NOVEMBER MEETING ON SPECIAL DAY…
Due to Spies Library being closed for Veterans Day on
our normal meeting date, the November meeting of the M&M ARC will be held
on WEDESDAY NOVEMBER 10TH,
at the usual time of 7:00pm at the library. The complete
agenda is included in this newsletter.
We hope to see you there.
CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANS SET…
The annual Christmas Party that takes the place of
our December meeting will be held at Schussler’s Supper Club in Peshtigo on
Thursday December 9th. Please
fill out the reservation form in this newsletter and return it by Friday
December 3rd. Thanks
to Ed, KG8CX for making the arrangements.
Click here
for a printable form in PDF format
REPEATER GETS A RAISE…
The 147.000 repeater is back at the Rangeline Tower.
N8NB, KG9GH, AB9PJ and K8IR rose early on Friday October 22nd to
move the machine from BAMC-Menominee, it’s home for the past couple of
years, back to KC8DOA’s tower, which gives us a 390 foot antenna height.
The move went so smoothly that the repeater was only off the air for a
little over an hour. The move did cause the duplexer to become untuned, resulting
in greatly reduced receive sensitivity. K8NB and KC8DOA returned to the tower
the same afternoon to retune the duplexer.
Strong winds the next day gave repeater users a
chance to experience the noise that had cause the “temporary” move to BAMC.
But by Sunday, the winds and the noise were gone, and the wide coverage of the
higher antenna was evident with a
record 32 check-ins during the Sunday net. Stations from as far as the Wausau
and Sheboygan areas in Wisconsin and the Copper Country in Michigan checked
into the net. That evening’s
performance was probably helped by very good propagation, but we can expect a
much improved coverage area, at least when the wind is calm.
It is hoped that some measures to reduce the wind
noise will be in place by the end of this month.
A big thanks to all those who helped with the move.
CTCSS ENCODE NOW ON 147.000
Users can now take advantage of the CTCSS (PL) encode
installed on the 147.000 machine during the move.
This means you can set your radio for tone squelch (107.2Hz) when
receiving 147.000. This will
prevent your squelch from falsely tripping on noise bursts.
NET CHECK IN POLICY –
Hope all are enjoying the Sunday evening 2 meter net and are
finding the news and comments interesting and useful, especially now with the
expanded coverage of the 147.000 repeater.
Ed, KG8CX, would like to ask that all check ins be
"live." No third party check ins, as this does not give a true
indication of people that have been entered in the net log via their own
voice. Your cooperation will be very much appreciated.
Without the great "base" of ham operators we have out there, the
Sunday evening net would not be possible.
The goal now, is to hit 40 check ins. Can we do it?
We certainly have the hams out there for that to happen.
AMATEUR RADIO
PRESENTATIONS –
On
Tuesday, October 5, AB9PJ and KG8CX journeyed to Ashwaubenon High School in
Green Bay to give a program and demo on amateur radio to a "mass
communications" class. ARRL pamphlets were handed out to the
approximately 20 students. The ARRL video "Amateur Radio
Today" narrated by Walter Cronkite was shown. Pete and Ed covered
as many facets of ham radio as could be done in an hour and a half,
emphasizing the emergency and public service part of ham radio, as well as the
fun part. A two meter demonstration concluded the session.
One of the class members is a Naval Sea Cadet in the group
that is studying amateur radio through the leadership of Pete, AB9PJ, and he
encouraged the instructor to bring in the two hams as an example of "mass
communications."
Another class presentation is scheduled soon at Stephenson
High School. KC8YZA is working on getting that one organized.
We hope to present amateur radio at other middle and high
schools through out the area, and possibly ignite some interest amongst the
teachers and students.
MORE NEW CALLS…
Congratulations to two of our members who are now
sporting new vanity calls. Becky,
formerly KC9FSE is now K9RLG, while PJ, formerly KC9FSF is now W9LPJ.
SKYWARN
RECOGNITION DAY…
SKYWARN
Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the
American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that volunteer
SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service. During the day
SKYWARN operators visit NWS offices and contact other radio operators across
the world. Special QSL’s and
Certificates are available.
This
year’s SKYWARN recognition day is December 4th, from 0000 to 2400
UTC.
WX9GRB will be
on the air from the Green Bay NWS office on 2 meters phone, packet, and IRLP.
WX8MQT will be on the air from the Marquette NWS office on 70cm, 2, 6, 10, 15,
20, 40, and 80
meters on
phone, CW, and PSK31.
For
more information, check:
http://hamradio.noaa.gov/
.
DUES
ARE DUE…
A reminder that the deadline for dues for the current
club year is December 31st. We ask that you send in the membership
renewal form printed in the September Ground Wave along with your dues. If you
need the form, it is available at:
http://www.mari.net/~jcallow/mmarc/memberrenewal.pdf
Dues remain at $15.00 per person, or $22.50 per
family.
