From March 81 issue of Club Bulletin:

Minutes of 4 February shows that VE2PY Bob and VE2BQS Norm are installing their packet repeater at VE2RM. VE2EXC Ken Magee wrote about cross-country endurance race with horses held in late June 1980. In the June 81 issue of the Club Bulletin we had a write-up by Norm VE2BQS on packet radio. On 2 Feb 1982 the club had a wine and cheese party at La Maison Secrestat.

The June 1982 edition of the Club Bulletin gave forth that the repeater was having problems with intermod from the paging service nearby and this was corrected by VE2BMQ Burt installing a band pass filter on the receiver. We had another request to rent space, this time from a paging service on the tower but it was decided that we were not ready to go into the rental business.

De Club Bulletin of February 1984:

At 1983 AGM VE2BMQ Burt described the damage and what was done at the repeater site after it was damaged by a lightning strike. He described all the preventive measures to minimise damage from another strike. He also gave reason for our having an alarm system at the repeater site. From 2 Nov 83 minutes shows our receiving the AES 520 autopatch and having a 12 volt emergency lamp installed at the repeater. The other item was our first teleconference net was scheduled for the 1 Dec. Executive meeting minutes of 1 Feb 1984 indicates that the new autopatch was installed on the 30 November. There was mentioned that a letter was to be sent to Earl VE2GAL regarding illegal use of the autopatch along with "autopatch rules" - a copy of which was included in the Club Bulletin.

From Fall 84 Club Bulletin interference from a repeater on 147.015 MHz.

From Fall 85 Club Bulletin: We find another request to rent commercial space on our tower and now the club is renting to RK Electronics/Lasalle Comm. with two low band antennas (48-49 MHz). VE2HOT Nick was given permission to install his 220 MHz repeater. VE2FSA Dino Morillo and VE2BMQ Burt were at the repeater site to install a preamplifier & filter on the 450 repeater and adjust the output to the 20 watt level. The club bought two 6 volt 250 AHr batteries and installed them in May. Field Day saw the club operate two HF station. Burt installed a new battery charger and a low-pitch beep on the repeater to warn us of a power failure. The local repeat feature of the two metre repeater is now a remote control function and the autopatch is now fully functional. An article was the tale of finding the jammer by VE2FSA Dino in which VE2BTR Claude, VE2AQI Jim Leslie, VE2DPY Lionel, VE2ESV Steve, VE2HOT Nick, and VE2AM Mike participated.

Club Bulletin Feb 86:

VE2FSA Dino has found a place that will prepare 100 badges (Crests for 25 years). The club kw amplifier and UHF rig were sold at the auction for a net of $48.50. Guenther VE2BHH asked the club about the possibility of packet radio - it was decided for the time being that the club had more pressing matters but the equipment loaned to the club was installed at the repeater and was working well !

Sept 86 Club Bulletin:

From minutes of 3 April shows the club buying the Digi-Peater TNC and that the club informed the DOC of the 220 repeater and digipeater. The field day is announced. It showed that the club donated to the Jack Ravencroft Fund. Dino applied for got the call letters VE2RRM as the new call for the digipeater. During VE3CZ Bill convalescence VE2APT Michael is looking after the treasury of the club. It was decided that the reserve account be invested into guaranteed investment certificates and into 180 day term deposit. VE3CZ celibrates 60 years in amateur radio and the club presented him with 6 coasters engraved with his call signs he has had over the years.

Arising from Spring 87 Club Bulletin - pass Club President:

Jim VE2OJ -      1967            Colin VE2BK -      1968 (Honourary)

Tom VE2CK -      1968             Larry VE2BGJ - 1968/69

Bruce VE2BU -    1969/70      Bruce VE2BU - 1970/71

John VE2DM -    1971/72       Al VE2JO - 1972/73

Carl VE2AWO -   1973/74     Michael VE2APT - 1974/75

Michael VE2APT - 1975/76     Ian VE2BEN - 1976/77

Burt VE2BMQ -    1977/78     John VE2DM - 1978/79

Bill VE3ZC -         1980           Klaus VE2BSQ - 1981 & 82

Adrien VE2DEA -  1983 & 84   Dino VE2FSA - 1985 & 86

The AGM featured a packet demonstration of packet by VE2BHH Guenther, VE2AGW Don, and Dino VE2FSA.

