March 2005
Amateur Radio Society of Dryden
March 9, 2005 Meeting Minutes
Dryden Fire Service Training Centre
President Bob, VA3GUN, brought the meeting to order.
Minutes of the January 12, 2005 Meeting were read.
Participants at the Chamber of Commerce's Santa Parade were not included in the minutes posted on the club's web site. They were:
Bob, | VA3GUN | |
Alf, | VE3EFT | |
Neil, | VE3VNM | |
Garry, | VE3MOR | |
Dick, | VA3DIK | |
Arnie, | VA3NOL | |
Kim, | VA3KMM | |
Joy, | VA3JYA | |
Bryan, | VA3BRY | |
Rick, | VA3RGA | |
Brendan, | VA3BJM |
M.S. Rick, VA3RGA; Bryan, VA3BRY that the minutes of the January 12, 2005 meeting be accepted as read. Carried.
Old Business
Radio Class--three students have written and passed their Basic Exams. They are waiting for their call signs. The Advanced Class has been postponed due to time constraints.
Emergency Communications Centre--addition of partitions, shelves, equipment and documents has been completed.
Can Warn Training--Environment Canada has put us on their 2005 course list. Actual date has yet to be established, subject to instructor availability, funding, etc.
New Business
Bob, VA3GUN, reported that eight members assisted with communications at the Eton Rugby Winter Festival dog sled races:
Bob, | VA3GUN | |
Neil, | VE3VNM | |
Bob, | VE3YDN | |
Dick, | VA3DIK | |
Arnie, | VA3NOL | |
Janis, | VE3JNS | |
Bob, | VA3UDP | |
Dave, | VE3LMU |
Scott, VA3EXT, reported that Garry, VE3MOR and himself have completed the upgrading of the UHF link between Dryden and Sioux Narrows.
VA3SXN (Sioux Narrows) Before
Radios |
RX |
RX duplexers -antenna |
TX |
TX duplexers -antenna |
Antenna |
MSR-2000 |
0.2uv |
0.25uv |
25w (0 ref) |
21 w |
(0.5 reflected) |
Link 1 GE Royal |
1uv |
1.3uv |
10w - dummy load |
10w (0.5 reflected) |
(50 out 50 ref, lots of desence) - between radio & duplexer |
Link 3 GE Royal |
5uv (0.75uv pre-amp) |
3uv (0.9uv pre-amp) |
10w |
8.5 w |
(0 reflected) minimal desence |
VA3SXN (Sioux Narrows) After
Radios |
RX |
RX duplexers -antenna |
TX |
TX duplexers -antenna |
Antenna |
MSR-2000 |
0.2uv |
0.25uv |
58w (0 ref) |
50 w |
(0.5 reflected) (Tweaked notch capacitors on duplexers to get good zero desence with increased power) |
Link 1 GE Exec |
0.3uv |
0.4uv |
18w |
12 w |
(0 reflected) - (Had to tune up Sinclair MR356 left over from Black Hawk Link 2, to get good pass & zero desence) |
Link 3 GE Mastr II |
0.2uv |
0.25uv |
60w |
50 w |
(0 reflected) - Used new Sinclair Q3220 duplexer & achieved zero desence |
RX Audio input settings with new radios at squelch card.
3.2 KHz deviation input signal with tone "5" on keypad of handheld
TP 1 - Local Repeater 425mv AC
TP 2 - Link 1 Radio 318mv AC
TP 4 - Link 3 Radio 461mv AC
Unfortunately, the VE3LWR, Link 1 to Sioux Narrows is down for transmitter repairs. Kenora will be upgrading their end of the link this spring, and then they will work on upgrading VE4FAL, Falcon Lake. Bob, VA3GUN, mentioned he is now able to hit the Sioux Narrows repeater at Bill's Half-way House/Stewart Lake. The noise bursts we are hearing on the VE3DRY repeater originate at VE4FAL. The Manitoba Repeater Society has upgraded their linking radios at VE4FAL on the Manitoba side, ie, from Milner Ridge into Falcon Lake. However, the noise is still there. Hopefully that problem will clear once Kenora upgrades the radios on the Ontario side (Falcon Lake to Kenora).
Rick, VA3RGA, congratulated and presented Assistant Emergency Coordinator Certificates to Bob, VA3GUN; Bryan, VA3BRY; Dick, VA3DIK; Adrian, VA3ALC; Bob, VE3YDN; Arnie, VA3NOL on completing their Assistant E.C. training.
Rick also mentioned the possibility of needing amateurs for a hobby demonstration day at Riverview School sometime in April. Volunteers should contact him for more details.
Warren Paulsen, VE3FYN, asked for volunteers to assist with communications at the July 13th R.C.M.P. Musical Ride. Volunteers should contact him for more details.
Scott, VA3EXT, instructed members on how to operate the linking system and the VE3DRY repeater. Scott guided members through the Pinetree Intertie System Operations Manual, pointing out that we have a unique resource with coverage from Portage la Prairie / Minnedosa to Sioux Lookout. He also gave an overview of future plans for linking.
Bryan, VA3BRY, won the 50/50 draw.
Bob, VA3GUN adjourned the meeting. Some members stayed behind to practice sending linking commands over their handheld radios.
Attendance:
Bob, VA3GUN | Kim, VA3KMM | Arnie, VA3NOL |
Rick, VA3RGA | Bob, VE3YDN | Merv, VE3MFX |
Alf, VE3EFT | Roy, VE3BJD | Bryan, VA3BRY |
Scott, VA3EXT | Dick, VA3DIK | Adrian, VA3ALC |
Joe, VE3EEX | Jim, VE3JLN | Jim, VE3JRU |
Jake, VE3JWV | Lucy, VA3LUX | Kate, VA3KKI |
Doug, VA3HTN | Janis, VE3JNS | Bruce, VE3HDM |
Melba, VE3MEB | Warren, VE3FYN | Tim, VA3TME |
Dave, VE3LMU |