Still Closed – let’s be patient, follow guidelines and beat this Covid-19 challenge

Hello Oakville ARC friends and Radio Amateurs – This has been a challenging year and a frustrating one, but Oakville ARC must follow Halton Health guidelines and keep everyone safe.

This looks like it will be another year without in person meetings or an in-person field day, but such is the price of social responsibility – there is NO element of this hobby is worth risking the health of others.

This week we saw a significant spike in New cases, second only to Milton in Halton, so this is far from over. At risk of being controversial, this hobby, while useful in some emergencies, is neither trained to directly add value in a pandemic nor welcome by civil powers as an essential service in our current situation. We are not first responders – ever – so I encourage you all to stay home, stay grounded in this reality and NOT become casualties.

We continue to keep our repeaters operational, support other groups that are guests on those repeaters, and support each other on the air. In these challenging times, it is as important as ever to support our town and region with patience and good conduct.

let’s keep everyone healthy – we will get back together when vaccinations are widely deployed and we can be confident everyone is safe.

Oakville residents looking to study for their Amateur Radio licence and find remote testing can get more information by contacting Rod VA3ON at va3on@crrl.ca

Breakfast Suspended

It should come as no surprise but Breakfast meetings are suspended due to COVID, for the foreseeable future. If you are trying to find a virtual event, or want to write your exam (Yes this can be online), feel free to contact VA3ON(at)crrl.ca and we will help out as we can

Stay tuned

Greeting Oakville ARC – With most of us stuck at home, and many of us on the Cycle25 Zoom call on Saturday mornings at 11:30 am eastern, I’ve gone back to the old WordPress site to restore some content.

This may take a while to fully update so please be patient – OR – Volunteer to be the website updater….

The Breakfast Club

The Oakville Amateur Radio Club (VE3HB) meets every Saturday Morning at 06:30 am at the Sunset Grill, 361 Cornwall Rd., Oakville, ON L6J 7Z5

Visitors are encouraged to join us at the back table of the Sunset any Saturday morning. It may be early, but the coffee is pretty good…

OARC meets weekly

Yes it’s true. The Oakville Amateur Radio Club meets every Saturday at 6:30 am at Coras on Dorval and the North Service Road in Oakville.

There aren’t many clubs that claim to be this active.

Everyone who is interested in Amateur Radio is invited to attend. While attendance varies we normally see eight to 12 members every Saturday.

This morning, after breakfast, we successfully programmed a couple of DMR handie-talkies. The TYT MD-380 DMR units were on sale at RadioWorld for under $200 and a bunch of us jumped at the chance to try out this digital mode.

Personally (VE3HG) I’ve been quite active on D-Star with both a mobile rig and an ID-31a into a DVAP. Last week I worked a guy in the Middle East on D-Star which was a real thrill using the 31a.

DMR on the other hand is a simpler more pre-programmed setup which might appeal to some who have problems understanding D-Star (which took me two separate sessions at forums on two separate years at the Dayton Hamvention to figure out).  The DMR channelized system reminds me a lot of the old CB setup.

Still it’s all new to me and with HF propagation being pretty absent most days these digital modes are a lot of fun.

Ham Radio Christmas Dinner

Hello fellow hams.

The Oakville Amateur Radio Christmas Dinner is fast approaching.
This event is for anyone interested in Amateur Radio.

Tuesday December 8th at 19:15
Tuckers Marketplace Burlington
3110 South Service Road – QEW & Guelph Line
One price 30.00 per person
Included in that price is
One drink
Buffet
Desert
Tip and taxes

To get this price it will be a single bill.
Please bring cash for you portion of the bill.

Please pass this email on to others.

RSVP to me at
jbyers748@mac.com

Two Candidates for Ontario South Director

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) like all non-profit associations is actually run by a board of directors who appoint paid and volunteer staff to form an executive which carries out the directions of the board following consultation with the members (which doesn’t happen enough IMHO but that’s a blog for another day).

RAC is our national organization and for better or worse is the best association we’ve got right now. But that’s not to say it’s good enough. I love RAC but hate the way it’s run (just in case I haven’t been clear enough in the past).

After failing to impress the importance of change and leadership upon the current executive (many of whom have left in frustration over the years) our only resources as members is to elect the best people we possibly can to our national board of directors.

The two candidates Phil McBride, VA3QR (bottom photo) from Acton and Igor Slakva, VE3ZF (top photo) from Stoney Creek have both put their names forward and election ballots have been sent out my mail.

I know and respect Igor and I trust Phil is equally up to the task. Either man would make a good director but it’s important that you express your preference.

If you’re a RAC member with your permanent address in the Southern RAC region it’s essential you vote.

Ham Radio at Farmer’s Market

Ham Radio was at the Farmer’s Market and cultural festivities at Centennial Square at the main library on Navy Street in Oakville.

