Minutes of General & Exec. Meetings
secretary@kwarc.org

Dave , VA3MRJ , opens the meeting and asks all in attendance to introduce themselves.  (Scribe for the evening was Gary, VE3JGK)

A special thank-you to Bruce , VE3WBX , who is the new ‘coffee person’ .

Larry , VE3LGN, announces that there will be no packet meeting this month and to watch the bulletin for the notice of next month’s meeting .

Dave reminds us that the financial statement is in the bulletin and on the web . No tech report this month since the chair is in Florida

Ben , VA3BNY , informs us the next months meeting will be especially interesting with the topic of Solar and Wind generation by Weasel who is also a aviation technician . The topics for the May and June meeting are a ‘work in progress’ .

Ben starts the show and tell portion of the meting with Roger , VE3RKS showing us a “Basic Stamp repeater controller” which is very small and simple to build . It is capable of doing the time-outs and ident for a repeater . He also showed the front panel of a Pioneer car stereo , pointing out how most of the workings are in the removable faceplate .

Next was Fraser , VE3FC , who showed us 2 J-Pole antennas . One for 2m and the other for 440 .He provided a excellent explanation of antenna impedance and how one can side mount the 2m antenna to a tower .

Next was Gord , VE3EOS , who showed us a remote motor controller for a hf tuner . The result is a very low SWR of less than 1.05 to 1 .

Next was Paul , VE3SY , who described 3 different digital modes that can be operated using a computer’s sound card and the appropriate software. They were , PSK31 , RTTY , and Feld-Hell . The latter of which is a older technology but still very capable of getting through . A unique feature of this mode is that with a poorer signal , the letter fade but aren’t easily ‘dropped’ . PSK31 is a very sensitive mode using a 31 Hz shift with 8 levels ,that can distinguish 2 signals at S9 that are only 50Hz apart . It’s speed exceeds that of RTTY and used to use a 850Hz shift . Several documents taken from the web were available to elaborate on these and the URL’s were listed .

Next was Bill , VE3ETK , who showed us his home brew , easy to disassemble 20m antenna made from CB parts . The only addition was a length of pipe to bring it into tune .

Next Dennis , VA3DLT , who had a mystery box from 1944 . It turned out to be a frequency meter in very good condition . He obtained it from his father-in-law , VE2FOR  .

Next was Dave again who described his ‘new’ ICOM ICT8A with  cloning cable . It was wide receive ( the classic DC-light ! ) , alphanumeric display and wit the cable you can program it from your PC .

Next Ben showed us 2 screwdriver antenna for mobile Hf . One of which he was modifying from a manual to motor drive adjustment .He still needs to make the motor enclosure and could use a lathe to turn a few parts . By the end of the meeting , I think he lined up a helpful ham . Once set up , he claimed you can get very close in SWR just by listening to the noise level .

Ben announced free coffee to the presenters .

Paul announced the Don , VE3ESE and Greg , VE3NXB , are in Cuba and doing very well in the contest . Paul worked them 40m mobile  . They can be found nightly on 7064.5 or 14120 .

Break for coffee and 50-50 ticket sales .

I drew the winning ticket for $23.80 going to Mary , VE3MWE .

After more socializing , meeting adjourned by Dave 

EXECUTIVE MEETING
March 14, 2000 at QTH of Dave VA3MRJ

In attendance:  
Dave VE3MRJ, Bob VA3MCK, Dave VA3DGS, Ben VA3BNY, Paul VE3SY, VE3VRA.

Club president Dave VA3MRJ called the meeting to order at 7:30pm.

Topics for discussion:

• Financial report
• Nominating committee
• Executive meeting location
• Field Day Site
• Flea market
• Advertising
• Entertainment line-up 

Financial report
Dave VA3DGS reported that to date he’d received approximately $200 from students enrolled in the amateur radio course. He also pointed out that the club could expect to be over $300 better off as a result of Industry Canada’s revision to the licensing regulations.

Nominating committee
It was brought to the attention of the executive committee that club elections are due in May and that nominations should be finalized in time for the April meeting. Dave VA3MRJ asked that information relating to the forthcoming election, including a request for nominations, be posted on the web-site and in the bulletin. Dave said he would contact individuals with a view to setting up a nominations committee.

Executive meeting location
Clarica is no longer allowing the KWARC executive meetings to be held on their premises. It was decided that, temporarily, private residences belonging to executive members would be used for meetings. The next executive meeting on April 11th is to be held at the home of Paul, VE3SY in Petersburg.

Field Day Site
Dave VA3MRJ, told committee members he had asked Dave Knight, VE3PMT to check into some potential sites for this year’s Field Day.  President Dave said he would be calling him to check up on his progress.

Flea market
Dave VA3DGS reported he’d been unsuccessful in his attempts to contact the new organizer of the Flea Market. Dave VA3MRJ said he’d try himself to arrange a meeting.

It was decided to ask Rich VE3DCC to start gathering volunteers for parking duties at the event.

Advertising
Past president, Paul VE3SY explained that he’d received a number of enquiries from various manufacturers and institutions eager to fill vacant positions within their facilities. In response, Paul suggested that KWARC allow certain advertisements to appear on the web-site and in the pages of the bulletin. After some discussion Paul tabled the following motion:

“That the club accept selected advertisements to be displayed in the Bulletin and on the web-site in return for a consideration from the advertiser.”

Bob, VA3MCK seconded the motion that was passed unanimously by a show of hands.

Entertainment line-up
Ben VA3BNY notified those present that he’d received confirmation on the solar power presentation scheduled for April 3rd. Ben said that for the May meeting he was considering a video presentation showcasing a high power AM station located in Texas.

Ben VA3BNY proposed a motion to adjourn the meeting. Paul, VE3SY seconded the motion. The meeting closed at  9:20pm.