Field Day 2006

Thanks to Barry VA3LLT for sending these photos in response to the request I made at the last club meeting. Barry said that this Field Day was held at the Sutton Fairgrounds and it appears to be a smaller affair than the one that Steve VE3UT has been organizing of late. Based on the report in the September 2006 Splatter (thanks to Murray VE3IO for the hard copy, the soft copy is not on our web site yet) it looks like Dave VE3SLM was organizing Field Day at the time. There's both familiar and unfamiliar (to me) at least people in the photos so if you can help with the identification please add them to the comments or send me an email.

Bryn VE3VOD doesn't mind looking down

Barry and I agree that we think is Bryn VE3VOD carrying the Canadian flag up the old tower (affectionately known to some as the "BUTT" - I'm talking about the tower, not Bryn of course). The old tower was a scary monster that is now (better) off in some fixed location, rather than being towed around in a club trailer.

Our new tower is made of Aluminum (instead of Steel) and the trailer which carried the old tower has now been improved for stability and road-worthiness. The new tower is a bit shorter too, by design, to reduce weight and improve stability.

The weather looks better than Field Day 2015, even if the turnout was a bit lower. 

There was no mention of the score in the September 2006, Splatter, but there was a long write-up by Judy, VE3JYF, otherwise known as "the Ice Queen". Maybe someone could offer up an explanation for that handle. Anyway, her words are reproduced here for your pleasure. The Ice Queen was a frequent contributor to the Splatter so I miss her even though I don't think we've met

CQ my loves, As many of you know, the last couple of years have been a rollercoaster for my family and I. My father passed away just a couple of years ago, I lost my job due to their bankruptcy and finding a new job hasn't been so easy with my full time family responsibilities, but I have just started a new contract so I'm good 'til the fall. Planning my best friend's wedding is just one more thing and even though it is good stress, it's still stress, so anything to relieve my stress is greatly appreciated. The thoughtfulness of my secret Santa this last Christmas, the anonymous letter nominating me for the Harvey Bell award (which actually caught me speechless), and laughing & talking the night away in-between contacts at Field Day have lightened my world and all have contributed to making me feel alive and appreciated again. I owe you all a big hug. Thank you!!!

I'm happy to report that Field Day was a success in my books. It all started back in December... I started wording the press release, putting together a list of contacts (after losing two computers right after one another and starting from scratch because I couldn't open the backup). Over the months, I sent to all TV, radio and newswire media, to a lot of emergency workers, a lot of local, provincial and federal government officials and even to the Premier, put together the info booth and do the annual maintenance on the camper.

These days, we put the flag on before raising the tower

Now for the drive there, I guess I overlooked one specific part of the van, the clamps holding the muffler, so about 40K in to the trip we hear this faint drop and drag sound... and I immediately pull over to the side of the road... just near old Moonstone corners (ed: is this North of Lake Simcoe near Jarrett?). I bent down and lo and behold there is the tailpipe on the ground. Well, wearing my best Field Day clothes and a change of clothes inaccessible due to efficient packing, I had to get down on the ground. Fortunately it was only the clamp that had let go, unfortunately I couldn't find the heavy gauge wire I always carry... oh @&*%, that's right I had taken it out of the camper an used it when I sewed the backdrop for my friend's wedding photos... and hadn't remembered to replace it... luckily Mom found an old, really old, coat hanger, you know the ones that wouldn't bend under a torch... well it worked, but not before the local kid came out to the road with his dog saying that 'if my dad was there he could of fixed it in thirty seconds'. I just smiled and thought to myself, if either my dad or my ex was still around, it would still be me under the camper, trying to feed the coat hanger through the bracket and crimping it around the almost glowing hot muffler. I don't follow the typical gender stereotypes, I guess that's why I'm a ham and a lady, my folks gave me the freedom of choice and the knowledge of how to think things through logically... I enjoy the best of both worlds.

So I was down on the the ground wrapping the wire around the tailpipe, when what do I hear but the flushing of the toilet. As anyone who has ever been under a vehicle that has a toilet when it is being flush can attest, my life flashed before my eyes... have you all seen the movie RV? If you have a camper or trailer, this is a must-see. Thank goodness it is functioning correctly and that is all I'm going to say. The repair took a lot longer than I had anticipated with trying to find something to hold it in place and all... Back on the road the drive was pretty smooth after that. This year we didn't see our friendly neighbourhood bear at 12 & 48 or anything else interesting en route. We didn't bring the trailer this time so set-up was a breeze, as the camper will turn on a dime, and putting up the posters and taking them down was easy.