Fall 87 Bulletin lists VE3CZ Bill (VE2FX) and VE3HOY Dick (ex VE2AKM) as silent keys. It talks about interference and autopatch being hit by lightning again. The packet repeater is working fine.

From 13 Jan 88 minutes: We find that the 450 repeater frequency reversed and the preamp is taken off the digipeater.

The AGM of March 88 had Ian McFarland from Radio Canada International as a speaker. Other things brought up at the meeting were, that the site was cleaned up, the autopatch was at VE2AM Mike, the 220 and 2M repeaters are linked permanently. In the Summer 88 Club Bulletin promotes the Field Day and changing the tower at a cost of $5500.

Words from the Fall 88:

"This summer the entire VE2RM antenna tower system was overhauled resulting in a 2-month period that the system was off the air for practical purposes. Using a commercial contractor, the 110 ft tower complete with antennas and feedlines was dismantled. The 30 ft of deteriorated top section was scrapped and replaced with 50 ft of heavy duty commercial all welded tower. The old 80 ft bottom section of tower (commercial grade) was totally disassembled and every leg and crossbrace was cleaned, primed and painted.

All antennas were checked and refurbished with stainless steel hardware and aluminum brackets. All feedlines were checked for loss and several replaced with new lengths of 7/8 in foam heliax. Bracket made from aluminum and stainless steel were mounted every 5 ft on the tower to support the feedlines.

A new set of guy anchors was installed to guy the very top of the tower and to provide redundant anchors for protection. The portion of the top guy nearest the antennas is non-metallic (heavy duty nylon commercial guy material) so as not to interfere with the antenna patterns. The tower, antennas and feedlines were reinstalled by the commercial riggers.

Regarding the antennas, the following changes were made:

a/ 2M antenna 10 ft higher and mounted on the side of the tower instead of half above the top. This resulted in a more uniform pattern.

b/ UHF repeater antenna 20 higher with 7/8 heliax feedline.

c/ 220 repeater antenna 7 ft higher with new 7/8 heliax feedline.

d/ New 6M single folded dipole installed at 125 ft level.

e/ New 10M single folded dipole installed at 90 ft level.

f/ Second UHF corner reflector installed for link & control purposes.

1/ We have recently implemented a 10M remote base (29.5 - 29.6) linked to the 220 Mhz repeater.

2/ Digipeater: We are currently using a temporary PK-80 TNC and radio with 'THE NET' level 3 software installed. (Our equipment must be modified for level 3 operation)."

A/ Replace 7/8 air heliax with 7/8 LDF foam on 2M repeater.

B/ Install 6M repeater.

C/ Install new level 3 digipeater to replace present temporary one."

From minutes 25 Sep 91:

Burt reports problems with autopatch, the lightning hitting the repeater early in September - shorting out one of the lightning arrestor, it also caused one component failure in each of the devices. For good news, we have the "digital" repeater was installed on UHF, thus connecting various nodes in the Montreal area. Dino VE2DM found the cause of interference to the UHF repeater to be an unused TV preamplifier in the Brownsburg. Burt reports installing new eaves troughs and spraying the undergrowth to keep it under control.

From minutes of 8 Jan 92:

The thermostat that controls the heating failed. That Burt located some 12V supplies for the 'hill'. Michael VE2APT and Heidi VE2DGD announced that they were not running again because they're moving away.

De January 13, 1993 meeting minutes:

The new controller has been received and Dino VE2DM has tried it out at home, it appears to be working very well. Burt volunteered to build an interface box for it. Burt VE2BMQ advised that the packet link to Cornwall is experiencing some difficulties. Some of the batteries were tested by Burt VE2BMQ and have brought up to the 'hill'.

Membership survey results: The autopatch seems to be an important service for the members and while many would not object to seeing it removed almost all those who responded believed a private code would help control the access to the patch. The packet radio section of the survey didn't give any clear results since most members who answered the survey didn't operate packet radio. However, almost all agreed to the purchase of the existing packet radio repeater.

- MORE TO COME -