The meeting was held at the Brockville Fire Service Training Centre, 360 Laurier Blvd., Brockville at 1:00 PM, April 25th, 2009.

A lunch provided by Olive Watts Miller VE3OMW and the L.G. ARES was served prior to the meeting. Thank you Olive!

The following members and participants were present:

Call To Order

Tim VE3UO, Chairman called the meeting to order after a delicious luncheon provided by Olive and Graham. Tim expressed his thanks on behalf of the SLVRC for hosting the meeting and providing the lunch.

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.  Bob VE3AJV made a motion that membership dues be suspended until such time as additional funds were required. Seconded by Norm VE3LC. Motion carried.

Submission of Technical Information Reports

Tim VE3UO reported activity had been on going in trying to up-date the database with some repeater operators still failing to submit reports to the SLRVC.  Some reports were many years outstanding.  To that end a list has been posted on the SLVRC web site listing the systems for which reports had not been submitted and that these had been listed as Coordination SUSPENDED.  Tim re-stated the SLVRC policy of asking that complete Technical Information reports be submitted every three years, with a short form report submitted annually for the remaining years.  He further noted that this policy is similar to other coordination councils, and that the failure to complete reports is not an uncommon problem. The Western New York Southern Ontario Repeater Council (WNYSORC) have been having similar difficulties and posted a similar request on their web site.

Graham VE3BYT addressed the concern that some system operators had expressed, namely that the SLVRC should send out requests for these reports to each individual system operator. Graham noted that the SLVRC is an organization staffed by volunteers and as a result, resources are limited.  However, full Technical Information reports were requested at general meetings in 2007 and in 2008,and by means of the SLVRC remailer and on the web site, with the note that full reports were required from ALL systems by the end of October, 2008. The SLVRC asks all system operators for their assistance in this matter.

Discussion took place over this issue, with general agreement with the policy of the SLVRC.

Suggestions were made as to looking for support from Industry Canada and RAC in the work that the SLVRC and other coordination councils do.

The Full TI report form is functioning on the Web Site although Norm VE3LC suggested that a PRINT button be added. In addition the Short Form will be posted shortly. Graham noted that the SLVRC web site is currently hosted on the RAC Web server and that support is on a volunteer basis.

It was further suggested that contact with the delinquent system operators be attempted again and that they be given 30 days notice to comply with the submittal of a FULL TI report, or their coordination would be REVOKED.

Attendees were supportive of this approach.

While these system would still remain as listed since they are presumably still active it was felt that listing of these systems be flagged as REVOKED. In the case of the ARRL Repeater directory this would be shown with a #.

The requirement of adding sub-audible tones to all new coordination requests for 2m and 70cm repeaters was noted. However, it was also suggested that new 6m and 10m repeaters be required to operate with tones. After some discussion, this idea was voted down.

Tim noted that the SLVRC Policy was initially written in 1993, with certain sections revised in 2001.  The SLVRC Executive will be reviewing this policy and report to the membership prior to the next meeting, for discussion.

Tim VE3UO has been Chairman of the SLVRC since the Spring 2001 meeting.  Tim as indicated at the last meeting of the SLVRC in the Fall of 2008 felt that it was time that he step down from this position effective the end of the current meeting. Tim expressed his thanks to all involved with the SLVRC for the support they have provided, and wished the new Chairman the best of luck.

Graham VE3BYT former chairman and current Webmaster thanked Tim for his work over the years.  Graham reported that the executive had attempted to find a replacement Chairman but no volunteers were forth-coming. Therefore Graham volunteered to act as Interim Chairman until a volunteer can be found to take on the position on a longer term.  The attendees accepted Graham's offer to act as Interim Chairman.

At that point attendees then provided a brief status report or up-date of the systems that they represented.

Olive VE3OMW reported that VA3LGA was operating as normal with no changes.

Norm VE3LC reported that VE3MPC was now fully operational at its new location in Orleans, (East End Ottawa) with good reports being received.

