The
Marinette and Menominee Amateur Radio Club
GROUND WAVE
Repeater
Frequencies 147.00 MHZ & 444.075 Mhz
Club Net: Sunday 7PM 147.00 MHz
Simplex DX Spotting and Ragchew Frequency 146.55
Web Page: http://w8pif.com
Officers
President: Jim Callow K8IR
Vice President: Ed Engleman KG8CX
Treasurer: Lynne Rynish N8OSK
Secretary: Gary Luthardt KG9AD
The MMARC Newsletter February 2003
FEBRUARY
MEETING...
Plan to attend the monthly meeting on February 13th,
7pm, in the cafeteria of BAMC Menominee facility. Tentative agenda items
include field day, repeaters, by-law updates, upcoming social activities, and
any other business that may be brought up by club members.
We had an excellent turnout for the January meeting, and look forward to another good one this month.
CHARTER BANQUET...
KG9GH’s whole family attended Charter Night to see
him accept his award.
The club’s annual charter night was held Saturday February
1st at Schussler’s
Peshtigo Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the Ham of the
Year award to Eric Janssen, KG9GH, and an informative talk by Eric Lohman,
Marinette County’s Emergency Management Director.
W8HKY
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY...
On February 4th, Mike Anuta, W8HKY celebrated his
102nd birthday. He is still active on our Sunday evening net, and is one
of the oldest hams in the country. Both he and Marianne, who is 100
years.old, reside at Rennes East in Peshtigo. All of us in the club wish
you a most Happy Birthday.
WEATHER
SPOTTER TRAINING SESSION SCHEDULED...
We will have a spotter training session on March
13th at the River Cities Chamber of Commerce office in Menominee (corner of
10th and 10th). It will be presented by the Marquette weather office,
and is open to all emergency personnel and M&M ARC members. Marge
Bramschreiber, the Menominee Co. Emergency Management Director, organized the
session and is in charge of arrangements. This is a great time to review
general spotter procedures, and learn new ones in preparation for the severe weather
season, which can start as early as late March and April.
As always, the local SKYWARN net will be activated
upon request from either the Marquette or Green Bay weather office.
We will use the 147.000 repeater, with the 444.075 and/or 147.330 as backups.
Additionally, the 146.835 Abrams repeater will also be used during
SKYWARN activation for weather situations covering Oconto County.
Because of the training session, there will be no
club business meeting in March.
CLUB
REPEATERS PLAYING WELL…
Both the 147.000 and the 444.075 M&M ARC club
repeaters are working very well at the BAMC location. Ever since Noel,
K8NB, "tuned" up the receive and various other parameters of the 147
machine, it has improved coverage. The 444.075 has remarkable coverage
from 100 feet. KE9S has been able to access it full quieting from
west of US141. Its coverage is almost as good as the 147.000 at times.
But, we must bear in mind, that with all the foliage off the trees, 440
signals, being more affected by foliage, and other obstructions, travel
farther, and we do have an 11db gain antenna to work with. Coverage may
drop a bit once warm weather arrives, and leaves appear, but should
still be much better than we had before.
DOOR
COUNTY ARC PURCHASES NEW REPEATER...
The Door County club who operate several repeaters,
including the 147.210 in Sturgeon Bay, have just purchased a new
repeater. It may well be up and running by the time you read this.
It runs about 50 watts, and replaces a much older one that has been
giving them some problems. Running full power again gives that repeater
a much greater range, and some additional features.
This is a good time to remind all that the Good
Morning net runs daily at 8:00 am Monday through Saturday on the 147.210
repeater. Other Door County repeaters are the 147.180 Sister Bay,
the 146.730 (pl 107.2) in mid county, and the 444.000 (pl 107.2) in
Sturgeon Bay.
HAM
RADIO CLASSES UNDERWAY...
The
2003 Amateur Radio Classes are underway.
Tuesday February 4th, the four students along with
instructors WC9E, KG8CX, and K8IR met at the K8IR QTH.
Demonstrations of several types of equipment and modes were given.
Future sessions will be held at 6:30pm Tuesdays at the Stephenson
Public Library in Marinette.
Jeff, KE9S reports he is selling the equipment from
the estate of
Mel Marquardt, WD9N of Lena, who passed away in December. The list includes:
Kenwood
440s-AT $400.00
Kenwood MC-80 Microphone $45.00
MFJ Tuner 945-D $40.00
Motorola W810C Power Supply $40.00
MFJ Electronic Keyer 422B $45.00
Conar OHMS Meter Model 211 $10.00
Turner 2 Microphone $15.00
J-37 Key $10.00
Coax switch Avanti $2.00
Midland 4 function Test Meter $ 5.00
Vanco SWR-2 Field Strength and power SWR Meter $5.00
Hustler Mobile Antenna with 10,15,20,40 meter Resonator's $50.00
Hustler 2 meter Antenna $10.00
2 meter antenna Unknown brand $5.00
Kenwood HT it is a Th-215a with a stand up rapid charger
Model BC-7
$50.00
ke9s@arrl.net or 146.550 simplex,
147.000 repeater or 146.835 repeater.
