YRARC Board of Directors - Minutes 2016-03-15

Meeting held in the Magna Centre, Multipurpose Room1. Called to Order at 19:00 by Chris VE3NRT. Board members attending: Chris VE3NRT, Steve VE3UT, John VA3JI, Rob VE3RQB, Alf VA3BLE, Doug VE3ATP, Barry VA3LLT, David VA3DCY. Absent: Geoff VA3GS, Eric VE3EB. Others attending: none

1. Agenda: Chris VE3NRT. Moved by Rob VE3RQB, seconded by Steve VE3UT to adopt the agenda. Carried
   
2. Minutes: David VA3DCY. Moved by Alf VA3BLE, seconded by Rob VE3RQB to adopt minutes of Board Meeting date 2016/02/16. Carried
   
3. Repeaters: Steve VE3UT
   
   • The installation of backup batteries at VE3YRC-U (Richmond Hill) and VE3YRC-V (Aurora) is complete for repeaters and link radios.
     
   • We have two working RC85 controllers which have been repaired by Bruce VE3BV.
     
   • Questions were asked, should we sell them or keep or keep the for backups, and should we buy a backup 7330 controller with the proceeds from a possible sale?
     
   • Moved by Steve VE3UT, seconded by John VA3JI that we sell the RC85 controllers.
     
   • Moved by Barry VA3LLT, seconded by Rob VE3RQB that voting be deferred until after the PIC discussion. Motion carried by a vote of 4 for and 3 against the motion.
     
   • Doug VE3ATP raised the possibility of linking our repeaters with VE3PIC, still operating as an analogue repeater.
     
   • Moved by John VA3JI, seconded by Steve VE3UT that we ask Steve VE3EZ to approach Rick Smiles VE3IU about the possibility of linking with our repeaters. Carried. Chris checked the bylaws and confirmed that a simple majority is sufficient to pass a motion.
     
4. HamWAN, Trillium and MESH: Chris VE3NRT. There has been recent discussions on the YRARC Yahoo group about MESH. Chris noted that there is another option available for for linking sites with a digital network or MAN (metropolitan area network). The equipment used would be a weatherproof MicroTIK access point, mounted on a parabolic grid antenna, and connected to a power supply and network (inside) by a single CAT5 cable. The MicroTIK operates at 5GHz with a maximum power of 1.3W. Cost is approximately $100 US for the access point and $100 for a grid antenna. The proposed used would be to link EOC sites, with possible funding from a Trillium grant. Details can be found at hamwan.org.
   
5. Property: Rob VE3RQB. Rob will buy a BBQ at Home Depot to replace the defunct club barbecue. The purchase was approved in August 2015, motion number 2015-08-18-3b.He will talk to the owner of Cameron Canopies about the purchase of fittings for a shelter. There was discussion about the loan of a radio to a new member, however it was agreed that loaning the radio should not be a problem.
   
6. Membership: Alf VA3BLE. We currently have a total of 77 members, with 74 voting members.
   
7. Treasurer's Report: John VA3JI.
   
   • Opening Balance 2016/02/29 [Available to members on request to the club secretary]
     
   • Income: None
     
   • Expenditures: Directors and Officers Insurance $649.08
     
   • Closing Balance 2016/02/16 [Available to members on request to the club secretary]
     
   • Motion 2016-03-15-7 moved by John VA3JI seconded by Steve VE3UT to pay the directors and officers insurance. Carried.
     
8. Field Day: Steve VE3UT. There was a discussion about the upcoming field day, and Steve has agreed to continue as coordinator, however he needs an assistant. In addition there are new positions for this year including Safety Officer, which could be filled by David VA3DCY, and a Social Media Officer, which could be filled by Chris VE3NRT.
   
9. Meeting adjourned at 21:33 Moved Alf VA3BLE, seconded Barry VA3LLT. Carried
   

Minutes - YRARC Board of Directors Meeting 2015/11/17

Meeting held in the Magna Centre, multi purpose room 1. Called to Order at 19:00 by Chris VE3NRT. Board members attending: Chris VE3NRT, Steve VE3UT, Geoff VA3GS, Eric VE3EB, Barry VA3LLT, David VA3DCY, Rob VE3RQB, Doug VE3ATP and Alf VA3BLE. Absent: John VA3JI. Others attending: none

1. Agenda: Chris VE3NRT. Amendment to remove item 4a since it was covered in the Oct meeting. Adopted as amended, moved by Geoff VA3GS, seconded by Barry VA3LLT. Carried.
   
2. Minutes: David VA3DCY. Moved by Geoff VA3GS, seconded by Alf VA3BLE to accept the minutes of the 2015/10/20 BoD meeting. Carried
   
3. Treasurer's Report: None since John VA3JI was away.
   
4. By-laws: Chris VE3NRT reported updates are continuing. Alf VA3BLE provided an updated list of members.
   
5. Meeting Rooms: Chris VE3NRT has booked the multi purpose room #1 at the Magna Centre for board meetings for 2016. January 19, February 16, March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October18, November15 and December20.
   
