Historical Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club

Minutes of the meeting of 10March05

President Jim Nowotarski N3GOO opened the meeting at 6:00PM.

Attending on the sign in sheet were: Chip W4PBG, Fred AI3Z, Les WR3X, Bruce WB3BMI, Steve WA3ZWC, Ed AA3XY, Larry K3FIT, Al K0IQE, Chuck AA3FB, William KB3LWL, Bill NG3O, Jim N3GOO, Heru W3WVV, Gary W3DTN, Norman WA6ABD, Andrew KB3JUH, Bill WT3B, Gene KB3JHR, Jim KB3GSA, George W3MPN, Nick K3NY, Richard W3RCB, Gary N3BYN, Alex WH6SI, Frank

KB3JJP, W3JDF and Larry W3FIT.

Alex Christopher WA6SI is from Hawaii but has been relocated by the Coast Guard to Baltimore. He intends to join HEMARC.

New members joining at the meeting were: Larry Leitch K3FIT and Frank KB3JJP.

The minutes of the February meeting were approved as amended by corrections.

The treasurer, Fred AI3Z, reported a net balance of $771.65. As of the end of the meeting there are 49 paid up members 2005.

Mike Simons, the Museum Director, came to the meeting, received the $100.00 donation check and thanked the membership.

Nick K3NY QSL Report

Our 109th DXCC confirmation has been received (from Diego Garcia.) Logs are now in order in the station logging computer for 5Band DXCC and 5Band WAS for both CW and phone. All are encouraged to use the 40M and 80M dipole (and the GAP when it is repaired to fill in the blanks for WAS and try some serious DXings on these low bands.

FISTS

Nick K3NY reported that the FISTS Code buddy program is now up to about 300 operators with applications coming in at a rate of about one every day.

GAP Repairs Needed

The GAP antenna has slid down into the stand pipe. The new PVC insulating collar loosened and the antenna slid down into the standpipe. Chuck AA3FB will effect a repair and reinstall the antenna. Some coax damage must also be repaired.

2Meter Antenna Fixed

The 2 meter ATV antenna has been repaired by Heru W3WVV and is ready for reinstallation.

Linear Amp

The switch segment and the parasitic suppressor modification kits for the linear have been ordered from Kenwood.

Note: The linear modification kits are from Rich Measures AG6K, www.somis.org, who is recommended as a good source of information on RF power amplifiers.

Station Appearance

Chuck AA3FB reports that two panel of the four required floor panels are complete and the last two have been painted and are drying. This and the coax cover pipe will fix up the back portion of the station. When this is done a plan for the upper display panel and completion of the station appearance project completion is the next item that needs to be addressed. It was noted that there are funds remaining in the appearance grant.

It was mentioned that a Patch panel for the coax terminations might be an improvement that would make station operational changes more intuitive.

Training

The technician class completed last Tuesday night and 11 to 12 students will test next week.

The General Class will begin on March 22.

HEMARC has a physical limitation of 15 to 20 students. Over 30 potential students from MD, VA & PA have called looking for Technician classes.

Norm WA6ABD has assisted Les by coming in to watch the door during the early hour of the class and this is much appreciated. This has become necessary, as it is necessary to keep people from wondering in while the museum is closed to the public. Paul Gates KD3JF had been assisting but is just beginning his convalescence from knee replacement surgery. A list of possible volunteers was solicited so the burden would not fall on one person.

FAR Report

The 2005 FARFest is at Gaithersburg, September 10 and 11.

The FARFest management has committed that they will provide HEMARC two contiguous tables so the testing can be done safely. Last year they used the small building for indoor tables. This year they are using both the big upper bays of the large building. This will cost more but already about 30% more vendors are lined up than at this time last year and this should indicate we might come out very well.

A multiyear contract for the Gaithersburg Site is in negotiations.

FAR Scholarships are trickling in - Members were asked to advise any ham they know in college to apply now.

Timonium Hamboree and ARRL Maryland Convention

It was determined that we may be a bit late to get the free tables we have been using at past Hamboree's. Gary W3DTN has an indoor tailgate spot we can use if all else fails. A copy of the necessary information to determine if tables can be made available for HEMARC was supplied to Gary, who will inquire with the Hamboree. The results will be communicated to the membership.

Heru W3WVV said that the museum would not have an Excess Stuff table this year because they have not collected sufficient items for disposition.

HEMARC Property

We need to update the inventory of what we have and then:

a. Determine what we need.

b. Figure out how to dispose of what we do not need.

Rol Anders K3RA is interfacing with the museum and the needs for the revamped communications gallery. Incidental to this is a determination of the degree of operability of the various items.

Note: A copy of the latest inventory is in a folder in the HEMARC archive drawer in the HEM Archive room.

We have two Rohn 25 towers in storage and have already voted keep one and sell one. Some one needs to get the information available and publish it.

Power Point Programs from ARRL

Les WR3X has downloaded a group of Power Point presentation from the ARRL on many subjects of interest to amateurs. They will be used in future programs.

Field Day 2005

Fred AI3Z has reservations at Ft. Smallwood Park and a private lot near the parkway. A $75.00 deposit is necessary if we choose Ft. Smallwood. The membership approved by voice vote to pay the deposit for Ft. Smallwood. An ad-hoc committee of Fred AI3Z, John Paul AA3WI, Jim N3GOO, Nick K3NY and Norm WA6ABD will address the issues of what class to run and other details. 1st backup location is a private area near the parkway and the 2nd backup is the museum lot.

FCC Chairman Comment

Heru W3WVV pointed out that Michel Powell resigned as chairman essentially admitting that he was incompetent to handle the position. A copy of a letter Heru had written to him was passed around and in it Heru pointed out some of his failings. Few hams would disagree.

A doorbell?

When we are operating during hours when the museum is closed and when conducting classes and meetings in the conference room, a doorbell would be quite useful. It was unclear whether a wireless doorbell that could be attached to the front door was available. This requires some looking into. A Radio Shack wireless was tried a few years ago and proved unreliable due to the distance to the conference room and the steel in the buildings construction.

Reminder: The Marriott is still towing cars from their lot and it is still $125.00 to get them out of impoundment.

The Business meeting adjourned at 7:23PM

The Technical Session

We were privileged to enjoy a talk by HEMARC member John Johnston W3BE who has been recently elected national president of the Quarter Century Wireless Association.

He discussed the origin and history of the QCWA and the first Baltimore Area Chapter.

Several founders of the Baltimore Chapter were also members of our predecessor ham club the Friendship Amateur Radio Club. The QCWA has 7,500 members in 35 countries. 33,000 QCWA serial numbers have been issues. John also presented videotape showing 'the terrible consequences of failing to renew your amateur license, which was enjoyed by all. His wife who is also a ham accompanied him.

Submitted by Chip Weems W4PBG, Secretary 14 March 2005