Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, Feb 2019 The February gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 7:30 PM Feb 9, 2019 by Harold Lucas (N4HRL). There were 13 members (11 ARRL) and 1 guest in attendance this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: (NONE) Minutes accepted with no adjustments (N0ZYC/N0TKC) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave (K0CQH) reports we have $2,211.60 in the general fund and $1090.18 in savings / repeater fund. So far, a total of 22 members have renewed dues for 2019. Please contact Dave if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Report accepted (N8TWO/N0TKC) REPEATERS --------- Chris's (N0CF) repeater was removed (evicted) recently from UNI, it had been "rediscovered" recently and without proof of authorization to install it, it was removed. The repeater is operational but doesn't have a new home as of yet. (it may return) Mark (N8TWO) might be interested in hosting it, and we could also use better coverage more toward Dick's (W0HHF) location. COMMITTEES ---------- NIRAA Swap Meet 2018 (N0ZYC/KZ0MBI/N8TWO) STEM (W0VJB) Field Day (WA0ILD/W0VJB/etc) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG) is continuing to hold tech classes every Thursday night at 6pm. Contact him for details and testing schedules if interested. (319-243-8819) Mark (N8TWO) updated us on this year's spring camporee, coming up in May. He's still looking for 2-3 more hams to assist with manning their two stations. (need to get the actual map address for the archery location) JOTA is coming up in October, Mark is currently working with Curt (NK0T) and Wendel (N0RXB) are working to assemble kits for scout projects. Field Day committee met recently to discuss this year's location. - Dike / Grundy county park by the lake has power and shelter but no shade, $35 total for campsite and shelter. Vicki may be able to get us a pass to go overnight at the shelter. We need to scout that location to assess prospects for antenna setup - iWarn is considering returning to the Mill this year - Lookout Park is $22 although overnight will double that cost to $44, we will probably also need permission to run overnight there. - Big Woods Lake park is also $22, again requiring permission for overnight use NEW BUSINESS ------------ Harold (N4HRL) would like to hold a board meeting before our March meeting, (at the usual 6:45 pm) Nathan please send out a reminder to board members prior to next month's meeting. A local ham is selling one of the popular Icom 7300's, asking price is $700, contact Harold (N4HRL) for details. Yearly weatherspotter training is coming up, normally held on the last Wednesday of March, which will be on the 27th this year. Time and location are unchanged, 6:30-8:00 pm at Hawkeye College in Tama Hall. We've been reminded that in addition to the more traditional extreme weather they are also interested in receiving reports of severe winter weather. More information is available at the NOAA website: https://www.weather.gov/dmx/stormspotting Taryn (N0TKC) has tickets for the upcoming scout pancake breakfast. $2 for all-you-can-eat. Chris Howlett, a ham in Readlyn, recently received a bone marrow transplant. He's at the VA hospital in Nashville, currently in quarrantine. Jack Albright passed away a few weeks ago following a stroke, there is a considerable amount of equipment to go through in both Waterloo and Waverly. The club will probably be getting involved with assisting his family in placing it. Dave (KD0DK) suggests we change our meeting schedule to hold the presentation first, so that our guest doesn't have to sit through a meeting before conducting their presentation. We can hold our formal meeting after the presentation, giving our guest additional time to get back home before it gets too late. (so motioned, N0TKC/N0CF) Nathan (N0ZYC) inquired about the process for getting physical access to the repeater on Kimball if necessary, considering the recent problem we had with a controller lockup/keydown that went on for several hours. (which finally resolved itself) Normally we woud arrive on-site and track down the security guard and have them let us up there, but considering the recent loss of hosting for Chris's repeater, we may not want to raise any unnecessary attention by asking for a phone number or other additional contact or access information. Added the club's cell phone (319-243-8819) to minutes entries regarding contacting Al for testing. Antenna status and avable parts were discussed briefly. The club's DB224 antenna is currently held by Chris (N0CF), the antenna on the water tower was installed around 2005-2007. Motion to adjourn (N0ZYC/N0TKC) PRESENTATION ------------ Tonight's presentation was by Jennifer Strobehn on robotics UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- March: Lee Garner doing a followup on Joe's digital presentation April: Nathan (N0ZYC) presents on drones/quads 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 Ansborough Ave - hams meet informally at 12pm every Tuesday at Taco Johns on University Ave - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tuesday night at 7pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) << NOTE! FREQENCY HAS CHANGED EFFECTIVE FEB 2018 >> - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- - ongoing tech-to-general class usually meets at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Tuesdays at 6:00 pm contact is Al (KB0VGG) 319-243-8819 2ND FLOOR CF LIBRARY 10AM - scheduled club testing for 2019 will be held at the Hudson Library, at 401 5th St in Hudson, from 9:45 am - 1:00 pm on the following dates: -Feb 16 -Apr 27 -Sept 21 additional testing dates may be added as needed UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- Winter RF Fest in Perry IA, February 23, 8am-12pm 2930 Willis Avenue, Perry, IA 50220 (Perry National Guard Armory) $7 admission, $10 tables, VE testing talk-in: 145.190mhz(-)/114.8hz flyer: https://www.qsl.net/kd0neb/index_files/2019%20Winter%20RF%20Fest%20Flyer.pdf contact/testing/table reservation: hamfest@harciowa.org Mahaska Hams Swapmeet in Oskaloosa, March 16, 8am-11:30am 302 High Ave East, Oskaloosa, IA (American Legion Hall) donations for admission, $5 tables, no testing talk-in: 145.490mhz(-)/146.2hz flyer: http://vftp.net/N0ZYC/hamfests/Mahoska_Hams_Swapmeet_2019.jpg contact/table reservation: vstanley@iowatelecom.net or 641-622-2154 OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ Stormspotter Training is coming up on Wednesday March 27 at 6:30 pm, location is Tama Hall at Hawkeye College. See the NOAA website for more informtion: https://www.weather.gov/dmx/stormspotting W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: http://w0mg.net/ - 2019 membership form: http://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform2019.pdf - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/waterloo.hams/community/ - Cedar Valley area repeaters list: http://w0mg.net/repeaters/ MEETING ATTENDANCE ------------------ Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher N4HRL Harold Lucas K0CQH Dave Knittel W0SJ Stan Johnson KA0DBC Lois Johnson N8TWO Mark Colby NK0T Curt Wilson N0TKC Taryn Colby WB0MAR John Humpal W0ALO Chuck Angel N0CF Chris Conklin KD0DK David Kelly WA0QXF Clark Willoughby Guests: KE0BIT Jennifer Strohbehn Members wishing to pay club dues (or have paid and are not indicated above) please contact Dave Knittel in person at our monthly meetig or by email at treas(a)w0mg.net Officers may be contacted over the air or via email: President, Harold Lucas, N4HRL, 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 2016, Taryn Colby, N0TKC, dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2017, Stan Johnson, W0SJ, dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2018, Dave Kelly, KD0DK, dir3(a)w0mg.net NIRAA meets every month at Windcove (Western Home Communities) apartments at 5300 South Main St in Cedar Falls. We are meeting on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7:30 pm, anyone interested in ham radio is welcome to attend. Our primary club repeater is on 146.94 mhz, negative offset, with a PL tone of 136.5 hz, coverage centered in Black Hawk County. Many members are also monitoring channel 3119 on DMR. Our club website is at http://www.w0mg.net/ The club's primary email contact is sec(a)w0mg.net You're receiving these meeting minutes because you have given the NIRAA club your email address for minutes and announcements. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply requesting removal from one or both distribution lists. - Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) Secretary, W0MG