F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

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

January, 2010Vol. 20 No.1
Letter From Our President


A year ago it was the coldest January we had in a dozen years. This year it seems to be one of the warmest. The southeastern area has been having one of the coldest they have had in several years. We certainly can't complain about our weather. There is not as much snow as we have had by now in the last two years. There is just enough for my daily skiing in the woods.


The weather this summer was perfect for carrots, potatoes, and onions. We have a surplus of all three. If you would like some, please contact me.






I have three ARRL books that I purchased recently. They are "Simple and Fun Antennas", "Low Power Communication--the Art and Science of QRP", and "The ARRL Antenna Book", including the book on a CD. If anyone would like to borrow any of them, just give me a call.

Please remember Can-Am starts March 6th. If you can help, please contact me.



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


Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 10th 6:00 PM
UMFK, Nadeau Hall, Alum. Conf. Room
Schedule of Coming Events
DateEventPlaceContactSponsorTimeFreq
SUNNetNBVE1PINIRG2000145.130
MONNetFort KentN1FGSJVARA1900146.64
MONNetPresque IsleWA1YNZAARA2000146.73
Page 2Feed-Point, January, 2010
Report of January 12, 2010 SJVARA Meeting


Start Time: 18:03
Members present: N1FG, W1TCP, KB1OWW, KB1TBI, and N1EVO.

Treasurer's Report: N1FRX:
Old Balance:$2922.75
Savings Account$2868.67
Interest on Savings:$1.67
Deposits: Donation and Fund Raiser$425.75
Checking Account$54.08
New Balance:$3350.17

Motion to Approve: W1TCP, Seconded by: N1EVO, Passed
Old Business:
1. Rocky Mt.: Voltage 11.30 after days of no sun.
2. 146.640 Repeater: The repeater is now connected to AC. Static is heard at the end of each transmission. Sometimes not too bad, but other times quite annoying. The cause is unknown. N1EVO reported hearing interference about 7:30 in the morning. Cause unkown. Harmonics? Interference from a Quebec repeater?


New Business:

1.Can-Am Races: Start March 6. KB1OWW has voluntered for Allagash. N1JHT has offered two rooms for hams. Dave Geary will have one of them. The other will go to a ham for Friday night before the race. K1ACO has offered two rooms, also.
2. Thank you to Pat and Heman Adams: N1FG passed around a Thank You card for all present to sign. Since not many were at the meeting, I asked permission to sign for some, and was able to get some signatures from those not at the meeting. We all appreciate the generosity of this Colorado couple who has taken an interest in our small club. They are not Hams. ( The card has been mailed.)



Program: Video of the Kennebec Valley R.A.C.E.S. 2006 Field Day. It was a well done video of the amazing setup and operation, with nice music in the background. Gene, Randy, Sally, and Gretchen, and other hams I recognized were in it.
Adjourned at 19:05

Next Meeting: Tuesday February 9, UMFK, Nadeau Hall, Alumni Conference Room.
Submitted by N1FG

In Case You Are Interested
Dayton 2009 Video
Watch The Band Edges The January QST reminds us to watch band edges. The voice passband carrier extends 300 to 3000 Hz one side or the other of the frequency you are transmitting on.
Amateur Radio Video News has a collection of 3 DVDs with highlights of forums and events throughout the Dayton weekend. For information got to www.arvideonews.com.
Page 3Feed-Point, January, 2010
Black Lake Camp during Can-Am
K1ACO's account written after last the races last year.

"The radio that I use at Black Lake Camp is an ICOM IC-T7H handheld. I have three forms of power available to me out there. First is the built in battery pack, second is a 12V battery and adaptor for straight 12V power in, and third is an inverter for 120V power into which I can plug my normal charger for the battery pack. My antenna is a 5/8W vertical. I have a 12" telescopic pole and a 6' pole that the antenna sits on top of. Of course everything is guyed off to whatever is available.



I think that perhaps you have the wrong impression of the camp its self. The camp hasn't been used for many years. There is no door that will close, and windows boarded up or broken. Debris and trash cover the floor. It would be dangerous just to go in and look around. Obvously no form of heat. The camp sits on the inside of a curve in the trail and there are no windows on that side. You would never see a musher until they were down the trail past you. There is an old outhouse on the opposite side of the trail from the camp that can be used to break the wind should it be windy (wind in Fort Kent??) or snowing. In bad weather I can set my radio/power supply in the outhouse.

Yup, it was a little cold this year but Bev and I are outdoor people so we know to dress for it.



After the last Musher passes us and we are secured from our duties, we usually cook up a hotdog on the Coleman grill that I take out with us. All-in-all it's not a bad way to spend a morning. We are able to ride our snowmobile directly from the house to the camp. I allow an hour and a half for the 22 mile ride. We must go fairly slow because of the trailer-sled that I pull behind the snowmobile. The trails were groomed perfectly this year too. The snowmobile club did an outstanding job. The only downside of going to BLC is that we have to leave town before the teams start so that we're out of their way and I get the radio set up."

K1ACO's account written after the races last year.

For Sale

14-element two meter beam mounted on a 10' tower section with rotor. Best offer over $100.00 N1FG at 834-6670
Force 12 EF-510, 5 ele 10m Beam w/balun New in the box, never installed Retails at $470/$480 ... asking $350 Call Don, K1FTK, at 543-6033
A Bit of Humor
A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message,"Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

F E E D - P O I N T            January, 2010

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: Gil Daigle, N1JHD
Secretary: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO and June Despres, KB1OWW
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