“To provide insight into the technical and procedural aspects of amateur radio operation.”

From Jim VE1JBL Apr.1st, 2017

There was a meeting on Saturday Apr. 1st, 2017 in Amherst with the organizing committee of this year’s Symposium of Maritime Amateur Radio Techs. (S.M.A.R.T.)

Taking part were Mike Johnson VE1MWJ, Kevin Burke VE1KEV, Bernie Cormier VE9BGC and Yvon Hachey VE1VON. The event will again be a one day event held on Apr.29th, 2017. Registration will begin at 8am and the first classes will begin at 9am. Registration fee is only $5.00. The classes will be broken down with one room having technical courses while the other room will have operational classes. Later in the day there will be a class for CANWARN and for Radio Amateurs of Canada. Both CANWARN and RAC will hopefully have booths set up for the day to supply information to interested hams and the general public.

• Ron MacKay VE1AIC will be there again this year and have a table set up with Muti-Mode Digital Radio – Demos.

• John Scott VE1JS will be there and available to check DXCC, WAS, VUCC and WAC cards, if required. He will also do  identity checks for those wishing to join LoTW without having to send a package to Newington. Make sure all your paperwork is in order for him to check. If not sure contact John at scotts@sandycove-ns.ca

• Al Cyples VE1CYP from Nova Scotia Public Service and Field Communications will be attending with their mobile unit for all to see and visit during the day.

We will be contacting other provincial agencies to see if they can provide emergency vehicles at this year’s event. It was confirmed that courses will be 40 minutes with a 5 minute Q&A so that the room can be prepared for the next presenter. Each presenter will make himself/herself available after the meeting for more questions. The site for this year’s event has not been confirmed yet but there are two different locations available (Amherst & Springhill). This will be finalized at the next meeting in mid April.

This year there will be no classes between 12 noon and 1pm or 1:30pm TBA for lunch break, QSO with friends and touring of emergency vehicles that will be available. Lunch will again be barbecue hamburgs & hotdogs and soft drinks.

Visit the WestCUMB ARC website for more information and to indicate attendance