Ottawa ARES Repeater Testing

 

Thank you to our Veterans

 

Tonight the City of Ottawa’s EMRG(Emergency Measures Radio Group) or as its also known as Ottawa ARES conducted their monthly VHF/UHF Repeater Testing tonight.

A wide coverage VHF Repeater along with 3 local coverage area VHF Repeaters (Ottawa East, Ottawa West and Ottawa South) along with a UHF Repeater (Centertown) were all tested.

Its safe to say that the repeaters (owned by the City and located at Ottawa Fire Department Stations) were all working just great.

The management Team of EMRG/Ottawa ARES has an excellent working relationship with the local civic authorities (Emergnecy Measures Unit and the Ottawa Fire Dept) and they have done an excellent job in keeping the repeaters on the air.

There should be another repeater Test on December 2nd which will be just before the December EMRG Meeting.  If your in Ottawa give a listen on

146.880 (wide coverage)

146.985 ctcss 100.0 – Ottawa Deep East (Orleans, Cumberland)

146.985 ctcss 123.0- Ottawa West (Kanata, Stittsville)

146.670 ctcss 136.5- Ottawa South, Nepean South, Barrhaven

443.800 ctcss 136.5- Ottawa South, Alta Vista, Centertown

Check the EMRG Website for more info

73bob

 

 

RAC announces new Executive

If you love your freedom…Thank a VET!

The following came in via email from the RAC Bulletin email server.  It would be what I would call “Official Notification” of the last few days events.  Posted for your info…

73bob

===================

RAC Bulletin 2009-035E -  New Executive Announced.
2009-11-03

During a RAC Board of Directors’ teleconference meeting  held
by the Nomination Committee Chair Bj Madsen, VE5FX,  on
October 29th, 2009, the following new members of the
Executive were elected:

     Geoff Bawden, VE4BAW – President
     Paul Burggraaf, VO1PRB – Secretary
     Margaret Tidman, VA3VXN – Treasurer

These individuals will assume their respective responsibilities on January 1, 2010.

Subsequent to the October 29th meeting, the following Directors and Officers submitted their resignations:

     Bob Cooke, VE3DBD (former President) – effective October 31, 2009

     Geoff Smith, VA3GS (former Ontario South Director) – effective  November 1, 2009

     Noel Marcil, VE2BR (former Quebec Director) – effective November 1st, 2009

  The remaining positions on the executive will be unchanged as the current officers were acclaimed.

First Vice-President Ian MacFarquhar, VE9IM, pursuant to the RAC
By-laws, will assume the duties of President until December 31st, 2009.

The Board and Executive extend their most sincere thanks to
Geoff and Noel for their past service to RAC and wish them
all the very best in their future endeavours.

The Board also extends its thanks to Bob Cooke for the time
he has devoted to RAC as a past Director, Past Vice-President
of Field Services and as President during rather challenging
times. Bob’s involvement with RAC began in the early 1990s
as an Assistant Director.   He was elected as Ontario South
Director in 2001 and served in that capacity until January
2005. Bob was subsequently elected as Vice President,
Field Services in January 2006 and served in that role
until February 2009 when he was asked by the Board to assume
the responsibilities of President of RAC.

The dedication and commitment of volunteers like Bob,
Geoff, Noel, and many others, result in Canadian Amateurs having a voice which is heard locally, provincially, nationally
and internationally, and they are to be congratulated for
their outstanding contributions.

G. Linda Friars, VE9GLF
Corporate Secretary – Radio Amateurs of Canada

–
* * * *

Vernon Erle Ikeda – VE2MBS/VE2QQ
Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec
RAC E-News/Web News Bulletin Editor
<racnews@rac.ca>

———-
You are receiving this bulletin because you are subscribed to an electronic mailing list. For more information or to change your subscription please visit: http://rac.eton.ca/racbullemail.htm

CBC News – Canada – Disasters may catch Canada unprepared: AG report

 

If you love your freedom…Thank a VET!

 

From the Canadian Broadcasting Company News Website come the following report:

CBC News – Canada – Disasters may catch Canada unprepared: AG report.

But if they were ready then would they need Amateur Radio???  Now if we could only operate our radios while driving to where they might need us…

I also thought you might enjoy a posting that was not about RAC…

73bob

The Value of good communications

Hi Group,

I found this little tidbit of information credited to the Associated Press and thought I would share it with you…

==========================

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Nov 2, 11:25 am EST

LONDON – British officials have acquired a US$64-million radio communications system to boost security for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Home Office said Monday the Airwave system would be used by police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services during the Games.

British security minister Alan West says the system will benefit all 2012 host venue police forces and other counties which are hosting events or athlete training camps.

Peter Neyround, chief executive of the National Policing Improvement Agency, says an effective radio system “will be critical to the delivery of a safe and secure Games.”

========================

Full credit and thanks to the Associated Press for this interesting article.

73bob

News from RAC on the “positive side”

I just made it back into the shack and found myself within “Internet Range” and able to see both my blog and the RAC Blog.  From the RAC Blog comes this posting ” Election Results & New Presidents Bio”.

