With agreement from the executive and the technical committee, the club has donated one of the spare VHF antennas stored at the hydro trailer.   For those familiar with the gear at the trailer, this was the unit that has been stored outside the trailer for many years with a very "experienced" (aka slightly bent) dipole.   We have a second antenna  inside the trailer which is being kept as a club spare.

 

Today I helped Richard VE7NT, a club member and active member of Shuswap Search and Rescue, take the thing apart and we took it over to Richard's house in my truck.  Richard is going to re-wire the antennas as the coax looks very suspect.  It will be used on a repeater site for SAR use.

 

I'm delighted that NORAC has been able to help out one of our local SAR groups.  Shuswap SAR has a big area to cover and has a smaller purse that Vernon SAR, so it's good we can help them out.  

 

Thanks to the technical committee and the exec for their support.

 

73 Ritchie VA7RLX

This article about the Vancouver Island repeater truck system is well worth reading.  It's an interesting read.

 

https://www.cheknews.ca/when-catastrophe-calls-the-unseen-heroes-of-vancouver-islands-last-radio-lifeline-are-ready-1150584/

 

Found it on hamshack.ca  The site is beginning to carry articles of general interest to radio amateurs as well as ads for used equipment.   I've started to keep an eye on it.

 

Enjoy!  Ritchie

Check it out:

https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/455413/Ham-radio-group-installs-new-equipment-at-Silver-Star-summit

The Cowichan, the Fraser and the Kicking Horse have been long recognized as Canadian Heritage Rivers.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS) is Canada’s national program for recognizing, celebrating and conserving the natural, cultural and recreational values of 41 rivers across Canada.

These three BC rivers have recently been added to the POTA system by the VE7 mapping lead.

This is good news for Parks On The Air operators as it means easier access to great operating locations. The increased potential for concurrent activations will make POTA Rover awards a tiny bit easier to achieve.

POTA rules state that you must be within 30.5m (100’) of the river to activate it.

Check out the new additions:

Cowichan River National Heritage Area VE-6131

Fraser River National Heritage Area VE-6132

Kicking Horse River National Heritage Area VE-6133