| Old Timers Radio Club |
| Webpage established 22 January 2006 Suggestions: Send to VE1CHI, Jim at <ve1chi@rac.ca> |
| Webpage last updated on: Saturday, January 21st., 2011 |
| OTC Directory |
| This radio really is tuned to 3.750 MHz thanks to Roy, VE2RWT, who took the time to doctor up the original image and then emailed it to Ron, VE1BIC who forwarded it on to me, Jim, VE1CHI. FINALLY we have our little HF radio on the RIGHT frequency! |
| This webcounter was installed on 28th February 2009: |
| Please sign our guestbook by clicking on "My Guestbook" at the right and leave a comment - Bricks or Bouquets equally welcome - thanks in advance. Guestbook added on 18th January 2010. |
| A printable PDF two page version of the "Old Timers Club Executive Report for 2011" is available HERE. Print on both sides of your page and save a piece of paper or simply read it here on the website. Scroll down... |
WHO SAYS OTC MEMBERS ARE NOT ACTIVE? It is nice to know that OTC members are the most active Amateur Radio Operators in the Maritimes, and I might possibly say, the most active in Canada. The following data might prove the point: According to RAC, the number of hams in the Maritimes is as follows: New Brunswick 1905; Nova Scotia 2643; Prince Edward Island 352 TOTAL= 4900 The number of OTC members is 204 as of this date, with an additional 206 members who are now Silent Keys. With a total of 204 active OTC members, our Sunday morning OTC net has on average 35-40 check-ins which amounts to roughly 18% and runs for 1 hour. With a total of 4900 hams in the Maritimes, the Maritime Net and the White Cane Net have, on average, the same 35-40 check-ins each night which amounts to less than 1%. Now, here is the point: If these nets came up to our standards, the Nets would have to run for 18% of 4900= 832 check-ins @ 40 per hour= 20.8 hours. Food for thought? (This commentary was submitted to your webmaster by a current and active member of the OTC who shall remain anonymous. The intention of this piece is not to 'put-down' any other net but to merely point out how active the OTC membership is in supporting their club.) |
The Treeless Antenna Project - November 2011 VE1CHI, Jim (Member # 327) has written an article with photos called "The Treeless Antenna Project". He discusses how he was able to erect an 80 metre dipole as well as a Carolina Windom without using trees as attachment points. The pdf article is available by clicking HERE. |
| In Memorium |
| Kenneth (Ken) Harrison - VE1BFR - SK - #332 |
| In Memorium |
| Gerald (David) Dixon - VE1BET - SK - #300 |
OLD TIMERS CLUB EXECUTIVE REPORT FOR 2011 Secretary/Treasurer's Report Well,well,well, another year went zipping by and already it’d time for another yearly Executive Report. Again, in first place in my mind, I reflect upon the number of new members the Club has recruited: 24 new members, from #395 to #418 - WOW ! Great stuff ! The OLD TIMERS CLUB “MUST” be the fastest growing Club in the Country! As a matter of interest, I challenge any other Club, founded, like ours, 40 to 50 yrs. ago, to outdo our great Club in acquiring new members. Hi Hi I attended the Old Timers Club “table” at the MAARC flea-market in Shediac this past year with Bill, our President and Jim, our webmaster and other members of our Club and enjoyed a warm reception from most all the hams that participated in the activity. Lots of yaking it up and hand shaking with many that signed out guestbook. It was great to meet old friends and make new ones. But also, looking back on 2011, we had many silent keys across Atlantic Canada:37 to be exact, and 5 were members of our Club. The first one for the year was Ed Hart - VE9ES #16, then Fred Hirshfield -VE1ALV #155, Stan Newman -VY2EC #191, Howie Urdang -VE1ACJ #111 and Ken Harrisson-VE1BFR #332. All five were very well known and enjoyed them very much on the air. They shall be dearly missed. Again I must say a great big thank you to all you boys and girls out there who call in to the Old Timers Club Net on Sunday mornings, members and “future members”alike. I repeat myself time and time again - we can have the best net controllers ,but if no one calls in, then the net would be a failure. As usual, Bill is kept very busy with his part as President, certifying new members and keeping me on the right track! (a full time job there) Hi Hi; and Jim, our webmaster - Holy Cow, I think his job has to be the busiest of all with all the constant changes in our membership and all the interesting bits and pieces of info constantly coming in to him for the website. Jim, my hat's off to you pal. I must add that Jim uses all of his equipment and resources to upkeep our website “AT NO COST” to the Club . Thank you Jim. The treasurer’s side of my job is an easy one. The Club remains very healthy in funds, although it seems that with every new member coming in these past few years, the $8.00 membership fee is almost all used up with certificate costs and mailing. Also I have expenses with mailing applications to those who do not have the means to download and photocopy applications from our website. To end my report, if a member would like to have the official yearly bottom line report of our Club finances, please request