The traffic on my blog confirms that Canadian Amateurs are still interested in how their National Organisation is being run.  This fills me with confidence and to be honest comes as a bit of a shock…

Now if you take the information from this posting and put it together with the Resignation Letter from Bob Cooke VE3BDB (even though most of you have probally seen the letter already you can read it by the previous link) you now can get a better grasp on the events of the past weekend.

The New President’s Bio is fairly impressive (as a career burocrat) but perhaps a bit light in the amateur world …but (to be honest) I don’t really want to work him on HF… but I need him to work the phones and work the room to represent us in National Issues and it appears we have someone who really understands how the game is played… Geoff Bawden VE4BAW appears to be that person…

The remaining 5 board members took a gamble with the election of a “Newbie” to the position of RAC President.

This gamble has already cost us three very dedicated RAC Volunteers (in the form of Cooke, Smith and Marcel).  Their dedication to RAC and the many hours they have given our hobby will be sorely missed.

If this is what the board decided was needed to get our hobby back on its feet in Canada… so be it….  I just pray that they are right…

73bob

The answers bring more questions…

To be honest I can’t remember anything except the VE8RCS/vy0 DXPedition that has generated so much traffic on the blog.  This is proving to me that Canadian Amateurs are showing more than a passing interest in what is happening with RAC.

I hope this interest stays for when its time for Ontario South and Quetec to vote for  new directors as the incumbants resigned November 1 according to our ex President who resigned on October 31st. 

Perhaps we can have an election this time rather than an acclimation or an appointment…

The fact that on the RAC website the Ontario South Directors position and the Quebec Directors Position are listed as VACANT would sort of confirm that changes are coming.

Along with changes should come some questions or failing the questions (because its after the fact) hopefully an explanation of what happened this past weekend.

I would hope that the 1st Vice President of RAC (who should be acting in the absence of the President) would take the time to update the members of RAC through a bulletin or an entry on the RAC BLOG as the only thing worse than bad news is no news. 

I hope these issues get resolved quickly so we can get back to playing radio again rather than playing politics…

73bob

The “Question” has been answered….

With Tim sending us the link in the previous postings comments I believe alll the questions are answered.  With Kent’s comments on the same posting it appears we have a new President.

The questions are now answered so lets get back to playing radio…

So the words “thank you for all your hard work” get directed to Bob VE3BDB and once I see the official announcement coming out in the RAC bulletin I will be saying “Thank you for stepping up to the postion to help out with our hobby”

BTW…  everyone remember the time change this morning???

and the reply was….

Time change???  What time change???

Time change ????   DOH!!!!!

Time change???  OH Crap!!!!

73bob

Did the RAC President resign?

Now heres a topic we have not had to look at since Febuary 25th of this year when I commented that we had an announcement from RAC that Bob Cooke VE3BDB had been appointed president of Radio Amateurs of Canada to fill the remainder of the term of Dave Goodwin VO1AU who had resigned.

Yesterday afternoon there were rumors floating around along with  a couple of emails stating that the current president Bob Cooke VE3BDB had resigned.  Now there has not been anything official from RAC HQ or the RAC Blog (as of 1300 eastern) but if you go to their website the position of President is listed as vacant.

I’m not sure on what happened and I don’t like to speculate on emails received that could be easily edited so….my comments are based only on the fact that in less than one year we have had two presidents resign.  Being a member of RAC it does not fill me with confidence because we need stability in our national organisation at this time.  Getting another new president when the last two presidents were very capable (my opinion) makes me very nervous.

I wish the incoming president (whoever her/she is) the best of luck with the honest feeling that they are going to need it.

73bob

More on Nov 14th SOTA

The long range WX for the Mont Ste Marie area is not looking that bad.  If you follow this link.  It looks like snow will not be an issue but that also most likely means that the lift will not be operating as with no snow = no skiers!

Now in additon the guys seem to be making commercials for the event and posting them on YOU TUBE.

I saw a short one from Goathiker of “Rooster and Peanut Fame” but the video of the day will feature Canadian Content as its from the VE2SOTA Group.

I am amazed of the quality of most of these videos.  They sure make my Survivorham Vidoes look rather bush league to say the least.

Looking forward to the November 14th event but not sure if I will be chasing for being chased…

73bob

SOTA Nov 14 Update

Well it seems VA3SIE Martin and myself are on the same page and the hill he was thinking of climbing was the same one I am wondering if I can climb.

Pictures  courtesy of Mont Ste Marie website

We would be starting in the Parking lot on the far right of the picture and heading left for a short distance before heading up to the top of Cheval Blanc which is translated into White Horse.  From my younger days I seem to remember this being one HECK of a steep climb so I am hoping the chair lift is in opertation for this one.

To be honest I don’t really think I have the legs, endurance and heart rate for this one so my participation in this one is very questionable but I do wish Martin all the best.

If we could guaranteee the ride up and back…(chair lift) then it would be great but….

73bob