Lunar Eclipse Tonight

For the first time in 30 years, there will be a "Supermoon" eclipse tonight, as the Moon is closer to the Earth than usual. The eclipse will begin at 8:11 pm with the penumbra of the Earth first appearing on the moon, while the umbra begins to cross at 9:07 pm and reach its maximum at 10:47.

The eclipse will finish well after midnight. Too bad it's on a week night.

Lunar Eclipse of October 8, 2014

The CIBC Run for the Cure is just over one week away and the club is still looking for volunteers to support this event.

If you are available to support this event please send your response to events.yrarc@gmail.com

Details
Event: CIBC Run for the Cure 2015 (Breast Cancer Research Fund Raiser)
Date: October 4, 2015
Time: TBD (Early and later morning starts)
Location: Richmond Green Park, Leslie and Elgin Mills, Richmond Hill
Scope: Communications, Vehicle Management and Participant Safety
Call out: 10-12 Amateur Radio Volunteers/Others

The above event is also posted on the club web site calendar.
 
Thank you

Eric Brown VE3EB/OIC
YRARC Director of Public Service Events

First Impressions of Windows 10

So I've had a laptop running Windows 10 for some time. It's not my work laptop, which is on Windows 7 until our corporate IT group deems otherwise, but one which I sometimes use for ham radio. It has plenty of memory (8GB) and a solid state disk drive (256GB). The only problem I've seen so far is that sometimes the mouse pointer stalls - pretty annoying at times but I can't necessarily blame Windows 10 for it and haven't looked into it because I don't use that computer very much. I was pleased to see that one old device I have for which the latest driver was written for Vista still worked under Windows 10-64.

So I took the plunge and migrated the big desktop as well. This system is a Dell XPS 9100 with two 23" monitors is integrated into the station and a bunch of other technology and so has the greatest chance of having a problem. The key thing, of course, is how well all the devices and applications work. So far it's mostly good. Here's a list I've made up in my first 3 days of operation.

Devices

1. Rig Control through an inexpensive 4-port PCI Express serial interface - no issues.
2. KAT500 control through the Elecraft USB to Serial adapter - no issues.
3. Echo Audiofire 12, a 12 channel 96 KHz audio interface connected to the system's built in Fire-wire port. No issues.
4. Mouse and Keyboard - no issues
5. Intel Rapid Storage Technology - This software manages the mirroring of my system drives. It worked as before and reported that the drives were healthy.
6. A Logitech USB headset which I hadn't used for some time (before I had to rebuild my Windows 7 system due to a head crash, ergo the mirrored drives I run now). The driver installed automatically.

Operating System

1. I was concerned at first because I saw the task bar icons on the secondary monitor, so at first glance it looked like it was replicated the primary monitor extend of extending the desktop. This turned out to be a feature, so that those icons are available on either monitor. That`s a good idea I think because it makes switching between applications easier.
2. Windows Edge took over as my default browser from Chrome. I launched Chrome manually and it came right out with a video on how to make Chrome my default browser and pin it to the task bar. Ain't competition great!

Radio Applications

1. JT-Alert and WSJT-X worked just fine. The first time I tried to transmit the tones came out the wrong sound card, but it was easily set to rights in the WSJT-X options menu and I was back in business on the next go-round.
2. Elecraft Utilities - work as before (KAT500, KPA500, etc)
3. DXLab - Launcher worked as did all the applications I tried including DXKeeper, Spot Collector (using Telnet and IRC), ...
4. FreeDV. The WAE SSB contest was under way so no joy on getting a QSO 20m but the application seems to work just as well as it did on Windows 7. I managed to crash it once but getting ahead of it but I can't blame Windows 10 for that. It's minimal rig control (PTT only) worked fine too.
5. FLDIGI with the FLDIGI DXLab Gateway also worked perfectly for several PSK31 and PSK63 QSOs.

Other Applications

1. Courtesy of the my office I have the Adobe Creative Cloud on my home desktop computer and use Adobe Lightroom to edit and catalogue photos for this blog. Under Windows 10, Adobe Lightroom has a problem with the AMD Radeon graphics driver. The consensus is that it is a driver bug and the solution is either to regress to the previous version of the driver or to disable graphics acceleration in the application. I chose the latter and it works fine, although I'll have to remember to change it back if and when the bug is fixed by AMD.
2. Microsoft Office 365 also worked fine. I'd have been quite surprised if it hadn't.

