February 2008

 

Amateur Radio Society of Dryden

 February 13th, 2008 Meeting Minutes

Dryden Fire Service Training Centre

 

 

Meeting was brought to order by President Bryan.

Attendance:     Leo, VE3ASS              Rick, VA3RGA           Maurice, VE3MLF

                        Scott, VA3EXT            Bryan, VA3BRY         Woody, VE3JJA

                        Jim, VE3JLN              Arnie, VA3NOL            Bob, VA3GUN

                        Trevor, VE3HTT         Neil, VE3VNM             Dave, VE3LMU

 

While we usually dont have a February Meeting, because there were not enough members at the January Meeting to form a Quorum, we are holding a February Meeting.

 

M.S.Arnie, VA3NOL; Scott, VA3EXT, the minutes of the November 14, 2007 meeting be adopted as read.  Carried.

 

M.S.Rick, VA3RGA; Arnie, VA3NOL, the Financial Statement as at December 30, 2007 be adopted as read.  Carried.

 

Old Business

Sharon, VA3SJM, sent out thank you notes to local business that had supplied prizes for Camp 807.

 

The club received a Thank you card from the Dryden Police Service for our participation in the 2007 Pumpkin Patrol.

 

The Christmas Banquet was attended by 32 amateurs and families. Thank you to all who helped make it possible.  The Chinese Auction raised $325.00 for the club.

 

Thanks to those that help with the 2007 Santa Claus Parade:

 

Bob, VE3YDN             Arnie, VA3NOL                       Dick, VA3DYK

Brendan, VA3BJM      Fred, VA3WFN                       Scott, VA3EXT

Alf, VE3EFT                Bryan, VA3BRY

 

Arnie reported that the Chamber of Commerce would no longer host the Santa Claus and Canada Day parades.  Dick reported a similar decision by the Antique Tractor club in Vermilion Bay, finding Insurance costs were high to host the Parade.

 

VE3DRY Repeater Report:

 

Once we have transferred our antennas and equipment over to DMTSs tower and building, we will need to dismantle our tower.  The club will hold it in inventory until there is another location where we can utilize it.  There was discussion about how to handle our agreement with DMTS.  We dont want to loose our location, especially if DMTS is sold by the city to another service provider.

 

Presently, the UPS Back-up power at the repeater is not working.  Rather than replace the batteries, it was decided to wait until we move into the new facility.  DMTS will be providing Emergency Back up Power there, and will allow us an allocation.  Should we need it, several members have generators that we can position at the repeater if needed.

 

New Business

Scott demonstrated the IRLP Node on the VA3DIS repeater (147.375+).  He explained that a node was basically a radio and computer with a connection to the internet.  A reflector is an audio hub that connects more than one nodes together.

 

Our Nodes are on Channel 2 of the Vancouver Reflector (REF9002).

 

City/Town                    Node                           Frequency

Atikokan                      2768                            147.120

Dryden                        2739                            147.375+

Kenora                        2949                            146.910-

Sioux Narrows            2015                            146.580    simplex

Sioux Lookout             2590                            147.315+  PL 192.8

Ignace                         2414                            147.180+  PL 123.0

Fort Frances               2509                            146.570   simplex

Thunder Bay               2000                            145.450-  PL 123.0

Winnipeg                     1066                            145.450-

 

We will need to know the IRLP node number we want to connect to.  This is available on the Internet:

 

The IRLP home page is  www.irlp.net

Node/Reflector Status is found at  www.status.irlp.net

 

To connect:  ID with call sign and enter the 4 digit IRLP number.  Once connected, ID again with call sign.

 

Once connected, when you press the PTT button, pause before you start your call or QSOthis will allow the control signals to pass over the internet.

 

To disconnect, ID with call sign and press 73.

 

Node numbers are assigned by the Canadian IRLP coordinator.  Some nodes will require a CTCSS tone.

 

Our nodes, when connected to the Vancouver Reflector wont time out, however, if connected to other nodes will time out after 12 minutes.  If the node detects a carrier on the radio, it wont allow access, so that means the node is already in use.  We will receive a voice generated errorand will not need to enter 73 in this case.

 

IRLP links will be less expensive than providing radio links.  All that is required at the site is a high-speed internet connection, as well as the appropriate computer/radio equipment.  No UHF radio linking with the associated feed-line cables and antennas is required.

 

VA3DIS coverage extends to Borups Corners, and VA3IGN extends to English River.  At present, Upsalas repeater isnt connected either with a radio link nor with an IRLP linkdue to unwillingness to undertake projects by the Thunder Bay radio club.

 

Warren, VE3FYN, Atikokan, is trying to get another repeater somewhere between Thunder Bay and Atikokan to fill-in that area.

 

Scott mentioned that he is trying to set up a IRLP node 2468 for Ear Falls to provide a simplex link onto the Vancouver 9002 Reflector.

 

Woody, VE3JJA reminded members that we need to follow the amateur "Q" codes when using our repeaters and nodes.  There are lots of people who may not be hams, but who own scanners, and they are monitoring our repeaters.

 

He also mentioned, especially when we are working with EMO, we should not use "Q signals"we should use the actual wordingi.e. plain and precise English, as the codes will mean nothing to the people we are working with.

 

Bryan, VA3BRY; Woody, VE3JJA; and Bob, VA3GUN reported on the Emergency Seminar that was taking place this week.  The Dryden EMO and CP Rail are planning a September Emergency Exercise (date TBA).  The club will be involved in the exercise.  It is important that members develop our own Emergency Preparations for home and family as well as our participation with the emergency communications.  Bryan presented a proposed Telephone Tree that Bob and he were working on.  The club will need to contact each member to ensure they are willing to participateif so, their names and contacts will be included on the list.  Otherwise, they will not be contacted.

 

ARES, through the RAC web site, is making picture ID cards available.  The ID cards the club developed several years ago may not be compatible.

 

A training course is available on the EMO Web Site:  emoares.org.

 

Arnie, VA3NOL won the 50/50 Draw.

 

M.S. by Neil, VE3VNM; Arnie, VA3NOL; the meeting adjourn.  Carried.

 

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