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FEED BACK
GEORGIAN BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NEWS

Editor Bill VE3EFX
MAY 1974

Executive
President Jim Vamplew VE3CRV
Vice Pros. Dick Shave VE3BIS
Sec. Treas. Jack Avis VE3DTS

The April meeting opened at 7.50 with i8 members and 2 visitors attending. 'The minutes of the previous meeting were read and Jack intimated that the club had $73 in the bank and $24.89 in petty cash.

Mr H. Rankin, EMO for Grey County was introduced by Jim and he proceeded to outline the types of local disasters that could occur and he said that the local amateurs could play an important role in providing communications under these circumstances. Verne , VE3BSF, told of the problems he had encountered in the past when trying to get co-operation from the Bruce County EMO and he gave a list of active amateurs to Mr. Rankin. Further contact will be maintained with the EMO to set up some procedures for use in emergency situations. I think it would be a good idea to invite the EMO to visit our Field Day site and see the type of operation we are capable of putting on.

The talk on two metre operation by Dick, VE3BIS was well received and I think it helped to clear up a number of points to those not familiar with this type operation. I believe that the repeater could be of immense value in the event that we were involved with a local emergency situation in the area. One thing we might be well advised to look into is an emergency power supply to keep the repeater on the air if a Hydro power outage occurred in the Woodford area.

Another excellent film show was provided by Dave, VE3DXO, this time the movies were R.C.A.F. training films on antennas and there were three in all · Those whc missed this meeting missed a very informative and enjoyable one. The meeting closed at 1O:15pm and the only criticism I have to make is that we are going to have to get the meetings under way at 7.30 to get in such full programs without rushing things.
Jim is hopeful of getting a mailbox for the club soon and then we may get some comments from the membership for publication in Feedback. Everybody seems to be shy about sending anything in to me at Tiverton.

I have written to the Postal authorities expressing my satisfaction with the mail deliveries the past two months. As I write this the C.U.P.W. is on strike so there is no telling when we will be able to get this issue out to you. If the strike is likely to be a long one I will try to get as many copies out by alternative means napossible. This is where it will pay to check into the ret and keep abreast of what is going on.

The club executive is up for election at the next meeting and Verne, VE3BSF, heads the nominating committee. Any comments would be welcome on the net from those who are not able to come to the meeting.

The next meeting will be held on May 16th at 7.3Opm PROMPT in the C.I.A.G. computer building. We expect to have Mr George Jones of the Ont. Hospitals Assoc. to talk on the role amateurs can play in providing emergency communications for the hospitals in the area. Basically all that is required is a 2m. antenna on each hospital so that in the event of an emergency we can go there and put on a rig that can be operated through the repeater or directly between the hospital and a mobile unit with the minimum of delay. The Kincardine Hospital has been set up for a year now and in most places the hospital is situated on high ground so it is a very good location for am operation. Last April we operated in a simulated test from hospitals at Kincardine, ClInton, Exeter, and Goderich using the repeater at Goderich. The operation was a success and it was hoped to set up the facilities at the other hospitals but due to a lack of enthusiasm the plan never got off the ground. The Wingham hospital took part in the operation too with the station there being operated a whitecane operator, VE3FPP, who did a terrific job.

Conditions on 20m are perking up these days with the band full of JA's some mornings and VK's, P2's and assorted Pacific prefixes all around 12.OOZ. There is a group of GM's and ex GM's get on between 14.160mhz and 14.165mhz every day around 1_.30Z. with HR3JJR and GM3JAW usually coming in with good strong signals here. The Europeans come in best at about 21.OOZ until the band closes or the South American QRM wipes them out.

The people who are taking the course in Amateur radio ,run by Jim, VE3CRV, are rapidly approaching the moment of truth. A trio of examiners are coming up to give the test on May 14th, and it looks as if there will be a dozen or more ready to sit the exam. The best of luck to everyone and we can look forward to a flurry of NEW activity in the area once the new hams get on the air.

Bill Cox, who passed the exam in March, is still waiting on a call as this is being written and due to the mail strike he may need to wait a little while Congratulations , Bill, hope to hear you on the air soon.

Some extended range operation has been possible on 2m lately with signals from the North Bay district coming down here, and stations in Michigan coming across the lake with very strong signals. The Sarnia repeater comes in off the back of my beam at good strength and if I swing the beam South it is a simple matter to work through VE3SAR from here.

Dick, VE3BIS, has his new 50' tower up and when The 20m beam and rotation gear are in place, watch for the big sig in there with the DX.
While ragchewing the other night on 2m Dick relaxed just a little too much in the old chair and went right over backwards into the trench that was dug in hi basement for the new sewer connection. (Yes they now have sewers in Southampton Unfortunately he wasn't on TV so we only got the sound effects, but , for an instant replay, just ask Dick all about it.

VE3EFX has 30 Canadian prefixes worked and 27 confirmed so when the mail strike ends I hope to get the last three cards in for a 1st class Maple Lea! Award. No further info yet on the GBARC Award but we'll write it up as soon as it is sent in for publication.
Included in this issue of "Feedback" is a form to be filled in and returned to me by the night of the meeting. If you intend to take part in the Field Day, I want to know about it so that we can plan the operation. We need firm commitments on operators and equipment for one complete station.
Bob, VE3DFS, has already said that he will provide one complete station, so we need to know who is available to operate, log,, and assist in setting up the equipment.
At the meeting it will be decided whether to go ahead with one or two stations, so get these forms back to me in time, The June issue of the newsletter will carry full details of the Field day plans with instructions on how to get to the site.

The club has been invited to put on a demonstration of amateur radio at the Harrison Park Community Hall on May l2th. where the Owen Sound branch of Emergency Rescue Communications are holding a "Mini Coffee Break" and "Transmitter Hunt". This is an excellent chance to receive some publicity for the club and at the same time we may attract some of those visiting the display to take an interest in amateur radio. I hope to get a sideband station on 80m and 20m with possibly a 2m rig operating through the repeater. If you would like to put any gear in as an exhibit, let VE3CRV, VE3BIS or me know in advance.

What is the club membership feeling with regard to affiliation with ARRL? The requirements are that the club ha 51% licensed members and 51% of them must be ARRL members. I feel that it would be a good thing for the club and the members . We easily pass the first requirement, but I'm not sure how we stand on the second as there are quite a few people still not passing the information along to Jack VE3DTS.

Those who are not RSO members missed a very good article by Dave VE3DIQ, on the repeater antenna raising, in the Ontario Amateur. The pictures are very good and the writeup is excellent. I think Dave is a good candidate for the editor of this newsletter in the future.

The Scarborough Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring the Canadian Century Counties Club or 4-C award. The counties list can be obtained by sending a large SAS to Bill Cate, VE3HP, 169 Harewood Ave. Scarborough, Ont.

Due to the rapid increase in club membership I feel it is time for an updated list only four months after the last one was published.

It should have been mentioned in the newsletter last month that Mike VE3FIV went out to the repeater with Jack VE3DTS and did a considerable amount of mods to the equipment. They spent the best part of a Saturday at the site and the thanks of the other repeater users are due to Mike and Jack for their efforts.

There apparently has been quite a number of the club membership who don't know when the Field Day takes place, another point in favour of APRL membership, it will be held on June 22/23. It beats me how anybody can keep up to what is goin on in amateur radio without reading QST and the Ontario Amateur. By the way we are still waiting on the vast majority of the slips that I sent out with the Jan issue of Feedback coming back to the club Secy.