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

October 2003                                                       Vol. 13 No.10
Letter From Our President
 Dear Fellow Ham     
 
     The first hard frost came in the first days of October. We have had lows in the 20's a few times. A foot of snow accumulated in two storms. The snow was strangely resistant to melting, considering the lack of frost in the ground. On Oct. 24th Andy Marquis and Scott Guimond were prepared to take the new batteries up to Rocky Mountain. With snow on the trail and rain falling, we thought the trail would be too slippery. Though reluctant to call off the expedition, I am glad we did.  The temperature was in the 30's and it was chilling when I went up to the 146.64 repeater to seal the vents in the freezer chest with plastic. On October 19th I replaced the damp-aid in the repeater cabinet. The old damp aid was saturated and the cup full of water again. The interior of the cabinet was dry.
     Our Harvest Supper at Pizza Delight was a pleasant affair. We held what may have been the shortest meeting ever after we placed our orders.  The most important item of business was a change of our meeting day. CLUB MEETINGS WILL BE HELD THE SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH.   Since we had reserved the Alumni Conference room at UMFK for the first Monday, we were a bit concerned. KW1C said he would check for a room in the hospital if necessary. However, a call to Fran Pecard at UMFK has been made and the second Tuesday is okay.  

       
     

   
   
        On Halloween night I took part in the Witch Watch in Caribou. I saw Dean Wiggins, N1HSQ, briefly at the new EOC in Caribou. He is about to have knee surgery for a broken cartilage. N1KGS was helping with Witch Watch, and WA1YNZ was net control. Several hams from the AARC were there, too. For the most part a ham is paired with an EMA driver. The city is divided into ten sections with one or two cars patrolling each area, depending on the amount of kiddy traffic. It is enjoyable to see the costumed figures (many with dogs), and the various halloween decorations.  When I came back to Fort Kent I drove by the Halloween House on the corner by the bridge twice because it was so spectacular. My driver, Pat Dobson from Caribou, has driven up to FT. Kent with her grandson to see the house. Her husband and seen it and said she had to. The house has a wide spread reputation. It is on the SJV.net home page.      
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, NOVEMBER 11, ALUMNI CONF RM.,
NADEAU HALL, UMFK ,  6:00 PM   


Schedule of Coming Events

Date
Event 
Place
Contact
Sponsor
Time
Freq
SUN
Net
NB
VE1PIN
IRG
2000
145.130
MON
Net
Fort Kent
N1FG
SJVARA
1900
146.64
MON
Net
Presque Isle
WA1YNZ
AARA
2000
146.73






      
Page 2                                    Feed-Point, October, 2003
Report of October 18th  2003 Meeting

Called to Order: 18:06
In Attendance:  N1FG, N1QMC, N1JHD, N1PMS, KW1C, VE1PIN, VE9MSD, VE9RMD, Sandra Bernstein,  Stan Flagg


Secretary's Minutes: N1PMS motioned to waive reading
of the minutes. N1QMC seconded. Passed

Treasurer's Report: Sept. Bal= $981.27  Dues $48.00 + Interest $.82- Parts $309.64 = Oct. Balance  $720.55
Motion to accept N1PMS, seconded by N1QMC. Passed. See list of expenses on page 3.

Old Business:
1. Rocky Mountain Report:  
KW1C reported that N7GLR was able to get into 146.715 from Grand Isle. He never had been able to before.

2. 146.64 Report: A lot of static has been heard on the repeater from time to time. This was especially notable on Oct. 18th when we were trying to talk to some JOTA scouts who were in Caribou. It was bad enough so that we checked the repeater site to make sure nothing was amiss. Nothing was.  
There were questions about the extra ID on the repeater. That is the Echolink ID. (Since then three people have commented that the Echolink ID covers up a speaker and that it occurs too frequently.)


