January 10th PARC GENERAL MEETING 2023
The Peterborough Amateur Radio Club Meeting began at 7:30 PM with President Steve VE3PTA
calling the meeting to order.
The meeting was a hybrid meeting, with members in house, and
members present via ZOOM.
The library at Otonbee Valley School was full with members in
attendance. There were six members using ZOOM and 26 members in house.
Executive members present:
President Steve VE3PTA, Vice President (via ZOOM ) Paul VE3KBI,
Treasurer, Barry VE3BLM, Technical, Rick VE3IQZ,
Activities, John VA3NW,
Secretary, Bob VE3IEL.
Club Officers present: ARES coordinator ( via ZOOM ) John VE3VL, Webmaster/Resources,
Harmen VE3EMA, PL Net coordinator Nina VE3IRK.
Members Present (in house): Barry VA3BB
Paresh VE3PQX
Phyllis VA3PVB Ralph VE3RO
Andrew VE3AND Ron VE3LUZ
Devon VE3DEV
Dave VE3SD
Jerry VA3CN John VE3XOE
Paul VE3AXT Terry VA3IX
Rick VE3RKY Doug VA3FE
Don VE3ET Randy VE3DIV
Martin VA3OMW Patricia XYL/ VA3GPK
Gary VA3GPK
Members Present ( via ZOOM ):
Ted VA3FZZ Keith VA3HXC
Sylvia VE3HXC Don VE3BSR
Treasurers report:
Treasurer Barry VE3BLM gave the following report:
Dues paid, Brian VE3NSI
Dec. 6th $35.00, Harmen VE3EMA
Dec. 6th $35.00, Paresh VE3PQX
Dec. 18th $35.00, Doug VA3FE
Dec.22nd $35.00, Dave VE3RRN
Dec. 30th 35.00.
Expenses: KPRDSB (
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board )
Dec. 3rd $47.42,
Nexcom Inc. Dec. 24th $62.09,
Service charge
Dec. 31st $2.50.
Petty cash: $599.20, GIC: $868.76,
Repeater link: $865.00,
Bank: $3,314.01.
Technical report:
Technician Rick VE3IQZ reported: Everything seems to be operating pretty good
and functioning. VE3APL repeater equipment is ready to go up north.
VE3TJR repeater is working OK. Rick noted that he had tested the
batteries of VE3PBO repeater, and had the repeater working on batteries
from the previous Wed. ARES net until after the Monday PL Net.
Batteries were in use for 110 hours.
This battery test was done without
notice to members, so that repeater operation would carry on normally.
Voltage tests were done. After service, the batteries tested 11.7 volts.
If even more emergency power is required, a generator could be added
for more repeater time.
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January 10th PARC GENERAL MEETING 2023 CONTINUED
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Technical report continued: Steve VE3PTA asked about the new link to the PL Net from the UHF
repeater in Lindsay controlled by Randy VE3RWN.
Rick reported that
Randy's Lindsay link is working well.
This link would allow Lindsay
radio operators to join our morning PL Nets, and Wednesday ARES Nets.
Harmen VE3EMA was asked to show how the Peterborough Club
repeaters could be controlled and monitored.
Harmen VE3EMA Video slide presentation:
Room lights were dimmed so that members could see
the details of the video screen. The Website of VE3KPG was made
available via Rick VE3RKY's in house system.
A remote control unit
was shown that could turn repeaters on and off.
This device could
monitor various repeater technical information, as well as temperatures
at the repeater sites.
It could check for open doors, & power problems.
It is expected that this remote control device shall be in operation within
a week or two on repeater VE3PBO.
Bob VE3IEL asked how the remote
device was to be controlled. Harmen replied that the unit would be
controlled via the internet.
Steve VE3PTA asked Harmen about 5.9 GHZ linking plans.
Harmen
reported that he had nothing new. Harmen VE3EMA and John VE3VL
will attempt to coordinate with the city and county on an emergency plan.
This would then allow for discussions on antenna locations, linking, and
progress moving forward.
Activities report: John VA3NW gave the following report: On Winter Field Day, John said that he
needed volunteers. No Winter Field Day site had been arranged yet.
Winter Field Day is held near the end of January ( Jan. 28 & 29
2023 ).
The small trailer that was used during Summer Field Day, shall be used
again for Winter Field Day. This trailer can accommodate two operators.
The trailer hitch ball size was confirmed
( 2 inch size ). John VA3NW
noted that he was unable to haul the trailer with his vehicle.
John needs
radio operators. Anyone with radio contest experience could really help.
John noted that it would take time to set up a station, and when the time
for the contest was over the station antennas etc. would have to be taken
down.
John VA3NW asked who had participated in Winter Field Day
before. Barry VE3BLM asked if participation from home counted.
John indicated that what he needed were remote site operators.
Steve VE3PTA asked about using previous sites.
Steve noted how an
area near Trent University had been used before.
Dave VE3SD mentioned how we once used an area near the Lift Locks,
however the trees in that area have been cut down.
Dave also noted
that if Winter Field Day was held at a Parks Canada location, then
Parks On The Air ( POTA ) contacts could also be counted.
Dave also
remarked that construction had been completed at Lock 23.
John VA3NW referred to rules that did not allow operation within 30 ft.
of a permanent amateur radio installation.
The use of Paul VE3AXT
home location was discussed. It was noted that Paul's property is
quite large, and there are trees for antennas.
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January 10th PARC GENERAL MEETING 2023 CONTINUED
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Activities continued ( Winter Field Day ): John VA3NW
mentioned that the little operating trailer
& ( POTA )
has a heater.
John also noted that Phyllis VA3PVB makes a great beef
stew dinner for operators. Gary VA3GPK quickly volunteered to
help. Gary mentioned that he was inexperienced;
but willing to
help John on January 29th.
