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February 2004 Vol. 14 No. 2 |
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It is now Feb. 15th. The sun is shining brightly and the temperature is + 1.2 F at 14:30. January's deep cold gave way to moderate temperatures the first two weeks in Feb. But this weekend it has gotten sub-zero again. Constant snow flurries and high winds have kept me busy packing the trail to the tower. We hope the temperature moderates a little bit this week. Word from N1CHF has just come that the two new batteries for 146.640 have been purchased and are being charged. He will arrive in Fort Kent Feb. 18th. The plan is to install the batteries on Feb. 19th. Hopefully all will go smoothly. Out on the Can-Am trails December's rain and snow melt have come back to haunt the trail crews. Water that froze when the water was very high has since receded leaving hollow places under ice. In two places there have been break-throughs in the last week necessitating frantic bridge building. One 30' bridge has had to be built over the Red River. In one place, the dropped ice left a 5' drop down from the trail. |
The organizing of radio communications has continued. The hospitality
chairman of Can-Am has found places for visiting hams to sleep. Our thanks
to Priscilla and Laurel Daigle, Sherman and Necia Daigle, and Phyllis
Pelletier for providing a place for 6 hams. We have hams coming from Millinocket, Harmony. and Virginia, as well as from Mars Hill, Caribou, and the P.I. area. We seem to need more outside hams, because a few local hams can't seem to arrange for time off during the races. See page 3 for details of the race, which I will write after the races have taken place. Address comments, questions or suggestions to: Gale Flagg 108 Franklin School RD Fort Kent ME 04743 Phone: 207-834-6670 E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net Next Meeting: TUESDAY, March 9, ALUMNI CONF RM., NADEAU HALL, UMFK , 6:00 PM |
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| Page 2 Feed-Point, February, 2004 |
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Called to
Order: 14:10
Treasurer's Report: January balance $720.50 + Interest $.59 = February Balance $721.11 Old Business: 2. 146.64
Report: Battery charge tests today:
3. Dues
DUE: It will be time for several people to pay dues in
March. Go to www.qsl.net/ n1chf to see when yours
are due.. |
New Business: 1. New coax purchased from HRO: Radio shack did not have the proper connectors, so I ordered from HRO. 50' of RG8-U with connectors installed cost $33.95. The coax is for the antenna at Lonesome Pine for Control Center. The coax was brought to the meeting and given to N1JHD, who has the antenna. 2. Can-Am
Hams: A list of hams for the Can-Am races was presented. There
were 22 hams on the list. Four more had question marks as we are waiting
to hear from them. (Note: Since then we have lost one, and one ?
on the list can not help because of work. ) 3. Mobile
Radio Concerns from James Alder KF5WT: 4. Anyone having
trouble getting Feed-Point via the blue button on the web page, try this:
Program: Video:
The Moon: very interesting presentation of the exploration of the moon,
from the first probes, to the Russia-US race for the first landing on the
moon. Adjourned: 19:14 |
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In Case You Are Interested
HAM-ELMER GROUP: Computer group helps perspective hams obtain their
license, guide newly licensed operators, & answers technical and
procedural questions. Question & answer format. See groups.yahoo.com/group/HAM-ELMER/
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Sandra Daigle 3-20
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| Page 3 Feed-Point, February, 2004 |
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Can-Am Dog Races 2004
The new batteries were put into the 146.640 cabinet on Thursday
Feb. 19. N1CHF made the disconnects and reconnects, assisted by
KA1ZOE, N1JHD, N1FG. Two snowmobiles were used to transport
us, batteries and tools to the tower site. If the wind hadn't
been blowing hard, it would have been comfortable. Steve's hands took awhile
to thaw out. Louie got dumped off the snowmobile on the way down on that
corner on the east side of the tower. When we got back to the house we all
stood around the wood stove for a half hour.
After the warm up session, N1CHF and N1JHD put the antenna up at control center, using the new coax. On Friday, Feb. 20, N1FG and N1MRT installed the power supply and Kenwood radio. Both repeaters, .64 & .715 gave us a great signal. WN1OTV arrived and he and N1MRT were taken to their host families. The schedule for operators was all set, when a call from KB1GKY told us he was a new father. Naturally he wanted to stay home! Congratulations, Mike. N1PMS was summoned. He accepted going to Black Lake yet again in place of Mike. Thanks, Pete. He had to stay there way longer than he should have, because he was not informed that one 30 mile team scratched. Larry Guimond, Pete's transportation, went to look for that team. The snowmobile had a break down and Pete had to wait while Larry went home to fix the sled. |
The problems
we had were all before the race. Once 8:00 Sat. AM on race day came, all
went well. The race was called at the starts by N1FG & K1RLY. KB1EBE
& WN1OTV did a fine job as the Net Controllers on their 12 hour shifts.
Most of the time they had one or even two other operators with them.
The money we spent on new batteries for both repeaters was well worth it. Installing the new antenna on Rocky Mountain helped, too. In spite of practically no solar charging, both repeaters performed very well. The batteries held an adequate charge through out. It was good that the two net controllers had back-up radios with them. There was a glitch with the Kenwood at one point and it was replaced. Another time on Monday, one power supply cable got disconnected. We quickly connected another power supply and radio, thinking the radio being used had malfunctioned. Then someone noticed the cord! Antenna down Feb.25 by N1JHD, N1PMS, and N1FG. Many Thanks to all 22 hams who helped. You did a great job. We especially thank those who traveled a great distance. KB1EBE, WN1OTV, KW1C, K1RLY, N1MRT, K1HEL, KB1CLC, VE1PIN, N1PMU, N1PMS, WA1YNZ, N1WRX, KA1CQX, KC1SE, KA1OOW, N1HSQ, N1FG, N1ZBX, N1JHD, N1ZHQ, N1QMC, N1CHF. |
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Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel
tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting
hardware. Best Offer. |
* flood, sweet, and fears * Doing! Boing! Done! For example: pine, woken and long is wine, women and song |
| Page 4 Feed-Point 2004 |
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Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio. Officers President: Gale Flagg N1FG Vice President: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC Secretary: Rotating Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF Editor/Publisher/Printer Gale Flagg - N1FG / 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
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL
RD
FORT KENT ME 04743