one by mail and I will mail one to you. Thank you and look for you all on the air.. God Bless … Roger / VE1RV, Secretary/Treasurer Webmaster's Report On Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 our OTC website will have been online for six years. Our URL: http://www.oldtimersclub.byethost31.com/ During the calendar year of 2011, the site received 2497 page loads which was down slightly from 2010. This is a page load rate of about 7 per day which is slightly less than in 2010. On the website, I try to cover all OTC activities such as Fleamarkets at Halifax, Shediac and Greenwood, New Member Welcomes and SK Memorials, and anything else of significance or interest to the general membership. I rely upon members to send me information and photos from events and on new members to submit photos for their 'New Member Welcome Message'. Keeping the website current, interesting and useful is an important objective of mine. This past year I have been trying to feature more photos on the home page and just over the Christmas season, I put a photo of VE1RV's (Roger's) house decorations taken at night. I also placed photos from Dirceu (Dick) Cavalcanti PY5IP, OTC Member #352 of the decorations in his Brazilian city of Curitiba. After photos run on the home page for a month or so, I move them to either the 'Past Events' page or to the 'Miscellanea' page. Several new members sent me photos of themselves and their shacks this past year which were posted in the appropriate 'New Members' page next to their welcome message. SK Memorials are added as we lose members and fortunately this number was low during 2011 with five SKs. The club gained twenty-four new members in 2011. Several entries were made to the “Members in the News” page this year, featuring OTC members who have made the local media (generally newspaper articles). The “Active Membership List” is a PDF file of all OTC members currently alive and is alphabetical by callsign. It includes all members who check in on Sunday mornings. Whenever we have a new member or an SK, this list is edited and replaced. It is always current but I have to rely upon input from members for the SKs. The list was primarily meant for NCs but is there for anyone to print out and use as a reference. As always, I will respond to member suggestions for website changes, additions or deletions. If you have an idea, then run it by me and with executive agreement, we will try it. Thanks for your suggestions and please send your ideas to: ve1chi@rac.ca I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution to our club by President Bill Anderson, VE9UH and our Secretary/Treasurer, Roger Belliveau, VE1RV. Behind the scenes, these two members work very hard keeping the net going by ensuring a continually-changing roster of NCs, by checking qualifications of new applicants, by looking after the accounting and disbursement of club expenses, by sending out certificates and other enclosures to new members, by making sure someone from the club is at a fleamarket table representing the OTC and by sending sympathy cards to families of SKs and family members when known, as well as handling any other duties as they arise. My job as webguy is straight-forward by comparison. Please thank Bill and Roger on the air for their tireless efforts in keeping our club running and growing. I pass on personal thanks to Bill Anderson and Roger Belliveau for another banner OTC year! Thanks guys! ~73 to all from VE1CHI, Jim. President's Report 2011 First, I wish to compliment Roger and Jim for their very complete and interesting submissions. They have reported all pertinent facts concerning Club activities for 2011, leaving little for me to add. It is a pleasure to work with them both. Their combined efforts are reflected in the continuing growth of our membership. Next, I wish to thank all those members who have acted as Net Control. Their efforts are greatly appreciated by all of us. I feel that it is important for as many members as possible to participate in this way. Many other members contribute by representing us at the Old Timers table at several flea markets over a wide area each year. This activity is important in spreading the word concerning our club and in attracting new members. Our Sunday morning nets are very enjoyable. We are fortunate in having such strong support by members and others. Our check-ins represent a wealth of experience in ham radio and in many other fields. We have much to learn from them. We all regret the passing of Silent Keys; they are greatly missed. In closing, I look back on recent years, grateful at having had the opportunities and the pleasure experienced in my association with The Old Timers Club. Thanks to everyone for this privilege. A.W. (Bill) Anderson, VE9UH. |
| Hi All... Recently I had an email from Dick (Dirceu) PY5IP, our member in Brazil, and he attached the photo below of their awesome 80 metre contest antenna! Wow! ...a 4-element, full sized 80 metre beam up 40 meters (131 feet)! Thanks for the photo, Dick. VE1CHI, Jim C. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Here is Dick's note to me: Hello Jim See the baby antenna in our contest station ZW5B , 4 elements full size , tower 40 m hgh. 73 Dirceu |