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

November 2000                                                          Vol.10 no.11
Letter From Our President
Dear Fellow Hams,

        Winter is creeping in, whether or not we are ready. Today, Nov.19th, the puddles on the back roads are all frozen. The ground is freezing. No dust or mud on the dirt roads. Snow flurries are frequent. 

      Marty  (KW1C) says he needs to work on his 160 meter antenna to get the SWR down. He thinks he will either shorten it or raise the legs of the inverted V. I hope he 
has a warm day to do it.

     I am sitting at my computer in the corner of my work room where my "shack" will be. I anxiously await the completion of the shelves now being constructed out in our new workshop. Our old sagging implement shed was dismantled, drainage provided, a pad poured, and walls and roof put on around the early snowstorms. That all has delayed the finishing of my radio shack.  I have high hopes it will be done by Dec. 1. 

 

      The Rocky Mountain Repeater has been acting a little differently lately. N1LON tried to get in and couldn't. He told me that on .64. I suggested he try holding down the tone for 2-3 seconds. That worked. A brief hold down did not. N1HPU has tried getting into it in Allagash and has had trouble. He now has  the same instructions, so we hope he will be able to get in from his camp. If you have trouble getting into 146.715 -minus, remember use any 
one tone with PTT for 2-3 seconds.

Address comments, questions, or suggestions to: 
Gale Flagg  R.F.D.#3  Box 250
Fort Kent  ME 04743 
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net



Next Meeting:
Monday, December 4, 6:30 PM
    Grindle Conference Room UMFK
Brainstorming for an acceptable Antenna for the School

Schedule of Coming Events

Date
Event 
Place
Contact
Sponsor
Time
Freq
SUN
Net
NB
VE1PIN
IRG
1930
147.300
MON
Net
Fort Kent
N1QMC
SJVARA
2030
146.64
MON
Net
Presque Isle
WA1YNZ
AARA
2000
146.73

 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 2                               Feed-Point, November, 2000
Report Of November SJVARA Non- Meeting

Called to Order:  18.37  by N1UYA
In Attendance:
N1UYA, N1CHF,  N1PMS, N7GLR, KA7VNR, KW1C, N1FRX, Phillip Lamore 
Secretary's Minutes:  N7GLR  made a motion that we dispense with the reading of the minutes. Seconded by N1PMS. Passed

Treasurer's Report: Sept. bal: $660.62  Interest $1.44, Dues $60.
                                     New Balance: $722.06 
N1CHF gave the report. N1PMS motioned to accept and N7GLR seconded. Passed.

OLD BUSINESS:
Rocky Mountain: N1CHF has bid for a  radio on e-bay. The goal is to get a radio that will draw less amperage than the one currently installed.
New Website for the club, which contains no ads, is www.qsl.net/n1chf 
Can-Am--- N1UYA has tried to contact Mike re Lonesome Pine set up. She will keep trying.
ARRL Membership: N7GLR has sent the necessary papers for application, and our application is being considered by the ARRL.


NEW BUSINESS:
N1HPU New Member:  N1UYA presented N1HPU's request for membership. N7GLR made a motion that we accept him as a member. Seconded by N1FRX. Passed. 
Notice given of Can Warn meeting in Grand Falls Nov.9
N1UYA recommended the IRG Swap Shop on 145.130  at 20:30 on Sundays. Also, weather net on 145.130 at 06:30 M-F.
Motorola Radio: A Motorola Radio  in an impressive cabinet was given to the club by the hospital. N1CHF did an amazing cleaning job on it. The use of the radio was discussed and N7GLR moved to use the Motorola for .64. N1PMS seconded. Passed. This radio will double the power now available for .64 and may solve some other problems.
Donation: KW1C moved to donate $20 to QSL Link, KA7VNR seconded. Passed.
Linked Repeaters: There was a discussion of the possibility of setting up another repeater east of here and link it (at will) to Rocky Mountain and .64. The idea would be to have more coverage for Rocky Mountain in case of an emergency called in on Rocky Mountain.

Next meeting:  MON, Dec.4, 2000  Grindle Conference Room UMFK
Adjourned: 19:45
Program: 
Submitted by: N1UYA

In Case You're Interested 
Rob Reaser, KC8KCH, compared the benefits of Amateur Radio, CB radio and cellular telephone in backcountry communications.
In Camping Life Magazine he wrote about his comparisons.
Amatuer Radio was the best. 
 The club welcomes, N1HPU, Ben Benedetti, to its membership.
 Happy Birthday
Please wish the following a Happy Birthday

Jessica Boutout  12-07

Bert St. Onge      12-10
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 3                                         Feed-Point, November, 2000
 Riley Hollingsworth's Ten Tips For A Brighter Ham Radio Future
1. Be proud of what you have. Let the public know what Amateur Radio is and why it is valuable.
2. Operate as if the whole world is listening. 
3. Take nothing for granted. Bill Gates can't, and you can't either.
4. You're at a crossroads now. Seize the moment, and make this your finest hour.
5. Make sure that on your watch, Amateur Radio never becomes obsolete.
6. Teach the new licensees all you know. Think about the legacy you were given and your duty to pass it on.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


7. Enjoy ham radio. Celebrate it. But realize that it comes with responsibility.
Every gift of lasting value always does.
8. Stay away from arrogant, negative operators who know all the answers.
9. Never allow Amateur Radio to become the audio version of The Jerry Springer Show. 
10. "I'm standing here talking about enforcement because the ARRL never gave up (trying to get the FCC to resume enforcement). 
Take care of the one voice you have."

Reported in Dec. QST from Hollingsworth's ARRL New England Division Convention presentation Aug. 26th

 


For Sale
Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer.
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 455-8208
A Bit of Humor
Science Fiction by Students from Richard Lederer:
* There are 26 vitamins in all, but some of the letters are yet to be discovered.
*  Mercury is the god of weather because he is found in
thermometers.
* I am not sure how clouds get formed but the clouds know 
how to do it and that is the important thing.

 
 
 
 
Page 4                                                                Feed-Point,  2000

 
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

Treasurer: Steve Boomhower N1CHF
Public Information: Cheryl Boomhower  N1CGV
Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale  Flagg - N1UYA / Stan Flagg  834-6670 
Associate Editor/Web Edition

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