Location: Polytechnic University, Farmingdale, N.Y.

The LIDXA President, Marty, NN2C, called the meeting of October 15th to order at 8:10 PM. Marty welcomed the XYLs of members K2ENT and N2JE to this meeting. Also welcomed was guest Dave, WA2NDP.

Marty announced that member Marty Smith, KA2NRR, was doing well after being examined for mild angina. KA2NRR recently volunteered to take over the Corresponding Secretary responsibilities for the club.

In terms of DX, members reported a number of good openings on the higher bands. Several days over the past week the solar flux level reached 200. Specific DX activities mentioned:

• A DXpedition from the Republic of Guinea (3X) is presently in operation.
• The recent vote for independence by the people of East Timor from their government in Indonesia may result in the return of this country to separate DXCC status. However until the turmoil ends there, it is not expected that the ARRL will consider this a new DXCC entity.
• DF6YK and his XYL, DL2ZAD, have been very active from Palmyra Island signing KH5/ their home calls. They may also operate from Jarvis Island.

The minutes of the September 17th meeting were prepared in advance by the LIDXA Secretary, Ed, K2MFY, and included in this month’s mailing to the membership. Thanks to the efforts of LIDXA Vice President, Pat, KE2LJ, these minutes also appear in the LIDXA Web site: http://www.qsl.net/lidxa. The minutes were accepted as written.

The LIDXA Treasurer, Russ, W2RL, was not at tonight’s meeting, so there was no treasurer’s report. Marty mentioned that he is still working with LIPA to get back the $50 surcharge that was imposed upon the club, when LIPA asserted they could not get into the repeater site to check the electric meter. According to Marty, the key lock to the site was recently changed to a combination lock. LIPA was given the combination so there would be no further excuses that they did not have the key.

Marty also reminded the membership that dues in the amount of $25 must be paid by the end of the year to keep your membership in good standing for the 1999–2000 calendar year.

In terms of our repeater, although it is operational now, it is very noisy. Pat, KE2LJ, our Repeater Chairman said that the problem has been isolated to a poor feedline or antenna. Until we get someone to climb up the tower and do further testing at the antenna end, the problem will probably exist. Pat said he has contacted a professional rigger and is awaiting a price quote to climb the tower and possibly do repairs. If the hard-line were defective, then a large additional parts cost would result. One suggestion was that the rigger should move the antenna feedline antenna over to an unused "good" antenna, or to hook up another temporary antenna at the end of the hard-line, to certify the performance of the transmission line.

Lou mentioned that when he passed by the site, he noticed that one of the three antennas up on the tower (all of which are physically inverted) was possibly cracked at the base, and was "swinging in the breeze." Lou was not sure if that was our repeater antenna. It does not appear that the solution to the repeater noise can be solved at the ground level.

In the meantime Marty added, the LIDXA has use of the Grumman repeater, on 146.745 MHz.

Frank, N2FF, mentioned that, following the announcement by Marty last month, a tentative date of January 23, 2000 has been set for the first "Ham Radio Forum" to be held in Babylon. It is expected that seminars will include discussions on DXCC, RFI, Contesting, Packet Radio, RTTY, and many other amateur activities and interests for both the beginner and experienced amateur. Members would be informed as further details are finalized. Some members expressed concern that this date was also the annual Super Bowl football game.

Marty reported to the membership on his recent trip to Beaumont Center in Windsor, England, as part of the annual IOTA Convention. He spoke of meeting old friends and international DXers, including Jim Smith, VK9NS.

Following this, Marty then discussed some of the highlights of the convention, British licensing plans, new DX IOTA activities, including the very enjoyable banquet. He brought back a number of RSGB/IOTA souvenirs for the membership. He also purchased a VCR of the recent ZL9CI DXpedition to Campbell Island. Marty also discussed the "DXCC 2000 Program" with K5FUV, Bill Kennamer, DXCC Chairman. Bill said plans are in the works for separate band DXCC, to be gradually phased in over the years. Also any thoughts to electronic QSLing was out for the present time

On a lighter side Marty presented a "DXCC Trivia Quiz" that he had obtained at the conference. All the members had a good time naming deleted countries, recalling unfamiliar IARU country prefixes, identifying obscure geographical questions, etc.

It was noted that Radio Central would be hosting a "HamVention" in the gym in Polytechnic University on November 14. Cost is $8 admission.

The membership was also reminded that the annual CQ World Wide DX Contest will be starting next weekend October 24–25, for the SSB, followed by the CW portion over the November 28–29 weekend. Our exchange to be sent is signal report followed by CQ zone, or generally 59(9)Ø5.

The business portion of the meeting then concluded at 9:15 PM. After a short break a video was shown on the past DXpedition, by N4BQW and group, to KH5 Palmyra Island, KH5K (Kingman Reef), KH1 (Baker and Howland Islands) and KH3 (Johnston Island).

This meeting concluded at around 10:00 PM after all the scheduled business and entertainment had finished.

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