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
Officers
President: Jim Callow K8IR
Vice President: Ed Engleman KG8CX
Treasurer: Lynne Rynish N8OSK
Secretary: Gary Luthardt KG9AD
The MMARC Newsletter September 2000
SEPTEMBER
MEETING ...
The officer slate for the coming year, as it stands now:
....President, Jim Callow, K8IR
....Vice-Pres., Ed Engleman, KG8CX
....Secretary, Gary Luthardt, KG9AD
....Treasurer, Lynne Rynish,N8OSK
Other
Agenda Items include:
Old Business
a. repeater upgrades and performance
b. special event station etc. event
c. August picnic summary and thanks
New Business
a. Christmas party
b. resumption of fish fries
c. possibility of Lighthouse special event next August
MEMBERSHIP
DUES …
Don't
forget to extend your membership one more year, if you haven't already done
so. Dues are still $15 for a single membership, and $22.50 for a family.
Also, remember to extend your ARRL membership, or start one this year.
We must maintain at least 50% ARRL membership to retain our ARRL Charter.
Renew through the club, and the treasury gets a portion of your ARRL dues.
NEW
REPEATER ANTENNA UP...
The new 2 meter antenna that we approved and ordered out has arrived and was raised to the 400 foot level on the evening of Wednesday August. 23rd.
From various reports, it has enhanced the quality and signal strength of the 147.000 machine. We no
longer should have to deal with the static spikes that were common, especially
in moderate to strong breezes. Reception is generally solid out to about
a 40 mile radius from the
repeater site. That amounts to about a 5000 SQUARE MILE COVERAGE area.
With enhanced conditions, it will be even better at times. To illustrate the
improved sensitivity of our new antenna, consider the following examples:
Noel, K8NB, got in full quieting from the parking lot of Sam's Club in Green
Bay on Friday August 25th. That's 52 miles from the repeater, according
to his GPS unit. HT coverage with 2 watts or less from the twin city area is now possible with excellent signals, and with a 5
watt HT, from 15 to 20 miles out. Laurel, W9BTY from Fond du Lac
has been heard as well with a full quieting signal.
Many
thanks to several people who played key roles in this repeater system upgrade:
Jim, KC8DOA and his XYL Denise; Bill Sebero, the tower climber;
and to Noel, K8NB. And thanks to all the members who donated generously
to the Antenna Fund. We now have arguably one of the best sounding and
performing systems in the U.P. and northern Wisconsin. It would not have
happened without your support. Several new photos taken at the tower site are
on the club webpage at:
http://community-2.webtv.net/KG8CX/EdsHamDelicaciesand/
SPECIAL
EVENT, CORN ROAST, PICNIC ...
Plan on attending this BIG event on Saturday September 16, beginning at 12:00
noon and running to ?? The special event station will be in operation from
noon to 6pm, with the corn roast and picnic slated for later in the afternoon.
We may also have a couple of swap tables, if enough "gear" comes in.
Lynne, N8OSK is coordinating the picnic
details. The club will provide beer and soda, as well as cups, plates,
napkins, etc.
Jim. AA9PB will be assuming his usual
corn-roasting chores. Members must provide their own meat, and also
please bring a dish to pass. Please
let Lynne know via telephone at (906)863-3573 or on the air by Tuesday
September 12th as to how many will be attending and what
type of dish you intend to bring so we don't end up with everyone
providing the same thing. If the item to pass needs to be kept cold,
please bring your own cooler with ice.
There are some picnic tables on the
grounds, but if anyone desires more comfort, they could take along a lawn
chair or two.
Thanks to Lynne for donating forks,
spoons, knives and table covering left from their family reunion, so the club
won't have to pay for these items.
Also,
Jim, AA9PB, is planning on a grilled turkey dinner for Sunday, if enough people plan to stay over and camp out. Let us know if you are
interested in doing this. A couple of tents, pop up campers, trailers, etc.,
would make for a nice weekend. All camping facilities are right at your
fingertips at Green's Acres, the site of the huge "Porterfield Country
Fest" each June. Green's Acres are located west of Marinette on Highway 64, just beyond the
silver bridge. Take the first road to your right going west, or the last
road to the left just before the bridge going east towards Marinette. Let's
have a big turnout like we did last year. Operating a station from a
picnic table, enjoying great camaraderie and food under the autumn leaves is a
wonderful experience. Don't pass it up. Bring the entire family. Stay tuned to the Sunday net for further news and updates
on this premier club event.
MONTHLY
FISH FRIES COMING SOON...
We will probably resume the popular Fish fries starting in October. Any
ideas on places to visit?
VE TESTING ANYONE? ...
Is
anyone interested in upgrading, taking the 5wpm code, or taking their first
test soon? We would like to have some idea if it's worthwhile to
schedule a test session in September or October. Also, it's not too early to
think about having a ham radio technician class beginning in January 2001.
Do you know of anyone who might be interested in getting their ticket?
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS…
Several
hams have recently joined the club: Ken Exworthy, N0AWM from Marinette, Bob
Jarnutowski, W9AMZ from Stephenson, Bill Draeb, K9HJN from Kewaunee, and John
Weitermann, KB9VXJ from Sturgeon Bay. Bill and John have been regulars on the
Sunday net. Welcome aboard all!
LAPTOP
FOR SALE…
Connie,
KB8VQR informed KG8CX that she has an IBM Thinkpad for sale. It has Windows 95
on it. It has the A drive and a modem--not the fastest, but for
word processing kinds of things, it is fine. It has an external cd rom
that UES said they could get to work with more time. It might be good
for packet on the go or some other ham use. She's asking in the $150
range. Contact Connie if you're
interested.
LOOKING
FOR RADIO EQUIPMENT…
Jeff,
N9PQU says he's looking for any radio equipment you want to sell. Contact him
at jrymer@ez-net.com.
SEPTEMBER
ANNIVERSARIES/BIRTHDAYS…
Congratulations to the following people who are celebrating special days
this month:
* Anniversaries greetings to: Sept. 3 Jim and Cindy Armstrong,
KB8PCQ--Sept. 6 Tom and Nancy Zeratsky, K8ICO--Sept. 12 Al and Mary Grenier,
N9QAA--Sept. 24 Gary and Wanda Luthardt, KG9AD--Sept. 27 Steve
and Lisa Haskell
* Birthdays greetings to: Sept. 2, Lynne Rynish, N8OSK--Sept. 17,
Paul Brennan, WA9SKK--Sept. 24, Wanda Luthardt--Sept. 26, Connie Fletcher,
KB8VQR
UPCOMING
DATES...
Sept.
16---Special event station, Corn roast, picnic
Oct. 12---monthly meeting
Nov. 5----Kaukauna swapfest
Nov. 7----Election day, Remember to Vote
Nov. 9----monthly meeting
Dec. 14---Christmas party (location TBA)
Jan. 11, 2001---1st meeting of new year.
CREDITS…
Thanks
to Peninsula Office Equipment of Menominee for printing the hard copy version
of The Ground Wave.