National Capital Chapter 70 - Ottawa, Canada
VE3CVG Biography
Rick Bandla - QCWA# 31545 (Silent Key)
Background
Rick was born and grew up in Sarnia, Ontario
Education / Employment History
- 1965-1968 - Ryerson Polytechnical Institute - evening classes in Electronics Engineering Technology, graduated in Business Administration.
- 1965-1969 - Bell Canada - Technician. Worked in many departments including mobile radio, paging, teletype, data, and cable TV
- 1969 - Bell Canada – Manager – worked on Long Distance rates, HQ Engineering, switching design, etc
- 1989 - Pioneered and rolled out Central Office based public voice messaging in Bell Canada in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s.
- 1993-1996 - Bell Canada International - promoted voice messaging services - in San Francisco, Thailand, Indonesia, HongKong, the Philippines, Australia, Chile and Colombia.
- 1996 - Retired from Bell, then consulted in Indonesia.
- 1998-2000 - Consultant to RCMP on upgrading analogue radio backbone to digital 900MHz radio in various provinces, including Iqaluit.
- 2001 - Consultant to Industry Canada and Radio Advisory Board of Canada on Emergency Preparedness communications.
Amateur Radio History
- 1962 - First licenced in Sarnia as VE3CVG.
- Late 1960’s - One of the founders of the Pioneer Amateur Radio Club (PARC) in Toronto.
- Early 1970’s - Shortly after moving to Ottawa, assisted Larry Kayser (then VE3QB) with Oscar 6 satellite control using a Nova minicomputer.
- Late 1990’s - Operated as VE3CVG/VY0 from Iqaluit.
- Rick is an avid VHF, UHF, and microwave weak-signal contester. He also operates HF but has a preference for the higher frequencies.
- Member of RAC and ARRL.
- Member of West Carleton Amateur Radio Club - Vice President in 2004. Web master since mid 2004. Over the years, has kitted 222MHz transverters and assisted with construction, co-ordinated the purchase and construction of 903MHz transverter kits, co-ordinated the construction of 222 MHz yagi antennas, 1296MHz loop antennas, APRS trackers, procured and re-introduced the use of 10 GHz Tellurometers in the Ottawa area. Designed the 903MHz beacon. Rick is Net Control for the Ottawa Valley Upper Frequencies SSB Net.
- 2006 - Rick (with Ken - VA3KA) introduced D-STAR digital radio in the Ottawa area. He co-ordinated the purchase and installation of VA3ODG, the 4 module digital repeater system and gateway computer, funded through a grant. He continues to be a major force in the introduction of D-STAR digital radio to the Ottawa area. Over the years, Rick has made numerous presentations on a variety of topics to most of the clubs in the Ottawa area and has represented WCARC and D-STAR at local hamfests.
Additional Information
Rick is a member of QCWA and Chapter 70. He made (with Norm VE3LC) a presentation “Introduction to APRS” at the May 1998 dinner meeting. A joint presentation with Ken VA3KA entitled “What’s That Racket? the digital modes” was given at the QCWA International Convention Oct 15-17, 2004. Another joint presentation with Ken VA3KA entitled “D-STAR – Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio” was given at the February 2007 dinner meeting. His “45 Years Licenced” lapel pin was presented at the May 2007 dinner meeting.
Rick passed away April, 2022.