The meeting was held in the Kanata Room at Sobey's in Kanata.

The following members and guests were present:

NameCall SignPosition
Ken AsmusVA3KATreasurer
John ChristensenVE3IAO
Steve AttfieldVA3SAX
Al PenneyVO1NO
Barney BakerVA3BGB
Doug LeachVE3XK
Andy HartVE3NVKGuest
Brad SmithVE3BSM
Harold HamiltonVA3UNK
Graham IdeVE3BYTSecretary

Ken, VA3KA, noted the good tropo propagation on 1296 MHz into FN21 and FN06 on the previous Sunday morning. There was good tropo during the VHF contest.

There was some discussion of contest logging, and time synchronizing for activities such as moonbounce.

Andy, VE3NVK, showed the SoftRock-40 kit. The SoftRock-40 is a small, low-cost, good-performing 40-meter "software defined radio" receiver that plugs into a computer USB port and delivers I-Q audio signals to the computer's sound card. This kit is sold out and discontinued. However, a new iteration of the project is available for deliveries starting late in November. This is the SoftRock-40 Version 5 with modules for 80-30M and 20-10M. Information is at <http://www.amqrp.org/kits/softrock40/version5.html>.

Al showed his assemblies for control and switching of his phased Beverage antennas, mounted 8 feet above ground. Al is looking for 470 and 920 ohm 10 watt non-inductive resistors for the project.

(I have a note that Al tried to propel a cat dragging an antenna wire through a culvert. That couldn't be right, could it?)

The OARC Hamfest (fleamarket) will be on September 1. The club and the OARDG will have tables for members' stuff for sale. There will be an RAC session in the afternoon - a general meeting, plus a Technology Update.

Ken, VA3KA, reported that the D-STAR repeater is working. Preamps have been ordered for 432 and 1296 MHz. There is an intermod problem on 2M. This may require splitting the 2M equipment off to another site. The link to VE3CZO did not work out.

Ken and Rick, VE3CVG, are working on gateway software with Ying Hum, VA3YH, who can provide a fixed IP address. There are 10 or 11 users on D-STAR in the area so far.

The 902 band repeater has been programmed. The tower is up on the site (YMCA building). It should be operational in several weeks with eventually about 50 watts to a collinear antenna.

There is reported to be an amateur (who works on commercial gear) prepared to repair amateur equipment at $30 per hour - minimum 1 hour, maximum charge 3 hours. Specifics are to be confirmed at a later date.

Brad, VE3BSM, reports that the APRS network is still on. VE3DVQ is in and out with an antenna problem.

The next meeting will be on September 4, 2007.

Graham Ide VE3BYT
Secretary.