Chow time is always a favourite event at Field Day

Since this was my 2nd trip around the lake, we didn't make any wrong turns this year and arrived a little after 10. I am so thankful it wasn't disgustingly hot this year and many of the club showed up. I am proud of each and every member and their family for supporting your club, thank-you. Anyway we got the camper set up and relaxed a little, sorry I'm not so gung-ho that early in the morning. Besides, I have a workable excuse. I've been working on and off for Field Day since December doing all the public relations... and I enjoy operating on the night shift since I am a night owl. Glen got the display set up beside the camper and it was visible halfway to the road, and after dark it was like a beacon.

On right - Jan VE3ZYL 

Thanks!... Dave & everyone who manned the food station, well done. Thanks!!! And ALL the band captains and their volunteers. Well done everyone, Thank You!!! As I'm sure you all know by now, my heart lies in 80 metres, way back when I started in Field Day, I sat with a young lad and logged for a couple of hours before I talked for an hour or so. The next year they couldn't keep me away. I talked all night with a couple of the best guys in C'wood. It was my best Field Day ever. I still remember the fun I had that 2nd year. This year, as the band started up, I took Beth over to the 80 metre trailer and she made here first contact. I think it was to N1NC, but that was enough for her, and for the logs, as a youth operating it earns us bonus points. Maybe next year after dinner she'll be up for an hour or so... 

Then it was time for me to keep my end of the deal, playing soccer for a while. Rog [ed: presumably this is Roger VE3ROG] joined us and the game was on... Thanks Rog, you are all going to have to ask him the line about what happened to the Easter Bunny some day, it's a real tear jerker. By then it was dusk and time to put all the toys away. Dark comes quickly up in Sutton as there are no streetlights on at the fairgrounds. After Beth went to bed, I headed over to the 80 metre trailer again. Bill and Rog were cq-ing away. Rog left and we carried on. 

Chairs are optional - man's best friend is not
Ron VE3CGR with the Midnight

Shortly after, security made contacts for a brief time, I'll say it again, nice inflective voice young man. So letting them have their way with the radio, a brief walk around the site, beautiful stars, loud music from the 'grad-hall' and it was our turn on the air. We cq'ed and joked the night away. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love to contest on Field Day. I think before I went to bed, I had made 6 trips to the Jack & Jane through the wet grass and my shoes were wet and my feet were cold and by about 2 AM it was bloody cold even inside. Bill turned on the stove, which was much better. Thanks again.

As usual I started to lose my voice by about 4 and there is only one ting that would cure it, stop talking and start logging. By 5:30 it was time for bed, with one last dewy walk through the grass and then back to the camper. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow, and was awake by 7 as my Mom & daughter are both early risers... so with great difficulty I got up and active.

After breakfast we played for a little while, then the generator was refueled and we worked very hard to get to 100 contacts on 80 metres. We fell a little short of our goal, I think 94 is quite respectable considering the band conditions.

And by 11:30 it was time to throw in the towel and call it a contest. The end result is we should receive the bonus for an invited emergency worker attending the event. Chief John Molyneaux, the bonus for an info booth, and for at least two youths actively making contacts during Field Day. It was a lot of work, but well worth it. We operated under the club's call sign, with 4 stations, under alternate power, and of course in Sutton... VE3YRA, 4 Alpha, Ontario.

The tower, trailers and tarps cam down in a flash and it was time to leave for home, for me six hours away. We drove back from Sutton up around the top of Lake Simcoe; it's not shorter but less traveled and with the camper, I don't go much over the speed limit so I irritate some drivers. We stopped at the A&W in Orillia and while Mom & Beth had a snack, my head hit the pillow and again I was asleep before I knew it, Beth was saying an hour had passed and it felt like I had just dozed off... We headed back along past Moonstone Resort and I noticed that up the other side, the oil pressure started to drop - not off the scale - but lower than the normal range for the camper... So much for getting home and to bed... Luckily there is a gas station to pull off at not too far from there. I added some oil, and we were off once again. Thankfully this did the trick and once at the cottage we changed from the camper/van to the car/van and drove home... and after my shower I feel like a lady again.

As always I truly enjoy the weekend, and I am delighted with everyone's actions, from the tower climber, to heavy lifters, from the band captains to security, to the friend/spouses who 'just' came out to support the cause. I think this was the 2nd  best year... but there's always the chance that next year will be better. This brings me to the point where I am announcing that I am stepping aside as P/R person for the Field Day next year at least. I think I will make it as just an 80 metre operator for the overnight shift, but we'll have to see. I would like to thank everyone for their support and compassion, but I need a break for me & my family. When you're done reading this remember to thank your family & loved ones, even if they gave your flack for going to Field Day.

73's & 88's my love

Take Care 'til next time.

Judy VE3JYF

Group Photo (click for larger image)

There are 4 unidentified people under the canopy. From left to right standing looking at the camera: Steve VE3EZ (VE3PIP), Garrett VE3PYP, Jack VE3UU, Jan VE3ZYL, Bryn VE3VOD, Dave VE3SLM, Alan VA3WAH, Ron VE3CGR (with Midnight), Roger VE3ROG, ????, ????, John VA3JI, Tom VE3JPN, Murray VE3IO (VE3ATO), ????

