Historical Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club
 
Minutes of the Meeting of
July 7, 2004
 
The meeting was called to order by President Jim Nowotarski N3GOO at 6:00
PM.
 
Present on the sign-in sheet were (26):
Jim N3GOO, Les WR3X, Rol K3RA, Bruce WB3BMI, Norm WA6ABD, John Paul AA3WI,
Fred AI3Z, Gary W3DTN, Paul KD3JF, Jules K0ZMA, Joe K3JIS, Chip W4PBG,
Heru W3WVV, Jim N3ZPS, Bill WT3B, Charles K3JJD, George W3MPN, Allen
KB3JHC, Alvin K0IQE, Bruce W3YVV, Jim KB3GSA, Charles AA3FB, Steve WA3ZWC,
John W3BE, Bill NG3O, Nick K3NY
 
Minutes
A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the June meeting
as distributed. The motion was approved by voice vote.
 
Treasurer's Report
Fred AI3Z reported that the Club has $106.85 cash on hand and a net worth
of $1325.33. There were 2 new members last month giving a total club
membership of 50. Raffle income last month was $17.50 and snack income
was $16.00. After Fred pays an approximately $380.00 QSL printing bill
from Nick, the net worth will be about $945.00. The food costs for Field
Day were $67.50 for a deluxe food tray and $27.15 for the evening meal. A
motion was made and seconded to accept the Treasurer's Report as
presented. The motion was approved by voice vote.
 
Operations
Les said the nets are going fairly well. There were problems yesterday
with storms -- 20-30 over S9 noise due to lightening. There were 6
contacts during the net. The first Saturday of the month net had 3
contacts and net control. Les reminded Members that 14.270 MHz is the
primary frequency and 21.360 MHz is the backup frequency for both nets.
We would like to get others to fill in for net control. Les, Bob
Gardenghi and Chip are the only net controllers for now. It appears that
the .INI file of the logging program is destroyed when the PC crashes.
Station operators can use either PC because the databases will be merged.
We particularly need people to come in and operate when the Museum is
open. More Club information handouts are needed at the station. Chip
volunteered to make more copies. Rol suggested we should recognize the
Hams who signed the book at the Station to thank them for stopping by.
Jim will try to do this after the course starts.
 
Antennas
We need to get the antennas back up on the roof of the Museum. Should we
also install an inverted "V?" Rol asked if the extra cables that were run
up to the roof were terminated. Chuck said that he did not think they
were. Jim N3GOO will help Rol look into this. Les has rolls of coax in
the back storage area. New coax for the Gap antenna is needed. Should
there be an antenna for the R1000? Chip will make a dipole.
 
Training
Rol said that the Amateur Extra Course will start on the third Tuesday in
September. It will meet at 6:30 PM at the Museum. Holly Bevin would like
updated information on courses and testing. Heru said that Mayer on the
147.030 MHz repeater needs a copy to make announcements on the regular 1
PM Saturday bulletin. Chip verified that the information on the course
was included in AutoCall. The course is open only to General and Advanced
Class licensees.
In the General Class that recently ended, 2 students passed. One student
took the General and code tests and passed both; the second took the
Technician and General tests and passed both; the fate of the third
student is unknown; and the fourth student did not pass the General test.
 
FAR
Chip said that the next meeting would be next week. He reminded everyone
that HEMARC has agreed to staff the test table at the FARFEST on September
11 and 12 at Gaithersburg. Testing will be available both days at the
nearby Hilton Hotel.
Rol reported that the FAR Scholarship recipients were identified and will
be announced in a month or so. There were 90 applicants and 60 awards.
There are various requirements for the scholarships and everyone eligible
should apply.
 
Jackets
The jacket deal may be off since Sam's daughter has a new employer.
 
Programs
Nick K3NY passed out great looking certificates to those who participated
in Field Day. He said that the Club did not do as well as last year, but
we ate better. The GOTA Station and the VHF station scored better than
last year. Norman and his wife, Robin, and his son, Evan, participated.
John Paul and his son, William, made about 60 contacts. The VHF station
had 27 contacts. There were 278 CW contacts (compared to 442 in 2003).
There were fewer bonus points. The solar panel equipped QRP station had 1
contact and there were no satellite contacts. Nick stated that overall it
was a good Field Day. The setup help was much appreciated. Nick said
that we should consider going QRP next year. Jim N3GOO suggested that we
should start earlier and do more planning next year. Nick said that we
could have operated as a 3A station. However, no one said that they would
operate. Joe suggested a Field Day Committee that could recommend several
Field Day sites to the Club. Jim said that we could start making
recommendations and plans at the February meeting and try to get more
operators. Chip said that we need time commitments from the operators.
Chip pointed out that there were 12 copies of the Field Day photographs on
the table and asked if additional copies were needed. Nick asked why the
Club Members could not support events like this? Joe suggested that it
was an example of Parieto's Law. Jim stated that after the Extra class
starts, he will be available during the class on Tuesday evenings to show
Members how to operate the station. Rol said that the Potomac Valley Club
has hundreds of members and that CARA had 30%-40% of their membership
involved. Chip said that CARA has about 165 members and about 30 show up
at meetings. Rol said that HEMARC is healthy and that we could try
calling members on the phone and asking for a commitment. There was a
discussion of how home operators might be used. Joe moved to adjourn to
the Club Station for a Technical Meeting next time to learn about ATV or
Station operation, etc. Rol suggested that we should try to put some HEM
equipment such as the BC-610 on the air. We could open operations beyond
our Club. Nick reported that is the only way that he has been able to
operate special events on the submarine. Rol said that we could publicize
special events on the Web and give a contact for people who want to
operate. Les said that 6 Club Members have keys to the Museum. Chip
indicated that the idea of 'come join us' has been included in AUTOCALL.
Nick said that he will be operating on the TORSK on July 17-18. Norman
said that we should circulate a sign-up sheet at the meeting before an
event. Nick said that he will be operating from home during the Fists
Event on July 24. On Tuesday July 13, 2004 an Electronic Warfare Aircraft
will be dedicated by General Hayden outside the grounds of the
Cryptological Museum at 10 AM at Vigilance Park on Route 32.
 
Old Business
George W3MPN donated a PK232 to the Club. Jim said that we could use it
to demonstrate APRS and Rol said that we could also use the device for
packet.
 
New Business
Chip said that Kate and Christen will be leaving the Museum. He asked if
Nick could make a certificate of thanks and appreciation for help to the
Club that could be presented at the July 19 luncheon. Chip made a motion
that the Club present a 'thank you' certificate and the motion received
unanimous approval.
Norman circulated material from Rubin Bethany Christian Services Fund
Raising Carnival in Bowie, Maryland on Mount Oak Road. Robin suggested
that the Club could setup a demonstration station at the September 25,
2004 carnival.
There was a reminder of the MD-DC QSO Party in August.
Chuck asked if we have adequate N connectors for terminating our antenna
cables. Les said that donors would be helpful.
There was a last call for the 50/50 raffle which had a prize of about $9.
The next meeting will be on August 12, 2004
 
Adjournment
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion was
approved by voice vote at 7:28 PM.
 
Respectfully submitted by
Jim Smith AB3CA, Secretary
August 3, 2004