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

June 2001                                                       Vol.11 no.6
Letter From Our President
Dear Fellow Hams,
      The weather seems to be going from one extreme to another! The dry spell was ended by 3 1/2 inches of rain in early June, replenishing the vernal pools. From close to a frost on June 11, the temperature soared to 91 F by the 15th! It looks like the potatoes in the Valley are off to a good start with a lot of growth after the rain.

      Yesterday (June 15th) was Kid's Day on amateur radio. KC1SE and I were prepared for some kids at his house, but at the last moment one group canceled and I think the heat kept others away.  We did listen to the activity. We heard a six year old and a four year old, and several youngsters on a battleship. Most of them sounded like experienced hams, and best of all they sounded enthusiastic and excited. Kid's Day is a great opportunity for getting young people interested in the hobby. Next year we plan to advertise the event better, perhaps by visiting the schools a month before.

     Speaking of advertising, N7GLR wrote a press release for the June 13th Saint John Valley Times , titled "St. John Valley ham radio operators ready field day." The title stretches all the way across the top of a page. Eye catching! Thanks, Charles.

 


     Field Day will be June 23 and 24th. KW1C would like to see us at 10 AM at Crocker Beach, UMFK, to help with the set up. Operations will start at 2 PM and run until 2 PM on Sunday. Hope to see everyone there at some time. It would be nice to have some night time company!

                                                   N1UYA , Gale

       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, July 10th  6:30 PM UMFK Grindle Conference Room
or possibly at a residence. Will keep you posted!

Schedule of Coming Events

Date
Event 
Place
Contact
Sponsor
Time
Freq
SUN
Net
NB
VE1PIN
IRG
1930
147.300
MON
Net
Fort Kent
N1UYA
SJVARA
2030
146.64
MON
Net
Presque Isle
WA1YNZ
AARA
2000
146.73

 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2                               Feed-Point, June  2001
Report Of June Meeting

Called to Order:  18:35 by N1UYA
In Attendance:   KW1C, N1FRX,  N1PMS, N1CGV, N1UYA, N1CHF, N1JHD, N1QMC, N7GLR.
Secretary's Minutes: N1PMS made a motion to dispense with reading of the minutes. N1CGV seconded. Passed.
Treasurer's Report: May Bal.: $201.93 + Interest $.38 + $12.00 Dues,   New balance: $214.31. 

(Note: Dues are due from most members at this time. Check Membership list on   www.qsl.net/n1chf
or contact N1UYA or N1CHF   for expiration date.)
Old Business: 
Rocky Mountain: Batteries 13.7v.  Batteries 54 F. Shack 54 F.  It still  may be necessary to press any single tone to activate the repeater and each time after the ID, depending on conditions. The solar controller is being tested for three weeks before it is taken to Rocky Mt..
Proposed Member: AH8T, Ricky Martin, Still no contact with him.


Field Day:   June 23 & 24.  Crocker Beach, UMFK. Marty went over the details. We are still looking for a tent. N1UYA ordered an Exhibit Kit from ARRL for the publicity table, and notified DOC's for an announcement to be put up in Ft. Kent on Field Day. For details contact KW1C or N1UYA.
ARRL Renewal Forms: N7GLR has renewal forms for ARRL. If you use the forms to renew,  the club gets some money for each renewal.
New Business: 
Circuit Boards: N1CHF displayed  the circuit board he made for the repeater controller at Rocky Mt, and the crystal control PL Board for Rocky Mt..
911 Address Change: Can we make the change with the FCC on internet?
Program: ARRL Video--Ham Radio In Space--Among other things, we  saw a trophy that will be awarded for the first Amateur Radio contact from Mars in the 21st Century.
Next meeting: TUESDAY. July 10, 6:30 Grindle Conference Room or possibly at a residence. Will keep you informed.
Adjourned: 20:10
Submitted by: N1UYA
In Case You Are Interested

Calm;Smoke rises vertically water like a mirror.  <1mph
Smoke drifts; ripples in the water, like scales.  (1 -3 mph)
Leaves rustle,  feel wind on the face, glassy wavelets (4-7 mph)
Leaves and twigs move, crests begin to break  (8-12 mph)
Thin branches move, dust and paper fly, waves higher, frequent 
white caps (13-18mph)
 
 
 

 Happy Birthday

Please wish the following a Happy Birthday

Don Ouellette     July 7       Dean Wiggins July 4

 


 
 
 
 
Page 3                                         Feed-Point, June, 2001
           The 146.640- Repeater Update
     N1CHF rescued the 146.640 repeater when it was unceremoniously dumped from the tower. Several members have voiced their feelings about the lack of a warning to us. Courtesy certainly would have dictated notification so that we could make other arrangements. Since we provide emergency communications through the repeater it is hard to understand why we were not told. 
 
     N1CHF put .64 back on the air with a home made 5/8 antenna and RG8 with high loss. The repeater has lost coverage with this and the faithful check ins on our net from PI can no longer get into .64. There are others who cannot get into it. N1CHF will improve things with  the original antenna (which needed repair) and low loss feed line. At least it is on the air, and we thank Steve again for his work doing it.

      The net has been pretty inactive since the abrupt event in .64's life. Please check in if you hear us.

    At the last meeting there was quite a lot of discussion about a new location for the repeater and the mechanics of setting it up. When we have more information we will notify you. 

Finland Dumond
     N1UYA was in Madawaska on June 11 and visited W1TCF at Highview Manor. He was lying on his bed doing exercises! He was happy to be in a private room so that he could do his exercises without hitting the wall or the fellow next to him! He sat right up and we talked for a half hour. He likes it at Highview. He says the care is excellent and the food is good,--- too good. He has asked them to cut back on his snacks. He goes out for walks, and as always is a keen observer of nature. Now that he has a private room, he will have his computer set up, so we should be hearing from him on line soon.

June 3 Senior Class Canoe Trip

    The day of the canoe trip was gray and cool. It was 48 when I left home. By the time N1CHF, N1CGV, and N1UYA got to the starting point at the American Dream, it was pouring rain. Some of the seniors were not equipped with rain gear. Suffice it to say they were cold and miserable. N1CGV was mobile along the route. N1UYA and N1CHF were in a canoe. We were told to let them know at Riverside Park when the canoeists were five miles away so the pizzas could be ready. The wind blew up river, and most of the canoes zigzagged down to Ft. Kent. The wind was very strong. Not so nice when you have to paddle hard going downstream! One of us should have been in a chaperone boat with motors, because when a canoe capsized in front of us we could not get the attention of one of the outboards going by.


For Sale
Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer. N1JHD--go check it out! 
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
Translations  can be strange: collected by Richard Lederer:
* Angry Raisins (for The Grapes Of Wrath in Japan). * On the wrapper of a Russian Ice Cream Bar: "Do not taste our Ice Cream when it is too hard. Please continue your conversation until the Ice Cream grows into a softer.  By adhering this advisement you will fully appreciate the  wonderful Soviet Ice Cream." * "Visit Our Bargain Basement---one flight up."  Enter and find "Pork Handbags"  on sale.  Signs in Amman, Jordan.

 
 
 
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
Secretary: Rotating
Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
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