VECTOR November 2020 News

Posted in newsletter

Previous newsletters can be found in the archive.

Our next members' meeting will be held November 4 online using Zoom. Please join us to hear from Jordan Myers about future Civic Events and to spend a moment to send a Winlink message to a surprise address, during a new meeting segment: Practical Exercise.

Community News

Special Event Public Safety and Response Exercises?

Welcome Jordan Myers, Project Manager for Special Event Public Safety, to this month’s members session (next Wednesday). Originally a wildland firefighter, this wilderness EMT currently organizes public safety for every public event in Vancouver – from CoL to small car-free days.

Jordan was about to coordinate the set-up for our big civic event work before the pandemic and had to support the many smaller events for COVID-19 control. Imagine the opportunities for VECTOR exercise, practice, and service he can spot from his role in the Engineering Department.

Let’s find out what he means when he imagines:

  • “non-traditional” operational readiness exercises
  • supporting civic event public safety
  • future potential projects for VECTOR to support special events

See you there!

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VECTOR 2-metre QSO Party

Our third 2-metre QSO Party comes up Saturday, November 21! Hiroshi has picked the PL tone for this year. Grab your operator package here to see full details. Help others get the package: https://vectorradio.ca/qsoparty

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Send high-resolution photos using D-STAR voice

Ted VE7VIB wishes to show VECTOR the amazing performance using D-STAR digital voice to send pictures (like SSTV). Jon VA7TAJ will start out and you are welcome to join in to check it out and help us evaluate it.

Did you know your D-STAR-capable ICOM or Kenwood radio can send and receive high-quality digital pictures (photos, text, map locations)? Imagine boosting the quality and performance of SSTV. Interested hams on digital Reflector 072D (such as Lew KP5HPT[?]) and locally (Adam VA7OJ) are looking to find the limits for this mode. Use your Android or Apple phone and a simple app to send images to your radio.

Could this become one of our tools for disaster response?

Explanation and details: here.

International dialogue about: D-STAR Picture Net

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VECTOR COVID-19 Update - BC Restart Phase 3

To protect each other and our families, major VECTOR activities remain on radio or Zoom online conferencing. Small teams are starting to resume technical efforts.
Current details and links on website

Rules:

  • Only meet or go to site if radio, telephone, or Zoom won’t get it done
  • Keep time together or on site to the minimum time you truly need
  • Stay away if you feel unwell
  • Wear masks
  • Sanitize your hands when entering
  • Sign in
  • Sanitize our work area
  • Maintain physical distance everywhere (2 metres)

Notes:

  • E-Comm meeting room: off-limits
  • Radio Room: only 2 people, rules above apply
  • Net Control: remote sites
  • PIC’s: by appointment
  • Go-to Centres: by appointment, rules above apply

Thank you for doing your part to “flatten the curve” to protect vulnerable members of our society.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC Provincial Health Officer:

“Be kind, be calm, and be safe.”

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VECTOR Needs Your Help

Like getting your hands dirty? Read. Subscribe.

  • Radio Skills Course

    Seeking members who like to talk about each of the following aspects of amateur radio:

    • Using HF & CW
    • Using digital voice
    • Picking radio equipment

    Tell Andrew you’re interested using an email

  • Organize the Annual General Meeting on Zoom

    How do we verify identity and good standing on Zoom? How do we vote fairly for our board on Zoom? Please send your ideas to Darryl VA7DPO.

  • Free the Ideas from our Brainstorming Session Recording

    We have a treasure trove of ideas trapped in the August 2018 Brainstorming Session recording. Can you help? Please email Jesse VE7DET, we need a spreadsheet list useful for VECTOR.

    File: Brainstorming Session

  • Take Care of Computers

    We have a large, extended family of computers spread throughout the city that needs attention. Can you help? Please email Jesse VE7DET.

  • Help with VPD Disaster Communications Gear

    VPD has amateur radio gear among its disaster communications contingencies. One of the stations has lost its home and needs some attention to make sure it fits current needs. Can you help? Please email Jesse VE7DET. Or, join the conversation on [email protected].

  • Fix Entries on Frequency List

    Before we start updating the channels in all our many radios, Tyler VE7PDO and Dave VE7CNV wish for one more person to send in ideas about the state of our frequency list. It’s 5 years old.

  • Program Radios

    Ask how to join the conversation about the radio frequencies, Tyler VE7PDO and Dave VE7CNV have been preparing the frequency list. Soon we will need to figure out how we will go about programming a lot of radios– some in special places– during a pandemic. Please email Jesse VE7DET.

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Upcoming Training & Practice Opportunities

  • Net Control Operator training

    Interested in attending an introductory session on the net control operator program? Send an email to Andrew VA7YAA to join the list.

  • Radio Skills Course

    Session coming up for late 2020 or early 2021. Looking for members to show a few of the sections of material.

