F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

February, 2007Vol. 17 No.2
Letter From Our President

It is a a perfect winter day as I write. The sky is clear blue. The snow appears sprinkled with diamonds where the sun shines on it. The Blue Jays are noisily raiding the feeding stations, their blue feathers as blue as the sky.

This a busy time as the countdown to the Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races is progressing at an alarming rate! I am busy preparing radio packets for the various participating hams, trying to schedule the participants so no one gets too tired. Also, keeping track of the hoped-for ARPS trial this year,which will use the node on the club tower.

After our last meeting N1PMS said he was having difficulty with the SWR of his new mag-mount antenna. At low power it was okay, but anything higher was bad. I suggested he take the problem to our technician, N1EVO. N1EVO did some tests, worked on the coils, and trimmed the antenna. He says it works well now.


N1EVO checked out the sturdy antenna donated by WB1FTK and its SWR is good. Randy, N1NGN, replied with an enthusiastic yes when I told him it was available for the APRS set up. Randy has two digipeaters ready to go to Portage and Maibec. K1PIG says N1NAF has four trackers to send up with the hams coming up to help. They will try to get a few more. Trackers will be used on two mushers, the drop dog truck, race marshall, head vet, and search and rescue.

A letter received from the Department of Conservation gives the hams permission to use the forestry frequencies for testing before the races and during the races. The frequencies are to be used only for Emergency traffic.


Gale Flagg
108 Franklin School Rd
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, March 13th,6:00PM
Nadeau Hall, UMFK, Alumni Conference Room
Schedule of Coming Events
DateEventPlaceContactSponsorTimeFreq
SUNNetNBVE1PINIRG2000145.130
MONNetFort KentN1FGSJVARA1900146.64
MONNetPresque IsleWA1YNZAARA2000146.73
Page 2Feed-Point, February, 2007
Minutes of January 9th SJVARA Meeting

Start Time: 18:03 Members and guests present: N1FG; N1PMS; N1EVO; N7GLR; KA7VNR; N1JHD; N1QMC; KA1SJV; WB1FTK.
Secretary’s Minutes: N7GLR moved to accept minutes as posted. N1PMS seconded. All present voted in favor.
Treasurer's Report: N1FRX
Old Balance:$2238.15
Interest:$2.04
ARRL Spectrum DEF.-$25.00
New Balance:$2215.19
N1PMS motioned to accept and N1QMC seconded the motion. All present voted in favor.
Old Business:
1. Rocky Mt.: 12.75 volts at 10:36 Hrs February 13th. N1FG wondered why the power had dropped. The group discussed various possible reasons for the power drop.
2. 146.64 Report: 13.50 volts at 10:36 Hrs February 13th. N1FG said the reading is good.
3. Other: N1FG asked if N1EVO and N7GLR had managed to meet to figure out ways to get the word out and create more interest in our radio club. N1EVO and N1GLR said they had forgotten and would plan to get together before our next meeting.

New Business:
1. New Ham in Van Buren: Robert Wilk K1ASJ, 78 Maine Street Apt 203, Van Buren 207-868-2826. N1FG passed traffic to him, and noted he has no equipment now. He would be glad to operate on others' equipment if needed for the Dog Races.
2. Sign from Bill Cobb for Rocky Mountain: N1FG showed the sign Bill Cobb sent for Rocky Mountain. It is a National Historic Registry Sign.
3. Other: Can-Am and APRS: N1FG mentioned that they have all the volunteers they need for the Can-Am, but they do need a TNC. There are plans for two mushers to take a GPS so they can be tracked through APRS from digipeaters placed at various check points as they travel through the course. N1FG checked out the working condition of N1HSQ's radio on loan using a mobile antenna, a 5/8 Wave 2m Mag Mount donated by WB1FTK. It did receive a signal, which is a good sign. N1FG said she would email N1JHD with the forestry frequencies, and gave him the radio for use in the Can-Am at the Allagash checkpoint.
(Continued on page 3)
Next Meeting: March 13, 2007, Nadeau Hall, UMFK, 6:00 PM
Adjourned: 19:25
Submitted by KA1SJV

In Case You Are Interested
Happy Birthday
The Strangers:A new suspense thriller film shows Liv Tyler discovering an old Amatuer Radio station in a barn. She tries to use it to contact the outside world. The S.C radio club, W4ULH, helped set up the scene.
Sandra Daigle 03-20


Page 3Feed-Point, February, 2007
February Meeting Minutes Continued

3. Other: N1EVO talked about his home brew 160m dipole antenna and making several CW European contacts using 10 watts with it. He also mentioned that he purchased a Morse Express Key, and wasn't impressed with its construction and operation.

N7GLR showed the group some of the QSL cards he's received from various contacts around the world. He also mentioned the fact that Europeans need to complete a Short Wave Listener card as part of their requirement to get their amateur radio license.

WB1FTK mentioned a 160m SSB contact with MM0SJH in Scotland. (Since then an eQSL has been received.)

Program: New Zealand Ata Whenua Shadowland Video: N1FG explained that she received this video from an amateur radio friend living in New Zealand. It showed the awesome beauty of a wilderness area not available for the general public to view. Also showed several birds found only there, such as the Kea and the flightless Parrot. It was enjoyed by all.




For Sale

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" X 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. N1FRX.
Force 12 EF-510, 5 ele 10m Beam w/balun New in the box, never installed Retails at $470/$480 ... asking $350 Call Don, WB1FTK, at 543-6033
A Bit of Humor
Church Bulletin Bloopers
*Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. * Our youth Basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. * The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to conflict.

F E E D - P O I N T            February, 2007

Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
President: Gale Flagg N1FG
Vice President: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Secretary: Diane Elrich, KA1SJV
Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale Flagg - N1FG / Stan Flagg 834-6670
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Charles Ames N7GLR
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership $ 12
Associate Membership $ 6
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed
only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter.




FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD
FORT KENT ME 04743