Please help identify those not named in the photo. Thanks! Click on the photo to see a larger version. Send me an email or post a comment if you can help.

The 1958 ARRL Convention (Ontario Chapter)

First announced in the April 1958 edition of QST magazine, this convention was held on October 18th in Hamilton, Ontario, at the Connaught Hotel (now a condominium development, pictured below) at 112 King St. East. Admission was $5 including the banquet, which featured a guest speaker. Contact for the event was Bob Parry, VE3DJE (no longer listed as the owner of that call). Bob is listed in the convention register along with his wife Vivian. It's unfortunate that QST didn't report on the actual conventions, so there aren't any pictures or write-ups on the happenings there.



In the same year the ARRL National Convention was in Washington, DC. It looked like an interesting program with tours of the White House, The Naval Research Laboratory, the Pentagon and a Nike Installation, the Voice of America, the Capitol, the Smithsonian, and the Arlington Cemetery. The amateur radio program included sessions on VHF, Mobile, TVI, RACES, Antennas, Contests, Code, RTTY, DX. A Wouff Hong Ceremony was held as well. The registration fee was $5, although the banquets, including the Hiram Percy Maxim memorial banquet ($6.50) were extra.

A night in the Sheraton Park Hotel was $7.50 to $14. The "parlor suites" were $17.50 to $22.00. That same year, the Sheraton Park Hotel also hosted the 3rd Annual AFA Jet Age Conference, the 2nd National Conference on Aviation Education, and the American Helicopter Society 14th Annual Annual National Forum. The Cold War was at its peak. Less than two years later, John F. Kennedy said "The enemy is lean and hungry and the United States is the only strong sentinel at the gate" at that same hotel.

The convention was organized by a consortium of 15 radio clubs in the Washington area. That's an impressive degree of cooperation!

Our club's own meeting register, dating from 1963 to 1969 matches the convention register in only one respect - that Harvey Bell VE3AFK, a prominent figure in club history, is listed in both. Neither Frank Preuten VE3FEP nor Jim Spence VE3BBX (SK), who attended the 1957 Convention in Toronto and also appear in the club register, weren't there in 1958. Fred Hammond, VE3HC was there in 1958 but not in '57.

RF eBooks on the net

I painstakingly googled every one of these referenced in the March 2008 edition of the Splatter up to a little over half way, as the two pages of links it provided no longer exist. Then I remembered the "Wayback Machine" and found an archived copy of the original page, along with archived copies of many of the documents that are no longer in their original locations.

Digital Signal Processing

1. The Scientist's and Engineer's Guide to Digital Signal Processing - This book is quite readable, but has to be downloaded a chapter at a time. The chapters are short and there are a lot of them.
2. Mixed Signal and DSP Design Techniques - published by Analog Devices
3. Numeric Recipes in C: The Art of Scientific Computing - current versions are not free. There are some interesting free downloads on the site in but mostly in formats I've never heard of.

Electronics and RF

1. Op Amps for Everyone Design Guide - published by Texas Instruments
2. Designing Analog Chips - Most of us aren't trying our hands at chip design, but there is good information about transistor design and some historical information about designing common analogue chips like the 555 timer.
3. Wireless Networking in the Developing World - Looks very interesting. Covers the technical issues in great detail. It was this kind of work (building wireless networks in Africa) that got me initially interested in MESH networks.
4. XYZs of Oscilloscopes - published by Tektronix
5. XYZs of Signal Generators - also by Tektronix, I stumbled on this one while searching for the above title.
6. RF Basics - published as a PDF presentation by Texas Instruments, also in PPT by Anaren Integrated Radio, which may be a bit different from the TI PDF.

Electronic Programming

From Wikipedia: VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) is a hardware description language used in electronic design automation to describe digital and mixed-signal systems such as field-programmable gate arrays and integrated circuits. VHDL can also be used as a general purpose parallel programming language.

Recent editions of QEX have discussed design projects with field programmable gate arrays.

1. VHDL Quick Start - PowerPoint style introduction, by Peter Ashenden of the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
2. The VHDL Cookbook - by the same author - 111 pages.
3. VHDL Modelling Guidelines - by the European Space Agency
4. Analog and Mixed-Signal Modeling using the VHDL-AMS Language - 199 detailed presentation format pages from the 1999.
5. Beginner's Introduction to the Assembly Language Programming of the Atmel-AVR-Microprocessors - yes the same ones we used in project nigh. Last updated in 2011. There's lot of info available with an easy google search.