Dale VE3XZT reported on behalf of WCARC and ODARG that the VE3WCC repeater was operating status quo on 2m and 70cm. The Dstar repeater is operating well in Ottawa. There are now some 12 to15 DStar repeaters in Canada. Plans for a 444.850 link to Lavant have been dropped.

Doug VE3HTR provided a written report in the form of a diagram, for all the systems operated by the SVRAC covering repeaters VE3SVC VE3MTA VA3SDG on 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm in Cornwall. Doug also reported that they plan to increase the output power of the 444.450 Repeater by 10db. It was suggested that a MODIFICATION Technical Information report should be submitted so this increase could be coordinated.

Graham VE3IGM reported on VE3YGM as status quo.

Mike VE3TUF reported on VE3IRO-Iroquois VE3NDC - Winchester and VE3ESD – Williamsburg. The VE3IRO antenna has been moved some 100 ft higher.

Graham, VE3BYT, found the VE3BOQ repeater 146.760- in Morrisburg to be operational in the summer of 2008, but no further information was available. Michael, VA3TUF, said he would try to get address information for Bill, VE3BOQ, the sponsor/licensee.

Luc VE3JGL reported on systems VE2 RAO , VE2 RBH, VE2UQH and VA3LGP. TI Reports for these systems were outstanding but he had submitted them prior to the meeting.

Tim VE3UO reported on the VE3QAR system. The 2m receiver had been replaced and tones had been added to the UHF system and were working well.

Graham VE3BYT reported on behalf of Frank VE3YY that his IRLP NODE on 145.690 is currently off the air. Future plans are under discussion.

Peter VE3BQP was unable to attend but submitted a written status report via e mail. He reported on VE3OCE, VA3OFS, and VE3EMV in Ottawa. VE3OCE 2m and 70cm working well (although the 70cm system is receiving interference from the ATV System) Wayne VE3CZO to be advised, VA3OFS 2m working well and looking for a location for the 70cm system. VA3EMV 2m and 70cm working well, however the 2m systems in the east and west end are overlapping and causing interference so an alternate frequency is being sought. Also the portable system on 145.110 is working well and in storage.

Pierre VE3FLO reported that VE3RLR was relocated from the Rideau Regional Centre in Smiths Falls to a new location in a building owned by the Town Of Smiths Falls. In addition the Rideau Lakes ARC has obtained a new repeater an MSR 2000 that will ultimately replace the old repeater system. The APRS and Packet digipeaters have also been relocated to the new location.

Mike VE3UIL reported that the VE3UIL Echolink NODE on 147.540 in Smiths Falls was working status quo.

Norm VE3LC reported that some users of the VE3MPC system have been reporting difficulty with the CTCSS tones. In reviewing the matter Norm suspects that some users do not have CTCSS deviation set properly on their mobile or HT units. He is confident that the deviation on the VE3MPC repeater has been set properly but suspects that the difficulty is due to a change in deviation standards for CTCSS tones. Previously the deviation standard for CTCSS tones was +/- 0.5Khz but the new standard is +/- 0.75 Khz.

Graham thanked Norm for this piece of information and asked that Norm follow this up by submitting a Technical Advice or Note to the SLVRC for distribution to members.

The list of Outstanding Coordination requests was reviewed. Luc reported that he was working on these items and would report to the SLVRC Executive within a week concerning the status of these items.

The next meeting will be held Nov. 7Th, 2009 at the Fire Department Training Centre in Gloucester. Graham will contact Peter Gamble to coordinate.

Several copies of the 2009-2010 ARRL Repeater Directory were supplied to the SLVRC. Extra copies were available and raffled off to members of the SLVRC in attendance.

In appreciation of Olive VE3OMW's and the L.G.ARES groups assistance in hosting the meeting and providing luncheons at the current meeting as well as previous occasions, the SLVRC Executive voted to provide a donation of $100 to Olive and her friends for their support over the years.

Mike Ligeza – VE3UIL

Secretary

Saint Lawrence Valley Repeater Council

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