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January 2003 Vol. 13 No. |
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Happy New Year to ALL! Certainly the ruling factor of these last two weeks has been the cold. We got spoiled last winter. With highs at + 3 F for five days, we now have a +13F on Jan. 20. A real heat wave! Our snow as measured by the snow stick is just about the same place it was a month ago, about 23". We got snow so early, it is surprising we don't have a greater depth by now. When I am on Echo Link, I notice a lot of people in the cold areas are talking to New Zealand, where temperatures are in the 80's. From New Zealanders I have learned about the sheep herding with specialized dogs, the freezer industry, gliding, and much more. Also, on Echolink, I have learned of more disastrous lightning strikes to repeaters. This has prompted me to discuss more lightning protection for 146.640 with N1CHF. The more contacts I make on Echolink, the more I realize what a boon it is for some people. Especially for older hams who no longer can have antennas for HF. Also, there seem to be many hams who are disabled and find Echolink the easiest way of making contacts. |
The cutting edge of Amateur Radio is High Speed Multi Media Hamming on the "Hinternet". Chairman of the ARRL's HSMM Working Group, K80CL, expects this to be "nothing less than revolutionary". The new specific techniques, the software and hardware involved, are being called " the ARRL 802.11b protocol". Hinternet (ham + Internet) is a user friendly way to refer to the development of high speed Radio Local Area Networks (RLANS) that will be capable of carrying simultaneously audio, video, and data signals. It will "enhance Amateur Radio, especially with respect to emergency communications and support of public service activities." An emergency operator could be a mobile set of eyes and ears in a communications emergency. Keep your eye on this new mode. N1FG , Gale Gale Flagg 108 Franklin School RD Fort Kent ME 04743 Phone: 207-834-6670 E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net Next Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 PM, Alumni Conf. Rm. Nadeau Hall, UMFK |
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| Page 2 Feed-Point, January, 2003 |
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Called to
Order: 19:17 In Attendance:
N1FG, N7GLR, KA7VNR (Too few to conduct business). Secretary's Minutes : Treasurer's
Report: December Balance: $743.76. + $5.00 Mystery Donation = actual
Dec. Bal of $748.76 +
$72.00 Raffle Sales, + interest of $0.68 Old Business:
It
was suggested that on a sunny day, the tower site be checked to see how
high the tree shadow goes on the tower. Would it be possible to lower the
panel so it could be reached when it is ice bound? |
As I recall, Stan did mathematical calculations for the placement of the panel, but I will check it visually. Rocky Mountain: The tone for access is 91.5. On Dec. 27th Rocky Mt. went off the air. N1CHF said it will turn itself off if voltage drops below 8. The panel was iced for several days. By Dec. 29th the voltage rose to 13.79. Fundraising: There are new spring items on the web site for Current. www.currentfun.com Gift wrap, cards, stickers, organizers, photo frames, and more. At check out, click on Maine, then St.John Amateur Radio Association for SJVARA to get 50% of the price. Emergency Training: We will
try to schedule the HazMat Course for Emergency Training in April. New Business: Field Day: No Action Interesting
Contacts: N1FG: Echolink- New Zealand Sheep Herding, and Japan,
to .practice English N7GLR: Is using an AM Loop antenna next to the
AM radio to get stations far away. Adjourned: 19:55 Submitted by: N1FG |
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Check it out at: www.terrestrialworld.com/ weather/html |
At the January Meeting Copies of three of the first units of the Emergency Communications Course Level 1 were handed out. We can discuss them at the February Meeting. I will have more copies for those not there in Jan. N1FG |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, January, 2003 |
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Qst Editorials in December and
January have some things for us to ponder.
2002 was filled with disasters. Amateurs were called to duty to provide communications in hurricanes, fires, floods, searches, and other emergencies. Amateurs now have the opportunity to prepare more adequately for emergency communications via the ARRL Emergency Communication Course with fees paid for by the government and private donations. The ARRL Field Day, amateur radio's largest and most visible operating event has been expanded to the hemisphere. Field Day is excellent preparation for emergencies. The use of HF digital signals is expanding (PSK31). These and other modern modes are reshaping our way of operating. Other new digital modes have introduced meteor scatter and other exciting types of contact above .50 MHz. Repeaters have been linked through the Internet, allowing VHF operators the excitement of talking to people in other countries. Some people during the nearly 100 years of Amateur Radio have always proclaimed that new operating modes would be "The End Of Amateur Radio". The major changes that brought the death prediction have included: "spark-to-CW, CW-to-Phone, homebrew-to-commercial gear and the ongoing integration of radio-PC-Internet".
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Can Am Sled Dog Races
The 11th running of the Can Am Sled Dog Races will be held on March 1-3, 2003.
As always we need a good supply of radio amateurs to help at Control Center
at Lonesome Pine Lodge in Fort Kent, and at various checkpoints for all three
races. That includes the 60 mile Checkpoint in St. Francis on Saturday, the
30 mile safety Checkpoint on Saturday, help at the Allagash Checkpoint on
Sunday and Monday. WE CAN NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE COMMUNICATIONS
WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
PLEASE
VOLUNTEER. |
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Heavy duty
40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware.
Best Offer. |
Paul, talking to N1FG on Echolink, from a handheld in Rochester,
Minnesota with a singing cockatiel on his wrist, shared a story his mother
tells of the man who called the weather station years ago and said, "I have
just finished shoveling 26" of partly cloudy off my driveway, and
I'm sick of it!"
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| Page 4 Feed-Point, 2003 |
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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