OSCARC Newsletter for January 2010
The Club’s first meeting of the New Year convened at 1942 EST on Tuesday, January 05.
Members present: Ward VE3WGK (Pres), John VA3JE, Peter VE3EYI (Chair), Neil VE3NGS, Alex VA3XLO, David VE3RER, Jean VE3WAD, Bill VE3PPC, Jeff VE3PRX (Sect), Jay VE3EMP, Don VE3ZYM, Peter VE3MUW, Ori VA3XW, Tim VE3IXN
Regrets: David VE3ETE
Peter MUW is a new volunteer and was attending his first meeting as a member. In a previous life Peter was a radio op onboard Canadian Navy ships. He is fluent in Morse.
Welcome aboard!
The Secretary presented the Minutes of the December meeting. There were no corrections or changes. Ward WGK moved they be accepted, seconded by Jean WAD. Motion carried.
General Business
Jeff PRX advised that the website access codes he obtained from Rob VE3ESC are not complete. Once he has the complete set updates to the website will proceed apace.
John/3JE is still waiting for nametag artwork. Persons, who shall remain nameless, have agreed to expeditiously follow through on their commitment to provide same.
John JE gave an update on the Club’s successful participation in the RAC winter contest: The tally follows: 341 Qs, Score 92332 (41 sections), 13 RAC stations worked!, 4 contacts on 160m!, 17 of 24 hours worked. Operators: Jeff VE3PRX, Peter VE3EYI, Peter VE3MUW, TimVE3IXN, Ori VA3XW, David VE3RER, Ward VE3WGK, John VA3JE.
Band Mode QSOs Pts Sec
160 CW 4 32 2
160 LSB 1 10 1
80 CW 29 180 3
80 LSB 94 734 5
40 CW 57 270 6
40 LSB 8 48 3
20 CW 29 156 4
20 USB 97 688 8
15 USB 22 134 4
__________________________
Totals 341 2252
41
All this despite a horrendous RF noise level due to the fans not being turned off for us overnight, as was previously agreed to. Jeff PRX will get RAC data from John JE to post on the website. David RER sent the consolidated results file from the N1MM logging program in the required computer format to RAC for adjudication. No Hams were hurt or injured as a result of our foray into computer logging.
David RER has donated a laptop computer to the Club for logging, etc in the shack! Thanks Dave!
Peter EYI brought a document indicating some police forces (Halton region specifically) are interpreting Bill 118 as not exempting HAMs from handsfree operation. A spirited discussion followed. A Motion was made by Jean WAD, seconded by Ori XW that the Club draft a letter to RAC expressing our concern and urging them to request clarification from the appropriate bodies.
Carried. Ori XW volunteered to draft a letter for the President WGK to approve and forward to RAC on behalf of the OSCARC. Ward WGK said that OSC will be changing the LAN configuration in the shack so we will be allowed to connect a router and use the web more freely. This will involve firewalling the shack from the main Science Center LAN, which we don’t need to access anyway. It was pointed out that having a mini network in the shack would allow us to easily print QSL card labels. It was agreed that our QSL guru Bill WTT, who was not present at the meeting, should be fully involved so that any label system adheres to established VE3OSC procedures Jean WAD mentioned that an anonymous donor supplied Christmas poinsettias for the shack and our volunteer coordinator! The members present expressed their thanks to the donor, you know who you are. We do as well, but we’re not telling.
Based on Club’s participation in the RAC Winter Contest a discussion ensued during which it was agreed that contests can be fun when approached with a Zen mindset, as opposed to killer Ninja mode, and maybe we should participate in more. John JE said he would look into identifying some suitable future ones and present his findings at the next meeting. One possibility is the Ontario QSO Party in mid-April.
President’s Report:
Ward advised that he had no earth shattering wisdom to impart.
Treasurer’s Report:
Inasmuch as our Treasurer was not at the meeting we have to assume that the Club is still solvent.
However if Bill shows up on 20m as VE3WTT/PY we will reassess our position.
Station Activity:
Various members updated the group on their on-air activities in the shack. Jean WAD said she made some satellite contacts after a long drought.
Future Presentations:
Tuesday Feb/02/2010 will feature Jeff PRX talking about Google Earth.
We desperately need people willing to do a presentation at any future meeting after February. 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 EYI ve3eyi@gmail.com.
Flooby Dust and Waaf
Peter EYI mentioned some interesting material he had found on the Web.
http://www.qsl.net/i0jx/minutemaid.html Clever temp HF antenna for apartment dwellers
http://www.qsl.net/i0jx/capacit.html In depth article about capacitors
http://www.qsl.net/i0jx/index.html Ham stuff resource from I0JX (India Zero Juliet X-ray)
http://bit.ly/5EmAG1 Ultimate mobile.
http://ham.france.free.fr/crbst_17.html Ham mag on-line to continue. Run
by Vincent F5SLD
http://bit.ly/4NqH8C Old movie clip re hams
Thanks to Neil NGS for pointing out www.bit.ly which turns long and unwieldy URLs into user-friendly short URLs.
Break: At 2040EST the group took time to restore their heart rates with coffee and cookies or by recharging pacemakers, as appropriate.
After the break:
At 20:56 David RER gave a comprehensive presentation on the N1MM contest logging program, which is a free download (check Google). David showed the powerful features of the program but stressed that it could be also be very useful when using minimal options. The members present saw that computer logging doesn’t have to be scary. David said he is available to field questions from first-time users in the Club. He also suggested
checking out Morse Runner (search on Google) for practicing your skills!
The Chairman EYI thanked David RER for his presentation, Jean WAD for providing coffee and cookies and, on a motion by John JE seconded by Ori XW, adjourned the meeting at 21:44EST
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 on the drive in. Visitors are welcome.