The ARRL Field Days Event was conducted over a 24 hour period starting at 3pm local on Saturday, June 26 and running until 3pm Sunday, June 27. The MAARC Club had set a goal of 500 contacts/exchanges which we felt was something that was obtainable. Of course, the bands have to co-operate for this to happen. The following operators helped to ensure success in that the final contact/exchange count was 535 : Nic, VE9NIC, Gilles, VE9NW, Oscar, VE9OSK, JP #1, VE9BK, JP #2, VE9ADV, Frank, VE9FD, Kenny, VO1KJM, Marcel, VE9ML and Ross, VE9GCS.
While the majority of the contacts were on 20 meters, there were contacts made on 40 meters and there was a decent amount made on 15 meters, both SSB and CW. Several MAARC members stopped by to support including Keith, VE9ELA, Larry, VE9ASB, Misha, VE9GIS and Jamie, VE9GOM. Also stopping by was Tom, VE9TJR and his wife Pauline, VE3PMY. They recently moved back to New Brunswick and will be settling in the Moncton area. Tom advised he will soon be joining MAARC and was impressed with the members and the clubhouse. Thanks to all for making FD 2021 a success and next year we will be shooting for 600 contacts. Special thanks to Marcel, VE9ML for setting up the logging for Field Days. Thanks to VO1KJM for the photos! This months Ham Shack photos come from Yvon, VE1VON. Thanks for putting all this great content together about your shack.
The addition of a Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) code(s) has recently been implemented in a number of local repeaters. CTCSS uses a sub-audible tone transmitted on the signal of the transmitter trying to access the repeater.
So why would we want to do this? CTCSS is used by repeater systems to prevent noise or interference from causing the repeater to squawk obnoxiously and by receivers as an extra measure of squelch. In other words, CTCSS codes will reduce noise and interference, as well as allowing for weaker signals to be heard on these repeaters. As well, the use of CTCSS tones is almost universally used to access amateur radio repeaters. Here is the list of repeaters that now require a CTCSS code:
The VE9TCF/R Fundy repeater (145.170) will be changed to these CTCSS codes as soon as Cam VE9CAM and Jeff VE9JJS can go to the repeater site in Fundy National Park. Now is the time to update your VHF/UHF memories by adding the CTCSS code. According to Cam, VE9CAM, CTCS codes do make a big difference! |
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September 2023
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