RF Fundamentals

1. RF Basics
2. Understanding Radio for the Practical Engineer
3. Wireless Networking in the Developing World
4. Radio Receivers, from Crystal Set to Stereo
5. Fundamentals of RF and microwave Power Measurements - published by Agilent (formerly the instrument division of Hewlett Packard).
6. The RF and Microwave Circuit Design Cookbook - Doesn't appear to be a free download any more but you can buy it from Indigo books for $224.98.
7. The Design of Radio Frequency (RF) Subsystem Printed Circuit Boards for the Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT) Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design

Electromagnetics

1. Electromagnetics 
2. Fundamentals of Electromagnetics - A too-general search term. Just copy and paste into Google and you'll find lots of stuff.
3. Health and Electromagnetic Fields - a report from the European Commission.
4. Electromagnetic Radiation in Analysis - This is chapter 4 of a text on polymers from the University of Cincinnati. No idea why electromagnetic analysis is included in that course.
5. Electricity and Magnetism - Not a surprise that this is hard to locate. Just add "PDF" to the title and you'll find lots of hits.

Antenna Fundamentals and Design

1. Antenna Fundamentals - This presentation covers a lot of ground. Without notes it will probably best serve as a guide to searching for any topics that interest you.
2. Antenna Basics - Glossary, radiation patterns, antenna types.
3. Antenna System Guide - From the National Institute of Justice - covers a lot of ground with accessible math.
4. Antenna Fundamentals & Definitions - From Penn State. Brief, starts with coordinate systems and ends with double integrals.
5. Antenna Design - While searching this one I found the "Practical Antenna Handbook" which is unlikely, but this 625 page download contains a wealth of material. In places it is heavy on formulae but it avoids calculus.
6. EMC Antenna Fundamentals - Concise coverage of different antenna types
7. Micro-strip Patch Antenna Primer

Various Modulations

1. Introduction to Modulators - "Introduction to Modulation" was the closest hit I could find. This is a bit terse.
2. Principles of Digital Modulation - Published by Toshiba Europe. Mostly descriptive, with a bit of complex (not complicated) math.
3. QPSK Modulation Demystified - Brief mathematical description of QPSK
4. Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) Modulation  - This one also covers FSK
5. OOK, ASK and FSK Modulation in the Presence of an Interfering Signal - fairly mathematical treatment of the subject by RF Monolithics (Dallas).
6. AM/FM Modulation - Short required reading for communication system engineering at York University.
7. PLSK vs. DPSK in Four-Wave Mixing Crosstalk - PLSK is polarization shift keying and DPSK is differential phase shift keying.

Spectral and Signal Analysis

1. Spectral Analysis - (almost) non-mathematical introduction from Agilent
2. The Fundamentals of FFT-Based Signal Analysis and Measurement - From National Instruments.
3. Fundamentals of Signal Analysis - Another Agilent application note
4. Fundamentals of Real Time Spectrum Analysis - from Tektronix who want you to register before downloading, or you can just download it here. 

Satellites

1. Mobile Satellite Systems - a presentation format treatment of a lot of the parameters about receiving satellite signals. Oriented toward mobile-phone systems like Iridium and Odyssey.
2. Optimizing Satellite Communications with Adaptive and Phased Array Antennas - scholarly paper @NASA regarding reception of BPSK signals with phased array antenna.
3. Satellite Communication Tutorial - This may not be the original, but this is a very comprehensive presentation on satellites. 

RF Measurement

1. Perform More Effective RF Measurements Using Vector Analysis - A short description of this technique by National Instruments, intended to educate customers about the advantages of using such instruments.
2. Understanding the Fundamental Principles of Vector Network Analysis - A PDF download. Not tested as the server was down at the time of writing.
3. Calculating the Sensitivity of an ASK receiver - Maxim Integrated
4. Phase Noise Profiles Aid System Testing - Maxim Integrated 
5. Three Methods of Noise Figure Measurement - Tutorial (#2875!) from Maxim Integrated
6. Specifications and Measurement of Local Oscillator Noise in Integrated Circuit Base Station Mixers - Maxim (updated from original)
7. Basic Equipment Design Tutorial
8. Smith chart tutorial (parts 1, 2, 3)
9. Spectrum Analyzer Measurements and Noise
10. dBm - volts -watts conversion
11. How to build your own RF Spectrum analyzer (part 1-2) - Couldn't find this one but it is a good search phrase to find dozens of suggestions on how to do just that.

