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January 2004 Vol. 14 No.1 |
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The weather seems to have settled down a bit. The cold has been unrelenting with many days considerably below zero even with bright sunshine. The running water across our mail trail is no longer visible, so we can make the trip all the way on the snowmobile since the last snow storm. The very cold weather has caused some concern about the new batteries on Rocky Mountain. As you will probably remember, the solar controllers failed in the way below zero weather last year, causing the batteries to go dry. Every below zero day I have checked the batteries several times a day and gone into a testing mode when I thought they were getting too high. Sometimes I have found someone to talk to, but many times I haven't. So I have read items about The Great Back Yard Bird Count, how a rainbow is made, and news from the ARRL! It gets kind of boring saying "Testing 1, 2......". I always explain that I am using the repeater to keep the batteries from overcharging, etc.. |
The Can-Am Sled Dod Races are Feb. 21-24. We are making good progress with the radio communication organizing. The checkpoints are all covered. We have a few for control center. We are still waiting to hear from two people about their participation. We do have two control operators to take 12 hour shifts as last year. Thanks to KB1EBE and WN1OTV. WN1OTV responded to Maine Bulletin #1 about our need for help with the races. 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, FEB. 10, ALUMNI CONF RM., NADEAU HALL, UMFK , 6:00 PM |
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| Page 2 Feed-Point, JANUARY, 2003 |
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Called to
Order: 18:06
Treasurer's Report: December Bal= $619.87 + interest .65 + Adams Donation $100.00= January Balance $720.52 N1QMC motioned to accept. N1PMS seconded. Passed. Old Business: 2. 146.64
Report: Battery tests on this repeater have indicated the lows
at 11.78 or lower, and highs up to 14.52. This indicates, as we suspected,
that the batteries really are not holding a charge well. As you know,
we voted to get new batteries for .64 before the dog races. We are
trying to do this.
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New Business: 1. Can-Am
Net Protocol: The net protocol for Can-Am was reviewed. A minor change
made re utilizing all those scheduled at net control.
2. Can-Am Radio and antenna: The Can-Am radio has been altered so that we should not have the off frequency problems we had last year. N1JHD said we have no co-ax for the antenna. The co-ax was owned by N1CHF who needed it. So we will need to get new coax, unless someone has a piece we can use. 3. Can-Am
Dog Races Feb. 21-24: WN1OTV, Don, has offered to help us during the races.
He will be replacing N1KGS as co-net control with KB1EBE. 4. Biathlon:
VE1PIN wondered if we had been asked to help. We have not. KW1C
was going to look into this some time ago. 5. Program: We watched the 1997 Can-Am
Video. KC1SE was featured as the operator at Rocky Brook. We got to see
all aspects of the race: trail work, vet checks, and the start, and activity
at all the check points. Adjourned: 19:35 |
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In Case You Are Interested
The ARRL celebrates
its 90th year in 2004. Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence Tuska started
the league in 1914. Just a few months later war broke out. In 1917, when
the US entered the war, amateur operations were suspended until early 1919. So many changes since then. |
In 1954-64, amateurs joined the Space Age with the first moon bounce contact in 1960. The first Oscar was launched in 1961. Amateur radio flourished with the addition of a Novice and Technician license. The ARRL's 50th anniversary included a postage stamp honoring Amateur Radio. |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, January, 2004 |
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Enthusiasm For Ham Radio
A
letter in the Jan. QST from N1ZYQ caught my attention. He said people often
ask him, "Why Ham Radio?" His answer include communicating with people far
away, and helping his neighbors by helping in emergencies or at local events.
But, he says, the real reason is the people in the hobby. He has had many
hobbies, but finds the amateur community has many more who want to help other
people in amateur radio. He says he has met people from all walks of life,
all races and religions. It doesn't matter who or what you are, if
you have a problem with understanding anything, they will take the time to
explain. If you need help setting up an antenna system, they are there. In
addition, the people in the amateur community make life long friends.
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I have seen this helpful
attitude many times. One time I lost my Icom 706 manual. I was asking
for programing help on 2-m in southern Maine. I got the help, plus, a week
later, a photocopy of the manual from a ham I had never met before.
On Echolink one ham in Scotland spent a long time with me helping me to set up Interrace---the program that lets you quickly exchange photos with other hams. Also in the Jan. QST, a marvelous account of a DXpedition to Baker Island in the Pacific captures the enthusiasm of hams. Twelve hams from Siberia, Macedonia, US, Russia, South Africa, Slovenia, and Lithuania set up 3 camps on Baker Island with 6 rigs, 10 towers, 3 generators. All equipment had to be scrubbed and all footwear brand new to prevent environmental contamination. " Our DXpedition adventure was extreme and very dangerous and pushed us to the limit, but we not only made it. we made happy tens of thousands of radio enthusiasts all over the planet, from well over 200 countries. In total we made 95, 127 QSO's on all HF bands and all modes, setting a new world record for number of contacts in one DXpedition." |
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Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel
tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting
hardware. Best Offer. N1FRX |
JUDGE: I know you, don't I? DEFENDANT: Uh, yes. JUDGE: All right, tell me, How do I know you? DEFENDANT: Judge, do I have to tell you? JUDGE: Of course, you might
be obstructing justice not to tell me. DEFENDANT: Ok. I was
your bookie.
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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. |