Historical Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club Minutes of the meeting of 11 May 2006

 

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

 

Attending from the sign in sheet:

Don Ruokonen K3PRN

Jim Nowotarski N3GOO

Jim Smith AB3CA

Uwe Kulms DF2IR

John Paul Howell AA3WI

Ed Myerson AA3XY

Steve Stitzer WA3ZWC

Bob Gardenghi K3FQP

Les Jamison WR3X

Tom Dalton KB3NHQ

Heru Walmsley W3WVV

Chuck Angel AA3FB

Gary Henderson W3DTN

Nick Yokanovich K3NY

Rick Bartel W3RCB

Chip Weems W4PBG

Rol Anders K3RA

 

The minutes of the April meeting had been emailed to the membership and hard copies were available at the meeting. They were approved as written.

 

The Treasurer was away on business.  A call was again made for someone to step forward and assume the role.  There are some bills to be paid etc.  Jim

will keep any money collected for the time being.

 

Heru W3WVV noted that some clubs are yielding some interest by

putting their larger amounts of treasury in certificates of deposit.  With most useful yields requiring a minimum of $1000.00 and fairly long term

commitments we will have to wait until our funds are considerably increased from the present rough estimate of around $800.00/

 

Nick K3NY is gearing up for D-Day and circulated copies of previous certificates.  The full layout of the SCR-584 AA system was chosen for this year.  (Since an number of these were landed at Normandy it seems quite appropriate.) Thus far these events have accumulated debts of $18.00 for QSL bureau postage, $56.56 from the last event and $45.00 for the table at Timonium.

 

The USS Des Moines (WWII Cruiser) is going off museum hold and will be available for picking up some of its electronic compliments.  Les WR3X

advised that the Carrier USS Forestall  could be located in Baltimore.

 

Training

Les WR3X reported that the 4 remaining General Class student are only a few weeks away from their exams.

 

Saturday Work Party is required to replace the rotator with a loaner from Warren Hartman.  The replacement rotator need lubricating and a

checkout for worn parts etc. Rol K3RA will come in for the replacement on the tower but will need help.

 

A few weeks ago over 300 people come through the museum as part of the 'take you kids to work day.' Les worked the station for a while but couldn't talk to the people at the same time.  It was hoped by the museum staff that we would have the station manned for this event.  Apparently there was a communications failure.

 

Last Saturday there were over 800 people in the museum for Robots day.  The station was not operated because it has interfered with the robots

in the past. (nice demo for electronic warfare?)

 

Les reported on Trinity High School in PA putting on an ATV demonstration which was covered by national television with student interviews.

Over 300 new hams have been yielded from this course.

 

The Northrop Grumman Net on 14.270MHz was prematurely terminated on

10 May

because of some very heavy local noise which sounded like welding arcs which rose to S8/9. (Not power line for a change.)

 

The FAR meeting was in VA so the next FAR report will be in June. We are still committed to the equipment test table for the FARFest this September

9th and 10th.

 

D-Day

June 3rd & 4th. W2W Saturday and Sunday.  Nick will be have Museum Ships on the Air the same weekend NK3ST.  We need openers and closers for both days

as well as operators. On Saturday Nick K3NY will come in and open and then go to the TORSK, if a closer shows up or call or emails Nick he will not

have to come back. Sunday is open and needs to be organized. The W2W call has been reserved until the 11th and operators are invited to come in and operate the station as W2W.  If you can work on Sunday send an email to Rol, Jim or the undersigned.  If no one else can open Sunday Rol will open but cannot stay.  So volunteers are needed in any event. Also Nick would appreciate any help on the TORSK.

 

The Museum Key policy of the Museum was discussed.

 

The Drake TR-7

Gary Henderson W3DTN led a discussion on the TR-7 and its fate.  It was decided that it will be removed from the for sale listing and used for new

General Class hams as a starter loaner.  Gary has the instruction book and operation manual.  The internet will be checked first. Gary also discussed the disposition of equipment he is handling. The VHF multimode would be of value to the club.  Gary will find out if the estate will be willing to accept a tax donation for it.

 

Field Day

An extended discussion of field day was held.

A special supplement to these minutes will be issued from Jim N3GOO to the membership.

 

Gary W3DTN volunteered a brace of Motorola HT s.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM

 

The technical program was a presentation by Les WR3X on: The Global Maritime Distress & Safety System and some of the units used in the system.

 

Submitted by W4PBG     16 May 06

For Norm Smith WA6ABD Secretary