RF Filters

1. Sallen-Key Low Pass Filter Design Routine
2. Band-Pass Filters for HF Transceivers - September 1988 QST
3. A Diode-Switched Band-Pass Filter - By Doug Demaw W1FB in January 1991 QST
4. Second-Harmonic-Optimized Low-Pass Filters - From February 1999 QST
5. Narrow Band-Pass Filters for HF - from September/October 2000 QEX
6. Clean Up Your Signals with Band-Pass Filters (part 1 - 2) - QST 1998
7. Introduction to RF Filter Design
8. Introduction, definition of RF Filter terms, Q&As - No longer exists

Amplifier Design

1. Amplifier Design Tutorial - 1.5GHz range.
2. Power Amplifier Design for the 2.11GHz-2.17GHz WCDMA band using advanced design system
3. Balanced Amplifiers
4. Op Amps for Everyone - By Texas Instruments 464 pages.
5. RF and Microwave Power Amplifer and Transmitter Technologies
6. Low Noise Amplifier Design Project
7. Modern Amplifier Terms Defined with often asked questions and answers
8. Base-Station RF Power-Amplifier Biasing - Maxim Integrated - updated.
9. Broadband Microwave Amplifiers - this link did not work, but I stumbled upon a page of links of all sorts of interesting eBooks with links that appear to work.

RADAR fundamentals & design

1. RAdio Detection and Ranging (part 1 - 2)
2. SAR Synthetic Aperture Radar
3. Radar System Components and System Design

Noise

1. Noise tutorial
2. Phase noise
3. Noise Matching
4. Spectrum Analyzer Measurements and Noise - Agilent Application Note
5. Random Noise Contribution to Timing Jitter - Theory and Practice - Maxim (updated)

Oscillator Fundamentals and Design

1. Oscillators Basic Tutorial
2. Oscillator resonator design tutorial
3. How to Design RF Circuits - OSCILLATORS

Mixers

1. Mixers basic
2. Mixers
3. Integrated LNA and Mixer Basics
4. How to select a mixer
5. Understanding Mixers
6. Modern Mixer Terms Defined
7. Most often asked questions about mixers

GPS

1. GPS Guide - beginners - Garmin (2000)
2. GPS Basics - well explained by U-Blox
3. GPS Basics - by Leica, my favourite of the 3

Visit to the Aurora Readiness Centre

Aurora's annual "Doors Open" event was on Saturday, August 15th, and featured 16 sites that are not normally open to the public. Most aren't all that interesting - to me at least - but I decided to visit the Aurora Readiness Centre, 220 Old Yonge St., which was sometimes referred to as "Aurora's Diefenbunker".



I grew up during the cold war, like many of us. I lived in the US from 1969-1971, with a fallout shelter in the elementary school kitty-corner to my house. The fallout shelter sign is now gone. My Dad subscribed to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. I'm not sure why as he was a chemical engineer. Every month when it arrived I would check the "Doomsday Clock" in the front to see how many minutes to midnight it was. At the time it was around 7-9 minutes to midnight. In the nineties it was as much as 17 minutes to midnight. Now it stands at 3 minutes to midnight, although it has been expanded to represent other threats than nuclear annihilation. The only year it has been closer to midnight was 1953, when the Hydrogen bomb was first tested by both the United States and the Soviet Union.

The building of the Diefenbunker in 1959 along with 5 other shelters by the Canadian Government was emulated by other levels of government. This was the year the York Region Amateur Radio Club was founded which at that time had a close relationship with the York Civil Defence organization. The Aurora location was conceived by the Toronto City Council, choosing Aurora because it was ostensibly far enough away from the epicentre of an H-Bomb detonating in downtown Toronto and it was furthermore expected that the Oak Ridge Moraine would provide some protection from the shock wave. It was also expected that fallout from an explosion would travel Eastward with the prevailing winds rather than toward Aurora in the North.

When the Centre was built in 1962, Aurora was much smaller than it is now and the location was a farm property. The forces of urbanization now pressure the site but it retains the look of a 19th century farm house (it was built in 1873) along with mature trees. Werner and Orianna Broebeck bought the house in 1996. Werner, a firefighter, told me that they had no idea that the facility was there at the time. He also mentioned there was a large diesel generator in the garage that disappeared during the time between when they purchased the house and when they took possession.

The stairs lead down into a 10.6 x 18.3 metre room containing the operations centre. Werner took pains to explain that it wasn't a bomb shelter as although the ceiling was made from preformed concrete about 2 feet thick covered by another 18" of soil it would hardly have survived a nearby nuclear blast. Rather it was intended to serve as a command and control centre for emergency services and logistics in the event that those services had to operate from outside Toronto. Each service, such as the various branches of the fire department, had an emergency location to assemble in case their location needed to be evacuated.



To the left of the entrance you can partially see another door. This led to the communication room, with stations for radio operators and 100 telephone lines. That room was not open for viewing, but had enough light to get a shot of the operating desks.



The operations centre was mostly empty. The map on the left is original, as are the large set of maps at the end and the chalk boards on the right for keeping track resources. Werner is on the left talking to a group of visitors.



The ladder in the middle of the room leads to the outside. It seems strange that it was necessary given the much easier access from the house. Perhaps it contemplated the destruction of the house by a shock wave.



Above ground the ladder ends in a concrete shed. No Maxwell Smart elevator unfortunately.



The status boards reveal the concerns of the time. There is space to record the dead, wounded and unhurt population in several zones that appear on the maps. The left side is for estimated casualties while reported casualties are on the right.

