Historical Electronics Museum Amateur Radio Club

Minutes of the Meeting of September 9, 2004

The meeting was called to order by President Jim Nowotarski N3GOO at

6:00 PM.

Present on the sign-in sheet were (25):

Les WR3X, John Paul AA3WI, Jim AB3CA, Joe K3JIS, Jules K0ZMA, Mike KB3CPV,

Bill WT3B, Bill N3GO, Charles AA3FB, Bob K3FQP, Steve WA3ZWC, Uwe W3/DF2IR,

Gary W3GMY, Jim N3GOO, Fred AI3Z, Norman WA6ABD, Jim KB3GSA,Gary

W3DTN, Bruce W3YVV, Rol K3RA, Gene W3BAB, Ray K3ZC, Nick K3NY, Paul KD3JF,

Chip W4PBG,

The President reminded the members present that 50/50 tickets were

available. Nick offered two charged 7 AH batteries for use as

additional prizes.

Minutes

A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the August

meeting as published. The motion was approved by voice vote.

Treasurer's Report

Fred AI3Z said that the Club was doing OK. The bank balance is $693.48.

There was $33 income from sales of snacks and the 50/50 raffle at the last

meeting. A total of 50 members have paid their dues. Some members have

started paying their 2005 dues. A motion was made and seconded to accept

the Treasurer's Report as stated. The motion was approved by voice vote.

QSL Cards

Nick reported that 8 QSLs just arrived and that there are 20 that need to

be answered. If you have cards to send to the Outgoing Bureau and you are

a member or the ARRL, remember that you can save on postage by giving them

to Nick for shipping along with the Club's cards. The cost is $4 per 8

ounces (approximately 80 cards). You can leave them in the HEMARC mailbox

marked for Nick. The Club has WAZ with the 32 time zones in CW confirmed.

It also has 89 DXCC mixed mode entries confirmed. The Club is still

working on WAS and needs Delaware and North Dakota.

FISTS

K3RA and KD4RA are participating in the pairing of the Code Buddies.

Jim noted that Nick does not want to be the VP for Programs next year

since he has served for 5 years. He is planning to do the QSLs. Please

talk to Jim N3GOO if you have an interest in the VP for Programs office.

Station Operations

Les WR3X said that there were 8 check-ins (including 3 mobile) on

yesterday's net including stations in CA, KY, FL and MS. More check-ins

are desired.

5 stations participated in the first Saturday of the month net. Many were

the same as the Wednesday net. More operators are needed.

Nick and Ewe installed the 40/80m dipole antenna using Chips materials.

Chip pointed out that the antenna needs final tuning and the ends

finished. An MFJ-259B was used for tuning. The 40m operation is

impressive. Gary observed that a third dipole cut for 80m or 75m can be added.

The 10m dipole is waiting for installation, the reinstallation of the Gap antenna

and the relocation of the Ringo Ranger are also waiting. Chuck

will be available on Monday 9/13 to work on the installation.

Others will try to make it.

Jim requested a marked up diagram showing the location of each

antenna on the roof.

Nick will swap out the computer used for logging. Rol said that the

computer will need two communications ports and a third would be

useful. Rol said logging is being done on both computers. Nick requested

that operators use the computer marked 'logging computer.' There are

about 14,840 Qs in the log since 1998.

Training

The Extra class starts on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 at 6:30 PM.

Notices about the course were sent to the Anne Arundel Club, BRATS, and

AutoCall. A technician's course will be offered after Christmas and a General

course in the spring. Chip had fliers advertising the course.

FAR Report

Chip attended the FAR meeting last night. He said that FAR's

financial situation will be 'touch and go' at the end of the year. The

FARFest has sold out all of the tables in the main building. HEMARC has two

tables in the back on the left side. Both FAR and HEMARC need volunteers.

The test table needs to be covered by two people.

The FAR president resigned effective 1/1/2005. The representatives

discussed the decline of support from the Foundation's 45 Clubs.

The Presidents and secretaries of the member clubs will meet with Tom

W3TOM, ARRL Section Manager. AutoCall's future deadlines are 9/15 and

12/15. See Chip for free FARFest tickets for volunteers. Ewe, Gary (DTN),

Chip and Fred will supply test equipment.

Old Business

Jim AB3CA reported on the progress of helping George Gingher's (SK)

wife find some who could use his crank-up antenna, rotator, boom

microphone, QSL cards and logs.

Nick asked if we are going to sell the towers. Rol answered

'maybe.'

Jim reported on the August 25, 2004 HEMARC Board meeting and passed

out meeting minutes. Board members discussed what to do with the stuff

in the storeroom and configuration of the station, etc. Jim plans another

meeting in two weeks on Wednesday, 9/22/2004, at 6:00 PM. The

Officers and appointed VPs will discuss aspects of the Club that deal with

Museum, material in storage, station, etc.

Rol said that he had agreed to look at the inventory report to see

what we need. We should look at the purpose of the station in the near and

long terms to decide what we will keep. The Museum Board has toured the

storage area and was concerned about the amount of storage. Tower

parts are scattered and a file cabinet is out of place. There are QSL

cards in boxes and the station does not look like an exhibit. A speaker is

needed so people can hear. The station needs to be better. Gene

volunteered to make a video on ATV. Jim volunteered to look at the station layout.

The Club Board will list ideas and set priorities and bring them back to

the members. Members can come to the Board meeting. Things to be done

will be broken down into projects and volunteers will be sought. Some

projects are: the Hallicrafters exhibit project, rotating exhibits (3-6

months), keying mechanisms. The Museum will help with tables, signs, display

cases, etc. We may sell one antenna and keep one. An updated

inventory is needed.

Joe mentioned that he had investigated the teaching opportunity

circulated to the members. The opportunity required a Maryland teaching

certification which can be earned by taking 21 credits.

Fred donated a speaker/headphone box so people can hear. He also

donated a Yaesu FT920 'speaker driver' (Hi Hi) with HF-50MHz capability,

DSP, voice and cw keyers, owners manual and technical overview. Mike

will download the manual. Jim asked for other manuals as well. Members

thanked Fred with a hearty round of applause. The secretary will

draft a receipt for Fred. Nick requested the Club return the Omni-5 which

he had loaned the Club. Nick also received a fine round of applause in

recognition of the equipment loan and for serving as VP for Programs

for 5 years.

Jim reminded the members of the 50-50 raffle.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. The motion was approved

by voice vote.

The Technical Program was a great presentation by Rol Anders on

Feeding Antennas: To Balun or Not to Balun, That is the Question.

Respectfully Submitted by

Jim Smith AB3CA

Secretary

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Minutes of the HEMARC Board Meeting of September 22, 2004 at the Museum

Attending were: Jim Nowotarski, N3GOO; Norm Smith, WA6ABD; Roland Anders,

K3RA; Les Jamison, WR3X

A discussion of the antenna situation was held and the following

decisions were made:

1) Les Jamison will investigate the purchase of a 6 and 2 meter beam

antenna to replace the 2 meter beam on the tower. This will provide

us with 6 meter capability.

2) Roland Anders will investigate acquiring a two meter vertical

antenna for use with a packet station for spotting and cluster operation.

3) After much discussion of the roof antenna layout, we reluctantly

decided that Uwe's antenna would not fit, given our other plans, so

we have decided to install Chip's 10 meter dipole on stanchions C, E

and H, with the center support on stanchion E.

4) The club will make plans to acquire approximately 500 feet of

RG213 or LMR-400 coax to set up 4 feed lines from the new stanchions

to the radio station.

Jim, N3GOO