John VA3NW asked Steve about Parks On The AIR ( POTA ) as he
was interested in POTA activity. Steve VE3PTA replied that he had
sent out an e-mail with information.
Steve also mentioned that it was
a little harder to operate POTA in the local area.
It takes 10 people to
activate a park.
If ten meters, or two meters are used then these bands
could be useful for more local operations.
The more bands that are
used then more points are available.
If 10 people in the local area
could work POTA operators, say on a given Saturday,
that would
count toward more awards.
Steve noted how the club had not done
radio fox hunts recently. POTA
contact action can be a lot of fun.
Steve mentioned that you don't need a large group to participate,
yet all club members could participate and enjoy this type of activity.
Awards can be had for hunting, activating, and making contacts.
You could really decorate your shack, or scrap book with certificates.
Steve VE3PTA would like to get more activity going with the club.
When Steve asked for comments or questions, it was noted that POTA
is not just North America, but world wide.
Contacts have been made
with contest operators around the world, and on all amateur
frequencies. There are plenty of parks to work.
The number is in the
several thousands in Canada alone.
There was a discussion on how
parks qualified for points. Examples of all Trent waterway parks, and
all Rideau waterway parks counting as just one park each were given.
Other examples of parks, trails, and seaways, counting as just one
entry, were also given. Historical park sites make for an extra entry.
An example of this would be the Peterborough Lift lock area
counting as an additional entry.
ARES report: John Lagrange VE3VL reported that he had been coordinating ARES for five years.
In the next few months he will be stepping aside from that duty.
John has contacted RAC Section Manager Mike Hickey about this
change. Mike congratulated John VE3VL and our local group for the
many ARES achievements that were made over the last few years.
John then told of how there had been local organizational meetings
regarding local ARES changes. People have been asked who
would like to take a lead role in Peterborough ARES.
Harmen VE3EMA will work along side John as main assistant
coordinator before taking over as local ARES coordinator. There
are some important tasks that need to be done before a leadership
transition can be made. A telephone call-out tree,
a members
information file, an operational strategy, contact with the city
on our contribution to its emergency plan, and adding new linking
equipment and antenna sites to what exists now.
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January 10th PARC GENERAL MEETING 2023 CONTINUED
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ARES report continued: These plans shall be addressed as we move forward.
For the transition,
Harmen VE3EMA, after taking over from John VE3VL, will act
as our Peterborough ARES/ ACS
Coordinator. Harmen will
be assisted by Martin VA3OMA. Then, in future, Martin will act
as Assistant Coordinator.
John was asked about the IMS training schedule.
John said that
there were Ontario Incident Management courses available
on line, such as IMS 100 and IMS EM 125.
John was then asked about certification.
John replied that when at
operation emergency centres, operators will need to be certified.
Operators there will need to be aware of the Ontario Incident
Management requirements. RAC will determine what shall be
required for certification. John VE3VL, at this time, does not have
more information from RAC. Our group will carry on with our
plan for ARES activities. It is hoped that we can work with the
city to advance our communications ability with resources like
Ham Wan infrastructure.
Vice President report: Paul VE3KBI, our Vice President noted that he had no report for this month.
Nomination for election:
President Steve VE3PTA opened for nominations of our elected officers for
the next club term beginning in February.
Steve then asked for
nominations for President. There were no other nominations, other
than Steve agreeing to serve again as President.
Steve then asked for
nominations for Vice President. With no new nominations,
Paul VE3KBI agreed to serve again as Vice President.
Steve then
asked for nominations for Treasurer.
There were no new
nominations and Barry VE3BLM, agreed to stay on as Treasurer.
Steve then asked for nominations for Activities Coordinator.
There
were no new nominations, and John VA3NW agreed to stay on as
Activities Coordinator.
Steve noted that Bob VE3IEL would not be
serving as Secretary for next term.
Steve then asked for nomination
for Secretary.
Nina VE3IRK was nominated but declined due to her
already busy schedule. With no other nominations put forth,
Bob VE3IEL agreed to carry on as Secretary until PARC Field Day.
Steve VE3PTA asked for more business: Barry VE3BLM mentioned that he had some old binders
from the history of the club. There were pictures of club members
and other items from the 50's. 60's, 70's and 80's.
Barry asked if
anyone else would like to look at these files.
Bob VE3IEL asked if
he could look at them.
Bob mentioned that he had other club
documents that he received from former President Andrew Bell
VE3AND.
Barry VE3BLM remarked that as Bob VE3IEL would
have them, anyone else that would like to see them, to contact Bob,
on Romaine St. There was a discussion as to when the club began,
and about former members. Rick VE3IQZ had some recollection.
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JANUARY
10th PARC GENERAL MEETING 2023 CONTINUED
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More business continued:
There was an indication that club members began gathering around 1937.
It was early on that the call sign VE3RB started in Peterborough as
the call sign for the club. It originated with Frank Sherwood VE3RB.
There are club bulletins that go back to the 70s, pictures and older
membership lists in the material that Barry VE3BLM handed to
Secretary Bob VE3IEL.
CRESTS:
President Steve VE3PTA mentioned that he still had a number of club crests for sale.
The cost is $8.00 each.
A number of members present purchased some club crests.
50-50 draw:
Barry VE3BLM was the winner of the 50-50 draw.
President Steve VE3PTA thanked everyone for such a good turn out.
Motion fot adjournment:
This motion was made by Barry VE3BLM.
The motion was seconded by
Jerry VA3CN.
The club meeting ended by 8:30 p.m.
Submitted by Secretary Bob Chrysler VE3IEL
January 28th 2023