   



New Business:

 1. JOTA ON THE AIR: It was just noted that this is JOTA Weekend.  N7GLR told me he talked to scouts in Russia on HF.

2. FUNDRAISER: Just a reminder that the club is registered on line at www.currentfun.com. A variety of gift items, magazine subscriptions, greeting cards and gift wrap of high quality are available. At check out you just choose Maine, then St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association and the club will receive 50 % of the money for the order.

3. New  Meeting Day: I think it was N1QMC who suggested the second Tuesday for a meeting Day. It was noted that KW1C and VE1PIN  had other meetings on the first Tuesdays.

Adjourned:  N1QMC moved for adjournment at 16:25. N1PMS second. Passed.
 
Submitted by:  N1FG
     The food was excellent, hard not to over eat! VE1PIN was a good tour guide for some of us after the supper. He gave us a history of the area we drove through to his house. At his house we saw his Coca-Cola museum. Three rooms furnished with Coca-Cola quilts, sheets, pillows, furniture and every imaginable type of small models, dolls etc. Plus framed pins in great number representing many things. Thanks, VE1PIN. 

In Case You Are Interested
Emergency/net Logging Software from N3FJP. Windows based to help emergency managers and net control operators to maintain network data during emerg. events.
www.n3fjp.com  Can be tried free and is fully functional
       HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Charles Zafonte 11-25
Ruth McKinney 11-29
 Bert St-Onge 12-10




 
Page 3                                           Feed-Point, October,  2003
         
EXPENSES        
         
1  21' x 1.25" pipe $ 55.64,  2 1.25" elbow    $3.98, 2  1.25" X 1.50" T  $10.98 , 1  5" x 1.25" pipe  $ 2.09, 2  2" x 2" x 8" angle    $20.90,  4 “U” clamps $5.42,1 Silicone    $4.47,1 Primer $2.06, 2 paint $4.18, 4 3/8" X 3" Bolts $.96,10  3/8" lock washers .89,     12   3/8" nuts $.12, 4 3/8" washers $.16,      4  5/16" nuts $.12, 8  5/16" washers $.24,     4  5/16" lock washer $.12, 2 18" x 1.25" pipe $13.94, 2  Sanding Disks $ 4.00,1 5/16" x 4" bolt $.45, 1 5/16" x 5" bolt $1.95,1  5/16" x 1.5" bolt $.15,  4  3/8" x 4" bolt $1.20,
8 1/4" X 3/4" bolt ss $1.20,
  6 1/4" x 2.5" bolt ss  $2.10,
12 1/4" lock washers ss  $ .60,  tax  $1.00, 
2 Trojan Batteries    164.77, 1 Rope $1.68, 
1 Toll $3.20, Total: $309.54                  

     Note: The contrast between bold and no bold has no significance, just for easier reading, I think.

                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           

Radio Check


     As I was working on this edition of Feed-Point, I heard a call messed up by static on 146.640. But I did hear the words
 "radio check". I responded and had a conversation with KA1MTO, Paul. He and his friend, KA1YKN, Jon, were at Carr Pond experimenting with radio equipment. They were pleased to reach .64. Jon, who has not been active for several years was on the roof  of the camp holding the antenna. When Paul boosted the power to 2 1/2 watts, his signal was very clear. I suggested he try 146.715. He did, but we were not able to converse. Too much static, very little audio.When I talked to him on .64 again, he said the antenna was mounted, but was on the ground, rather then 20' up. His signal was not as good. Paul lives in Essex Junction, Vermont. Jon is listed on QRZ as being in Mapleton.
For Sale

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer.   Charley Zafonte, N1FRX, would really  like to have the tower gone by winter.  Make him an offer.

A Bit of Humor
Real Science Test answers from kids: * Q. Name the four seasons. A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. * Q. What does varicose mean? A. Nearby. * Q. What does the word "benign mean? A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight. *Q. How can you delay milk turning sour? A. Keep it in the cow. 










Page 4        Feed-Point  2003

 
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 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