CLUB INVENTORY NEEDED
As per the minutes in the January issue of the Groundwave for the November
2002 meeting the club secretary is to compile and maintain a complete listing
of all equipment, etc. the club owns and to keep a inventory of current items
at all times. ANYONE who has club property needs to provide to the secretary a
written listing giving complete details as to what club property they do have
in their possession and mail or deliver this information to the club
secretary.
This includes all equipment with a detailed listing of what you do have.
Please send all information to the secretary to the P. O. Box 1082 Marinette,
WI 54143. I also need a complete listing of equipment at both repeater
sites. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Gary, KG9AD
We
Energies, a Wisconsin gas and electric utility, has given ARES/RACES
organizations <http://wi-aresraces.org>
in 17 Wisconsin counties a total of $39,000 to enhance their emergency
communication capabilities.
"We are excited about this timely award, which will bring needed
equipment to several of our counties," said Wisconsin Section Emergency
Coordinator Dr Stan Kaplan, WB9RQR, who also serves as RACES Chief Radio
Officer in the Badger State. "We thank We Energies for their forethought
and generosity."
Kaplan said the grant would help to build an effective statewide packet
network for use during emergencies. He also said he hopes the idea will
"snowball" and inspire other companies to follow suit.
Counties picked to receive funds were those with at least 5000 We customers,
and funds were apportioned according to the number of customers it serves in
county. The top grant of $9000 went to Milwaukee County,
while Waukesha County got $6000 and Racine County $3000. ARES/RACES
organizations in 14 other Wisconsin counties plus one We-served county in
Michigan got $1500 each.
MARINETTE MENOMINEE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MINUTES FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY
2003
The
January 9, 2003 meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by club President Jim
Callow K8IR.
A
moment of silence was held for SK John Edquist W8NZV and SK Mel Marquardt WD9N.
A motion was made by Paul Drees WC9E and seconded by Keith Tonn N9PQV to approve
the club donation of $50.00 the officers of the club made to the John Edquist
Fund. All in favor motion carried.
The
minutes for the November 2002 meeting were published in the January 2003
Groundwave. The President asked if there were any corrections. December 2002
there was no business meeting at the Christmas Party December 12.
The
Treasurer Lynne Rynish N8OSK presented her report.
Checking
account:
beginning
balance....................................................271.08
deposits..................................................................517.50
disbursements:
Lynne Rynish - roll of stamps....................37.00
Schussler's Christmas Party.....................369.43
Salvation Army - donation........................50.00
Rose Mary Edquist - memorial
for John Edquist W8NZV.......................50.00
Randy Zandt - Christmas Party refund......15.00
Balance in Checking.........267.15
Balance in Savings............348.88
Total Assets.....................616.03
The
President asked if there are any corrections.
A
thank you letter was received from the Salvation Army for the donation the club
gave.
Edward
Engleman KG8CX reported the Sunday evening net has been averaging 20 plus
checkins. Noel Beardsley K8NB reported the 147.000 repeater is now in top
running condition and some members at the meeting reported the repeater is
performing much better for distance communications.
Old
business:
Jim
K8IR presented congratulations to Eric Janssen KG9GH for his ham of the year award and remarked you need to attend
Charter Night to receive your award.The annual Christmas Party was held Thursday
December 12 at Schusslers in Peshtigo and enjoyed by all who attended.
New
Business:
Is
the club going to have ham radio classes this year? At the present time there
are two persons interested. Information will be put in the local papers in the
area and also on Cable TV. Contact persons will be Paul Drees and Jim Callow. If
any interest possible start date of February 4th.
No
new updates on the by-law revisions per Eric KG9GH
Charter
Banquet Night is February 1st Saturday night at Schusslers in Peshtigo.
A
weather spotting training session will be held March 13 in Menominee at 6:30 pm.
There will be no meeting in March because of the weather spotting training session Thursday night.
Eric
Lowman voted in has a member of the club at the meeting.
A
discussion took place about improving coverage of the 147.000 repeater. Brought
up was linking it to the 146.835 Abrams repeater. After much discussion over the
issue of the 400 foot tower location and the hospital location cost is a major
issue for linking. Lynne N8OSK presented some facts on the issues regarding the
repeater move from the old CATV tower back to the hospital site. Paul Drees WC9E
made a motion to table the repeater linking issue at this time seconded by Lynne
Rynish. All in favor motion carried.
Bob
Schrader AA9GZ made a motion to
adjourn at 8:01 pm.
Submitted
by Gary W Luthardt KG9AD, Secretary
In
attendance at the meeting:
Gary
Luthardt................................KG9AD
Ed Engleman.................................KG8CX
Jim Callow....................................K8IR
Lynne Rynish................................N8OSK
Dan Wagner.................................N9OWD
Keith Tonn...................................N9PQV
Jeff Rymer....................................KE9S
Mary Rymer.................................KB9TPC
Brandon Rymer
Ashly Rymer
Bill Becks....................................WA8WG
Noel Beardsley............................K8NB
Bob Schrader..............................AA9GZ
Dwight Bosselman.......................W9YQ
Paul Drees..................................WC9E
Eric Janssen................................KG9GH
John Goldschmidt.......................KC9AXH
Earl Andre..................................KB9DSV
Don Conant................................N9GRK
Tom Rynish................................N8LHB