Page 46 May June 2014 TCA
P. 46
VE3JW CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
March 2014 marked the 40th year of Amateur Radio
operations from the Canada Science and Technology
Museum (CSTM) in Ottawa. Industry Canada
authorized a special Amateur Radio call sign, VC3S,
especially to commemorate this occasion.
For four decades, licensed Amateur Radio operators
from the Ottawa Valley Mobile Cub (OVMRC) have
interpreted, for the visiting public, the evolution of
radio technology and its continuing strategic
importance to everyday life. They have used various
analog and digital radio communications modes to
illustrate how Radio Amateurs “talk” to each other
locally and around the world.
During the weekend of March 15 and 16, volunteer
Amateur Radio operators demonstrated various
aspects of radio technology and Amateur Radio
communication techniques at the Amateur Radio
station, VE3JW, located at the Museum. Among
those who attended the weekend demonstrations
was the family of Jim Cotter – including Jim’s daughter,
Mrs. Peggy Jefferson, grandsons, great-grandsons The original VE3JW station in 1974.
and newest/youngest great-granddaughter – along
with many related family members.
The public was invited to attend the regular general
meeting of the club on March 20 at the Museum to
learn more about the evolution and importance of
Amateur Radio. Speakers interpreted the history of
radio communications and of Amateur Radio for
today’s technology savvy users.
HOW DID VE3JW GET STARTED?
The call sign, VE3JW, was originally held by Jim W.
Cotter, an early Radio Amateur who did not have the
gift of sight because of an unfortunate childhood
accident. He became a Silent Key in 1969 at the age
of 67.
Jim was a personal friend of Ed Morgan, VE3GX.
When Jim’s call sign became available, Ed had the
idea of a demonstration Amateur station in the
communications section of the National Museum of
Science and Technology in Jim’s memory and also
for the many other early radio pioneers. Ed reserved
the vacated call sign, sold the idea to the Museum’s The VE3JW station at present day.
exhibit curator, and got an equipment supplier on
board – all of which he was able to accomplish with Over the years, the station was moved and rebuilt a few times within the
backing of the OVMRC. museum, and the guiding vision that contributed to the present station is
The equipment supplier was the Heath Company that of Jerry Wells, VE3CDS (SK):
branch in Mississauga who made a long-term loan of “This station will be used to educate the visiting public about radio
kits that were assembled by club members. communications in general and the various facets of Amateur Radio in
The station operation was inaugurated on the particular. We intend to demonstrate all modes of Amateur Radio
evening of March 19, 1974, with Jayne Arbuckle, communications available today so that young and old alike may explore
the 9-year-old granddaughter of Jim Cotter, the wonders of speaking with people from around the world on HF or via
sending the frst signal with a 10-inch spark coil satellite, using Amateur communications to transmit data and images
transmitter, the one used by the frst transatlantic (including television) and capture satellite imagery and telemetry.”
station, VAS, at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
You will fnd all that at the present VE3JW Amateur Radio Exhibit station for
VE3JW is staffed by volunteers who are Amateur your enjoyment and as an Amateur Radio front window to the public.
Radio operators from the Ottawa/Gatineau region
and the station is available to any licensed Amateur. Sandy Haggart, VE3HAZ
President, Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club
44
March 2014 marked the 40th year of Amateur Radio
operations from the Canada Science and Technology
Museum (CSTM) in Ottawa. Industry Canada
authorized a special Amateur Radio call sign, VC3S,
especially to commemorate this occasion.
For four decades, licensed Amateur Radio operators
from the Ottawa Valley Mobile Cub (OVMRC) have
interpreted, for the visiting public, the evolution of
radio technology and its continuing strategic
importance to everyday life. They have used various
analog and digital radio communications modes to
illustrate how Radio Amateurs “talk” to each other
locally and around the world.
During the weekend of March 15 and 16, volunteer
Amateur Radio operators demonstrated various
aspects of radio technology and Amateur Radio
communication techniques at the Amateur Radio
station, VE3JW, located at the Museum. Among
those who attended the weekend demonstrations
was the family of Jim Cotter – including Jim’s daughter,
Mrs. Peggy Jefferson, grandsons, great-grandsons The original VE3JW station in 1974.
and newest/youngest great-granddaughter – along
with many related family members.
The public was invited to attend the regular general
meeting of the club on March 20 at the Museum to
learn more about the evolution and importance of
Amateur Radio. Speakers interpreted the history of
radio communications and of Amateur Radio for
today’s technology savvy users.
HOW DID VE3JW GET STARTED?
The call sign, VE3JW, was originally held by Jim W.
Cotter, an early Radio Amateur who did not have the
gift of sight because of an unfortunate childhood
accident. He became a Silent Key in 1969 at the age
of 67.
Jim was a personal friend of Ed Morgan, VE3GX.
When Jim’s call sign became available, Ed had the
idea of a demonstration Amateur station in the
communications section of the National Museum of
Science and Technology in Jim’s memory and also
for the many other early radio pioneers. Ed reserved
the vacated call sign, sold the idea to the Museum’s The VE3JW station at present day.
exhibit curator, and got an equipment supplier on
board – all of which he was able to accomplish with Over the years, the station was moved and rebuilt a few times within the
backing of the OVMRC. museum, and the guiding vision that contributed to the present station is
The equipment supplier was the Heath Company that of Jerry Wells, VE3CDS (SK):
branch in Mississauga who made a long-term loan of “This station will be used to educate the visiting public about radio
kits that were assembled by club members. communications in general and the various facets of Amateur Radio in
The station operation was inaugurated on the particular. We intend to demonstrate all modes of Amateur Radio
evening of March 19, 1974, with Jayne Arbuckle, communications available today so that young and old alike may explore
the 9-year-old granddaughter of Jim Cotter, the wonders of speaking with people from around the world on HF or via
sending the frst signal with a 10-inch spark coil satellite, using Amateur communications to transmit data and images
transmitter, the one used by the frst transatlantic (including television) and capture satellite imagery and telemetry.”
station, VAS, at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
You will fnd all that at the present VE3JW Amateur Radio Exhibit station for
VE3JW is staffed by volunteers who are Amateur your enjoyment and as an Amateur Radio front window to the public.
Radio operators from the Ottawa/Gatineau region
and the station is available to any licensed Amateur. Sandy Haggart, VE3HAZ
President, Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club
44
