Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, Inc.

Satellite Info & Training

Amateur Nets

VE3JW AMATEUR RADIO STATION HISTORY

Amateur Radio Station VE3JW, sponsored by the OVMRC, and located at the CANADA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM, St Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, was officially opened on March 19, 1974. Amateur Radio Callsign VE3JW, is still in use at the station and was originally issued to Jim W. Cotter of Ottawa.

Jim W. Cotter lost his sight in early childhood when a box of dynamite caps exploded in his hands. He received his Amateur license in the early 1920's and was probably the first blind radio Amateur in Canada. He operated his home station under callsign C3EN and later, when VE letters were allocated to Canadian Amateurs, he obtained callsign VE3JW, his initials.

Jim W. Cotter became a silent key on December 29, 1969 at the age of 67. Amateur Radio Station VE3JW is dedicated to his memory and to the many Amateur Radio operators who pioneered in radio communications. In view of the fact that the station is dedicated to the early pioneers, the original 10" spark coils and hand sending key from the Voice of Atlantic Seaboard (VAS) was used during the opening ceremony. VAS was the first Canadian radiotelegraph station capable of transmitting commercial trans-Atlantic messages and commenced operation in the early 1900's. Mr. Cotter's nine year old granddaughter, Jayne Arbuckle, pressed the hand sending key to create the spark to officially open the station .

The original station equipment used in 1974 was provided by Heathkit in kit form. The equipment was built by members of the OVMRC and included one HW101 SSB transceiver, HP23B Power Supply, and a SB200 Linear Amplifier. A 30' tower with a Mosley 3-element tri-band beam was assembled by the members and installed on the roof.

Younger Jimmy JW Cotter

SPECIAL EVENT DAYVE3JW 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Celebrating VE3JW 30th anniversary, OVMRC held a Special Event Day on Friday, 19th March 2004, at the Amateur Radio Exhibit Station.

As the station is dedicated to Jim W Cotter, first blind Radio Amateur, the Cotter family was invited to participate. Also invited were all local or visiting Amateurs.

The object was to have each participant complete at least one radio contact. Those doing so were awarded a special commemorative certificate showing a colour picture of the VE3JW station, and inscribed with the contact coordinates, and your name and call.

Shown here are three members of the Jim W Cotter family who visited the VE3JW station during the celebration. Peggy is seen holding her certificate for having completed a radio contact, which was the farthest distant contact of the day. The large screen at the rear shows this contact: T99A, Bosnia. In the middle of the picture is Grandson Clark and Great Grandson Cleary.

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OVMRC AMATEUR RADIO CLUB OBJECTIVES

To contribute to the interest, study and progress of the science and art of Amateur Radio with particular emphasis on Mobile operations;
To promote social activities among members and their families;
To cooperate with and assist the civil authorities to the fullest extent possible in any emergency; and...
To foster good will and understanding among radio amateurs.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Any amateur who would like to receive a soft copy of the Rambler please send an e-mail to ovmrc@rogers.com with the word 'subscribe' (without quotes) in the subject. You will then automatically receive the Rambler when it is sent out each month(except July/August).

How to Join Our Club.

You are invited to join the Ottawa Mobile Radio Club at any time. Memberships usually run till the end of August each year and are renewed at the first or second meeting (September, October) in person. If you cannot attend these meetings, you may, at any time, mail a personal cheque to us at the address below.

Regular Membership, receive newsletter, voting rights $20

Associate Membership, receive newsletter, no voting rights $10

Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, Incorporated
PO Box 41145
Ottawa, ON
K1G 5K9

Please make cheques payable to: Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club, Incorporated

To download a membership form,

click Here.

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Next Meeting

February 18, 2010

Museum of Science and Technology

19:30 h

Canadian Ski Marathon 2010

2010 Canadian Ski Marathon is set to take place on Feb 13 & 14, 2010. For more information please click on this link: http://www.csm-mcs.com/index2.html

Guest Speaker for February 2010

We will be joined by Guest Speaker: Martin Gillen, VA3SIE who will be presenting to us on the subject of Summits on the Air Nord-Américain. Martin is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hiking in the woods with his QRP HF Rig, home-brew antennae and a key... For more information click on the 'News & Events' tab on the left.

OVMRC Executive

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