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May 2003 Vol. 13 No.5 |
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Spring is here, at last. Temperatures of plus 80 F. turned the brown landscape into one tinged with spring green in 24 hours. After 48 hours little leaves were appearing on most of the trees and shrubs. Wildflowers burst into flower with the Trout-lilies rushing to bloom and set seed before full growth of tree leaves. Echolink contacts were waiting to hear when the last of the huge snow pile on the north side of our house disappeared. It was gone on May 21st. With the nice spring weather, canoeists have appeared on the river. As in years past, KA1OOW made his St. John River trip and used the 146.715 repeater, as well as the 146.640 repeater to get messages to his XYL, N1UYB, with me as a relay. The SJVARA has been asked to provide radio coverage for the senior class canoe trip from the American Dream to Riverside Park. I will be on hand to help, and KW1C will also. If there is some one else who can help, please contact me. |
N1KGS has completed the first Hybrid Emergency Communications Course with three students, N1XNU, KE1JQ, and N1FG. We studied the book, did the activities listed (most required going on the computer to check out various web sites), and answered the questions at the end of each of the 20 Learning Units. N1KGS met with us on 146.730 on Wednesday evenings to discuss our work on 5 lessons per week. The final test of 25 questions, taken from the unit questions, was taken on line. I know N1KGS was hoping for more students, but we do appreciate the fact that he was willing to do it with three of us. Hopefully, more people will take the course soon. Gale Flagg 108 Franklin School RD Fort Kent ME 04743 Phone: 207-834-6670 E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 3, 6 PM, Alumni Conf. Rm. Nadeau Hall, UMFK Program: VERNON OUELLETTE, Director, Aroostook Emergency Management Agency Handling Hazardous Materials in an Emergency |
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| Page 2 Feed-Point, May, 2003 |
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Called to Order: 19:05
Secretary's Minutes : Old Business: 2. The 146.715 Repeater:
N1CHF will be working on a mount for new antenna to
go up this summer (See Page 3 for his plan.) 3. No contact has been made with the Presque Isle
group about linking 146.640 to 146. 730. 4. Dues are Due: Some still owe dues. Keep
your membership up to date please. |
New Business: 1. Youth Involvement Brainstorming: With
not many people at the meeting this was limited. Ideas presented: Church
Groups, Set up in a lobby somewhere ( hospital? school? University?)
KA7VNR will check Van Buren Schools. N1FG will check with Wisdom High School. 3 day class with a handheld to all who get license.
2. Hand out: "Jump Kit" A list of
the items recommended for those who wish to respond to a communications
,emergency including radio equipment, spare batteries, clothing, food, and
lists of contacts. A short one for first responders for the first
12 hours, and a longer one for the long term. These lists are so you
will be prepared and won't have to waste time gathering things when the
time arrives to respond. 3. Other: Set up an emergency training
session. An airplane crash on a mountain was
suggested. 4. Photos Sent by N1HPU: Ben sent digital photos of before and after shots of the crumbled Old Man In The Mountain in NH and some of the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. Thanks, Ben.
Adjourned: 20:11 Submitted by: N1FG |
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Congratulations to KA7VNR,
who recently passed her Extra Class License test.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Sam Barret 6-06
Russ Beaulieu 6-19 |
| Page 3 Feed-Point, May, 2003 |
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The Rocky Mt. antenna project
is finally underway. Before I tell you how it's progressing, perhaps I
should tell you what I have planned. We want to put up a vertical, just
like the one currently on 64, to replace the beam that's there now. Actually,
we're going to use the old 64 antenna. However, we can't just replace the
beam with the vertical, that would place it too close to the tower, and
too low. The plan is to put it on a mast on the cabin. Not on the top
of the mast though, but on the side. Why? For two reasons. First, to place
it above the cabin with all the wind and ice it would see at 2000 feet would
just be asking for trouble. And second, side mounting it would give us
another 3 dB of gain in a direction of our choosing. So, the plan is to
mount an 18 foot mast shaped like a J on the cabin with 5 feet extending
above, and 5 feet extending below. With such short extensions, whipping
will be minimized. Mounted on the short side of the J, about 19 inches away,
will be the antenna. The top of the antenna will never be higher than the
mast, and there will be an insulated support near the top joining the
two, also to minimize whipping. The whole mast will rotate approximately
250 degrees, allowing us to position the antenna's main lobe wherever we
want it.
Here is what we have so far. I bought a 21 foot, 1 1/4" schedule 40 galvanized pipe which will be cut into two pieces - one eighteen footer, and a three footer. The three footer will be used to mount the antenna. I also bought 2 ninety degree elbows to make the bottom section, and 2 tees to support the top of the short section. I've drilled weep holes in the elbows as well as bolt holes to lock the sections in place. That's it for now. I still need to get some short sections of pipe and another tee. Once the mast is done, I'll need to get some steel angle for the mounts, drill them and paint them. Then I'll need some clamps. Maybe next time, I can send pictures. Or bring them. Have a good meeting. 73, Steve |
Repeater News In warmer weather people
start working on antennas. The first I know of to do so is NM1R in Mars Hill.
He called for a signal report on 146.640 on May 22nd. He was coming
in full quieting. He had just taken down a Ringo Ranger that was not working
well, and replaced it with a Diamond antenna. I told him he is
welcome to check into our net every Monday at 19:00. I
wish more of you would check in!
This e
-mail was forwarded to me by several people. I have replied to both questions.
"Good Morning, My name is Dave Lyles (call sign KE4AUE). I am helping to organize a Boy Scout trip to Maine this July ( 13 boys ages 14-18 and 4 adults ). We will be climbing Mt. Katahdin on Tues. July 15. We will then canoe the Allagash Wilderness Waterway from Eagle Lake to Allagash Village from Wed. July 16 to Wed.July 23. Naturally I'll be taking my 2 meter handheld radio with me to use in the vent of an emergency while on the mountain or the Allagash Waterway. Question: 1. Which Ham radio towers in that area would be the best to try and each ? 2. Do you know anyone who has ever made a ham radio contact while on Mt. Katahdin or the while on the Allagash waterway ? Thanks and 73,Dave Lyles, KE4AUE FIELD DAY
N1KGS has spoken with Vernon Ouellette about our operating for
Field Day at the EOC at Loring. Max says we will have to put up one antenna
for a second radio.Operating from an EOC is a new category for field day.
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Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel
tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware.
Best Offer. |
Malapropisms Collected By: Richard Lederer: Let's do this in one foul sweep. * There are a
lot of famous buildings in Italy, like the Leaning Tower of Pizza. * They
live far away, out in the boondoggles. * I'm
going to have to cut down the walnut tree because it is infested with magnets.
*
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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