAD said she had some very keen kids drop by the shack who were very interested in ISS.
-Jay EMP worked the UK from home on 20m CW using 5 watts! He got a 359 report.
- Neil mentioned that the Classic Exchange contest (SSB/AM) will be held on Sunday Feb 13.
Floobie Dust and interesting URLs:
Stealth Antennas
Great source for antenna information
This might sound familiar From Arun VA3UMA
Callsign licence plates
www.ontarioswapshop.com
Discussion of the impact of cellphone radiation
If you have vertigo don’t watch this
Great Circle calculator
Link to RAC page of up-coming events and fleamarkets From Ward VE3WGK
Cover art from old radio magazines From Neil VE3NGS
Can you identify the equipment on this page? From Peter VE3EYI
The future of mobile technology?
This Week in Amateur Radio blog From Jay VE3EMP
Wonder where your ICOM radio was born? Courtesy of the North Shore Amateur Radio Club
Future Presentations:
TBA = Talk by our local RAC representative.
TBA = Aron VA3UMA on his portable military HF rig.
TBA = Neil VE3NGS reminiscences of the original VE3OSC
TBA = Ian VE3IJS on Echolink
TBA = John Hansen on EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)
TBA = Warren VE3YHH on building a software defined radio
Contact John VA3JE if you can do a presentation at any future meeting.
Break: called at 20:40 with treats provided by Jean VE3WAD. Return at 20:51
Presentation:
Starting at 2055 John JE gave a presentation on Long-Delay Echoes, which have been a source of much speculation since the early days of radio. He detailed a number of possible explanations for short delays but suggested that there were still a lot of questions to be answered for echoes with reported delays of several 10s of seconds. John kindly provided the following list of reference material used in his talk:
- Wikipedia article
- Grasmann Analysis
- Unusual HF Propagation Phenomena
- Possible Explanations for Long Delayed Echoes
- Mystical delayed radio signals received in Oslo in 1927
- Earth/Venus/Earth echoes
- Lagrangian Points
- Some audio clips
- More audio clips
- Earth/Moon/Lagrangian echos
- Video of the HAARP atmospheric sounder project
Following John’s talk Neil NGS walked those present through the OSCARC website. Updates to features and content are being made continually and he urged members to check them out on a regular basis, and to post comments. He said that recent additions, for which we need members’ input, include:
- History of VE3OSC. Neil has written about the “1st generation” station. John volunteered to write about the more recent developments. Any info and photos would be most welcome.
See http://oscarc.com/?page_id=521
- QSL cards from VE3OSC. Neil has found 3 on the internet. Jean knows of a different one in the shack, which John will scan. If any members have other cards from ‘OSC please send a scan to Neil (or lend him the card and he will scan it and return it to you).
See http://oscarc.com/?page_id=542
- Ori VA3XW has been asked to write a brief page for aspiring radio amateurs with links to resources.
After the Presenters were thanked a Motion to adjourn was made by Peter EYI, seconded by Jeff PRX. Carried at 2201EST.
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.