6. Property
   
   • Rob VE3RQB reported that the cost of a 20 ft x 12 ft (approx) canopy from Cameron Canopies, would cost approximately $750 to $800. Web site 905-772-5901 2808 Haldimand Rd. 9, RR #1 York, Ontario, N0A 1R0
     
   • Motions 2015-10-20-1 moved by Barry VA3LLT, seconded by Eric VE3EB to approve $200.00 for ongoing general repairs to the trailer. Carried
     
7. Repeaters
   
   • Steve VE3UT. Suggested the purchase of 2 West Mountain PWRgate PG40 to be installed at the VE3YRC VHF site at Yonge/Bloomington. The cost is $139.95 USD or available at Radio World for $180 Cdn each ($360 for a pair). Chris mentioned there is a less expensive Low Loss PWRgate with reduced current capabilities.
     We also need 4 batteries for the VE3YRC UHF site in Richmond Hill.
     
   • It is possible the the VE3PIC site 146.670 may be available. The current site operator has approached the club through Steve VE3EZ and has suggested that the site may be available for a Yaesu System Fusion repeater. The repeater is located in Uxbridge at an elevation higher than VE3RPT and has excellent coverage. There is however a co-channel repeater in New York State that can also be heard in the GTA. In a show of hands, the majority of the board agreed to investigate further, to see if the offer to use the site is valid and to take the matter to the club membership for further discussion. The call VE3YRF (Fusion) is available.
     
   • IRLP/Echolink: Chris VE3NRT has ordered an audio dongle for the Raspberry Pi. Motion 2015-11-17-5b moved by Barry VA3LLT, seconded by Steve VE3UT to spend $17 for an audio dongle for the Raspberry Pi. Carried.
     
   • There was a discussion on the cost of electricity to the site owner, with the D-STAR radios running with reflector traffic all day. One suggestion was to writing code to turn off the transmitter, and another suggestion was to change to switching power supplies.
     
   • Repeater maintenance. Motion 2015-11-17-5c moved by Geoff VA3GS, seconded by Rob VE3RQB to allocate $200 for ongoing repeater maintenance. Carried.
     
8. Events and public Service
   
   • Eric VE3EB reported on the meeting following the SET. The EmComm group was enquiring how to obtain funds for APRS for sending messages. It was explained that they just need to ask, with an explanation of why funding is needed.
     It was also suggested that we publish our frequency list for other ARES groups to use.
     
   • Meeting Rooms: Chris VE3NRT has booked hall #4 at the Newmarket Community Centre for EmComm meetings for 2016. January 14, February 11, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, September 8, October 13, November 10 and December 8.
     
   • Public Service and awards: Eric VE3EB reported that we did not participate in any Santa Claus parades, and there are no events planned until April 2016.
     Motions 2015-10-20-2 moved by Geoff VA3GS, seconded by Rob VE3RQB to approve $325.00 for food at the December meeting. Carried.
     
9. Membership
   
   • Meetings: Geoff VA3GS reported that the January meeting will be 'junk-in-the-trunk', February will be a travelogue, March will be Mike VE3MKX speaking on fraud, and April and May are still undetermined.
     
   • Alf VA3BLE reported on paid memberships to October 12. We now have 60 voting members and 64 paid members.
     
   • Hamfest: Geoff VA3GS reported it will cost approximately $5000 to rent the site, leaving us with approximately $2500 in profit.
     
10. Other business
    
    • Eric VE3EB noted the club D-STAR radios are programmed with the club call signs, and should be the user's call sign when loaned to club members. 5 memories are avialable. Eric will distribute instructions on how to change call signs in the radios.
      
    • Doug VE3ATP asked if there is any further use for, or plans to proceed with a MESH network, in response to an inquiry from Bob VE3WY
      

Digital Technologies at EmComm Meeting

Last Thursday's EmComm at the Newmarket Community Centre had some special guests. These were Ian Snow VA3QT and Rick Harrison VE3NV. Rick, who is the ARES Section Emergency Coordinator for the GTA, addressed the group on coordination issues and opportunities across the 5 GTA ARES/EmComm Groups, while Ian gave a presentation and demonstration of Winlink.

Ian VA3QT speaks with Bonnie from the Canadian Red Cross with Rick VE3NV in foreground

Ian's Winlink Presentation

In addition to Winlink, Ian included MESH networking in his presentation and brought along a familiar-looking device similar to the one that Matt, VA3MGN built a couple of years ago.

Bonnie's canine friend didn't find the Winlink presentation as fascinating as the rest of the ARES team.

Don VE3IXJ, Bonnie and Rick VE3NV.

From left to right: MESH node, transceiver with tuner, and PACTOR modem for HF data communications

Links of the Month - February 2014

Here are the interesting (at least to us radio amateurs) web sites that were found by club members this month.

• Latest release of MESH firmware. [Steve VA3SRV]
  
• US Navy Electronics Training. Scroll for other topics like machining, photography, how to toast the Queen, etc. [Steve VA3SRV]
  
• Amateur and SWL apps for Android and iOS. [Steve VA3SRV]
  
• Initial RAC comments on Industry Canada Antenna Policy Changes. [Steve VA3SRV]
  
• YouTube videos of Raspberry Pi set up as an Echolink hotspot #1, #2, #3 and instructions. [Patrick VE3WST]
  
• Use an RTL dongle to read your smart electricity meter. [Steve VA3SRV]
  
• Waterfall views of various HF signals. [Chris VE3NRT]
  
• The recent $5B Spectrum Auction. [Steve VE3EZ]