MINUTES OF THE
M&M AMATEUR RADIO CLUB MEETING
OCTOBER 14 ,
2004
The
meeting was called to order at 7:05pm in the Spies Public Library meeting room
by President Dave Cunningham, NS9R.
Members
introduced themselves and related their recent radio activities.
AUDIT
REPORT: Bob, AA9GZ and Dave, W8DXX conducted an audit of the club’s books
prior to the meeting. They
reported no major errors. They
recommended starting the year with the following balances:
Checking
$466.92
Savings
$356.69
Undeposited checks
$230.00
Total
$1053.61
There
is some unreported interest to add into the above total.
Treasurer
Paul, WC9E said he will have an updated report next month.
A
motion to accept the audit report made by Jim, KC8YZA and seconded by Bob,
K8RJ was approved.
COMMUNCIATIONS:
A
letter was received from Spies Public Library thanking us for our donation.
A
letter was received from the Boy Scouts of America thanking us for the $30
donation to the Michael J. Anuta memorial fund.
Jim,
K8IR reported on today’s FCC decision on BPL rules.
NET
REPORT:
Ed,
KG8CX thanked KC8YZA for taking the net control duties the previous Sunday.
SKYWARN
REPORT:
Ed,
KG8CX reported the last call-up was on September 11th.
In all, there were 10 SKYWARN activations this summer, with an average
of 14 check-ins each net.
The
weekly SKYWARN Operators net has been suspended until spring.
OLD
BUSINESS:
Jim,
K8IR reported the repeater committee is planning to move the 147.000 machine
back to the Rangeline Tower on Friday October 23rd.
There
was a discussion on adding CTCSS (PL) encode to the 147.000 repeater, and
CTCSS encode and decode to the 444 repeater.
Noel, K8NB has estimated this can be done for a minimal cost.
Pete, AB9PJ volunteered to make a presentation on the benefits of CTCSS
at a future meeting.
Jim,
KC8WJO reported the education committee met on the Internet and recommends
classes begin in January, and it the future starts be alternated between
November and January. He said the
committee is reviewing the availability of Amateur Radio materials at local
libraries.
NEW
BUSINESS
Dave,
NS9R reported that due to the library being closed on Veterans Day, next
month’s meeting will be held on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 10TH at 7PM.
Members
were reminded of the Simulated Emergency Test to be held on October 16th.
The Marinette/Oconto County ARES/RACES will participate, and hold a meeting at
the Porterfield Town Hall.
Dave,
NS9R asked for volunteers for the Christmas Party Committee.
Dave,
NS9R said the club is looking for program presenters and topics for future
meetings.
The
possibility of ordering club jackets was brought up. Anyone interested in purchasing a jacket should make their
desires known.
The
Ground Wave will have a calendar for the club year in a future issue.
A
motion to accept the application for membership by Lee Bane, W0FAX, made by
Bob, K8RJ and seconded by Bill, KC8URW was approved.
A
motion to adjourn made by Bob, AA9GZ, and seconded by Paul, WC9E, was
approved.
A
program was given by members of the Bay Area Mounted Search and Rescue.
Respectfully
submitted by
Jim
Callow, K8IR
Acting Secretary
Those
in attendance:
David
Cunningham, NS9R
Jim Voss, KC8WJO
Paul Drees, WC9E
Kurt Berge, K8BKA
Dwight Bosselman, W9YQ
Bob Jarnutowski, K8RJ
PJ Johnson, KC9FSF
Pat Wehner
Jim Pearson, KC8YZA
Angie Rasner
Tony DelGenio
Bill Peterson, KB9URW
David Arnold, W8DXX
Tyler Lehman, KC9FKE
Bob Schrader, AA9GZ
Ed Engelman, KC8CX
Jim Callow,
K8IR
Peter Johnson, Sr., AB9PJ
Click
Here for a printable reservation form in PDF Format
Club members and guests are cordially invited to
attend the M & M Amateur Radio Club
Christmas Party
RESERVATIONS
ARE REQUIRED!
PAYMENT
MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR RESERVATION
Date:
Thursday, December 9, 2004
Place:
Schussler’s Supper Club (Small Banquet Room)
W 3529 County Trunk B
Peshtigo,
WI 54157
Time:
6:00 p.m. Camaraderie and Christmas Cheer
7:00 p.m. dinner
MENU
Family style Chicken and Schussler's house meatballs (beef, pork,
garlic) includes all the trimmings: mashed potatoes, veggies, etc.
choice of beverage and a lite dessert.
Cost: $15 per person which includes tax, tip and beverage.
Reservations
are due no later than Friday, December 3, 2003. Make check payable to M &
M Amateur Radio Club and send to:
M
& M Amateur Radio Club
P.O.
Box 1082
Marinette, WI
54143
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail
this portion with your check
Name of club member
_________________________________________
Number attending _____@
$15.00 Amount
Enclosed_______________
Repeater
Frequencies 147.00 MHZ & 444.075 Mhz