Saint Lawrence Valley  
Repeater Council

Minutes of the Fall 2009 Meeting

The meeting was held at the Chimo Inn, St. Laurent Blvd., Gloucester at 1:00 PM,  April 25th, 2009. 
A last minute relocation of the meeting was required due to the unexpected unavailability of the facility at the Gloucester Fire Hall.

The following members and participants were present: 

    Call To Order

Graham VE3BYT Chairman called the meeting to order after a slight delay due to the change in venue.

Graham announced the passing of Tim Smith VE3HCB- SK of Cornwall, expressing the regrets of the SLVRC.

Introductions around the room were then made with guests, Tyler Tidman VA3DGN and Margaret Tidman VA3VXN, and Harold Hamilton  VA3UNK present.

An overview of the topics to discussed included: 

          -Approval of Minutes from the Spring 2009 Meeting

-Frequency Coordinator - Thanks to Luc for his work in the past.

-Requirements for Technical Information Reports

-Revocation of Coordinated Status

    Financial Report

Pierre VE3FLO Treasurer provided the Financial Report for the SLVRC. 

Pierre also reported that the policy of not asking for membership dues to the SLVRC was still in effect.

 A motion was made and carried at the Spring 2009 meeting that this abatement of dues be continued until funds were required.  Pierre noted that there were sufficient funds to support activities for the near further.

    Review of Minutes From Spring 2009 Meeting

Bob VE3AJV noted that he made a report on the  VA3LGA repeater but this was not noted in the minutes.

Doug VE3HTR noted that the minutes make reference to a 220 Mhz repeater for the SVRC. This system is not a repeater but a link.

Motion by Mike VA3TUF seconded by Bob VE3AJV to accept the minutes as amended.  Carried.

    Submission of Technical Information Reports

Graham VE3BYT reviewed the Policy of the SLVRC pertaining to submission of Technical Information reports.  Full Technical Information reports are requested every 3 years with annual short form reports required in the interim years.  

After reviewing the SLVRC database, it was noted that some 26 systems have not submitted reports for up to 10 years.  As a result, following SLVRC Policy, notices were sent to these system operators indicating that should they not submit a report within 30 days, coordinated status of these systems would be revoked.

It was suggested at the meeting that VE3IGE was understood to be off the air.  However any attempts to contact the last reported contact name, have been unsuccessful.

 Short Form Technical Information reports are now due for 2009.  Some reports have been submitted but a large number of reports for 2009 are still outstanding.

    Coordination Actions

Chairman Graham VE3BYT reported future frequency coordination activity was now being undertaken primarily by himself, with aid of the other members of the executive.  A complete review of the outstanding coordination requests has been undertaken, some of which have been outstanding for over a year.

Coordination Items recently covered include:

                         1)      CTCSS tone access implemented on VE3KBR Kingston, 146.940 -ve.  VE2CRA 146.940 -
                                 Chelsea had been implemented some time ago.  This was to resolve problems with dual access between                                      Kingston and Ottawa.

                        2)      IRLP Link Cornwall .  John Vining is now using 223.680

3)      Approval of coordination for VE2REH repeater in Pontiac Co. QC 147.390 on the condition of no interference to repeater in Northern NY also on this pair.

4)      Approval of UHF repeater pair for VE2RWC, Brownsburg, QC 442.350Mhz

5)      Approval of UHF repeater pair for VE3REX/R 442.200 at Rideau Ferry for LNARES

6)      Approval of UHF Repeater pair for VE3OUR Marmora 443.475 +ve.  Moved from Oshawa

7)      John Vining has withdrawn his request for 2m pair in Cornwall.

8)      Approval of UHF pair to be installed in Gatineau/Hull QC VE2GFV 444.025 +ve (Note repeater in Vermont on reverse pair 449.025-ve)

9)      VE3TEL reaffirmed following relocation to Robertson Rd., Kanata

10)    Approved Transportable repeater Kingston ARES 146.775

11)     Approved VE3CLQ Frontenac County Ares Kingston 146.805 -ve (Reported issues of interference with N. NY repeater.)

12)    Approved Repeater VE3MTA relocation of repeater 16km North of previous site.

13)    EMRG Ottawa a number of frequencies requested for system at Ben Franklin Place.

14)    Approved - moved antenna for VE3UW, Almonte, ON

Currently the following requests are being considered:

1)      6m pair for K2CC

2)      New VHF frequency pair for VE3OCE -  EMRG Ottawa

3)      Repeater pair for VA3SDR

4)      Link Frequency for VA3LP Hammond.

5)      Move of VE2MDC now VE3EYZ from Cantley to Embrun

6)      Relocation of VE3KAR to Clarendon Station (originally coordinated for Kingston) 147.090+.  Report of interference in Malone NY.  Incomplete Tech Info report provided.

7)      Iroquois ARC new repeater in Williamsburg.  Incomplete information.

8)      Relocation of VA3TLO

9)      VA3JGL repeaters on 53.230 and 440.500 from Russel to Ottawa.

10)    VE3RIX - relocation plus require pairs for 440 and 220Mhz bands.

11)     VE2XAD - repeater for Sarsfield.  Incomplete information received.

12)    VE3TJU Picton - Duplex link to Cobourg on 440 Mhz Band.

    Smart Meters

Some discussion was held on the implementation of Smart Meters by Ontario Hydro.  Norm VE3LC noted that a variety of systems are in use, for example a 902 MHz system has been implemented in Ottawa, but in rural areas both 2.5Ghz systems or subscriber loops were being used.

