At our next meeting, Kimo Chun, KH7U, will be our guest speaker. He will tell us about his Amateur Radio Operations from Kure Atol and Midway Island. The EXCHAGE BOX will be there with used books, magazines, catalogs and electronic parts. You do not have to bring anything to take something. The ever-popular SHOW & TELL needs you to bring something from your shack for those attending to see. Remember, you can not win the door prize if you do not come to the meeting!
At Calgary, I listened to the pre-programmed 2 meter repeater frequencies downloaded from the RAC on the internet. I heard little from the airport interior, except a little intermod. I kerchunked and ID'd with no takers on what seemed a strong Calgary Area repeater. It was night and there were many Christmas Light Displays to see from the window of the bus to Banff.
The Banff Springs Hotel is a beatiful old hotel faced in rock that dates back to the 1850s. The Canadian Pacific Railroad built it and others as they built their transcontinental railroad. It's castle-like architecture makes it look like something from a fairytale nestled in the forest.
Good News...I was on the second highest floor, with a window that had a screen! One leg of the G5RV was threaded out the window, and the other snaked about the room. The HW-8 and MFJ Tuner connected and away I went... Bad News..the bands were pretty quiet. 15 mtrs dead, 20 mtrs only a very weak signal or two, 40 mtrs a few signals from NW US and W Canada, 80 mtrs a few signals from VE5/6/7 and NW USA. NO QSOs but it was lots of FUN!
I negotiated with the XYL evening gray line time for my operating time, just before dinner. The power out to the antenna was about 2 watts using the nicad battery. The Canadian Rockies towered above me, and the frozen Bow River with people skating on it in my view. I did consider moving the station to an open area nearby with a bench to sit on, and trees that I could hang the G5RV on, but the snow, icy wind and the sub freezing temperatures told me that hot chocolate with Pepermint Schnapps and the fireplace in the Lounge was a better place to be.
Our stay in Victoria was at the Empress, another fine old Hotel. The trip to Victoria on the BC FERRY was great. Our bus just drove right on next to the other buses, Tractor-Trailer Rigs, and 2 decks of cars above. Lounges to rest in during the 3 hour journey and even a cafeteria. You can not believe how big the ferry is... and it floats!
In British Columbia, we were busy with other activities, so only the 2mtr HT was unpacked. The 2mtr repeater system is great, many links and interfaces to unite the hams that are in many hard to access areas throughout the rugged terrain of British Columbia.
In Vancouver, we were on the 22nd floor of the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place, a convention center, at the edge of Vancouver Harbor. HT reception was good to Washington State too. It snowed in Vancouver, and I watched snowball fights on the screen of the video camera pointed out the window.
Canadian Air delivered us to Honolulu safe and sound. My Winter snow duds are boxed up awaiting their next trip, while I design a control configuration for a small QRP CW Xcvr that will work with heavy gloves on... and what about the key?...hummmmmm
These are circa 1940s-50s parts that with a few others may be a simple CW Transmitter one day. There are more modern parts availiable to build simple projects from kits or magazine articles. Perhaps there is interest in a KARC Club Project? Any Ideas?
DIRECTORS
PROGRAM CHAIRMAN- Howard, WH6LF 247-0775
NEWSLETTER
CLUB MEETINGS
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN- Jerry Mulherin, WH6BKQ, 235-3042, jerham@aloha.net
MAILING ADDRESS- KARC c/o J.Mulherin, 45-145 Mikihilina St., Kaneohe, HI 96744
VEC TESTING
2 METER ACTIVITY