Another status board appears to have been for keeping track of resources - presumably military units though possibly also municipal emergency services, and clearly they were concerned about exposure to radiation. While most of us would recognise SITREP as "Situation Report", the only definition for ORBAT seems to be "Order of Battle". Probably this term has been stretched to include the determination of which units to deploy when amongst the served communities. (In the middle there's a reflection of me taking the photograph with available light and someone reading the poster board on the opposite side of the room).



They were also concerned about logistical matters, such as tracking equipment.



All in all it was an hour or so well spent. It was great to talk to Werner and Orianna who would like to see the building designated as a heritage site, which is it not, despite the placque on the outside wall. So would I.



Aurora "Doors Open" had many other places of interest, including:

• Aurora Armoury
• Aurora Cultural Centre
• Aurora Farmers' Market and Artisan Fair
• Aurora Lawn Bowling Club
• Aurora Public Library
• Aurora Sports Hall of fame
• Benjamin Stephenson House
• Charles Henry Sheppard house
• George Russell House
• Hillary House and Koffler Museum of Medicine
• History and mystery walking tour (in the Town Park)
• Merlin's Hollow
• Rising Sun Masonic Lodge
• St. Andrew's College (where YRARC once had a club house)

The 1957 ARRL Convention - Toronto

A register of participants in Canadian ARRL Conventions (and some other meetings) was given to me last year. As part of my historical research into YRARC I've searched the pages for callsigns that I recognize. Some of them, like P.D. (Phil) Balmer VE3BAL, have a familiar callsign but are now in someone else's possession, which is no surprise some 58 years later. Also Al, VE3UT is not the VE3UT we all know.

Cross referencing is made all the more difficult by the hand-written entries, often with signatures rather than printed names, despite having "Please Print" at the top of the page . Here's page 1. You can click through if you want to examine it in more detail.

The pages are so long they don't fit on my scanner. The first column denotes ARRL membership. Unfortunately there is no date other than 1957 in the register and Google has provided no joy in finding out anything further about the event.

The second last line of this page shows the signature of Alex Reid, VE3BE, who was the Canadian Director of the ARRL at the time.

The club connection I found (on a subsequent page of the register) was that of Ron Cronk, VE3EBD. He hosted the first meeting of the York North Amateur Radio Club of 1963 but did not attend any other meetings and did not identify himself as a member of the club in the meeting register.

There are probably some other people of note at this meeting and I've found some familiar names in the subsequent meetings but I will save that for a later date.

History of the York Region Amateur Radio Club

I notice in my web searches an excerpt from the history of the club, noting that it was taken from the club web site. This led me on another series of searches because the history of the club is no longer on our web site, having been lost in the ravages of being passed from person to person.

Finally (a dramatic way of saying after about 20 minutes or so) I retrieved it from the "Wayback Machine". I'm not sure whether this is the full posting as it ends rather abruptly with Geoff's ascent to the position of Chairman. So I'm posting it here for your reading pleasure while I search for more. If anyone has more documents or even recollections I'd be happy to share them with the club. Maybe an old-timer or two would even consent to a video interview to help newer members know what the good old days of the club and ham radio were like.

If anyone remembers if there was a "Second Twenty Years" article let me know. Also if anyone knows Frank Rusholme's call, I'd like to add that as well. It looks like the author of the article didn't know. [Update 2024-07-13; Since writing this I have seen the 1969-1971 meeting sign-in book and the first meeting that Frank attended was January 27th, 1971. Unlike many others, he did not write a call sign in the book so perhaps he did not have one. Rusholme appears to be an uncommon name and my web searches found only 1 possible lead, which is an obituary for Eva Rusholme Earle, listing (a) Frank Rusholme as her first husband, from January 30th, 2023.

I've also found a reference to Art Stevens VE3YS, the club's first president. He was listed in the Winter 1938 Amateur Radio Callbook. 

VE3YS — A.  J.  Stephens,  57  Gorham  St, Newmarket, Out.

 Looks like a typo on the province. The current holder of the call VE3YS lives near North Bay, Ont.

History of the York North Amateur Radio Club

The first twenty years

On March 11, 1959, a meeting of the Newmarket area amateurs was held in the Newmarket council chambers on Main St. Acting as chairman of this meeting was Harry Richardson, VE3ACN. The meeting was held to form a radio club for amateurs in Newmarket and area. Bill Kingston, VE3EXH proposed the name York North Radio Club which was adopted.

The club’s first executive was elected, with Art Stephens, VE3YS being named president. Dues for membership in the club would be $1.00 per year, and $0.25 a month with two meetings held each month. By May of 1959, the club had grown to 24 members. They held their first social activity - a dance at the Stouffville Legion Hall. They also received their first club station licence - VE3YCD - which reflected their close relationship with the York Civil Defence organization.