I ran a NorCal 20 with the AlexLoop and we could easily hear Europe in the morning and I even worked one guy in Rome, GA later in the day.

We had quite few folks stop to ask about Amateur Radio and I had a few handouts about the club which I gave out.

I ran an external speaker from the NorCal so the sound of CW wafted over the market.

I was thinking of showing digital modes but a laptop in bright sunlight isn’t something that’s easy to see so kept the new laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad bought at Dave’s shop on Kerr Street north of Speers on Friday. BTW it runs the Flexradios easily at home!) in the bag.

I would be nice if we had some more guys there to work the equipment and answer questions as we’ve got two more dates when we can setup our display. Also Aug. 1 and 2 we’ve been invited to demonstrate Amateur Radio at the Maker Fair at Toronto’s Reference Library on Yonge Stree.

CANWARN Spring Schedule

Thanks to Geoff Coulson, Warning Preparedness Meterologist with Environment Canada, the spring training schedule for CANWARN training has been published. (See below.)

I took the CANWARN training and it is most worthwhile. First the training by Geoff is very entertaining as well as educational. At the end of the evening you’ll be issued with your official CANWARN reporting number and you’ll know what do to if severe weather comes into your community.

Highly recommended!
April 21 – 9 AM – Windsor – Windsor-Essex Health Unit 1005 Ouellette, Windsor, Room 1A Boardroom, registration through https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/storm-spotter-training-registration-15848853347
April 21 – 1 PM – Windsor – Windsor-Essex Health Unit 1005 Ouellette, Windsor, Room 1A Boardroom, registration through https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/storm-spotter-training-registration-15848853347
April 21 – 7 PM – Tilbury – Knights of Columbus Hall 20 Dupuis St, Tilbury
April 22 – 7 PM – Sarnia – Sarnia Yacht Club 1220 Fort St, RSVP to bhoad@xcelco.on.ca
April 23 – 7 PM – London – Fanshawe College Room T1003, Building T, 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd, free parking in any metered spot after 6 PM
April 29 – 1 PM – Central Huron/Blyth – Emergency Services Training Centre 40193 Blyth Road
April 29 – 7 PM – Goderich – Town of Goderich Council Chambers, 57 West St
May 2 – 9 AM – Toronto – Environment Canada Headquarters 4905 Dufferin St
May 4 – 6 PM – Kingston – City Library 935 Gardiners Road
May 6 – 6:30 PM – Ottawa – Greenboro Community Centre 363 Lorry Greenberg Drive
May 7 – 7 PM – Waterloo – Adult Recreation Centre 185 King St South
May 9 – 9 AM – Hamilton – Nash Auditorium, Wilcox Building, Chedoke Hospital, Sanatorium Road in Hamilton, free parking across from Wilcox building
May 9 – 9 AM – Frontenac County – Frontenac County Building Frontenac Room 2069 Battersea Road, Glenburnie
May 12 – 7 PM – Toronto – Environment Canada Headquarters 4905 Dufferin St
May 12 – 6:15 PM – Cornwall – Cornwall Public Library 45 Second St E
May 13 – 7 PM – Dufferin County – Dufferin County Museum 936029 Airport Rd in Mulmur (Highway 89 and Airport Road)
May 16 – 9:30 AM – Belleville – Belleville Public Library 254 Pinnacle Street
May 20 – 7 PM – Thornhill – Thornhill Community Centre 7755 Bayview Ave
May 20 – 6:30 PM – Renfrew – Best Western 760 Gibbons Road
May 21 – 7 PM – Peterborough – Peterborough Public Library 345 Aylmer St. North
May 23 – 9 AM – Orillia/Rama – Rama Fire Hall 7454 Williams Road just north of Casinorama
May 23 – 9 AM – Greater Sudbury – Lionel E. Lalonde Centre 239 Montee Principale Azilda
May 24 – 1 PM – Espanola – Pinewood Inn – 378 Centre St
May 25 – 6:30 PM – Sault Ste. Marie – Essar Centre Angelo Bumbaco Room 269 Queen St E
May 26 – 6:30 PM – Timmins – Timmins Fire Hall 133 Cedar St South
May 27 – 6:30 PM – New Liskeard – New Liskeard Marina Floating Dock (bad weather alternate location Temfund Boardroom 74C Scott St)
May 28 – 6:30 PM – North Bay – OPP Regional Headquarters Cathy Burns Training Room 911A Gormanville Road

Meeting Tonight

Hi All:

Our March meeting  on Tuesday, March 10th will feature a technical update by John, VA3BL, who will walk us through where we are with the club repeaters and MESH network.

This is likely the last technical meeting of the year, so those interested in learning where we’re at when it comes to technology will want to attend.

Meetings start at 7pm at Abbey Park High School 1455 Glen Abbey Gate on the second floor.