Last night at the OVMRC Meeting

Last night I wandered over to the Science Museum  (which you might remember is a short walk from my home) and attended the monthly meeting of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club.  The meeting served as a great meeting place as I had to drop off one piece of equipment as well as get back another piece of gear…

The gear coming home was my TAKTENNA which I had loaned out to a new ham about a year ago.

The antenna covers 10-40m and can also do 80m depending on your tuner.

As you can see from the picture its a different style design but it does work (read my earlier posts) about as well as any of the other compromise (limited space antennas) antennas do.

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It will not out perform a wire antenna stretched out but it does get you on the air with a signal that can be heard.

I proved that in the RAC Canada Winter Contest a  couple of years ago.

I was talking to another amateur about this antenna and I believe it will be leaving me shortly (again) on another long term loan as he tries to find the best way to get an apt balcony “Radio Active”

Now lets talk about the toy that just left….

A few of you might know that I had a Yaesu VX1…

Thats a .5w micro dual band handie that  Yaesu put out a few years back…   I think that now they are up to the VX3.  At the last VE3ORF/3730 group supper meeting one of the hams there was mentioning that he was going to buy one of the Chinese knock offs of the VX3….  I mentioned that he should enjoy it and that I had a “REAL” VX1 that was sitting in a box and gathering dust….  We kept on talking and to make a long story short …  We met at the OVMRC Meeting last night and now its his VX1….  As much as I hate to get rid of gear …  Its a radio I was not using…  Could not see myself using….  And I still have the VX5, the VX8gr and the FT60r handhelds still in the shack that all serve alike purposes…  The VX1 was definately surplus to my needs….

So one piece leaves and another piece returns….  Liz probally would of been happier if two left but….

As I was at the meeting anyway I took the time to watch the guest speaker (Micheal VE3WMB) who was giving an excellent talk on Portable Radio HF Operations.  Micheal and myself are both avid QRP/Portable types and we have been out on a couple of event having fun.  The last time I saw Micheal was the 2012 ChillyCon event held in early September at the Rideau River Provincal Park.

He gave a very interesting talk/presentation and it was nice to be used as a good example (as a change) as he did mention QRP SSB as well as the FT817 and W3EDP Antennas in his talk. 

Anyway the meeting ended just after 9pm and I was home by about 2130 local after a great day.  After that I worked a bit on re designing the QRZ Page of a fellow ham and then I called it a night…

Today will be spent getting gear ready for the ARRL SSB Sweepstakes Contest which happen this coming weekend….

73bob

Busy time on the Club Scene here in the Ottawa Area

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. “Lest we forget…”

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Coming up starting tonight the local clubs will be busy….

Tonight… The 3730/VE3ORF group meets tonight with a Supper Meeting starting at 1730 hours and the business part of the meeting starting at about 1900 hrs at Rockwells Family Restaurant in the Merivale South area of Ottawa.  (close to the Darwin Arena) I attended last months meeting and had a great time and as I was offered a ride there I’ll be going there again tonight

Also Tonight…  The West Carleton Amateur Radio Club meets tonight in the meeting room at Sobeys in Kanata (Terry Fox dr/Eagleson Road)  This would be in the general area of Scotia Bank Place (where they used to play NHL Hockey in Ottawa)  The meeting starts at 1930 hours and for more info check out their website…

On Wednesday November 14…  The Ottawa Valley QRP Society will be having their monthly Supper meeting at Donnas Restaurant (ChurchillAve  North of Richmond Road and south of Scott) starting around 1700 hrs with the members showing up depending on Ottawa’s Rush hour situation.  Limited info on their website…

Also on Wednesday November 14th…  The Ottawa Amateur Radio Club will be having their monthly meeting at the Ottawa City Hall (111 Laurier St W) at 1930 hours.  The smart people show up just around 1900 to get a good seat (a bit earlier depending on the guest speaker for the evening)

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On Thursday Novermber 15th…  The Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club will be having their montly meeting at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology located on Lancaster Road just east of St Laurent blvd.  Meeting start at 1930 and once again its usually a good idea to get there a bit early…

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According to their website  (the recently restructured)   Manotick Amateur Radio Group (MARG) will be holding their montly meeting on November 21st at 2000hrs.   I am guessing they will be proving more information (location and guest speaker) before the meeting date. They used to meet at the Manotick branch of the Ottawa Public Library and I am not sure if that has changed…

So as you can see…  you do have options…  CU at at least at one of the meetings and maybe more…

73bob

Upcoming at the OVMRC

The next meeting of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club will be on October 18th at the Science Museum in Ottawa

Today in my email I recieved this piece of information about the guest speaker/topic for the October Meeting and was asked to share it with you….