In September of 1959 a second executive committee was elected with Bill Kingston, VE3EXH being chosen president. During the early part of 1960, the club began including special programs, such as guests speakers and films, blending the technical with the social aspects of the club. In May of 1960 the club purchased its first transmitter, a Heathkit DX-40 and used an HQ-110 receiver, on loan. The first QSL card was received from K4TYF, a ham in Tennessee. Gus Grant, VE3EQR and Max Boag, VE3NP chipped in extra funds to make the station possible. That summer, the club held its first Field Day.

Bill Kingston was re-elected as president for the 1960-61 year, and was responsible for code and theory classes being organized. In March of 1961, the club moved its meetings to 80 Bayview Ave. Field Day during the summer of 1961 was a successful event, even though the whole weekend was cold and rainy. By the end of the 60-61 season, the club treasury was in good shape, with $48.92 in the bank.

For the 1961-62 season, Gus Grant, VE3EQR was elected president of a club that had grown to a membership of 36. (A little trivia - Newmarket telephone numbers were TWining5-xxxx, but if you lived out in the country, such as Al Dike, VE3AFW, his phone number was 8W4. Of course you couldn’t dial it, you had to tell the operator. And if you didn’t know the number, the operator did!). During September and October, amateurs participated in an EMO (Emergency Measures) course. Remember, this was in the cold war era. The 1962 Field Day was quite a success with towers supplied and erected by Allen’s TV.

1962-63 - Information not available

The president for the 1963-64 season was Bill Findlay, VE3CLK. Attendance at meetings had fallen of a bit during this period of time with only 10 or 12 attending some of the monthly meetings. Early in 1964, the club received the call sign VE3YNA (York North Amateurs) replacing VE3YCD. A motion was passed at one of the meetings that the SPLATTER be issued on a monthly basis with members contributing items of interest and news about their station and operation. (Another bit of trivia - In October of 1964 the club recorded the purchase of a gift for newlyweds Doug & Heather Holmes - Doug was already licensed, VE3CWO, but it was another ten years before Heather took the courses for her ticket.) During the following year, meetings were held only on an occasional basis, with John Lewis, VE3EXC as the president. During the next couple of years only a few informal get-togethers took place.

Something had to be done about that, so in 1969, Harvey Bell, VE3AFK, Frank Preuten, VE3FEP and Nels Gradeen, VE3GLK got together and personally mailed out invitations to about 50 amateurs in the area to attend a reorganization meeting. Harvey Bell chaired this meeting and arranged for Phil Wesbury of the EMO to be guest speaker. He spoke about the need for trained radio operators in York County, and encouraged those present to reactivate the York North Radio Club. Those present unanimously agreed, and that evening, Frank Preuten, VE3FEP was named president. Meetings were held every second month during the remainder of 1969-70, but nothing was planned to continue meeting in the fall. So, in the late months of 1970, Harvey Bell once again called a meeting of all surrounding amateurs to see if there was enough interest to keep the club going. Again, there was strong support and Frank Rusholme, VE3--- was elected as president, and a schedule of meetings was arranged for the next couple of years. Unfortunately, Harvey Bell did not get to attend any, as he passed away shortly after this meeting. At the very next meeting of the group, in January of 1971, a motion was passed that the club establish the Harvey Bell Memorial Award to be presented annually to a member of the club who had made significant achievements in amateur radio; and in particular had made a significant contribution to the York North Amateur Radio Club. That award still carries on today.

The next club president, beginning in 1972 was John Epworth, VE3GQF, led the club through a period of modest growth. Then in September 1973, Bob Knowles, VE3DLJ (now VA3IL) began his term as president. Since there had not been a club newsletter for some period of time, Doug Holmes, VE3CWO and Lyle Leyland, VE3DCC volunteered to be the editors/publishers. Bob Knowles was re-elected as president in 1974. It was during this year that the Lake Simcoe Repeater (VE3LSR) was established. The first organizational meeting was held at the residence of Joe Yuricek, VE3GAS/VE3WG. Several members of our club, as well as members from Barrie and Orillia were present at that meeting. For a period of time, the fledgling repeater operated out of the shack of VE3CWO, later to be moved to the CKVR television property in Barrie.

In the fall of 1975, Ted Dubois, VE3HOI was elected president. During 1974-75 there was considerable growth in the club and in amateur radio in our area. Many who had played with CB radio had become keenly interested in the technical aspects of radio and joined our club to learn more about radio, to get their licences and enjoy the privileges and advantages of being a ham. Ted continued as president for another term.

In 1977, Bill, VE3GRE became president of the club. That fall the meeting place was changed to Meadowbrook school, where Doug, VE3CWO had been transferred as vice-principal. This was a very suitable location for meeting and teaching new people about ham radio. Past president, Ted Dubois remained hard at work on behalf of the club, making the preparations for having the club incorporated. It was on July 19, 1978 that the York North Amateur Radio Club, Inc. received its charter and letters patent. It was with sadness that the members of the club learned that the first president of the club, Harry Richardson, VE3ACN had become a silent key.