The point was made: the bottom line is that the 440 and 902 MHz bands are shared bands.

    SLVRC Policy

Graham VE3BYT noted that the SLVRC Executive had undertaken at the Spring meeting to review the SLVRC Policy.  However due to the changes that had taken place within the Executive as well as other priorities that arose, this review did not happen.  It is hoped that this can be done in the not too distant future.

    SLVRC Web Site

The status of the SLVRC Web Site was discussed.  Graham VE3BYT acknowledged that the Web Site could do with a bit of an overhaul, but he noted that the Web site is currently hosted at no charge by RAC who have been very helpful.  As a result we are reluctant to ask them to do anything major to the Web site.  Graham is Webmaster.

The Frequency Listings are actually hosted on Mike VE3UIL's Website and while the formatting may need changing this is rather difficult.  If anyone has any expertise in this area, help would be appreciated.

A suggestion was made that a BLOG be added to the website as a means to communicating to the membership.  As noted above the hosting by RAC makes this matter a little difficult.  The list server appears to perform the same function.

    New Items

     Packet Systems

It hass not been the policy of SLVRC to coordinate packet systems if they are using the standard packet frequencies as allocated in the RAC bandplan.  However; it has been noted that some packet system are using repeater pairs if they are operating full duplex.

In this case then SLVRC should be responsible for coordination of these systems due to the impact on voice repeater coordination.

This point should also be included in the up-date of the SLVRC Policy.

A motion was made supporting this policy by Bob VE3AJV and seconded by Mike VA3TUF.  Motion carried.

     Digital Voice Systems

Norm VE3LC spoke briefly on the Digital Voice repeaters currently coming on the Amateur Radio scene.  He noted that while D-Star was certainly quite popular, there are also some P25 systems going into place.

The implementation of digital radio systems has also raised an interesting issue of encryption.  Amateur Radio communications are not supposed to be encrypted.  Some new systems are encrypted but the operators are claiming that by publishing the encryption algorithm as they have done, this gets around the regulation.

The matter has been raised with Industry Canada.

     Cell Phone Legislation In Ontario

Pierre VE3FLO spoke to the new legislation passed by the Ontario Legislature that bans the use of Cell Phones and other handheld communications devices while operating a Motor Vehicle.

The legislation passed Sept. 29th, 2009 was an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act.

Some members of the Amateur Radio community had hoped to get a full exemption for Amateur Radio operators.  However this did not happen.

But Amateur Radio operators were given a temporary exemption until June 2013.  At that time it is expected that Amateur Radio operators will have developed systems that allow for hands free operation of their radios.  This would include the inclusion of PTT control fixed to the operators clothing.  Also it was noted that the equipment must be fixed mounted.

Norm VE3LC demonstrated a simple PTT device that he had developed.

It was suggested that Amateur Radio operators carry a copy their licence and a copy of the legislation with them while operating a motor vehicle.

     GPS Use of 440Mhz

Dave VE3KMV noted that he had found in the TAFL Frequency database a listing in the 440.00 to 440.500Mhz range for the use of Differential GPS by the North Dundas Roads Department.  Other systems have also been noted in the same portion of the 70cm Amateur Band.

    Repeater Reports

Mike VA3TUF reported on the system in Iroquois as well as the Winchester and Williamsburg systems.  These are status quo.

Bob VE3AJV reported on the VA3LGA system on Lansdowne.  The system is status quo with a regular morning net being held on the repeater.

Graham VE3IGM reported that VE3YGM in Cornwall was status quo.

Doug VE3HTR reported that since the passing of Tim VE3HCB he had taken over responsibilities for the SVRC repeaters. VA3SDG is status quo, they had dropped the 2M link idea and were using 220Mhz instead.  VE3SVC is not performing well and there was some discussion about increasing power.

VE3MTA had to be rebuilt and is undergoing low power testing at Doug's QTH.

Al VE3DMR reported on the Almonte systems VA3AAR and VE3UW. Status Quo.

Al also reported on the LNLARES system repeaters.  The systems are all linked except for VE3LCA.  Technical Info reports had been submitted for all outstanding systems.

Dave VE3KMV reported on the EMRG/OTTAWA ARES systems. All systems are OK except for the interference between the East and and West end Ottawa systems on the same frequency.  A request is in for a new frequency for one of them.
The portable system is status quo, as is the Packet Digi on 145.030.
There is also request in for frequencies at Ben Franklin place as noted earlier.

Norm VE3LC reported that the VE3MPC repeater was doing well at its new location. Several Nets are held on the repeater.  Some minor power problems are also being investigated.  Norm also outlined some of the future plans for additional features tentatively planned for the repeater.

Pierre VE3FLO reported on the status of the VE3RLR repeater in Smiths Falls.  The repeater has been relocated from its former home at the Rideau Regional Centre to the Town of Smiths Falls Works Department Garage where an 80ft tower has been installed.
In the longer term the old repeater will be replaced with an MSR2000 that the Rideau Lakes ARC obtained.

Mike VE3UIL reported that his Echolink NODE VE3UIL-L is operating status quo.

Graham VE3BYT reported that his telemetry link in the 220 band is status quo.

    NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held Saturday, April 24th, 2010 (subject to confirmation) at the #2 Fire Hall, Laurier Avenue in Brockville.  Lunch at 12:00, meeting at 1:00 PM

Mike Ligeza – VE3UIL
Secretary,
Saint Lawrence Valley Repeater Council

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