Historical Electronics Museum ARC

eMinutes of the meeting of 12 May 2005

President Jim Nowotarski N3GOO started the meeting at 6:04 PM.

Present on the sign in sheet:

Fred Heath AI3Z

Chip Weems W4PBG

John Paul Howell AA3WI

Jim Nowotarski N3GOO

Bill Ferguson KB3JJS

Bill Thompson WT3B

Ed Myerson AA3XY

Bruce Shetrone WB3BMI

Rol Anders K3RA

Norm Smith WA6ABD

Steve Stitzer WA3ZWC

Chuck Angel AA3FB

Alan Raichel N3IKI

Sam Dunkle KB3CYL

Bruce Carpenter W3YVV

Bob Gardenghi K3FQP

Gary Ryan W3GMY

Gene Kern KB3JHR

Nick Yokanovich K3NY

Bill Corley NG3O

The April Minutes issues by email were amended with one change: Add: "Norman Smith WA6ABD volunteered to serve as the HEMARC equipment registrar."

The minutes were accepted as amended.

The Treasurer, Fred Heath AI3Z reported that our balance is now $756.15. Our 2005 paid members are now 51.

Training

Rol Anders K3RA the General course is completing next week with 8/10 hanging in there. The Amateur Advance Course will begin the 3ed Tuesday (20th) of September.

FAR

Neither Chip Weems W4PBG nor Tim Titus W1TRT went to the Virginia FAR meeting.

Work Party

The Saturday work party was very successful Nick Yokanovich K3NY, Norm Smith WA6ABD, Bill Corley NG3O, Vaughn Quidorf K3VQ, Bob Gardenghi K3FQP,

UWE Kulms DF2IR, Steve Stitzer WA3ZQC, Les Jamison WR3Z, Gene Knapp W3BAB, Jim Nowotarski N3GOO and the writer participated in the station improvements on May 7, 2005.

The GAP antenna is up and working well on all bands. Measurements on Uwe's DF2IR R&S analyzer are the best ever and well within specification limits.

There is some concern that the yellow RG-8X at the antenna has been abraded and no one is quite sure if the discoloration of the dielectric is evidence of burning. It should probably be cut just above the abrasion (now well taped over) and the PL-256 replaced.

The many cables draping down from the ceiling a re now neatly contained inside a 4" ABS tube and fan out in the new sub floor. It looks very good indeed.

Before the work party Bill Thompson WT3B and Bruce Carpenter W3YVV worked with Chuck Angel AA3FB and completed the new grounding system on the tower.

A larger 12VDC power supply for the HF side of the station would be desirable with an additional 'rig runner.' This would eliminate a few small power supplies and a number of wall warts. Rol Anders K3RA accounted his experience with an apparent fuse blow in the 'rig runner' which turned out to reveal that it must be plugged into the 10Amp socket and will not function on the 3 Amp socket. There was a discussion about where the blown fuse indicator is located on the 'rig runner.' (on the bottom?)

There is still some work remaining. Some grounding lines needs fastening to the wall and a more robust ground wire from the coax entrance box to the new ground rod is desired.

Operations

Nick Yokanovich K3NY announced that we now have 111 DXCC countries confirmed and 20M SB complete toward 5 Band WAS. The ultimate objective is to achieve 5B WAS on SSB and CW. Our log now contains over 18.000 QSO's for W3HEM, W3GR, W2W & N1S. He also reported working an OK station on the US phone segment of 40M. The countries are one at a time authorizing the recently approved use of this band for all regions.

Rol Anders K3RA reported that he had worked a number of stations and later discovered that the DX4WIN logging program had come up in "DEMO MODE." This means that the logged QSO's were not stored but lost. All operators are cautioned to look at the very top of the screen and be sure you see "Rol Anders" rather than "DEMO MODE." When you find it in the wrong mode it is necessary to turn off the PC and start over again.

Note: The 220 VAC at the station is actually 208 VAC.

Jim Nowotarski N3GOO announced that the Kenwood Liner amplifier has been repaired and is back in the station. Bob Gardenghi K3FQP reported that it was used for the NGF net last Wednesday and he worked a 676 over Montana as well as CA etc. The linear has been checked out on all bands 80 through 10 Meters.

The subject of a 160 Meter antenna was raised and a number of suggestions were made on the type and location of such an antenna. It was agreed that this would be a fine future project.

Drink Dispensation at W3HEM

We can now bring drinking water to the station (no where else in the public museum areas.) The museum would appreciate only drinking non-staining liquids (no red wine) and drinking coffee only in non tippable containers.

Rol Anders K3RA recounted two cool happenings while working from W3HEM that will be fully explained in the June HEMARC Newsletter.

D-Day W2W Special Event

This will be on Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5th from 9 AM to 5PM each day. A sign up sheet was passed around and it will be posted on email for others to sign up for operating or kibitzing. Nick Yokanovich K3NY is designing a new certificate and will open and close the museum each day.

Field Day 2005 June 25th & 26th.

Norm Smith WA6ABD outlined the paperwork for field day. Fred Heath AI3Z discussed the Fort Smallwood location and the Pavilion and entrance fees. The general location issue boiled down to two generally accepted possible sites. The primary proposed site is one not too far from Ft. Smallwood that Fred AI3Z is going to visit and check out. If that doesn't work out, the backup is the museum grounds. The members present were amenable to either location.

HEMARC will operate 2A QRP Battery. 5 watts max on all stations. The primary call sign will be W3HEM for all stations but the GOTA station, which will use W3GR.

Specific Plans

a. The 10/15/20 Station Fred AI3Z has a 'rocket launcher' and will use the W3HEM stored beam.

b. The VHF/UHF station is settled between Fred AI3Z and Sam Dunkle KB3CYL.

c. Nick K3NY is settled on the 40/80 Meter station facilities.

d. The GOTA station will use W3GR and Nick K3NY has the radio. Norm WA6ABD will provide a Windom. Jim N3GOO will provide a tuner for the windom.

e. Alan Raichel N3IKI and Chip W4PBG are struggling to determine if a Satellite QRP QSO is reasonably possible. This should

f. Fred AI3Z has a tent for his stations.

g. Sam Dunkle KB3CYL has the 8/9 good batteries under control.

h. Generators can charge batteries that are used to run an ancillary gear & lights etc. Sam KB3CYL has a quiet generator.

i. Several inverters were promised for lights etc.

j. Eating Jim N3GOO will bring a charcoal grill and captain the food items.

k. Alan N1IKI has the equipment for digital.

l. The logging program needs to be resolved.

m. Norm WA6ABD will order ARRL Field Day T shirts. They are $12.95 each plus shipping and are available from adult small to XXXL. Several members ordered them.

An email bulletin will be issued calling for orders no later than May 26.

A number of these items will be discussed on email between now and the next meeting .

Adjourned at 8:09 PM - (The longest HEMARC business meeting ever.)

Submitted by Chip Weems W4PBG Secretary May 14, 2005