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TITLE:  Cognitive Radio Explained to the Radio Amateur

SPEAKER: Michel Barbeau, VE3EMB

ABSTRACT:

I am a  reader of VA3QV’s blog. In a recent post entitled “Goodbye to an old friend” (August 24, 2012), Bob talks about its Yaesu FT897 that he just sold. As the name  of the post suggests, it is as if Bob and the FT897 developed a friendship over  time. This is pretty much what the cognitive radio concept is all about. It is a  radio that can think. It has a sort of brain with memory and reasoning  capability. It is able to sense the channel conditions, understand the  operator’s preferences, use past experience and determine by itself how it  should operate. After a while, it becomes a sort of operator’s good  friend.

The  cognitive radio paradigm has not yet penetrated the amateur radio market. There  are, however, interesting upcoming applications we should keep an eye on. In the  US, UHF spectrum previously allocated to television broadcast has been  reallocated to wireless networks. The software defined radio technology will be  used to make these networks adaptable and perform at their best. Besides, new  interference management models between radio services are being investigated,  such as the concept of interference temperature. The topic “cognitive radio  system” was on the agenda of the last World Radiocommunication Conference  (2012). Input have been solicited from the amateur radio  community.

I will  introduce this new concept and review some of the practical ideas that have been  put forth. All are welcome!

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Hope to CU there

73bob

Lost a bunch of good antenna supports….

While walking over to meet VA3GFD for coffee this am I noticed something missing on the Science Museum Property….

Those little patches that are not green are where 5 Ash trees (antenna supports) used to be…  After walking across the Museum Grounds I noticed there are about 9 or so spots where trees used to be…

This is not the Museums fault… as the City of Ottawa has an issue with ash beetles … and in the near future we will have fewer Ash Trees…  The above link is from my  City Councillor Peter Hume.  His website describes the problems fairly well and as all the examples I will give you today are from his ward…  Which is also my ward….  It makes sense to use local material…

The above pictures were taken on the grounds of the Canada Science and Technology  Musuem in Ottawa

This picture looks a lot different now….

But the problem is not only on the Museum Grounds…  its all over the City…

The above pictures were taken less than a 5 minute walk from my front door…

But its fairly easy to tell the ones that have to be removed….

“X” marks the spot….

So there you have it…  on the Musuem Grounds they have lost lots of good (were good) operating positions.  Field Day for the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club and the upcoming Lighthouse Events will be a challenge if nothing else…  My walkabout today found lots of tree stumps where antenna supports (trees) used to be…

So if you hear of this problem becoming an issue in your local area TAKE IT SERIOUSLY as once it starts it really balloons into a much bigger problem…

Thanks go to  Peter Hume  for the information on his website…

It hits close to home for different reasons but…. There are 5 Ash Trees within falling distance of my front door…  One used to support one leg of my G5RV and more recently the end of my W3EDP antenna.  Good thing I switched to the vertical because I think if we get the usual amount of wet heavy snow and some freezing rain thrown in for good measure …. There is an excellent chance of me blogging how the tree missed the front window…. I hope…

73bob

ps….

Sorry about the feeble attempt to tie this in with Amateur Radio…. but it is a problem that has an effect on my local amateur radio operating ….  There are a few Red “X”s in my local parks  and it has me wondering how many Red “X”s are across the City’s parklands…

also…  Normally I disable the link on the pictures but the size on the blog does not do them justice in this case so if you click on the pictures (if I did it right) you should be able to see the full size pics that I took rather than the blog sized pics…

73bob

News from the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club

Seems that tonite is a night for news…

The following was sent to me by the President of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club with the request that I share this with you…

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If you can, please spread the word (I don’t have emails of  all members).

Michel

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OVMRC Meeting September 27 (Thursday), 7:30 PM

We are starting a new year. The first meeting  will be the time to register with the club. You may download the membership form  from the club’s website (www.ovmrc.on.ca/Rambler/Membership-Form.pdf) and fill  it out before the meeting. Full Membership (Member of RAC) is  $25.00/year.

Featured Presentation

Speaker: Darin Cowan VE3OIJ

Title: VE3JW – Your  Amateur Radio Station

Abstract: This presentation covers the  history of VE3JW, from inception in 1974 to the present day. It shows the  progression of equipment through the years and includes a discussion of current  capabilities. Also included are highlights of the special events that put  amateur radio on display at the station, and concludes with a brief call for  volunteers.

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If you live in the Ottawa Area why not drop in on Thursday evening???

The location is the Canada Science and Technology Musuem

View Larger Map

You might even see me there….

