New DMR repeater is on air!
The Shediac Bay DMR Repeater VE9SDR is officially on the air.
Call: VE9SDR
Mode: DMR
Frequency: 145.490 -
Location: 46.2183571 -64.4978107
Colour Code 1
Talkgroup Statics on the Repeater:
Time Slot One (1)
Talkgroup 302 Canada Wide
Talkgroup 3023 Ontario
Time Slot Two (2)
Talkgroup 3029 New Brunswick
Talkgroup 30205 Atlantic Canada
The Repeater is Clustered:
In the New Brunswick Cluster
Time Slot One (1) Talkgroup eight (
(VE9BNI VE9DDR VE9FTN VE9MDR)
&
The Sorel - Lanaudiere Cluster
Time Slot two (2) Talk group eight (
(VA2DGR VA2DWE VA2HOM VA2RIU VA2VDC VE2AUB VE2IBN VE2ISM VE2PUK VE2RBS VE2RRC VE2RRY VE2SPY)
There is a timed talkgoup on Time Slot One (1) Talkgroup Two (2) The Quebec Tec Net TG 30227 every second Wednesday at 18:30 hrs local time. This is a full bilingual net and all are welcome.
Also the Atlantic Canada DMR Net is every Saturday at 20:00 hrs, on Time Slot two (2) Talkgroup 30205 all are welcome
CARG News
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
CARG News
It was decided to take a summer break from Codiac Amateur Radio Group (CARG) Net
hosted every Tuesday evenings at 7:00PM on the VE1RPT and VE9MCT repeaters.
We will resume the CARG Net on Tuesday 3 September, 2024 at 7:00PM.
It was also decided to visit some of our local EOC's (Emergency Operation Centers) on the
3rd Saturday in July, 20 July, 2024. We will meet at the Clubhouse at 279 Halifax St., Moncton, NB
at 09:00am. All are welcomed, members, non members, local or visiting amateur radio operators.
Locations of EOC's will be determined by availability to receive our group on this date.
COME ONE COME ALL who want to know about Emergency Communications.
New DMR Net
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!
Silent Key VE1JR, Eric Robichaud
Rob Murray, VE1JT has advised us that Eric Robichaud, VE1JR passed away on Monday, January 2, 2024.
Eric had at one time served as the MAARC treasurer. He had come to the clubhouse on Wednesdays with Rob several times last year. MAARC sends our condolences to his family for their loss. Rest in Peace Eric and enjoy the 24 hour DX up in heaven.
Upcoming Winlink Classes
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
RAC Basic Qualification Amateur Radio Course: Winter 2024
Registration is now open for the Winter 2024 RAC Basic Qualification Amateur Radio Course.
Date: The course will be held on Thursdays and Sundays commencing on Sunday, January 21 and ending on Thursday, March 28.
Time: Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 9pm Eastern Time and Sunday afternoons 1pm to 4pm Eastern Time. There may also be a handful of additional classes if necessary.
Cost: The registration fee for the course is 50$ plus GST/HST. The cost of the Basic Study Guide is extra and an order link will be provided upon completion of payment.
Click here for the complete course details page.
Amateur Radio Call Plates Update
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.
MAARC Montly Meeting Minutes - December 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Flea Market 2023 is in the can!
The Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club (MAARC) held it’s annual amateur radio flea market/swap meet on Saturday, September 23 at the Lions Club in Riverview, New Brunswick. MAARC members arrived at the Lions Club at 7:30am and began setting up tables for the large number of anticipated sellers. Sellers began arriving at 8am and members were available to assist with transporting the various goods into the event. Attendees were charged $5 entry fee with sellers paying $10. A chance to purchase 50/50 cash tickets and raffle tickets were sold for a chance to win a 30 amp switching power supply.
The 50/50 cash drawing was won by Gordon, VE9GC and the raffle prize power supply was won by Mike, VE9MTV. There were many other door prizes handed out including a Tech Sun model 368 shortwave receiver. There were gift cards from Radio World, external speakers donated by MAARC and Yaesu baseball caps.
Amateurs in attendance included VE/VA 2’s from Quebec, VY2’s from PEI, VE/VA1’s from Nova Scotia and VE9’s from all over New Brunswick. The members of the Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club enjoyed hosting this event and look forward to making next year even better.
MAARC AGM Meeting Minutes - September 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
External Article: Ham radio and the world of amateur radio operators
A dive into the fascinating evolution of radio, starting from the first received message at Signal Hill, Newfoundland by Lola Augustine Brown.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - August 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - June 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
Shediac Bay Repeater back to full power!
We have done the necessary work to change the coax to 1/2" 50 ohms Heliax with an SWR reading of 1.2 The VE9SBR repeater is back to full power at 20 watts.
We also had an issue with the UHF Yagi for the link to VE9SHM. There was water leaking into the Yagi antenna and had water at the connection to the 1/2" 50 ohms Heliax. We changed the UHF Yagi for the link to VE9SHM and measured SWR of 1.4.
I would like to extend my thanks to the following amateurs who participated in the work being done:
Rod VE9HV was the man in the lift and doing most of the antenna work.
Ground crew was VE9CAM, VE9LEN, VE9JCT, VE9OSK, VE9MTV, VE9MWB and VE9WCL.
Michael Caissie, VE9MTV
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - May 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - April 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - March 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - February 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.
MAARC Monthly Meeting Minutes - January 2023
The MAARC Monthly Meetings Minutes are available here.