Contrary to belief a Mac is very packet capable. I assembled a kit of resistors and diodes, plugged an IC and crystals into the board and "voila" a "TNC". With the software program Savant a fairly intuitive screen display is available. Some of the club DXers are gearing up for their next Cuba expedition. Radio equipment on this Caribbean island is very difficult to acquire, and members of our club have been busy helping out hams in the Santiago de Cuba area with pre- owned, but very useful amateur radio related equipment. Don VE3ESE has been instrumental in collecting, packing and shipping these items. As might be expected, export/import paper work becomes a major challenge, even for somewhat dated computers. International communications are possible on 2 metres using packet capabilities through an HF link. Gord VE3EOS in his combing of the fleamarkets throughout Southern Ontario has scrounged up almost a dozen old commercial VHF radios. However proper crystals are not so readily available. These will have to be purchased when funds can be secured. Anyone out there have an old Baycom modem (working-or not) looking for a good home? They are ideal for the older computers. A few years
back I was given a down but not out Kenwood TS520 transceiver. One of
the stipulations was that this very functional HF rig should be passed on to
someone in need. So with the help of Greg VE3NXB it also should be on
its way to Cuba. One less boat anchor on my bench.
... Sorry Gord. Regional police requested and received amateur radio communications service for police and ambulance assistance, to cover a time period 10 am 31 December to 3:00 am 1 January 2000. We "had you covered", monitoring HF, 2 Metre via VE3KSR, and a TV. Ben VA3BNY supplied a portable tower, and Dave VA3DGS the HF rig and peripherals. Space was provided in the staff cafeteria at Regional Police HQ. We had net check-ins from as far distant as Listowel and Mt Forest. Cambridge and Guelph also had ARES nets up, to complete full coverage for the Golden Triangle. KWARC was the last net to fold, shutting down @3 in the morning. Thanks to all those who gave up their New Years Eve quality time to help out. Rob VE3ZLV, Ben VA3BNY, Dave VA3DGS, Bill VE3WDL and Mary Jane VE3JHB, Larry VE3LGN, John VE3DOS, Norm VE3DEQ, and Ed VE3TCK. So, how is packeting for those of you on the active list? Norm VE3DEQ says that he is accessing on VE3KSR while VE3KWQ experiences some difficulties. Lloyd VE3BZF's node up in Orangeville is active, and Harold VE3DWH informs us that the DX cluster through VE3DQD-12 Hamilton to DXEJ is rather interesting. Connect here and you also get the current geographical trivia question of the day, supplied by VE3EJ direct from his antenna farm outside Grassie, on the escarpment above Grimsby. Do you have any interesting packet bytes to pass along? Use VE3SED Bulletin Board or send me an E-Mail.
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In
keeping with the mania of the year of "nought nought" I
decided this was the year to go into high gear. I finally acquired a
printer for my "286" grade Mac Classic. It has been rather
frustrating and sometimes mysterious, not being able to make hard copy for
later reference. Many thanks to VE3DEQ for unearthing this historic
gem.