Meeting Minutes – Sept. 21, 2024

Present: Larry VE6WL, Penny VA6PJK, Cory VE6CYT, Milt VE6MLD, Kevin VE6KVV, Stan VE6SYS, David VE6DRL, Jim VE6JMB, Scott VA6JSR, Renze VE6DC, Ron VE6PAP, Alan VA6AJM, David VA6SYS, Barry VE6BGR, Peter VA6ARI

Call to Order by: Barry, seconded by David VE6DRL, all in favour.

Peter read the Minutes of May 25. No omissions or corrections. Motion to accept minutes as read by: Renze, Seconded by Stan, all in favour.

Treasurer’s Report provided by Barry.

• expenses over the summer were for food at Field Day, and material for grounding at CAM.
• $500 donation to the club to be used to modernize CAM, specifically a controller for making announcements.

Repeater Committee Report by Barry/Cory

• Work done at CAM: installed new ground rod, new ground bus bar, grounded and bonded everything. Went through all solar panel connections. Replaced the repeater with the spare.
• Barry has the primary repeater on his bench and was able to reproduce the noise issue but has not identified the source. Not reparable as Kenwood no longer makes this repeater.
• We are still experiencing some issues with the secondary repeater cutting out.
• Barry and Cory removed the primary ROT repeater which is the same one as the secondary CAM.
• solar panels are at or past file expectancy.

Solutions were discussed:

• Yeasu has the DR2X repeater on sale for $700 ($2500 regular). 50 w VHF and UHF. C4FM digital.
• temp specs not quite as good as the Kenwood so will need to regulate the temps in the shack.
• replace the two roof panels with a single 400 w or two 200 w to run the main batteries.
• replace the side panel to charge a separate battery to run the environmental controls.
• Total cost estimate is around $2,000.

Ron made a motion to set a budget of $3,000 to do all the work. Seconded by David VE6DRL. All in favour.

• Ron, David VE6DRL, and Scott will look at getting the panels and will report back. David will do the installation. Target for completion: Nov. 15.
• Barry and Cory will order the Yaesu DR2X repeater and control unit.
• Install separate battery supplies.

 

Old Business

1) Basic Classes: Barry was not able to find a volunteer coordinator. Barry thinks we don’t need to do classes since there is so much available online.

2) Update on discussions with the city on Emergency Communications.

• New city emergency admin is Eric Foster who met with Barry and Larry. He is in favor of getting the hams involved, but the city dispatch manager says SAARC is not required.
• Barry wrote and said that the club would remain ready to assist.
• Since the city isn’t interested, everyone is in favor of opening discussion with surrounding municipalities. We’ll start with the County of Lethbridge. Penny will do some research.

 

New Business

1. Renze is looking for a location for a Christmas brunch to be held the third Saturday in December.
2. Future meetings: APRS, Alberta First Responder System.

Move to close the meeting by: David VE6DRL

Next meeting is October 19. Blair AGH will talk about learning CW.