ARC members went out and attempted to connect to the VECTOR radio net.

Discussion after completion of VECTOR Radio Net

Round table 
  * sample copies of the Basic qualification exam were passed around for people to review.
  * General discussion of the types and difficulties of questions.
  * Suggestions to use the Industry Canada Amateur Radio Exam Generator  (http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf05378.html)
  * Discussion around setting up a non-permanent antenna on the roof of VHS; this would permit us to connect our radios to it and stay inside
  * VHS Directors are happy to give us bench space for the HF equipment
  * lock up the microphone when it can't be used
  * discussion around the merits of creating a full course sufficient to give meaningful context for those taking both the Basic and Advanced qualifications
  * decision to feed people to the VECTOR radio course
  * creating a full open source amateur radio course is a massive undertaking
  * the VECTOR course will get people through the basic exam
  * decided to keep the meeting on Wednesday
  * Tuesday is noisy, very busy
  * VHS is getting a community table at FanExpo http://www.fanexpovancouver.com/
  * Paul can dedicating part of the VHS sign to ARC


Round Robin:
  * what skills do you have
  * what have you done before
  * what are you interested in now


Andrew (V47HEX)
  * recently completed the VECTOR course last year
  * interested in building basic skills
  * Morse Code for broader recognition (outside North America)
  * little skills, happy to help out

Jeremy (VA7NSA)
  * 5 years, not very active
  * interested in digital radio
  * WinLink (http://www.winlink.org/), Backdoor
  * microwave

Ian (VE7FTO)
  * 25 years in the UK
  * did a lot with them for emergency radio
  * Canadian license last year
  * interested in all new digital modes
  * Continous Wave (CW)
  * getting onto HF bands
  * QRP HF Kit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QRP_operation)
  * was a MFJ kit [ED: http://www.mfjenterprises.com/ ?]
  * questionable reputation
  * ARRL combo with HF manual and kit
  * don't have advanced

William (VE6UUG)
  * Ham since 1988
  * started in Calgary with CARA course (http://cara.memberlodge.com/)
  * computer scientist
  * interested in packet radio
  * not active since moving to Vancouver
  * want to get back to doing things
  * deemed to have advanced qualification
  * studied electrical engineering for a few years
  * know a little about digital, electronics
  * foot in both camps, bring them together
  * interested in digital modes

Farrell (VA7FSE)
  * advanced qualification in 1976
  * started in South Africa
  * redid the exam here 2 years ago
  * have advanced qualification
  * like activities
  * for example, fox hunting
  * want to start up again this Summer
  * mobile truck
  * like to see an active station here
  * anybody can listen
  * shortwave not so great anymore
  * HF satellite activity
  * interesting experiments
  * Earth-Moon bounce
  * Continuous Wave/Morse code

Patrick (VE7SDI)
  * got Basic 8 years ago
  * Advanced 5 years
  * involved in BCIT radio club, stilling running it [ED: http://ve7bfc.bcit.ca/ ??]
  * have volunteered at VECTOR events like the fireworks
  * interested in digital modes

Tom (no license yet)
  * no preconceived ideas of what to learn
  * know nothing
  * saw posts for people talking about it
  * recently decided to learn
  * bought radio today
  * pick up things

Sean (no license yet)
  * aiming for advanced qualifications
  * interested in everything from building, bouncing signal off Moon, talking to people in Japan


Paul (VE7PXG)
  * just got license
  * fresh
  * want to learn my Morse
  * want the Advanced qualification
  * want to take people through the Basic course
  * John Oliver school used to have a very active amateur radio club
  * lost the callsign
  * Farrel in touch with school, antenna still on roof
  * neat community type project
  * put it on the Member's only list
  * lots of interest
  * about half the number of people here who have talked about it on email


Andrew (VA7HEX)
  * commonality in the discussion is digital radio
  * looking for a way to keep everyone engaged
  * two people looking to write the license exam
  * need to write the Basic before the Advanced
  * can write the Advanced right away
  * 

Action Items
  * Paul, Farrell, and Ty to work out getting a portable antenna on the roof of VHS
  * Membership Form for VHS ARC (Andrew)
  * Paul to track down the handheld satellite antenna that a friend wanted to donate
  * Everyone else: research ham radio satellites with a goal of downloading weather satellite images.