******   S.O.A.P.R.A.   ******   
              Southern Oregon Amateur Packet Radio Association
                     
                    January Meeting Minutes for 01/8/00

             Scheduled Meeting at Providence Hospital, Medford.
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        Called to Order: 10:00 AM  Gene Burchfield, KO6DW, Presiding

Present:

Sean Smithers   N7ZWU   Dick Wolfe    AA7GC   Anne Wolfe   AA7GD
Gene Burchfield KO6DW   Steve Grajeda WB6YQP  Frank Norman KE6MZN
Bill Frazier    KC7REK  Dick Suber    K7DDI   Ozzie Diaz   W6ICM
Will Calvert    N7KS

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Minutes of previous meeting were read by Sean, N7ZWU
Accepted as read


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Treasurer's Report: 

Beginning balance was $937.25 with $15.31 cash on hand and $60.00 dues
not deposited. Total funds $1012.56 as of December 31, 1999. No
outstanding bills.

Motion to accept by Will, N7KS. 2nd by Dick, K7DDI. Accepted.

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Tech Report:

Hamaker is down, possible power problem. Dick, K7DDI needs to go check on
power reset. He has the replacement power supply.

PV will link on 223.40MHz

Everything else is doing ok at this time.

CJ should be up sometime soon.

KOPE is down, we need to move it where we have better access.

SCARA node: there are some problems accessing it from the North end of
Scott Vally. Gene, KO6DW reports they are checking on other sites.

Discussion of path north.

Dick, AA7GC reports that Lane is up and operating, nothing is moving north
past CGRV.

WB7AWL-WB7VMS are the only feeds into KC7TLY at this time.

The weather service BBS is up, the bugs are being worked out. Alias MFRWX

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Old Business:

Discussion of stadardization of terminal programs used for ARES
message traffic.

Jackson Co. is using Lanlink. It is a DOS program, has a message
editor and works well on 486 systems. We need to try it in
operation under Windows 95/98.

Douglas Co. is using Paket. It runs under DOS and works well on
486 systems.

Josephine Co. is using Winpack 6.2 at the EOC.

Siskyou Co. is using KA Gold at the EOC. The DOS and Windows
versions work exactly alike.

One of the problems noticed in the Y2k preparedness exercise is
that we need to have a familiar user interface so that operators
don't waste time learning a new user interface under emergency
conditions.

If a program is standardized then there is need for operators
to practice with it so they can familiarize themselves with it
as they won't necessarily be using the terminal program at home.

One of the solutions could be to load all the different programs
used in an area so that each operator would be able to use the
interface he/she is most familiar with.

Another good item to develop would be a ARES station checklist
that gives startup details for getting the packet equipment on
the air.


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New Business:

Motion by Dick, K7DDI to buy a Metered 35A power supply.
2nd by Steve, WB6YQP. Passed.

Sean, N7ZWU and Steve, WB6YQP are to shop for price on an RS-35M
Astron power supply.

Problems noted in getting traffic to move north. Is there a
possibility of getting a node on Scott Mountain?

Another problem with traffic may be related to BBS's out there
that haven't upgraded to be Y2k compatible. This affects message
dates and white page updates if not corrected.

Sean, N7ZWU needs to type up the Bylaws and send them to SOAPRA
members.

There will be an APRS demo at the SCARA meeting on April 1, 2000.

Bill, KC7REK reports that the OSP has HF digital + packet set for
use as an alternative to voice communications. They were having
problems with RFI.

Will, N7KS recommends the OREGON node internet gateway and its
capabilities need more publicity.

Anne, AA7GD recommends that radio clubs would be more interesting
if the business part were shortened and representatives, programs
and speakers were invited to help generate interest.

We need to welcome the use of the system, otherwise it is a waste
of money and effort maintaining and installing it.

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Meeting adjourned: 11:50 PM

Sean, N7ZWU
SOAPRA Secretary.

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/ex