F E E D - P O I N T |
The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
July 2003 Vol. 13 No.7 |
Letter From Our
President Dear Fellow Hams,
|
The conference considered 48 different items. Because the International Amateur Radio Union has always conducted themselves as professionally as any of the interest groups, K1ZZ assures us that amateur and amateur satellite services are taken seriously. Among the items of interest to amateurs are the dropping of Morse Code as a requirement for HF licensing. However, individual countries may keep the requirement. Also, there will be greater flexibility in assigning call signs, which now can have suffixes with four characters, or even more for temporary use. The 40 meter band will, in the future, have some relief from commercial broadcasters. Broadcasters will be removed from 7100 to 7200 MHz in Regions 1 & 3. It takes effect world wide in March 2009. US Amateurs will continue to have 7100 to 7300 MHz with greatly reduced broadcasting interference. Address comments, questions or suggestions to: Next Meeting: SUNDAY AUGUST 11 AM CROSS LAKE PICNIC AREA Pot Luck Picnic Lunch |
Date |
Event |
Place |
Contact |
Sponsor |
Time |
Freq |
SUN |
Net |
NB |
VE1PIN |
IRG |
2000 |
145.130 |
MON |
Net |
Fort Kent |
N1FG |
SJVARA |
1900 |
146.64 |
MON |
Net |
Presque Isle |
WA1YNZ |
AARA |
2000 |
146.73 |
| Page 2 Feed-Point, July, 2003 |
Report of July 8, 2003 Meeting Called to Order:
19:25 We ate the first course of the Potluck Supper 1st. Then held the meeting. Secretary's Minutes: Treasurer's Report: Submitted by N1CHF : June Balance$954.14. + interest $1.04 = July Balance $955.18 Old Business: |
2.
146.640 Report: N1FG reported replacing the Damp-Aid in the repeater
chest. Though the Dam-Aid was water saturated with water in the bottom of
its container, the interior of the repeater chest was completely dry.
1. August Meeting: It was decided to have the meeting at a picnic the second weekend of August. The meeting will be Sunday August 10th. Picnic Lunch--Pot Luck Next meeting: SUNDAY, AUGUST 10th, 11:00 AM PICNIC AT CROSS LAKE--POT LUCK Adjourned: 19.44 Submitted by: N1FG Program: Excellent video on the sun. Stunning footage on solar flares. We then had course 2 of the supper, which had been cooking in the oven. |
|
In Case
You Are Interested
The club has received a brochure from Westgate Laboratories. They sell coax, transistors, capacitors and much more. Their web site is www.WestgateParts.com
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO:
Henry Nutting 8-14
Gil Bourgoin 8-19 Cheryl Boomhower 8-26 Claudette Bourgoin 8-31 |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, July, 2003 |
|
FIELD DAY 2003
While we were setting up the antenna for the second radio (the EMA has one radio and antenna), we had a visit from N1KAT, ARRL Section Manager of Maine, and K1TWF, ARRL Vice Director of the New England Division. They delivered a copy of Governor Baldacci's Proclamation of Amateur Radio Week in Maine, which was June 23rd through June 29th. The van they traveled in had a quad antenna mounted on the roof. N7GLR and KA7VNR started operating at 2:00 PM. N1QMC and N1JHD came later to operate. N1PMS, N1KGS, and N1FG operated the two radios through the night and until 2 on Sunday. Band conditions were not the best, but could have been worse. There
was a lot of fading in and out. Contact would be made, but before the
exchange could be made both ways it was sometimes lost. We had to wait
until the station was heard again. We also had a problem with the EMA
Kenwood. Very few contacts could made on 20 meters. The radio could not be
tuned to 20 meters. Most of the contacts on that radio were on 40 meters.
A few times the radio jumped from 40 meters to 1400 with no warning in the
middle of a QSO. We still have not figured out the reason. Anyone have an
suggestions? The other radio was an Icom 706. It worked well. |
Despite the
glitches, we eventually made 188 phone contacts. The power multiplier was
2, and we are claiming 500 bonus points. There is a problem with 200 of
the bonus points. We tried four times to copy the W1AW message, which was
unbelievably long. QRM caused difficulties, and I was off frequency for
part of one of the attempts. Whether we got enough of the message to earn
the points is the question. Also, we tried to pass the message to the
Section Manager, but the Maine Public Service Net did not ask for any
further traffic before closing. Maybe ARRL will give us points for the
composed traffic message and maybe not. We did our best to fulfill the
requirements. The EMA was certainly a nice place to be. Big rooms. The two radios
were in separate rooms, which minimized interference. There was a kitchen
with a refrigerator, a coffee machine. There was air conditioning!
PHISH CONCERT
The meeting to
reactivate ARES and RACES also developed a plan for amateurs to help
during the Phish Concert August 2-3. I have sent an e-mail copy of the
plan to the members. We need to cover the NMMC. The plan also tells
you what can be monitored in case further help is needed.
|
For Sale Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x
16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. |
A Bit of Humor
POISONING RESEARCHER CREDITED WITH SAVING LIVES. * NRC: FUEL RODS
MISTAKENLY STORED IN SAFE PLACE. * NO CAUSE OF DEATH DETERMINED FOR
BEHEADED VICTIM. * INSANITY PLEA BY MAN WHO'S HIS OWN LAWYER * DEAD YOUTH
IN SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION
|
| Page 4 Feed-Point, 2003 |
FEED-POINT |
FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD
FORT KENT ME 04743