Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, Jan 2017 This year the Januaery gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was held on Jan 14, 2017 in the basement of the Red Cross in Waterloo. There were 20 members (18 ARRL) and 9 guests in attendance this evening, listed below. Minutes accepted (N0TKC / W0HHF) Treasurer's report: $ 1293.65 in the general account not including tonight's colllection from membership dues or mail. (N0TKC / N4HRL) W0RBK repeater is up, 146.655 / 136.5 with allstar and echolink, battery backup. DMR repeater also at grundy center, 443.75. 220ft up, battery backup as well. W0ALO DMR repeater is now on the internetm Wateloo users now have HT accesss to DMR radio. Another DMR repeater is being installed in Ackley, will be up in a few weeks. Reminder, our next VE testing is Feb 18 at the CF Public Library. Our club's Field Day is also coming up in June, time ot start preparing. We also have our club's hamfest coming up in July, probably need to get a committee together soon to start getting things ready. Jambouri on the Air (JOTA) is also coming up. This time we'd like to get ahold of scout leaders well before June. Prior JOTA have gone well but have been very last-minute. Tonight's meeting was brief to clear time for Bill, who has a lot to tell us about DMR. Motion to adjourn (N0TKC / K0CQH) PRESENTATION ------------ Tonight's presentation was by Bill Dedic, on DMR radio. It's rapidly picking up momentum here in iowa due to the low cost of entry and by several local hams taking big initiatives. We appreciate all they've done to get this new mode into the hands of so many local users. OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------- Nick (KD0WVN) has donated some older photography gear he received from an estate that he isn't going to use, to give away to club members. Please consider a small donation to the club if you find something you really like. Unclaimed gear will be thrown away so don't be shy. Currently held by N0ZYC, will be brought to the Feb meeting. I'd like to see it all claimed at the Feb meeting. UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- - Febuary's presentation TBD. REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - hams meet informally at 9am every Monday morning at HyVee on University Ave - hams meet informally at 12pm every Tuesday at Taco Johns on University Ave - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tues night at 7pm on 3572.5 / 3574 ctr USB VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- - contact Thom (AE0TB) for testing VE testing dates for 2017 are: 2/18/2017, 4/22/2017, 9/16/2017, 11/25/2017 HAMFESTS -------- - Perry Winter RF Fest on Sat Feb 25 at the Perry National Guard Armory http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/9th-annual-winter-rf-fest - Mahaska Hamfest on March 18 at Oskaloosa's American Legion Hall http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/mahaska-hams-swapmeet - W0MG Swap Meet on Sat July 8 at Waterloo Gateway Park http://vftp.net/n0zyc/hamfests/W0MG_SwapMeet_2017.jpeg - DMRAA Hamfest on Sat April 22 at Des Moines Iowa State Fairgrounds http://dmraa.com/hamfest - CVARC Hamfewst on Sun August 6 at Cedar Rapids OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ - there is a new repeater on the air, W0RBK in Reinbeck, 146.655(-) 136.5 tone (Allstar Node 42069) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: http://w0mg.net - 2017 NIRAA Membership form: http://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform2017.pdf - Cedar Valley area repeaters: http://w0mg.net/repeaters/ - W0MG 2017 Hamfest: http://vftp.net/n0zyc/hamfests/W0MG_SwapMeet_2017.jpeg =============================================================================== The NIRAA club meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month at 7pm in the basement of the Red Cross building (2530 University Ave) in Waterloo. Anyone interested in ham radio is welcome to attend. Our primary club repeater is on 146.94 mhz, negative offset, PL tone of 136.5 hz, with coverage centered in Black Hawk County. Our club website is at http://www.w0mg.net/ . Primary email contact is Nathan at sec(a)w0mg.net Officers may be contacted over the air or via email: President, Mark Colby, N8TWO, pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President, Curtis Wilson, NK0T, vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary, Nathan Fisher, N0ZYC, sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer, Dave Knittel, K0CQH, treas(a)w0mg.net Director 1, Harold Lucas, N4HRL, dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2, Stan Johnson, W0SJ, dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 3, Thom Bicket, AE0TB, dir3(a)w0mg.net - Nathan Fisher Secretary, W0MG You're receiving these meeting minutes because you have given the NIRAA club your email address for minutes or announcements. If you no longer wish to receive email, please reply requesting removal from one or both distribution lists. This month's meeting attendance: Members: KD0DK David Kelly N4HRL Harold Lucas W0DT Don Talaska K0CQH Dave Knittel N0TKC Taryn Colby KE0IYO David Welch WA0VFE Bill McGuire N0ZYC Nathan Fisher KA0DBC Lois Johnson W0HHF Dick Nelson N0HHF Judi Nelson WA0TPN Scott Lowe N0TKC Taryn Colby W0SJ Stan Johnson N7PSA Craig Hundley WB0UFU John Mills WA0EEY Raynard Engel N8TWO Mark Colby KZ0MBI Michael Chapman W0ALO Chuck Angel N0CF Chris Conklin KE0IYQ Seth Rindels Guests: AE0TB Tom Bicket NK0T Curt Wilson KB0MGH John Carstensen N3CAH Craig Hoepfner AE5EI Joe Hoepfner W0VJB Vicki Bicket KE0IWQ James Fitkin KE0IWP Janice Fitkin WA0ILD Kermit Kittleson Members wishing to pay their 2017 dues please contact Dave Knittel. Members who have already paid but are listed above as guests, please do same.