CARG EOC’S VISIT Saturday 20 July, 2024 

Hi everyone, This is a report on our visit to some Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) in the area on Saturday 20 July, 2024 at 09:00 at the MAARC Clubhouse. I would like to thank the following hams for participating and showing interest in Emergency Communications: VE1AJF, VE9SC, VE9OSK, VE9NW, VE9GK, VO1KJM, VE9PTT, VE9BOF, VE9ASB, VE9MTV and VE9ADV (with regrets).

We met at the MAARC Clubhouse at 279 Halifax St., Moncton, NB at 09:00 and proceeded to Moncton City Hall on Main St. For the Moncton EOC checkup. At the Moncton EOC communications room, we have 2 Kenwood TM-281A VHF mobile transceivers, one for voice and the other for packet. They were checked out and SWR readings were good. The next radio was a Kenwood TM-D710G dual band mobile, which checked out ok on both bands. The next radio was a Kenwood TS-480 HF which had above 3 SWR of 80M, between 2.5-3.0 SWR on 40M and above 3.0 SWR on 20M without using the internal antenna tuner. I think there is more investigation needed for the HF antenna.

Also in the same Comms room there are the TMR radios, 1 DMR VHF repeater and 1 DMR UHF repeater owned by Tobie VE9XAB and Stephen VE9SC.

Next EOC was at the Dieppe Fire Station on Gauvin Rd. in Dieppe under DIEPPE EOC designation. There is only 1 Kenwood TM-281A VHF transceiver at this location, and radio checkup and SWR readings were very good 1.01 SWR accross the 2 meter band. 

Next visit was the RIVERVIEW ALTERNATE EOC at 650 Pine Glen Rd, Fire Station, where we have our regular MAARC monthly meetings. Only 1 Kenwood TM-281A VHF radio at this location. The radio and antenna sytems all checkout ok, and an SWR reading of 1.01 on the bottom portion of 2M and 1.86 SWR at 147.975 Mhz, which suggest that it is a bit long. 

Next, headed back to the MAARC Clubhouse to perform the CARG EOC Checkup. In the backroom we have a Packet Radio, Motorola MCX100 and KPC3 TNC, which had around 30W out and between 1.35 to 1.6 SWR on our packet frequencies. 

We also have a Kenwood TM-D710 VHF/UHF transceiver. Everything checkout ok with this system as the worst case SWR on both VHF/UHF was 1.25 to 1.00. 

The next radio was a Kenwood TS-480 HF transceiver using a 40M slopper Antenna. The SWR reading on the 80M band was above 5 to 1. The reading for 40M was 1.55 to 1.6 SWR. 

My recommendation for this radio would be an 1/2 wave End Fed 80 to 10M antenna so we would be able to use on all the bands with minimal tuning, for emergency communications. 

73 de VE9MTV

There will be another net added to the list of local nets beginning on Saturday, February 3rd at 8:00PM local 12:00UTC.

For those who can access the VE9MDR repeater (146.9250MHz-), here are the details:

Color Code 1

Time Slot 2
Talk Group 30205 (Atlantic Talk Group)

The net will also be accessible via Brandmeister on Talkgroup 30205 (Atlantic Talkgroup) for those who wish to check-in via hotspot.

Net control station will be Rod, VE9HV.

Hope to hear you all on the net!

If anyone is interested in the packet mode "Winlink" and would like to follow the classes; here is the information:

Date: The class will start Sunday, January 14.

Time: From 1400 to 1600 (2PM to 4PM) Atlantic time.

Link: https://meet.google.com/gzp-kbpp-tkm

For a while we did not have up-to-date information on how to contact Fred LeBlanc (VE9UN) who takes care of the New Brunswick Amateur Radio Vehicle Call Plates. 

We now have confirmation that Fred is still responsible for processing call plate requests.

If you wish to obtain Call Plates for your vehicle, please contact Fred at wilfredleblanc@msn.com for instructions on how to proceed.