F E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T
The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

February 2001                                                          Vol.11 no.2
Letter From Our President
Dear Fellow Hams,

     The snow on our snow stick reached 3' again this last week with 13" of new snow. Cross country skiing in the woods has been a delight, especially the mornings with white frost that sparkles like diamonds when the sun shines on it. We are now having rain, but the good news is the winter storm warning associated with this has just been canceled. Hopefully the ice build up that has started won't get much thicker. The high wind warning still stands. Hopefully towers and antennas can take it.

     We are getting closer to the Can Am Sled Dog Races. N1CHF has put the antenna up for Control Center at the Lonesome Pine Lodges. The radio and power supply are ready for Control Center. N1CGV still needs operators at Control Center for Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night, and Monday.  Please contact N1CGV or N1UYA very soon to offer your help. Some people have agreed to take some of the hours, but we still have gaps. Please give us three hours somewhere in this time frame---twice if you can. This is an important public service event for us. March 3,4, 5 are the dates.
 

      Dr. Steve Selva of UMFK gave the members at the February meeting an interesting tour of the UMFK Greenhouse. We saw Duckweed--- the world's smallest aquatic flowering plant---, the pineapple plant that actually produced a pineapple, plants with zebra striped leaves, cacti, & plants with thick fuzzy leaves. Dr. Selva showed us pots with radish seeds planted in them then exposed to different levels of radiation.  The higher the radiation, the smaller the plants---until no plants came up at all. 
       Elections next Meeting: A ballot will be sent to each member.
Bring to the March Meeting or mail to address below.

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flagg  R.F.D.#3  Box 250
Fort Kent  ME 04743 
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net



Annual Meeting:
Monday, March 12, 6:30 PM UMFK Grindle Conference Room
   Elections and Video

Schedule of Coming Events

Date
Event 
Place
Contact
Sponsor
Time
Freq
SUN
Net
NB
VE1PIN
IRG
1930
147.300
MON
Net
Fort Kent
N1QMC
SJVARA
2030
146.64
MON
Net
Presque Isle
WA1YNZ
AARA
2000
146.73
Page 2                               Feed-Point, February, 2001
Report Of February Meeting

Called to Order:  18:35 by N1UYA
In Attendance:  VE1PIN, N1QMC, N1JHD, KW1C, N1PMS, N1CHF, N1UYA.

Secretary's Minutes:  KW1C  made a motion that we dispense with the reading of the minutes. Seconded by N1PMS. Passed

Treasurer's Report: Jan. bal.: $640.56, + Interest $1.33, -$43.00 for new Rocky Mountain Radio,- $6.60 postage for Feed-Point,
                                    New balance: $592.39 
N1CHF gave the report. N1PMS motioned to accept and N1QMC seconded. Passed.

Old Business: 
RocKy Mountain: Batteries charging well. 
Can Am Communications: HELP! VE1PIN Saturday Night. KW1C Sun.
0900-1200. WE NEED MORE --SEE PAGE 1.

 

VE1PIN brought the TCARA Travelin-Award to show us. It was a lamp from an old Navy radio. Labeled " U.S.Navy, Type CWL--803  Series 6 4 8 6 6 1000 hours, Cont. 71360."  It was set in a wooden case and is being taken around to many radio clubs.
Tour with Dr. Selva--see page 1.
New Business: 
Duplxer on sale on e-bay: KW1C moved we allow $300 for purchase. N1PMS seconded. Passed. Small, compact unit for Rocky Mountain---will fit in cabinet.
New MITREK Motorola Radio---N1CHF cleaned off a lot of grease and has made modifications to save amperes.  Now draws 5-6 amps. He showed us the radio. Looks good. Purchased on e-bay and tracked across country on web. Fast from Bangor to FK, slow before that.
Nominating Committee: KW1C made a motion that current officers be asked to continue for another year.  N1UYA suggested N7GLR be contacted for service. 
Annual meeting: Mon. March 12,  6:30 Grindle Conference Room
Adjourned: 19:59
Program: Dr. Steve Selva---Tour of UMFK Greenhouse
Submitted by: N1UYA, & N1QMC
 
In Case You're Interested 
On this day of High Wind Warnings, it is appropriate to report that
N8XLS  in Sandusky, Ohio, has a very impressive 17-meter bow tie antenna in his yard. An inflatable pool raft was picked up by a wind storm. It traveled 200+ yards and was snagged by the bow tie!
 Happy Birthday
Please wish the following a Happy Birthday

Sandra Daigle   03-20
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 3                                         Feed-Point, February, 2001
                Frequency Use 

 The January 2001 QST has a page devoted to the " Considerate Operator's Frequency Guide".  It gives the frequencies generally recognized for certain modes or activities. It points out that no rules recognize "a net's, group's, or an individual's special privilege to any specific frequency." It goes on to say that each of us must cooperate in selecting frequencies for transmitting and making the best use of the 
amateur service frequencies. "No one 'owns' a frequency." Always check to see if a frequency is in use. If you are the first user, other operators should do all they can to protect your use of the particular frequency.
  However, in today's congested band conditions, 100% noninterference is not very realistic. Just be polite and patient and remember Hollingsworth wants us to help correct those who think they do "own" a frequency.

     In the following table NaFMs=National FM simplex frequency
 

 

    VHF/UHF,EHF Calling Frequencies/MHz
Band                                              Band
50          50.125             SSB          1296        1294.500 NaFMs
              50.620             packet                       1296.100  CW/SSB
              52.525             NaFMs      2304         2304.1     CW/SSB
144       144.010            EME          3456         3456.1     CW/SSB 
             144.100            CW           5760         5760.1     CW/SSB
             144.200            SSB          10000     10368.1     CW/SSB
             146.520            NaFMs
222       222.100            CW/SSB
             223.500            NaFMs
432       432.010            EME
             432.100            CW/SSB
             446.000            NaFMs
902       902.100           CW, SSB
             902.100            Alternate CW,SSB

     More in another Feed-Point

 
 


For Sale
Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer.
Heil BM-10 microphone boom set   $35.
MFJ 451X  keyer  $35 Contact Charles Zafonte N1FRX  834-6273
RADIO SHACK-HTX212-- 2 meter Mobile.  $75.00
PYRAMID-- 10 Amp Power Supply.  $30.00 Contact N1YQU 455-820
 
A Bit of Humor
Mixed-up Metaphors collected by Richard Lederer:
* Coffee isn't my cup of tea. * I know your game like the back of a book.
* Roberts has almost caught Jones. He's breathing down his throat.
* We wouldn't eat it with a 10' pole. * It's either fame or famine. * I came out of that deal smelling like a bandit. * I shot the wind out of his saddle.
* Lawrence Welk said, " My records today are selling like wild cakes."

 
 
Page 4                                                                Feed-Point,  2001

 
FEED-POINT
Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
Officers
President: Gale Flagg N1UYA
Vice President:Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF
Public Information: Cheryl Boomhower  N1CGV
Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale  Flagg - N1UYA / Stan Flagg  834-6670 
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Steve Boomhower   N1CHF
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership  $ 12
Associate Membership  $ 6
Articles:
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter. 
 

Feed-Point
RFD 3 Box 250
Fort Kent, ME  04743