Activities

On April 5th, 2006, Heinz welcomed Markus to our group commenting that Markus had received his amateur radio license at 16-years of age progressing to commercial radio operator qualifications. Markus excels as a CW operator and as a constructor of his own amateur radio equipment and recently the March 2006 issue of QST featured an article by Markus which details the construction of his own HF transceiver. Following a round of welcoming applause Heinz asked Markus to commence with his presentation “Amateurs still build their own ham radio equipment”.

Markus initially mentioned that construction of the transceiver, which he brought to our meeting, had been featured in an article published in the March 2006 issue of QST. He asked of those present that did not receive QST, to place their call sign on a tab of paper, that if drawn in a raffle to come, would enable one of them to be the winner of a copy of this issue.

Markus followed through the construction of his HF transceiver which he had brought to our meeting with other self-constructed equipment. To facilitate present presentation Markus made use of power point projector slide content enabling those present to follow construction work step by step from beginning to completion.

Proceedure noted as follows:

1. Minimum technical criteria concluded.

2. Block diagram of transceiver and components prepared.

3. Design consideration given to shield each component into completed unit and to permit completed unit accessibility for future repair and modification.

4. Construction implemented by way of assembly of all work-taking place from one side of each component to simplify construction. Component criteria 50-ohm impedance.

5. Written record maintained by constructor as work proceeded to enable accurate recall of work completed. Actual construction was over a period of six years as spare time permitted.

6. Step by step construction commenced of each component to completion of testing of each component.

7. Operator panel of unit designed by way of full scale drawing incorporating operator friendly operation of the transceiver. Ie ergonomic designed.

8. Assembly of components into unit.

9. Testing operation of completed unit.

ARRL was informed of transceiver completion to standards which were superior to commercially manufactured units which are available for purchase.

ARRL was doubtful of this claim and offered free shipment to Newington, Connecticut for their independent testing. Markus accepted ARRL challenge; unit was tested successfully by ARRL and returned.

Presently Markus is constructing a 6-metre component for this transceiver which will be assembled, tested, and installed.

Markus concluded presentation by display of his completed works with an open show and tell question period.

The lucky winner of the March issue of QST was SARC member Heinz VA7AQ. Congratulations Heinz.

Bob VE7FWZ thanked Markus and his wife as guest attendees, presenting Markus with an RAC coffee cup in show of SARC appreciation for this awesome presentation. A round of applause followed.

Markus has a web site at http://www.shelbrook.com/~ve7ca which has detailed content of Markus’s construction achievements.

SARC Webmaster Hiu VE7XYG and John VE7JBB used their photographic talents during Markus’s presentation to record this event for SARC website and newsletter the COMMUNICATOR.

Markus VE7CA on presentation


Snap shot of the audiences


Another angle of the snap shot


Markus's homebrew HBR-2000 transcevier


Inside look of HBR-2000 transceiver


Markus chatted with our members


John VE7JBB with smiling Markus at the back


Bob VE7FWZ thanked Markus and his wife as guest attendees,
presenting Markus with an RAC coffee cup in show of SARC appreciation
for this awesome presentation


Markus and the Club's executives
L to R: Bob VE7FWZ, Fred VE7IO, Markus VE7CA, John VE7JBB and Heinz VA7AQ

DXEPEDITION TO MAGDALEN ISLANDS ARCHIPELAGO

The Surrey Amateur Radio Club (VE7SAR/VE2) will be operating SSB from the
Magdalen Islands (NA-38) during the July 29-30, 2006 IOTA contest on IOTA
frequencies, all HF bands.  Operator Heinz, VA7AQ, will be using a
Kenwood TS-50 and TS-830S into vertical and dipole antennas.  The Magdalen Islands
archipelago is in maritime Quebec, in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (see
http://www.tourismeilesdelamadeleine.com/magdalen-islands/index_ang.cfm)

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SARC Visits Society for Preservation
of Antique Radio in Canada (SPARC)

Those of you who have not visited SPARC are missing a truly memorable experience – to say that the museum is fascinating is an understatement. Every conceivable type of communications equipment is on display, including the very earliest spark equipment, military gear, table radios and televisions of the 20^th century, submarine cable electronics, commercial broadcasting equipment and – yes – a vast array of amateur radio gear from the earliest days of hamdom. The museum also hosts a broadcast radio studio playing popular tunes as well as archived radio dramas of the 1920s to 1950s.

Seven members of the Surrey Amateur Radio Club spent two memorable hours on March 4^th with hosts Paul, Jack and Elaine in an informal tour of the facilities which are located high on the hillside behind the former Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam. The working ham station with call signs VE7CHR, VE7PNE and VE7JHB was not operational the day of SARC’s visit because of a roofing renovation which had all transmission lines disconnected from the antenna farm located outside.

Most noteworthy of the displays is the mock-up of the radio room of the Carpathia, the ship that came to the rescue of the Titanic. This room was used by the CBC as a set for the move Titanic by George Scott. Another display simulates a WW2 fox hole, complete with communications gear typical of that used by the Allied armed forces. The museum also houses much of the communications equipment associated with the first trans-Pacific underway cable which was laid in 1902 between Bamfield and Fanning Island in the South Pacific and later extended to Australia and New Zealand.

These displays form only a small part of the overall facilities. Shelf after shelf of electronic equipment spanning a century, magazines, books, and technical manuals as well as spare parts tower over the aisles. In the back of the museum is a workshop including a paint and stripping booth where volunteers repair and restore antique radios to augment the museum’s financial resources. Other sources of income are donations, sale of CDs of old recordings and rental of vintage equipment for movie productions. The museum will shortly be required to move to another building close-by, as its lease is not being renewed.

The Coquitlam Amateur Radio Emergency Services Society (VE7SCC) also occupy part of the building. The club president, Wayne Galaugher VE7ZNU, provided a tour of their most impressive facilities including operating room, meeting room, workshops and storage areas. The Coquitlam Club provides instruction courses for aspiring hams and during our visit, a 10-year old ham was taking his CW exam (he passed).

Anyone wishing to visit the museum should do so during its normal visiting hours of 10 to 4 on Sundays only. You can learn more about SPARC by visiting their website at http://www3.telus.net/radiomuseum/.

The Surrey ARC expresses its most grateful thanks to SPARC and its crew of knowledgeable and friendly volunteers for a fascinating trip back into history.

Jack was holding the commercial script(not a musical record) and explained how it was used in early radio broadcasting


Mr. Paul Johnson(second from right) and Mr. Jack Watson(third from left) of SPARC with the group