Blog Archives

Updated: AARL Field Days 2021 Recap and Photos

6/27/2021

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!

Ham Shack of the Month - June

6/14/2021

This months Ham Shack photos come from Yvon, VE1VON. Thanks for putting all this great content together about your shack.

Burger King you say...

6/2/2021

The COVID Pandemic resulted in the establishment of the MAARC Wednesday Morning Social Net which takes place at 9am on the 345 repeater. The net is controlled by JP, VE9BK aka VE9 Burger King. An average of 25 stations check into the net every week.

Recently a cardboard Burger King Crown appeared at the MAARC Clubhouse. Was this a coincidence? Rumour has it that this crown is actually worn by JP while running the net. A reliable source who wish to remain anonymous, since they are not authorized to speak on the topic, indicate that this is in fact the case.

MAARC’s intrepid member Ross, VE9GCS was put on the case to determine if there was any truth to this rumour. We are pleased to inform readers that Ross was able to take a picture of JP running the net and we’ll let you decide for yourself.
Do join us Wednesday mornings for the MAARC Wednesday Morning Social Net at 9am on the 345 Repeater.

Bottle recycling paying off for MAARC

6/2/2021

At our last monthly MAARC meeting, it was mentioned by our club treasurer, Larry, VE9ASB that the recycling of bottles is providing the club with some additional revenue. According to Larry, the last visit to the bottle exchange resulted in a $160.00 boost to our club funds.

The COVID pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of our Annual Flea Market which has provided the club with a very good source of revenue over the years. Unfortunately, MAARC still has expenses, such as Internet access at the club house, insurance, purchase of new equipment, etc.

The MAARC Executive is encouraging members to continue to bring their bottles to the club for recycling. Every little bit helps and at the same time we’re helping to save the environment.

Introduction of CTCSS codes in some local Repeaters

6/1/2021

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:

VE9SBR/R 147.225 CTCSS ENC/DEC 123.0hz
VE9TCF/R 145.170 CTCSS ENC/DEC 114.8hz
VE9SHM/R 449.325 CTCSS ENC 100.0hz
VE1BHS/R 145.350 CTCSS ENC 88.5hz
VE1SDR/R 145.270 CTCSS ENC 88.5hz

The Amherst Fusion Repeater VE1AMH is now changed to Encode and Decode CTSS tone of 88.5hz.

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!