Chairman Tim, VE3UO, welcomed and thanked everyone for coming. Tim thanked Olive, VE3OMW, and Anne, VA3ABB for arranging for the Council meeting at the Brockville #2 Fire Station, and for providing a delicious lunch for the multitude.  Tim reminded everyone that In 2006 full Technical Information Reports are required for all  systems with coordinated frequencies.

Jack, VE2CV, SLVRC Treasurer was absent. 

Luc, VE3JGL, Frequency Coordinator, has received quite a few Technical Information Reports.  He has a number of coordination requests in progress.  Several members stated that they had submitted coordination requests for additional repeater frequencies.

New Business and Current Issues:  

A number of issues were outlined and discussed among the members:

A frequency for APRS on the 440 band.  James Ewen, VE6SRV,  in Edmonton has proposed the establishment of a frequency for 9600b APRS on the 440 band that would be common across Canada.  He is approaching a number of coordination councils for their suggestions.  There is the question of where in the band this frequency should be placed.  The SLVRC executive will consider the matter and put out suggestions at a later date.

Graham reported that he had considered and reported to RAC on the implications for Canada of the recent FCC ruling in the USA authorizing Auxiliary and Unattended Stations on the 144 MHz band.  Previous practice in the USA was that such stations had to be in the 222 MHz or a higher band.  As Canada has not regulated against such operations on any band, and we have or have had such operations in the 144 band, it is considered that the change in the USA will not affect Canadian operations (or band plans) significantly.

902 - 928 MHz band in Chatham-Kent  is being adversely affected by the initiative of Hydro 1.  Graham has had a report that the utility is employing frequency-hopping throughout the band there in networks as a test of what it plans to implement for collecting data on customer hydro usage throughout Ontario.  Both amateur and consumer equipment is affected.  I have passed this problem along to RAC and RAC has in turn advised the Industry Canada policy group for its information and consideration.  It is expected that this matter will be discussed at the Radio Advisory Board (RAC participates) and other industry/government committees.  Regulations permit much more powerful transmitters if they hop around the band than the ISM transmitters occupying a fixed frequency.  It appears that true spread spectrum would probably cause less interference to those who share the band than does this form of frequency hopping.
Bulletin:  On November 17, Hydro Ottawa was installing 'Smart Meters' in Bells Corners (VE3BYT has one now - great!), and presumably will plug them in throughout the city.  ARGHH!  I will monitor 902 - 928 MHz
to see what I can learn about the impact of these meters on this band.

Digital repeaters are being planned for Ottawa by Rick Bandla, VE3CVG, and Ken Asmus, VA3KA.  The plans include digital voice repeaters on the 144 and 430 MHz bands, and a digital voice/data repeater on the 1240 MHz band.  These repeaters will use the ICOM D-Star system.  Setting aside frequencies for such systems is not a problem in the 1240 MHz band, but finding an appropriate place for digital voice systems in the 144 and 430 bands is more difficult in view of the large number  of systems already coordinated on these bands.  The SLVRC executive will study the situation.  One possible approach for the 430 band is to put digital repeaters on the channels ending in .x25 and .x75.  A complicating factor is that repeaters have been coordinated in Vermont and Montreal (perhaps uncoordinated) on such channels that are low-in, high-out repeaters, the reverse of the very long-standing practice in SLVRC, UNYREPCO and other areas where we go high in, low out on this band.  Suggestions and observations from members are welcomed.

SNP frequency pairs for 222 and 440 bands - The SLVRC will establish Shared - Non Protected frequency pairs in these bands.  These frequency pairs can be used by repeater developers for testing equipment while regular frequency pairs are being established and coordinated.  Each system using these pairs must use subaudible tones on their input and output.  An attempt will be made to establish the same SNP frequencies in use in adjoining repeater council areas.

Graham noted that there are approximately 40 repeater frequencies currently coordinated in the immediate Ottawa - Gatineau area on the 144 and 430 MHz bands alone.  Some of these repeaters have been out of operation for some time and many others are very little used.  In view of the demand for frequencies for new systems it appears to be necessary to remove the coordinated status of the out of service systems and further to share the frequencies of those repeaters that are seldom or lightly used.  An attempt will be made to test some of these systems and to monitor usage.  Sponsors of seldom used repeaters will be requested to implement subaudible tones on their inputs and outputs so that additional use may be made of the same frequency pairs as necessary for new coordinations in the area.

Members were reminded of the policy established at the fall, 2005 meeting to the effect that from November 2005 all newly-coordinated systems  in the 144 and 430 MHz bands are required to use subaudible tones on their inputs and outputs.  Use of SATs is strongly recommended for systems in other bands.  In the event of interference problems between two systems in any band the two systems will be required to implement SATs in and out if they are to retain their coordinated status.

It was noted also that in 2006 full Technical Information Reports are required for all coordinated systems.  Failure to file a full report with the Frequency Coordinator this year (due by the end of October) can result in loss of coordinated status, in accordance with established SLVRC policy - available on the Council web site:  http://www.slvrc.org/slvpolicy.htm and http://www.slvrc.org/polrevf0.htm.

The spring 2007 General Meeting will likely be held following the Smiths Falls Annual Fleamarket in May.  Mike, VE3UIL, will check and advise if this can be done.

Elections - Tim noted that he has been Chairman for two terms now, and he hopes that someone will pick up the challenge.  Graham reminded everyone that he has been 'Interim Secretary' for the same period (no 'real' secretary could be found).  Elections will be held at the spring 2007 meeting.

RAC Representative - Jim Dean, VE3IQ, on behalf of Richard Ferch, VE3IAY, RAC Vice President Regulatory Affairs, brought us up to date on national and international activities that RAC is involved in, representing ALL Canadian amateurs.  In particular, Jim spoke about CARAB, the Canadian Amateur Radio Advisory Board - a formal meeting between RAC and Industry Canada, held twice per year, RABC, the Radio Advisory Board of Canada with representatives of users of the radio spectrum, and WRC, the World Radio Conference.  Jim Dean and Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, will represent Canadian amateur interests at the WRC in 2007.  WRC 2007 will discuss allocations in the range 275 to 3000 GHz.  RAC also participates in the IARU, the International Amateur Radio Union.  Industry Canada expects radio amateurs to address amateur radio problems.  IC apparently is beginning to express some support for frequency coordination.  

Jim advised more use of the 222 and 430 MHz bands as Industry covets and argues for more access to these amateur allocations.  He agrees that monitoring the use of repeater frequencies is a good move to aid in more effective use of the spectrum (meaning, if coordinated repeaters are off the air or not used effectively, the frequencies might be reassigned or shared).

System Reports:

Next General Meeting:  It has been confirmed that the Spring 2007 General Meeting will be held in Smiths Falls on May 12 at 1:00 PM following the Smiths Falls Annual Flea Market in the Smiths Falls Youth Centre (same building).  Thanks, Mike.

Graham, VE3BYT - Secretary.

Please advise me of any errors or omissions in these minutes.  <graham@igs.net>