So far, after 4 days of operating, it's working well. No big problems. Your mileage may vary though.

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

Minutes - YRARC Board of Directors Meeting 2015-08-18

Meeting held in the Magna Centre. Called to Order at 19:00 by Chris VE3NRT. Board members attending: Chris VE3NRT, Steve VE3UT, John VA3JI, Geoff VA3GS, Barry VA3LLT, David VA3DCY, Rob VE3RQB, Alf VA3BLE, Doug VE3ATP. Absent: Eric VE3EB

1. Agenda: The agenda, without amendments, was adopted as presented.
   
2. Minutes: Motion 2015-08-18-2 to accept the minutes of the 2015/07/21 board meeting, moved by Steve VE3UT, seconded by Rob VE3RQB. Carried.
   
3. Treasurer's Report: John VA3JI. Opening balance 2015/07/21 (members may request balance from the club Secretary). Income: Prepaid dues $205.00, Return FD food $243.30, Return AGM food $35.00. Total $483.30. Expenditures: Trailer Insurance $874.00, Trailer maintenance $100.00. Total $974.00. Members may request closing balance from the club Secreatary. Motion 2015-08-18-3a to accept the treasurer's report, moved by Rob VE3RQB, seconded by Alf VA3BLE. Carried.
   
4. Budget discussion
   
   • Barry VA3LLT proposed a trailer budget of $200 for general maintenance, including $50 for changing the decals on the trailer to yrarc.org, a D-STAR cable for D-RATS. Not included but mentioned a possible Rig Blaster for each computer. Not included but mentioned, the need for WiFi access. David VA3DCY to investigate existing router in the trailer with Barry VA3LLT. Steve VE3UT proposed a repeater budget of $600 for general maintenance plus batteries. Rob VE3RQB proposed a property budget of $1200, to including a new BBQ ($300), a new shelter/frame/tarp for field day ($600) and miscellaneous ($300). Rob to investigate the cost of tarps. Alf VA3BLE mentioned that he has the capability to sew tarps together.
     
   • Motion 2015-08-18-3b by Geoff VA3GS that Rob VE3RQB and Barry VA3LLT purchase a new BBQ. Motion amended by Alf VA3BLE, seconded by Barry VA3LLT, that Rob VE3RQB and Barry VA3LLT in consultation with Peter VE3PBT, purchase a new BBQ, cost not to exceed $350 tax included. Carried.
     
   • Alf VA3BLE proposed a budget of no cost ($0), since we have a supply of membership cards. Chris VE3NRT proposed a budget of $175 for web hosting ($25), battery charging for the go-kits ($50) and awards and plaques ($100). Steve VE3UT and John VA3JI will submit a summary of field day expenses and John VA3JI will supply the costs of the Christmas and AGM food costs.
     
5. Blog Update: Chris VE3NRT gave an update and overview of the blog, accessed at http://yrarc-splatter.blogspot.ca/ and via http://www.yrarc.org/ and selecting 'The Splatter'. Members are encouraged to read, comment and promote the site. We need pictures and stories.
   
6. Property: Rob VE3RQB noted we have some donated red fiberglass cable containers for storing cables in the EmComm trailer, but need to be able to hold them in place.
   Motion 2015-08-18-4 by Rob VE3RQB, seconded by by Geoff VA3GS, to purchase materials to retain the containers, maximum cost $20. Carried.
   
   • Repeaters: Steve VE3UT reported that all repeaters are OK.
     
   • IRLP and Echo-link: John VA3JI has given the radios and IRLP and Echo-link controllers to Chris VE3NRT for further investigation.
     
7. Events: Report sent from Eric VE3EB. Past events included participation at the Sharon Temple Canada Day, Newmarket Canada Day and the Newmarket Jazz Fest. Upcoming events include the Sharon Temple Illumination, Sept 11, Run for the Cure Oct 4 and the Markham Fair Sept to Oct 1 to 4.
   
