September 2004 Ground Wave

SEPTEMBER MEETING…

We’re back at Spies Library in Menominee for the September meeting beginning at 7pm on Thursday September 9^th. The evening will include electing officers for the coming year. A slate will be offered by the nominating committee, plus nominations will be taken from the floor. Anyone interested in serving as an officer in invited to run.

The program will be a video tour of ARRL Headquarters station W1AW.

DUES TIME AGAIN…

The beginning of the fall season means it’s time to renew your membership. A membership renewal form is included with this Ground Wave. CLICK HERE for a printable form in PDF format. Please bring it along with your check to a meeting, or send it to the club’s PO Box. Dues remain at $15.00 for individuals or $22.50 for family memberships. Anyone who has not paid their dues by December 31^st will be removed from the club membership roster.

WATERFRONT FESTIVAL…

KC8YZB, AA9PB, and W9YQ hand out another contact from the W8PIF special event station at the Menominee Waterfront Festival on August 7^th.

The station allowed Waterfront Festival goers to see amateur radio in action, as well as giving participants in the National Lighthouse Weekend a chance to work US-490, the Menominee Pier Lighthouse. Thanks to all who helped out in setting up and manning the station.

NEW CALL…

There’s another new callsign on the air. John, formerly KC9AXH is now N9GLT.

FOR SALE…

Kurt, K8BKA passed this along…

50 foot tower for sale. Contact Jason Flatt, 1857 Riverside Avenue in Marinette. Phone 735-8940.

15 MINUTES OF FAME…

Your Ground Wave editor, Jim, K8IR gained some fame but no fortune when he found himself quoted in the second paragraph of the CQ WW DX CW Contest article in the September issue of CQ Magazine. Contesters are invited to submit comments about the contest along with their logs, which are usually included at the back of the article. This year Bob Cox, K3EST made generous use of those comments in his writeup, and to confirm his observation of outstanding high band conditions included the comment of K8IR who noted the solar indexes were finally good for a contest weekend, which was a real rarity last fall. Jim notes the quote in the article was almost as cool as getting first place for 15 meters single band low power in the 8^th Call Area.

The meeting was called to order at the Henes Park 3^rd Pavilion at 7:03pm by President Dave, NS9R.

Members and guests introduced themselves.

The minutes of the July meeting were approved as printed in the Ground Wave.

NS9R again thanked the Arnolds and the Rynishs for the prizes they contributed for Radio Bingo at the Picnic.

K8IR read the treasurer’s report submitted by Tom, N8LHB.

(Note the figures for Field Day and Picnic expenses were revised from those presented at the meeting)

TREASURERS REPORT AS OF 7/30/04

CHECKING ACCOUNT BEGINNING BALANCE                                       $924.40
DEPOSIT OF PICNIC MONEY                                                                        144.00
FIELD DAY EXPENSES                                                                                    285.57
PICNIC EXPENSES                                                                                           126.76
CHECKING ACCOUNT ENDING BALANCE                                              $656.07

SAVINGS ACCOUNT BALANCE $356.25

TOTAL CLUB ASSETS $1012.32

It was moved by Lou,AA9JH and seconded by Arde, KA9WAR that the treasurers report be approved. The motion was approved.

COMMUNICATIONS:

NS9R read Noel, K8NB’s report on the repeater:

Yesterday, 8/5/04 I got a chance to get up to the hospital and go over both repeaters.

Both repeaters were in good shape as found. The 147.000 had drifted about 500hz. low in frequency, and that was adjusted. The receiver was up to specs. and was not touched. The transmitter power was adjusted up a bit (this had been turned down as part of earlier troubleshooting). Repeat deviation was good. There is less than 1 dB of desense on the repeater. The 444.075 repeater was also in good shape as found. The transmitter had drifted slightly low in frequency and that was corrected. The squelch
pot appeared to have a dirty spot on it, and this was cleaned. Other than those things the 444.075 was fully up to specs.

KG8CX reported on a communication from Bay Area Medical Center regarding meeting programs available from their speaker’s bureau.

NET REPORT:

Ed, KG8CX, reported the net continues to be very successful, with 20 or more checkins per week.

SKYWARN:

KG8CX reported on the activation of the SKYWARN network during the past week for storms in Marinette County. 7 fixed and 7 mobiles stations checked in to the net on the 146.88 repeater.

OLD BUSINESS:

There was no report from the nominating committee. There will be a slate presented at the September meeting. Nominations will also be taken from the floor.

NEW BUSINESS:

There was an extensive discussion of the club’s repeaters and whether the 147 machine should be moved back to KC8DOA’s Rangeline Road tower, and what needs to be done to fix the noise problems we had experienced there in the past.

Bill WA8WG, said he felt there was a problem with the antenna at the BAMC site. Lou, AA9JH, said he had a similar antenna that could be tested at that site. This was referred to the repeater committee.

A motion was made by Jim, KC8WJO, and seconded by Lynne, N8OSK that the main objective be to move the 147 repeater back to the Rangeline tower and solve the noise problems. It was unanimously approved.

Bill, WA8WG outlined the procedures he felt would be necessary to locate and fix the source of the noise on the Rangeline tower. He said it would require the services of a tower climber.

A motion was made by Jim, KC8WJO and seconded by Bob, K8RJ that up to $300 be made available to pay a climber for an initial inspection of the Rangeline tower. It was unanimously approved. The project was referred to the repeater committee.

A motion to adjourn was made by Jim, KC8WJO, and seconded by Lynne, N8OSK. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Callow K8IR
Secretary

Those in attendance:

Dave Cunningham, NS9R                                Lee Bane, W0FAX
Jim Callow, K8IR                                             Paul Simon, Visitor
Valerie Hallam, KC8WAI                                Dave Arnold, W8DXX
Arde Nelson, KA9WAR                                  Larry Buchholz, N9OSF
Louis Parkansky, AA9JH                                 Nancy Buchholz, KA9VZC
George Benoit, N9UGG                                   Earl Bramschreiber, KC8WJN
Lynne Rynish N8OSK                                      Bill Becks, WA8WG
Paul Drees, WC9E                                           Ed Engelman. KG8CX
Kurt Berge, K8BKA                                        Tyler Lehman, KC9FKE
Dave Christensen, KA9ZRR                             Bob Jarnutowski, K8RJ
Jim Voss, KC8WJO

Name___________________________ Call Sign______________________________
(Please print)

I am submitting a check for:
Individual membership $15.00 ____
Family membership $22.50 ____

M & M Amateur Radio Club
ATTENTION: Club Treasurer
P.O. Box 1082
Marinette, WI 54143

If you currently receive the Ground Wave via snail mail and would like it sent to your e-mail address, please provide your email address _____________________

Please remember the club year runs from October 1^st through September 30^th. Anyone who has not paid their dues by December 31^st will be removed from the club roster.