Southern Oregon Amateur Packet Radio Association
Minutes of General Meeting
October 12, 2002
Providence Hospital, Medford, Oregon


Members Present:
	Albert Lawson – WB7AWL     Cal Burt – KA0DFN
	Dick Suber – K7DDI         Warren Olney – KB7EKF
	Don Barkemeyer – KI7UK

Meeting was called to order by President Albert Lawson at 10:10 a.m.

Treasurer’s Report:
	Bank balance as of October 12, 2002		343.85
	Dues paid prior to meeting:
		George & Anita Malmstrom		20.00
		
	Others paid dues during meeting
Don & Wilma Barkemeyer		   		20.00
		Dick Suber			20.00

Don Barkemeyer moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report.  Dick Suber seconded.  Motion carried.

At this point, Albert Lawson reminded the group that Sean Smithers had 
purchased an Alinco DR435T radio for SOAPRA, and had not 
been paid for it.  This radio, for the GPASS 
Node cost $269.95.  Warren Olney moved, and Don Barkemeyer seconded 
a motion that the treasurer write Sean a check.  It was agreed 
that paying Sean would nearly deplete the bank account 
but members’ dues were coming in for 2003.  Motion Passed.

Albert Lawson noted that the GPASS Node cost a total of $1157.  More about 
the node was discussed later in the meeting.

Secretaries Report:
Reports from last two meetings were reviewed.  Cal Burt moved that 
they be accepted. Don Barkemeyer seconded.  Motion passed

Technical Report:
	SCARA Node—This node is located in Yreka and has been 
	off the air.  Owned by KE6MZN, may be planning to 
	convert it to APRS.  None attending the meeting knew 
	of plans for this node.
	
	Hamaker Node---Had a bad coax connection.  Radio is 
	okay with less power output.  Dick Suber 
	made the repair.  The group thanks Dick.

	Soda Node---All at this node is working well at this time.

	King Node---King is working well but needs to have lithium 
	batteries replaced.  Albert said he would visit the site and 
	make the replacement in a week or two.  Cal and Warren 
	said they would accompany Albert if schedules permit.

	GPASS Node---Node is up and running.  It is located west of 
	Grants Pass at a home of Richard Chatelain, K7ZV, on 
	a 90+ foot tower.  The tower is wired with a wind gauge 
	to lower automatically when wind speeds reach 
	35 mph.  Our antennas were easy to install with the 
	use of Rich’s “cherry picker”.  

	Path Problems—There seems to be a signal path problem between 
	GPASS and the EOC.  Sean is working on the problem.  He is 
	getting Albert the lat/long location and the elevation 
	of the EOC antenna.  Albert will compute path, looking for 
	problems.  At this time the retry rate is 68% (it should be 10% or less).  
	One possible solution is to us a Yagi antenna on the Court House.  Another 
	option is to move the EOCBBS to another location.

Old Business

	Albert reported that we are still having some problems with a 
	path north.  We are “solid” into Lane Mountain, but “weak” from 
	their north.  Portland packeteers have a “solid” system south.  Work 
	needs to be “done” with the folks in the middle.

New Business

	Warren Olney reported about a conversation with Thomas “Ferge” 
	Ferguson, N6SSQ, of Alturas, CA.  It seems that Los Angeles 
	Water & Power owns the rights to many mountain tops between 
	Los Angeles and Idaho.  Ferge is meeting with some of their 
	radio technicians to discuss putting 2-meter repeaters on some 
	peaks in NW Nevada.  He is also going to discuss packet node opportunities.  
	Warren will keep in touch with developments.

	Albert reported that there is a need to establish a solid packet link 
	to Coos County.  Warren will offer our help in checking paths, when they are ready.

	It is time to think about next year’s officers.  
	Cal was elected chairman for nominations.

Meeting closed at 12:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Warren Olney