73bob

Sunday AM in the Park

This morning I decided to head over to Weston Park with my FT 817 and the W3EDP Antenna.  I left around 0830 and got to the park and on the air just before 9am…  The purpose of todays outing was to check into a couple of 80m nets that I can no longer check in from home as I sold my Z100 Tuner.  The built in Tuner in the Yaesu FT 450 works fantasticly on 6m to 40m but will not load up the S9 43 foot vertical  on 80m.  So seeing that I’m off 80m there has been a couple of Nets that I can no longer participate in unless….  I take the FT 450 out of line and replace it with the FT817/LDG QRP Auto tuner combo or take the FT 817 to the park with the W3EDP.

As most of you know 80m daytime is rough enough so I figured that my best choice would be with the FT 817 in the park with the W3EDP as I could stretch it out horozontal and would most likely have better results with QRP and a horozontal antenna as compared to QRP and the vertical.  In hindsight (which is 20/20) it would of been warmer staying at home…

But I was able to check in to the North Bay Net on 3.768 and say “HI” to the group.  I managed a weak contact with Paul VA3PC but managed better contacts with John VE3VGI, Angelo VE3ACO and  Mike VE3MW who was up at his cottage…  Actually I could hear most of the participants but those were the stations who could hear me…  It ain’t easy being QRP…

After I left the net I spun the dial on 20m and was pleased to hear that the band was already opening.  As is my custom I started on a net frequency.  Its easier when someone is calling and looking for a weak signal as compared to calling and hoping that someone might hear my weak signal…

Today on 14.300 I was able to find the NCS station for the Intercon Net W8DGH and Dan gave me a suitable report.  He heard me… Even though he has an “8″ call he lives in Georgia and at a distance of 905 miles from the park my QRP signal carried for  181 miles per watt

On 12m I heard RA4CG from European Russia but no joy in breaking he pile up he was causing…

At 10am I went back to 80m and dialed in 3.760 which is frequency of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club’s “Pothole Net” which is called every Sunday at 10am…

The NCS for today’s net was Ernie VE3EJJ who lives just west of Centertown Ottawa…  The other participants were Ed VE3GX (who had a great signal which is to be expected as he lives close to the park), Maurice Andre VA2MA/m driving in Ottawa East, Norm VE3LC in Orleans, Mike VA3TJP in Braeside Ontario (home of the Sand Point Light), Frank VE3YY at his trailer in Calabogie Ontario, Roger VE3NPO in Vanier (Ottawa East), Michel VE3EMB in Ottawa South and Patrick VA3CMD/p  in Vincent Massey Park.  No rare DX but it was nice chatting with the guys again as its been a while since I have been able to meet them on the air…

Above the FT 817 with the new tuner.  Not much difference eh?  I think I like the older one better…

After the Net I managed to have a contact with VA3CMD who was using a FT817 along with  the new  LDG QRP Auto tuner and a W3EDP antenna for his portable station…  I like his choices for portable equipment…

Who says you can’t make contacts on 80m SSB when operating QRP?

Also after the net I spun the dial again then decided to pack everything up and head back home… There is some non-radio stuff to be done today (taking my daughter Erika out for her birthday dinner ) and well the rest of the family would like to see me without a radio in the picture every now and again…

The morning went great (chilly but great) and I am hoping to get out into the field a few more time before winter boots are needed…

73bob

It was a Good Weekend but….

Don’t you just hate it when the “but…” gets put into the statement?

Anyway as you know VA3PCJ and myself spent Saturday operating the ILLW event from the Sand Point Lighthouse in Braeside Ontario (CA0034) and we had a great time…

I managed 12 contacts with other lighthouses along with 7 contacts with stations who were just calling CQ so I ended up with 19 contacts in the log.  This itself, is not really a large amount but the fact that I was able to break 19 Pileups while operating QRP SSB with a portable antenna kinda is impressive.  If you think its easy then dial back your power and point your beam away from who you want to talk to and see how easy it is…

Sunday turned out to be a radio day as well…  I walked over the the Science Museum in Ottawa ( I live less than a km away) and guest operated VE3RAM (OVMRC Club Station) which was operating from the Cape North (Old) Lighthouse (CA0016) which is on the museum grounds…  The 4 contacts I put into the log added to their score…  From what I saw of their log they did really well but they were running 100w with multiple antennas…  But they still did good…

The “but” side of things is that I have found out that I will most likely not get D64K into the log as today I saw the following posted:

I have been listening and watching the cluster but it seems that their location (Island on the far side of Africa) is just not in my skip zone on any band.  Actually I have looked at the DX Map and I’m not getting much from that area of the world…

I’ve made contacts further but as you can see from the above map…  the eastern coast of Africa tends to be elusive for me…