In the fall of 1978, the first board of directors of the new corporation were elected. Geoff Smith, VE3KCE, now VA3GS (SK) was elected as their first chairman of the board.

Harvey Bell's QSL from 1964

Part of the club archive that Bob VE3WY presented to the board was a QSL card from our own Harvey Bell, VE3AFK (SK) to Tony Loftus, VE3FRK (SK). The most important award that the club gives out (more or less) annually is named after him.

The date? Sunday, November 29, 1964. Lyndon B. Johnson was President of the USA, Lester B. Pearson was Prime Minister of Canada, and "Baby Love" by the Supremes was the #1 song in the US and the UK. Expectations of DX must have been low at the time as his card shows the time as EST. I didn't move to Ontario until 1967 but daylight savings time was certainly in place by then. It must have been confusing.

We also have a guest book for meetings of the York North Amateur Radio Club (our former name) from Wednesday, April 10, 1963 to Tuesday, October 14th, 1969. Both Harvey VE3AFK and Tony (no call at the time) were present at that first meeting held at the QTH of R. Cronk VE3EED SK. Harvey was not at at the January 22, 1964 meeting but it is the first meeting where Tony's call sign appears, although Doug VE3VS (formerly VE3CWO) was there. Tony must have got his call sign sometime after January 8th.



His transmitter is listed as a Johnson Viking, which came in several models. There is also a handwritten note on the left hand side written sideways which mentions a new (Hallicrafters) HT44 transmitter and a Drake 2B receiver.

This picture is of a Viking Ranger. According to the Hammond Museum web page the Ranger put out the 75 watts mentioned on the QSL.



His R 1155 receiver was manufactured for the larger British aircraft like the Lancaster Bomber and the Short Sunderland by several manufacturers. It is the top unit in the next picture.



The back of the card shows that VE3FRK lived very close to our current meeting hall and the postage at the time was a mere 5 cents, no postal code was needed, and the mail was delivered right to your door!

YRARC Hamfest 1988

I don't know much about this hamfest, although it probably happened on Guy Fawkes Day (November 5) as that was the first Saturday of the month (although that tradition is not firmly established even now). Maybe someone who was there would like to comment - or even someone who wasn't there. Anyway from Bob VE3WY through Rob VE3RQB a bunch of old photos came in to my possession (if anyone else has photos please lend them to me so I can scan them for posterity).

So far I've scanned 8, which is about 5% of what I have. I'll be continuing to scan and to post them on the blog and elsewhere. Old timers are encouraged to contribute stories about those in the photos, many of whom I have never met, and some of whom I will never meet in this life.

I have always appreciated things from the past and am happy to see these items which I can include in the club archives.

Let`s see who can be the first to identify the two hams in the photo below.

73,
Chris

Words of Wisdom from the Past

...about transmission lines. This article, by an unknown author but edited by Doug VE3CWO (Now VE3VS) provides some pointers on understanding transmission lines. It has been scanned from the January 1974 edition of the Splatter and passed through optical character recognition for publication here. You can see the entire newsletter scanned from an original on the YRARC web site. Thanks to Bob VE3WY and Rob VE3RQB for passing this along.

HELPFUL FACTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION LINES

While the following statements are elementary to many old-time amateurs, it is hoped that these condensed and simplified points will be of some help to the newcomer in obtaining better performance from his station.

1. To deliver maximum power with lowest losses, a transmission line must be terminated in a resistance equal to the characteristic impedance of the line.
   
2. A correctly terminated transmission line of any length will, from the sending end (transmitter), appear as an impedance equal to the characteristic impedance of the line.
   
3. A correctly terminated and balanced line has essentially no radiation from the line.
   
4. A correctly terminated line has the most power absorbed by its termination (load); hence, none is reflected and its V.S.W.R. is unity.
   
5. If a line must be pruned or adjusted to a critical length, it is not terminated properly.
   
6. No matching device at the sending end (transmitter) can reduce the V.S.W.R. on a line which is improperly terminated.
   
7. An improperly terminated or unbalanced transmission line will:
   
   1. Reduce power capacity of T.V.I. filters.
      
   2. Distort radiation and polarization patterns of the antenna.
      
   3. Induce power losses in nearby objects or buildings.
      
   4. Increase B.C.I. and T.V.I. problems.
      
   5. Not absorb or transfer maximum power from many types of transmitters.
      
8. Improperly terminated transmitter lines, when used for receiving, may cause reduction in apparent receiver sensitivity due to losses because of mismatch between antenna and line.
   
9. To obtain maximum transfer of power between any two networks, the impedances must be equal, or must be equalized by a matching network or transformer.