8. EmComm: Chris VE3NRT reported there is an upcoming meeting on Aug 18 to discuss the GTA channel list.
   
9. Membership: Geoff VA3GS noted that we have speakers for the September, October and
   
   • November meetings. December will be the Christmas party and meetings for January, February and March are to be finalized, and may include remote stations.
     
   • September 1st: Amateur Radio and Model Rocketry, Dave Ranjauth VE3OOI
     
   • October 6th: Paul Delaney, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, York University
     
   • November 3rd: Tracking Small Balloons Around the World, Dave Beverstein VE3KCL
     
   .
10. Geoff VA3GS has sent emails to prospective vendors and has received 5 responses. The date is October 31. In the past we have spent $1000 for grand prizes, and we may cut back on the amount spent on prizes. A 50/50 draw was suggested. Volunteers will be recruited at the September meeting.
    
11. Promotion: Chris VE3NRT has prepared a PDF file suitable for posting in libraries and other public places to promote the for September, October and November meetings.
    
12. Recognition: Chris VE3NRT noted the club is forgoing a significant amount of money when we issue a life membership Some formal rules should be set up to control the number of free memberships issued, such as a significant contribution over 20 years might be required.
    
13. Motion 2015-08-18-8d by Geoff VA3GS, seconded by Steve VE3UT that we spend $40 for frames for certificates of appreciation for TBA and TBA. Carried.
    
14. Other business - Training: Geoff VA3GS noted that no less than 10 candidates are required to run a basic study course, however help could be provided for a self-study course.
    

Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm

To the Edge of Space - Slowly

The use of party balloons for flights to an altitude of about 8 km, just under the cruising altitude of most jet airplanes, has been covered here with the experiments of VE3KCL and VK3YT but other hams (and non-hams) are getting their kicks by aiming much higher with larger high-altitude balloons.

The Skies over Lake Michigan from a Weather Balloon

These types of flights are more complicated and expensive than the party balloons but no prohibitively so. Aeronautical regulations are not onerous even with a fairly sizable balloon with a weighty payload, as long as there are mechanism to slow the descent when the balloon bursts and to be able to detach the payload on command. Typically, although not necessarily required by law, air traffic control is informed of the flight and sometimes they even track it using on whatever web site is reporting the progress of the experiment.

Flights generally do not cover the same great distances as the party balloons, which makes them less exciting from the standpoint of seeing which way they will wander but allows for more interesting payloads, such as cameras and transponders using VHF and UHF communications. Typically the flights are much shorter in duration, rising rapidly to their maximum altitude then bursting and dropping by parachute.

The High Altitude Balloon Challenge web site lists some of the results achieved during their contest period in the Spring. The highest altitude achieved was 42895 m (140,732 ft), and the longest track 1,000 km (although it was disqualified as it was not achieved during the contest period).

A group of amateurs in Alberta who call themselves BEAR (Balloon Experiments in Amateur Radio) have been launching HABs over a period of 15 years and regularly achieving altitudes of 100,000 feet or more. They use APRS tracking rather than the custom system used by the party balloons, which makes sense when you have greater altitude and smaller distances.

AMSAT lists many different amateur groups doing high altitude ballooning projects on their web site.

The other big difference in the high altitude experiments is the far greater expectation of actually getting the payload back, by using chase cars and trying to engineer the recovery on farm land.

The Next Little Thing - Orange Pi

The Raspberry Pi has found its way into the hearts and minds of radio amateurs around the world. At only US $35 or so for a single board computer with USB, Ethernet, HDMI, and a  GPIO port for interfacing to other electronics, it's a bargain - or at least it was. Now there's a pretender to the low cost computing throne called the Orange Pi. Clearly the manufacturer has no issue with trying to horn in on Raspberry Pi's brand image.

There's a regular power port rather than the USB power of the Raspberry Pi - and a power switch. It also has 1GB memory, a faster processor, but you give up a couple of USB ports. The big news is that it is only US $15, plus $3.99 shipping, from China of course. The Techcrunch article rightly points out that support and the aftermarket for compatible devices may well be sacrificed to get the $20 savings.

The Orange Pi can be ordered from Alibaba.com. If you're worried about ordering products from China, Alibaba is designed to make the transaction safe and it has an excellent reputation.