MINUTES OF LIDXA INC. MEETING— January 17, 2003

 

Location: Briarcliffe College, Bethpage, N.Y.

 

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of January 17 to order at 8:15 PM.  Marty opened up the first meeting of the LIDXA for the New Year, and welcomed all members back after the holiday season.  Members present (per sign-in on the blackboard) included K2MFY, KE2LJ, W2GW (and XYL), NN2C, KB2HK, KD1F, W2FGD, and AG2A.  Guest present was Larry, AB2NT.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Marty mentioned that about one dozen members with their XYLs showed up at the Holiday Party meeting on December 12, at the Sweet Hollow Diner.  The food was excellent and a good time was had by all participants.

Starting the business portion of tonight’s meeting was the approval of the November 15, 2002 meeting minutes (there was no official meeting in December–just the Holiday Party).   These minutes were accepted as presented.  In addition, these minutes were prepared in advance by the club’s secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and sent out to the membership with the club’s January meeting notice.  In addition, thanks to the efforts of KE2LJ, Pat, the minutes appear in the LIDXA web site: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa.

 

Club treasurer, John, W2GW gave a Treasurer’s report.  Present dues for club membership, in the amount of $25, are now due for the year 2003.  Several members attending tonight’s meeting gave John their checks.  Marty reminded all the members to forward their dues to John ASAP.  A new membership list/e-mail address list would be issued shortly.

 

In terms of DX, specific activities were highlighted:

·         A station from Iraq (YI1BGD, operated by several Czech Republic amateurs) has been very active on all bands.  QSL to OM3JW.

·         Good openings have been reported to China on 15 meters at around 2200Z.

·         An excellent Web site on QSL data, known as “Pathfinder,” which links to a number of alternate searches, was given at www.qsl.net/pathfinder.

·           A second DXpedition to Ducie Island is scheduled for mid-March.  Three stations are planned with operation from all HF bands, 6 meters, and satellite.  QSL manager is to be JR2KDN.  Further details are provided at www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/ducie.htm.

 

Marty commented that he had not heard anything new on the status of Millennium Tower Corporation’s application for a tower construction permit with the Town of Babylon.  Presently all parties concerned are in litigation.  In the meantime, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater for its Sunday night at 9PM local time.  This frequency is normally 146.745 MHz, however due to the cable maintenance required for the Bethpage repeater, the net has been temporarily moved to the Grumman Hauppauge repeater on 145.333/144.730 MHz (with 136.5 Hz PL).

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

The next 2003 “Ham Radio University” (HRU) planning meeting is set for December 9, in the Emergency Operations Center, Babylon Town Hall, North Lindenhurst, NY.  HRU 2003 is set for Sunday, January 19, 2003, at East Woods School, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, (9AM to 4PM).  Marty is looking for volunteers to assist in the DX seminar forum, which is to be presented by the LIDXA from 9AM to 12:30PM.  Some members of the LIDXA who would be assisting Marty in these efforts are KE2LJ, K2MFY, W2FGD, KD1F, and AG2A.  During the past week, Ed, Pat and Marty ironed out a list of topics for this DX forum.  Below is this agenda, along with a note on the cognizant “chairman” for the topic:


AGENDA FOR LIDXA FORUM—HRU January 19, 2003  (9AM—12:30PM)

 

Overview of DXing — What’s DX? — NN2C & group

This would be an introduction to DXing.  “DX” comes from “distance “X” – the unknown distance.  DXing in ham radio is contacting distant stations.  DXers often try to work every DX entity, and collect “QSL” cards from all countries they have worked.  They can apply for awards with these QSL cards.

 

Operating Techniques — K2MFY

Discussions would involve hints for working DX and where DX hangs out (DX windows).  Operating simplex (“transceive”) and split, etc.  What’s a “pileup?”  Tail-ending tricks and observing patterns of the DX station during operation.  (Don’t tune-up on his frequency/be a policeman/chat with the DX station!).

 

DXCC Program — K2MFY

Short path, long path, gray line, sunrise/sunset.  Solar cycles.  Solar flux numbers, etc. from WWV.  Propagation prediction software.

 

DX Contests — K2MFY

Major worldwide DX contests–ARRL, CQWW (dates for 2003).  Contest exchange and scoring.  “Search and Pounce” techniques or “Run.”

 

DXCC Program — KD1F

Tell about DXCC program.  What are the “DXCC Entities?”  What are the rules to become an “entity?”  How to apply for awards, fill out paperwork, send your cards, etc.  Local card checkers.  What the “checkers” can/cannot check.  Allowable bands/modes.  Honor Roll.  Number 1, etc.  Status ARRL-“Logbook of the World.”

 

Current DXCC Entities — W2FGD

Discussion on “deleted countries” and how to count your DXCC numbers.  Mention recent DXpeditions, and what it takes to put arrange a DXpedition.

 

QSLing — W2FGD

How to do it cheaply (bureau–incoming/outgoing, and other services).  How to effectively get the maximum return on cards you send out.  Web-based QSL route lists — a handout of Web sites will be provided.

 

Station equipment — AG2A

Radios:  Need two VFOs, and maybe two antennas/receivers.

Beams/Verticals:  Gain, F/B.  Price/performance.  A handout with beam headings will be provided.

Amplifiers:  Features (SWR Protection, band switching, power output) –costs.

Towers:  Crankups vs. self-supporting.  Briefly discuss legal issues and PRB-1.  “Towertalk” reflector Web site.

 

Logging Programs — NN2C

NN2C has used a few—to be discussed.  Pros and cons of some of the present logging programs–vendor support, database compatibility with ARRL formats; reliability (does it crash?).  Built-in Telnet support.  Log in GMT (watch out for date change late at night).

 

DX Aids on the Computer — KE2LJ

Spotting on a repeater, current state of DX Clusters–Telnet and/or Packet.  “DX Summit” on the Web, etc. - a handout of Web sites will be provided.

 

LIDXA/General DX information — NN2C & group

Brief history of LIDXA.  DX e-mail reflector.  DX bulletins.  DX columns in QST, CQ magazines, etc.  Handout LIDXA application.

 

 

IN BETWEEN—IF TIME PERMITS—INSERT A SHORT VIDEO ON DXPEDITION OPERATIONS

 

The remainder of the tonight’s meeting dealt with the above agenda items and the planning of necessary handout items.

 

This meeting concluded at around 9:20 PM after all the scheduled business had finished.

 

 

                                                                                                ______________________________________

Ed Whitman, K2MFY

LIDXA Secretary