Historical Electronics Museum ARC

Minutes of the General Meeting of 13 January 2005

Attending on the sign in sheet: Jim N3GOO, Les WR3X, Steve WA3ZWC, Milt

N3BVI, Phil W3WRD, Uwe DF2IR, Jim AB3CA, Heru W3WVV, Chip W4PBG, Bill WT3B,

Sparky KD4KL, Paul KD3JF, Allen KB3JHC, Warren W3JDF, Alan N3IKI, Bob K3FQP,

Al K0IGF, Andrew KB3JUH, John Paul AA3WI, Gene W3BAB, Nick K3NY, Fred AI3Z,

Chuck AA3FB, Bill KB3JJS, Joe K3JIS and Gary W3DTN. Rol K3RA, Sydney

KB3LIG, Paul KD3JF and Gene KB3JHR also attended.

HEMARC welcomed new members: Philip Hock W3VRD, Gene Kern, Jr. KB3JHR and

Sydney Puckett KB3LIG. Delighted to have them aboard.

The meeting was called to order by President Jim Nowotarski N3GOO at 6:00PM.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved with the addition of Bill NG3O

to the list of W2W operators.

The treasurer Fred AI3Z reported a total balance of $679.72 in the treasury.

Accepted.

QSL & FISTS

Nick K3NY Reported: The 400Hz filter for the 920 is on order.

QSL Cards confirm 98 of the 212countries worked. We finally have all 50

states confirmed with cards. We do need to find a place to store the QSL

cards that have been evicted from the station area.

Cables - The completion of the cable runs was discussed. This information

From Chuck AA3FB covers it well;

"On Jan 3 2005, Les,WR3X, Roland, W3RA; Mike,KB3CPV and Chuck,AA3FB

finished up the museum roof antenna co-ax installation. The following is

as of this date:

(Brown tape)10 meter dipole direct to the R1000 receiver strung

between C & H w/down lead over E.

(White tape) Ringo Ranger is mounted on G and goes direct to the R1000

receiver.

(Yellow tape) This spare coax run is doubled back on itself and the

PL259 end is tucked into

the 90 degree, 6 inch PVC elbow on the roof to

protect it from the elements.

(No tape) The is from the GAP and is also terminated on the co-ax

switch.

The three runs all seem to be working. As of this time, no SWR's

have been run. I'd suggest that it be done and the results recorded for

the station records." Note: SWR has been run and they are all ok.

Northrop Grumman Family Net

Les WR3X reported that the Wednesday 2000Z net is running very well and that

The first Saturday net was off to a good start with Rol K3RA as NCS on New Years

Day at 11:00AM. Tim Titus W1TRT has changed his Saturday museum volunteer

day to the first Saturday which will provide good continuity for this net.

Both nets are on 14.270MHz.

The Station

The Ringo antenna has been connected to the packet radio which now gives

access and freedom from internal interference to all the local packet

clusters. The 2 meter weak signal antenna is now available at needed at the

HF position. The dipole for the R-1000 receiver is now in its perm ant

location and all works well.

Training

The 2004 Amateur Extra Class was very successful with all that were tested

achieving their upgrade. The one that didn't test at the museum may have

tested elsewhere.

The first Technician class has begun with 18 at the first class. Some young

people are included. There is a need for someone to monitor the front desk

during the class to present uncontrolled entrance to the museum galleries.

Paul Gates KD3JF volunteered for next Tuesday.

Foundation for Amateur Radio

The last meeting was in Virginia and we were not represented.

The FAR scholarship application season is open and all licensed hams at any

age that are attending school are encouraged to apply. To obtain the

necessary endorsements pleas bring the applications to a HEMARC meeting.

Parking at the Museum

Steve WA3ZWC discussed the plans for changing the roads around the museum to

accommodate the new Hilton hotel and what this may do to the parking

situation for the museum. This is likely to be a year away. The fate of

the MK45 torpedo was discussed.

The Station Appearance

Rol K3RA discussed the need for a program for improving the appearance of

the station as a museum display. A number of items were noted - among them:

Storage at the station should be relocated, QSL card display, pinned up

signs, wall display readability, raising the cable floor- cable covers. The

station VP's agreed to take a lead role in planning these improvements.

Ideas on the ATV station display improvement were discussed with Heru W3WVV

and Gene W3BAB. A floor cover is being considered to allow operators to

have water at the station.

Heru W3WVV noted that there is a homebrew station build by Westinghouse

engineer Kiefer Stull in the storage area that the museum would like for

HEMARC to disposition.. This represented the ham art in the 1960's era. As

a display in the evolution of amateur radio it would be neat to display.

However, it is very large. Rol K3RA and Heru W3WVV will meet in the storage

area and determine it's appropriateness for display.

HEMARC Roster

An effort is being made to update the master HEMARC roster. As a start, an

email list was circulated for correction. Everyone is encouraged to send an

email to: cmweems@ieee.org with any email address, USPS address or other

change. A new active listing will be issued at the next meeting.

Hamfests

Freefest at Timonium Wed the 26th in the home arts building at the

Fairground 4PM to about 9PM. Gene W3BAB advises get there early. No charge.

A plea for Operators

We need station operators to keep W3HEM on the air: Especially on Saturdays

but also on any time during the week.

The business meeting adjourned at 7:04PM

Before the Technical Presentation Bob K3FQP gave a show and tell on how an

electronic rodent repeller provided interference on the HF ham bands. This

generated a lot of conversation on ham band interference and what can be

done about it.

Rol K3RA presented a discussion on wire antennas and what EZNEC tells us

about them.

The members had emailed their wire antennas and he presented what each of

these antennas looked like in terms of SWR, radiation patterns and

impedances. There were lots of surprised and everyone went away with a

better understanding of what is and is not important. The 8JK was profiled

at the end and that got a lot of juices flowing.

A good portion of the club finally left at about 10PM.

(Note: Sparky KD4KL indicated that the ARRL has an EZNEC instruction set)

Submitted by Chip Weems W4PBG 15 January 2005

HEMARC Secretary