I did hear them a couple of times but not strong enough to determine if they would of been answering me so I never actually even called them…  Perhaps next time after I do something to increease my radials to the east.  I have good recieve to the west and the south but I am lacking the right amount of real estate to get the proper radial pattern to the north and east…  Not complaining as I’m not doing that poorly but you can only do so much in a compromise situation…

However the Weather is starting to cool down a bit and the kids will be going back to school soon which will free up local parks and further away llocations for day trips to work portable from…  I do see a couple of (local) SOTA activations in my future before the snow falls and we do have the Ottawa Valley QRP Societys “Chilicon” event coming up in Mid September…  Actually there are some thoughts of heading to the Champlain Lookout (local high ground) and operate for the ARRL VHF Contest in September…

There is lots of time to play radio before I hibernate for the winter…

73bob

 

Field Day Video courtesy of VA3CME

Now I bring you back a few days in time when I mentioned the following:

“This year if your looking for Field Day locations in Ottawa and area according to the ARRL Field Day Map on line you have a few to choose from.

According to the map the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club will be operating VE3RC at St Pauls University in Old Ottawa East. Set up would start around 10am and as usual the talk in would be on the club repeater VE2CRA 146.940 (-) CTCSS 100.0 The OARC normally runs a 2A station. Check their website for more information.

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The Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club will be at on the grounds of the Canada Science and Technology Musuem on St Laurent Blvd. Their website has not been updated with their Field Day info yet but I have heard some people talking about the Club Communications trailer being set up for Field Day so they will be there. The OVMRC Club Repeater is VE3TWO and its Frequency is 147.300 (+).

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The Ottawa Valley QRP Society will be set up in the Hampton Park area of Ottawa just north of the 417 on Island Park Drive. Once again setup should be around 10am and they are less structured (more efficient) than some of the larger clubs. Last year they did very well concidering they were operating at QRP power levels. Well worth dropping in to visit them if you have the chance.

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Well as it turned out Chris VA3CME took my suggestion to heart and visited the 3 sites that were in Ottawa and to make it more interesting he took his video equipment with him when he did…

The results are below…  Just wanted to thank Chris for allowing me to share this with you and also thank him for all his work editing the images after.  He did this rather than have fun screaming CQ Field Day…

73bob

Field Day Saturday Report

So far this has been a great day…  I jumped (ok just sat) on the electric vespa and headed over the the Science Museum and visited with my friends at the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club…  It was around 1230 and they were still getting the gear set up for their 2A station.  I wandered around and chatted as they worked…  Just before 2pm I headed off on the Vespa to the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club site which was at St Pauls University and visited with more friends…  Another 2A site  and more chatting.  It was a real fanatastic way to spend the afternoon…  I listened for a while on 6m but the band but the band did not seem to be open although I could hear sounds of contacts coming from the SSB tent and the CW Trailer.

At the OARC site I ran into VE3XRA Glenn who is the RAC Deputy Director for the North and East Ontario Section and also City of Ottawa Councillor Hobbs  who was nice enough to show up for a visit.

I made it back home on the Electric Vespa with a few amps left in the battery and am looking forward to Sunday and part 2 of the Field Day experience.

73bob

Field Day 2012 in Ottawa

This year if your looking for Field Day locations in Ottawa and area according to the ARRL Field Day Map on line you have a few to choose from.

 According to the map the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club will be operating VE3RC at St Pauls University in Old Ottawa East.  Set up would start around 10am and as usual the talk in would be on the club repeater VE2CRA 146.940 (-) CTCSS 100.0 The OARC normally runs  a 2A station.  Check their website for more information.

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The Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club will be at on the grounds of the Canada Science and Technology Musuem on St Laurent Blvd.  Their website has not been updated with their Field Day info yet but I have heard some people talking about the Club Communications trailer being set up for Field Day so they will be there.  The OVMRC Club Repeater is VE3TWO and its Frequency is 147.300 (+).

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The Ottawa Valley QRP Society will be set up in the Hampton Park area of Ottawa just north of the 417 on Island Park Drive.  Once again setup should be around 10am and they are less structured (more efficient) than some of the larger clubs.  Last year they did very well concidering they were operating at QRP power levels.  Well worth dropping in to visit them if you have the chance.

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Now if you happen to be driving into Ottawa on the 416 ( or leaving Ottawa on the 416) the VE3ORF/3730 Group will be holding their Field Day in Kemptville Ontario.  Note that this is a new location as they outgrew their old location in Kars Ontario.  Talk in will be on VE3ORF 146.850 (-) CTCSS 151.4 . 

So there you have it…  If you needed something to do this weekend you can visit a bunch of Field Day sites…  But its always fun to work them on the air so …

73bob