    Build both theoretical knowledge and experience to operate comfortably on-air. While aimed at recent graduates of VECTOR’s Amateur Radio Certification Course, sessions give all VECTOR members a chance to refresh skills through practice time and sharing with new amateurs.

    For more info, please contact [email protected]

  • Packet Chats

    Packet radio goes far beyond Winlink. Discover Winlink on Android Devices, learn how to send messages when Winlink clogs up, see more ways to use your radio.

    Use Winlink on Android Devices:

    • with a D-72A: you’ll need a USB-OTG adapter
    • with Direwolf on your device: you’ll need your specialized adapter kit for your soundcard to become PTT and TNC.

    See packet radio in action on working equipment and get live feedback to solve your problems. What can it do? What does it take? How do you set it up? How do you fix it when…? What digital mode are you curious about?

    Join us in the [Zoom Room][zoomLink] on Tuesday, November 3 or 17, at 19:00.

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On Air Radio Activities

Please check out the Weekly Previews update to view the activities you can get involved in. You might also catch small activities on our repeaters. Look for activities on our calendar.

Join the QSO Party on 2-metre frequencies: November 21. Share this with other operators: https://vectorradio.ca/qsoparty

Contact Kevin VE7SFA and Jessé VE7DET to get involved.

Nightly Net

The VECTOR CheckIn and Chat at 19:05 PT nightly. We have run over 200 nets on VE7RVF, for radio amateurs to check in and chat with other enthusiasts. The nightly Net Controller chooses a question or topic for discussion. Anything from radio to food to entertainment to no topic at all. A slow night might cover 8 check-ins, but we have gone as high as 35 at times. We have been discussing putting together a radio amateur recipe website, with all of the food ideas and tips from our operators.

Weekly Net

Remember to check in on our weekly net to keep your formal net skills sharp. It stretches a few less-used skills. Details below under the Next Nets list.

Tied up for these? Here’s alternatives

Remember to visit other nets: Local Nets List

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Announcements, Notable, etc.

Renew your membership so you can vote at the AGM

Please remember to renew your membership with VECTOR before the AGM. You can send your $20 dues in either of the following ways.

  • online banking: send your eTransfer to [email protected]
  • regular mail: send your cheque payable to VECTOR to the address below:

Membership
VECTOR c/o E-Comm 911
3301 East Pender St.
Vancouver BC V5K 5J3

If financial constraints limit you, please contact [Jesse (president)][mailJN] so we can confidentially remove such a temporary barrier to your help with VECTOR.

Team Grab and Go

Team has a budget for putting together the first 4 Vision Kits and plans to start ordering the main components. Weekly huddles on Tuesday afternoons in Zoom with monthly tech shares in person. More in the Google Group.

Want to party? 2 metre QSO Party?

Join the party on November 21 at 10:00. Expect Hiroshi’s message covering this year’s setting for PL tone.

Get the details here (PDF).

Team New Packet Radio

Starting site-to-site testing between Francois VA7GPL and Jim D VA7OPD. More details on https://feeding.cloud.geek.nz/posts/npr-modem-setup-testing-linux/

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Weekly Net

The weekly net takes place at 20:00 every Wednesday on the VE7TEL repeater: VECTOR channel 2, 145.170 MHz, -0.600 MHz offset.

Each week, a secondary net follows on a different frequency, providing an opportunity for amateur radio operators to test their radio with other bands and modes of operation.

Schedule for upcoming secondary net frequencies:
Date Channel Frequency Information
November 4 7 147.450 MHz simplex T100.0 Hz simplex
November 11 4 146.580 MHz Simplex
November 18 1 145.450 MHz -600 kHz T100.0 Hz
November 25 430 446.100 MHz

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Monthly Members' Meeting

The monthly VECTOR members' meeting is the first Wednesday of every month.

The next 4 Monthly Members' Meeting dates:
  • November 4 at 18:30 in Zoom virtual space
  • December 02 for AGM in Zoom virtual space
  • January 06 at 18:30 in Zoom virtual space
  • February 03 at 18:30 in Zoom virtual space

While we are restricted to online, let’s open up some unofficial space:

  • Unofficial session start at T-00:15: 18:15
  • Unofficial session end: 20:50

Please find the link to the Zoom online conference room in your email edition of the newsletter for joining remotely. You can sign up for upcoming members' meetings in BetterImpact.

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Tnx es 73,

VE7DET || Jessé Neri, Director (he|him)
[email protected]

VA7SWZ || Simone Hoedel, Writer and Communications Consultant (she|her)
VE7CNV || Dave Koyanagi, Proofreader (he|him)
VA7DPO || Darryl Pogue, Director (he|him)

https://vectorradio.ca/members/discuss/
https://keybase.io/team/helpingvector
Traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh), and Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilwətaɁɬ) peoples.