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

Cool Stuff at the York Region Emergency Preparedness Fair

Lots to see at the Fair today. Don VE3IXJ impressed the East Gwillimbury Fire Department with his $100 portable simplex repeater. The paint can is not only inexpensive but waterproof, which is an important requirement when your job is to make everything wet!



We were also impressed by the York Central Fire's mobile antenna platform. It also serves as a pretty good ladder. Maybe next year we'll shunt feed it for 160m operation.



Both East Gwillimbury Fire and the YRP have air boats. We don't have a lot of swamps and definitely no gators but a standard boat propeller doesn't work too well through a layer of ice.



Also check @yr_amateurradio on twitter for more pictures.

Live from the York Region Emergency Preparedness Fair

The 4th annual York Region Emergency Preparedness Fair is on today, and for the fourth time our Club has participated with an exhibit. This year we have an HF station and D-STAR demonstrations operating from our communications trailer. If you have the opportunity, please stop by! More reports and pictures will be posted later today.

Notice - Upcoming Communication Trailer Usage

The Board of Directors has approved the use of the communication trailer at the following events:

1. On March 29th, the trailer will be transported to the York Region Red Cross Headquarters at 13110 Yonge Street for the purpose of testing for an upcoming inter-regional emergency communications exercise. Contact is Robert VA3BXG, acting EmComm Chair. The VE3YRC VHF repeater will be monitored by the EmComm team at most times, although several frequencies will be tested so periods where the repeater is not monitored may occur.
   
2. During the month of April, the trailer will once again be transported to the York Region Red Cross Headquarters for an emergency exercise. Contact details are the same as above.
   
3. On May 2nd, 2015 the trailer will be present at the York Region Emergency Preparedness Fair at the York Region Municipal Headquarters on Yonge Street in Newmarket. The purpose of the club's presence at this event is to promote community safety, provide visibility to YRARC and its EmComm team, and to liaise with York Region's emergency management personnel. The VE3YRC UHF repeater will be monitored throughout the event. Contact for the event is Robert VA3BXG, acting EmComm Chair.
   

Any updates to the above will be published as comments to this article.