When Brian Summers gets on his amateur radio, heB次元官网网址檚 not looking to strike up a conversation with people a world away. The Saanich resident uses his amateur radio to track the sunB次元官网网址檚 affect on radio signals.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very interested in how radio propagation, which is how signals go from point to another, will change throughout a 24-hour period,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t changes through the year, through the season, through the 11-year sunspot cycle, because the sun has such a tremendous effect on what we do here on Earth, not only with radio but with other things as well.B次元官网网址�
While a lot of time and effort goes into SummersB次元官网网址� hobby, the real work may have been just getting the approval for the antenna that makes it all possible.
Summers managed to overcome the in his backyard at 3451 Salsbury Way B次元官网网址� just in time for one of the biggest solar events in years: the .
B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of written arguments and objections,B次元官网网址� said Summers, who received a letter from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada last month informing him the process was complete and his application had been approved.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the first time IB次元官网网址檝e ever had to do that. I had a tower for 18 years in Ottawa, three in Calgary, 16 in Richmond, and never had an issue with neighbours until I came here,B次元官网网址� he said, adding he found the formal consultation process educational.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 say I enjoyed it. It went on for too long, quite frankly, and people get very emotional about this,B次元官网网址� said Summers, pointing to one of his neighbours who has draped tarps and blankets over the fence between the properties. B次元官网网址淚t looks like JacobB次元官网网址檚 coat of many colours.B次元官网网址�
Another neighbour who collected names for a petition against the radio tower is Adele Caird. When she previously voiced her opposition to the tower with Summers, he told her that she would get used to it, like the hydro poles that checker the neighbourhood.
B次元官网网址淣o IB次元官网网址檓 not used to it, not at all,B次元官网网址� said Caird, adding the antenna has disrupted wifi reception for several nearby residents.
B次元官网网址淚t keeps going off and on. We canB次元官网网址檛 get a signal, sometimes we canB次元官网网址檛 even get into Netflix,B次元官网网址� said Caird, adding she never previously had problems with reception in the 32 years sheB次元官网网址檚 lived in her home.
Caird said she is in contact with another neighbour who plans to pursue legal action to have the tower removed.
Summers said he suggested that any residents who experience interruptions in their wifi should keep track of the date, time and symptoms, and he will check them against the computer log of his radio use.
B次元官网网址淚f there is a correlation I will be more than happy to work with their internet supplier to come up with a solution,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 part of my responsibility as a radio operator.B次元官网网址�
Despite the static heB次元官网网址檚 received from neighbours, Summers is happy he can continue with the hobby he has pursued for more than 60 years.
B次元官网网址淚 grew up in England after [the Second] World War and most houses would have a radio with a shortwave band and I was fascinated listening to the propaganda from the Voice of America and Radio Moscow,B次元官网网址� he said B次元官网网址淚 guess itB次元官网网址檚 just an interest thatB次元官网网址檚 stayed with me throughout the years.B次元官网网址�
