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FEED-POINT |
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The Official Newsletter of the Saint John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
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January 2004 Vol. 14 No. 1 |
Letter From Our President Dear Fellow Ham,
The very cold weather has caused some concern about the new batteries
on Rocky Mountain. As you will probably remember, the solar controllers
failed in the way below zero weather last year, causing the batteries to go
dry. Every below zero day I have checked the batteries several times a day
and gone into a testing mode when I thought they were getting too high.
Sometimes I have found someone to talk to, but many times I haven't. So I
have read items about The Great Back Yard Bird Count, how a rainbow is made,
and news from the ARRL! It gets kind of boring saying "Testing 1, 2 . . ."
I always explain that I am using the repeater to keep the batteries from
overcharging, etc. |
The Can-Am Sled Dog Races are February 21-24. We are making good progress with the radio communication organizing. The checkpoints are all covered. We have a few for control center. We are still waiting to hear from two people about their participation. We do have two control operators to take 12 hour shifts as last year. Thanks to KB1EBE and WN1OTV. WN1OTV responded to Maine Bulletin #1 about our need for help with the races. Address comments, questions or
suggestions to: Next Meeting: TUESDAY, February 10, Alumni Conference Room, Nadeau Hall, UMFK, 6:00 PM
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| Date | Event | Place | Contact | Sponsor | Local Time | Frequency |
| Sunday | Net | NB | VE1PIN | IRG | 20:00 | 145.13 |
| Monday | Net | Fort Kent | N1FG | SJVARA | 19:00 | 146.64 |
| Monday | Net | Presque Isle | WA1YNZ | AARA | 20:00 | 146.73 |
| Page 2 Feed-Point, JANUARY, 2004 |
Report of JANUARY 20, 2003 Meeting Called to Order: 18:06 hrs. In Attendance: N1FG, N1QMC, N1JHD, N1PMS, VE1PIN Treasurer's Report: December Bal= $619.87 + interest .65 + Adams Donation $100.00= January Balance $720.52 N1QMC motioned to accept. N1PMS seconded. Passed. Old Business: 2.146.64 Report: Battery tests on this repeater have indicated the lows at 11.78 or lower, and highs up to 14.52. This indicates, as we suspected, that the batteries really are not holding a charge well. As you know, we voted to get new batteries for .64 before the dog races. We are trying to do this.
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New Business:
1. Can-Am Net Protocol: The net protocol for Can-Am was reviewed. A minor change made re utilizing all those scheduled at net control. 2. Can-Am Radio and antenna: The Can-Am radio has been altered so that we should not have the off frequency problems we had last year. N1JHD said we have no coax for the antenna. The coax was owned by N1CHF who needed it. So we will need to get new coax, unless someone has a piece we can use. 3. Can-Am Dog Races February 21-24: WN1OTV, Don, has offered to help us during the races. He will be replacing N1KGS as co-net control with KB1EBE. 4. Biathlon: VE1PIN wondered if we had been asked to help. We have not. KW1C was going to look into this some time ago. 5. Program: We watched the 1997 Can-Am Video. KC1SE was featured as the operator at Rocky Brook. We got to see all aspects of the race: trail work, vet checks, and the start, and activity at all the check points. Adjourned:
19:35 hrs. |
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In Case You
Are Interested
The ARRL celebrates its 90th year in 2004. Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence Tuska started the league in 1914. Just a few months later war broke out. In 1917, when the US entered the war, amateur operations were suspended until early 1919. So many changes since then. In 1924-1934 transmitters were built with vacuum tubes "borrowed" from the family broadcast receiver. In this Golden Age for Amateur Radio, transmitters could reach around the world and anyone could achieve " All Continents Worked". In 1954-64, amateurs joined the Space Age with the first moon bounce contact in 1960. The first Oscar was launched in 1961. Amateur radio flourished with the addition of a Novice and Technician license. The ARRL's 50th anniversary included a postage stamp honoring Amateur Radio. |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, January, 2004 |
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Enthusiasm For
Ham Radio
A letter in the January QST from N1ZYQ caught my attention. He said
people often ask him, "Why Ham Radio?" His answer include
communicating with people far away, and helping his neighbors by
helping in emergencies or at local events. But, he says, the real
reason is the people in the hobby. He has had many hobbies, but finds
the amateur community has many more who want to help other people in
amateur radio. He says he has met people from all walks of life, all
races and religions. It doesn't matter who or what you are, if you
have a problem with understanding anything, they will take the time to
explain. If you need help setting up an antenna system, they are
there. In addition, the people in the amateur community make life long
friends.
I have seen
this helpful attitude many times. One time I lost my Icom 706 manual.
I was asking for programming help on 2 meter in southern Maine. I got the
help, plus, a week later, a photocopy of the manual from a ham I had
never met before.
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On EchoLink one ham in Scotland spent a long time with me
helping me to set up Interface - the program that lets you quickly
exchange photos with other hams.
Also in the January QST, a marvelous account of a DXpedition to Baker Island in the Pacific captures the enthusiasm of hams. Twelve hams from Siberia, Macedonia, US, Russia, South Africa, Slovenia, and Lithuania set up 3 camps on Baker Island with 6 rigs, 10 towers, 3 generators. All equipment had to be scrubbed and all footwear brand new to prevent environmental contamination.
"Our DXpedition adventure was extreme and
very dangerous and pushed us to the limit, but we not only made it. we
made happy tens of thousands of radio enthusiasts all over the planet,
from well over 200 countries. In total we made 95, 127 QSOs on all HF
bands and all modes, setting a new world record for number of contacts
in one DXpedition."
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For Sale Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer - N1FRX |
A Bit of Humor Real Court Room exchanges
collected By Richard Lederer"
JUDGE: Of course, you might be obstructing justice
not to tell me. DEFENDANT: Ok. I was your bookie.
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| Page 4 Feed-Point 2004 |
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FEED-POINT:
Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio. |