Month: October 2025

Present: Stan VE6SYS, Bill KJ7GNB/VA6VIV, Cory VE6CYT, Barry VE6BGR, Larry VE6WL, David VA6SYS, Kalvin VE6KRO, Renze VE6DC, David VE6DRL, Norm VE6NFW, Walter VE6XWG, Peter VA6ARI

Call to Order by Dave DRL at 10:10 am, seconded by Cory.

Reading of the minutes of September 27, 2025, by Peter.

• Correction: selling only one repeater.
• Motion to approve minutes by Dave DRL, seconded by Bill. All in favour.

Treasurer’s Report by David (VE6DRL)

• Motion to approve treasurer’s report by Dave SYS, seconded by Walter. All in favour.

Events Report by Renze:

• Christmas brunch on Dec. 13 in Coaldale.
• Barry mentioned Steve’s suggestion to move Field day to Stirling.

Repeater Committee Report by Cory

• No issues with digital mode. Leave as is.
• Dave DRL sometimes has trouble getting a response when punching in the codes to record messages.
• Will be going out this week to button up the shack for winter: insulate the batteries, do some cleanup.

 

OLD BUSINESS

1) Antenna project

A) Donations

• Barry talked to Alan about the plans for the site: not original land owner, have no immediate plans to sell. Is happy to have us there.
• call for fund raising volunteers: no response
• call for donations: no response

B) Sale of equipment

• have sold the amp
• have items listed on Ham Shack
• Donation tracking spreadsheet has been set up.
• Dave DRL suggested seeing if we can find a climbing crew instead of the crane. He will talk to Ross.
• Norm suggested using a bucket truck to lift person and gear part way up.

2) Training

• Gary VE6CV is willing to do a grey zone 40-meter propagation session.

 

NEW BUSINESS

1) Donation of climbing belt

• SAARC has received a new climbing safety harness.

2) RAC membership benefits

• Barry outlined the RAC insurance benefits for the club and members.
• Club gets a ~$13 to $15 discount per person
• Fix club info on RAC site. Peter will contact Cory.

 

Next meeting: November 22, 2025

Motion to close the meeting by Dave DRL at 10:55 am.

 

Presentation by Dave SYS on modulation

 

 

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Present: Larry VE6WL, Cory VE6CYT, Steve VE6SCL, Jim VE6JMB, David VE6DRL, Stan VE6SYS, Barry VE6BGR, Blair VE6AGH, Wayne VE6WEK, Kalvin VE6KRO, David VA6IRE, Bill VA6VIV, David VA6SYS, Charlie VE6KN, Peter VA6ARI

Call to Order by Steve at 10:07 am, seconded by Kalvin.

Reading of the minutes of May 24, 2025, by Peter.

• Motion to approve minutes by Steve, seconded by Wayne. All in favour.

Treasurer’s Report by David (VE6DRL)

• Motion to approve treasurer’s report by Wayne, seconded by Cory. All in favour.

No Events Report by Renze who was away:

• Corn Roast was a great success; 35 people. Extra special thanks to Renze and Annetta for hosting and supplying all the food.

Repeater Committee Report by Cory

• tower anchors look good and should do for another 15 to 20 years.
• antenna crew won’t climb so will need a crane ~$4,000
• a little over $10,000 for antenna, heliax, connectors and crane.
• Barry read the information and quote sent by Dave Siggelkow. Quote: $9,858 (tax included).
• Dave IRE can pick up the antenna from Edmonton.
• Barry will ask Alan about the long-term plans for the location.
• thanks to all who have gone out over the summer to do work on the site. We’ll install the cooling fans next year.
• will put the batteries into insulated boxes when we winterize the shack.
• Cory asked if the group would like the repeater’s digital mode turned on. Everyone agreed to try it and see. He can lock back to FM if there are problems. The squelch tone is 110.9 CTCSS to block digital signal from breaking squelch on FM.
• Wayne moved that we proceed with the antenna proposal as outlined pending long-term plans on land use. Bill seconded. All in favour, one opposed.

OLD BUSINESS

1) Fund Raising update:

• we have $6K in the bank. Barry suggested keeping a $2K cushion, so need to raise about $6K.
• Barry will write a proposal looking for donations for the antenna project, to send out to the S. AB hams. Will run it by the executive.
• Blair asked about anyone in the club who might have a govt. contact. Steve suggested other groups who have had casinos. Charlie suggested partnering with CRA license agencies for a grant.
• Barry is looking for a group of 3 to 4 people to manage the fund-raising. Charlie suggested sending out an email asking for volunteers.
• Wayne moved that we keep a $5K float and tap into it if needed. Bill seconded. All in favour.

2) SAARC inventory sales

• we have 1 HF set and 1 VHF/UHF set we’ll keep for loaners.
• we have two repeaters we can sell. Charlie suggested Langley may be interested in the Kenwood.
• lots of antennas, post on web and email group.

NEW BUSINESS

1) Training

• Barry would like to get the business side of the meetings under an hour, allowing for a training portion of about 30 minutes, followed by time to visit.
• Dave SYS and the group listed some topics: SDR radios, FT8, C4FM, antennas, 4G and 5G, Hams over IP, ladderline, baluns, Meshtastic, rebuilding vintage equipment.

2) Field Day

• Steve suggested moving Field Day to a location more publicly accessible, where more people can come and see what it’s all about. Barry will talk to Renze about it.

Next meeting – October 25, 2025 (Room is not available on Oct. 18).

Motion to close the meeting by Steve at 11:43 am.

 

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