====================== IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ====================== June's meeting will be conducted over computer conferencing using Zoom. Click on this URL to join the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87954820423?pwd=ZHVPZFc4ZHBHNzNUdWVaL1hVL0pTUT09 We will begin at 7:30 but you can join early to get settled in before we start. Select to join meeting "with audio or video" when prompted, and allow the software to access your mic / camera. (you don't have to enable your camera if you don't want to, and you can turn it off/on at any point) If you have not used Zoom before, you should click on that link earlier, to initiate the installation of the software so it's ready to go by 7:30. (download and installation of Zoom should take less than 5 minutes) Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, May 2020 The May gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order on 146.94 at 7:30 PM, May 9 2020 by Harold Lucas (N4HRL). There were 14 members in attendance this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: (none) several members were not listed on last month's minutes. (at least KD0DK and KE0IWQ. This was probably due to many doubles and no verification of calls during check-in. Minutes approved with attendance correction (N8TWO/KD0DK) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave (KD0DK) reports we have $1,090.18 in savings and $2,363.20 (+$100 in deposits, less $231 check for insurance) in share-draft. Report approved (N0ZYC / KE0IWP) Please contact Dave if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Our club membership form is also available on our club website at http://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Curt (NK0T): 220 is alive and well Al (KB0VGG): 444.55 is a bit deaf but otherwise working fine Nathan (N0ZYC) 146.94 is working but we are seeing that noise on smaller signals coming up again COMMITTEES ---------- Repeater Swap Committee (Jan/KE0RKO, John/WB0MAR, Curt/NK0T): no report Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): no report OLD BUSINESS ------------ Harold (N4HRL): We are going to try to hold next month's meeting (June 13) via Zoom. (extended discussion among several members followed) Al (KB0VGG) won't be able to attend due to inadequate internet service. (this may affect other members as well) There is probably a limit on the amount of time we can run the meeting also. Taryn (N0TKC): Zoom's free edition allows multiperson conferencing to only send video from the coordinator, other participants are audio-only. (a 1 month license for A/V for all attendees is $15) Taryn as volunteered to pay for a month's premium. Nathan (N0ZYC): maybe it's best to just have the coordinator being the only one sending video - a dozen or more video streams could be a problem for various users, and voice may be all we need? NEW BUSINESS ------------ Harold (N4HRL): We need to start making plans for this year's Field Day. Will we be able to gather, or do we just want to plan on a decentralized event with participants operating from their homes? Al (KB0VGG): The ARRL is encouraging club members to operate from home, on emergency power if possible, using the club repeaters for member coordination during the event. A general poll was called, the majority of members would like to wait to see how things evolve and discuss it further next meeting. Curt (NK0T): The club is currently using Curt's radio for the club remote at Bill's location, it's been there for awhile and he'd like to get his radio back. (within a few weeks if possible) The 7600 we have could go back in, but it's more complicated to operate remotely with the dual receivers. Bill has an IC-7300 he'd sell to the club for $800. The station in general has a problem with receiver noise due to proximity to the Power Over Ethernet (PoE) that powers the video cameras on Bill's property. (ethernet line and camera are near the antenna) It's likely other power supplies in the same building are contributing to the interference, those will be getting swapped around to troubleshoot and get more definitive information on what's interfering and by how much. Wendel (N0RXB) and Al (KB0VGG) both have linear power supplies available to swap out with noisier switchers if needed. Curt (NK0T): Carol's 7600 may actually make a better field day radio than the 7300, as it was designed with contesting in mind, with features like the dual VFO. It has a higher learning curve though, but the extra features are easier to operate locally than remotely. Al (KB0VGG) reporting on Parks on the Air: there were only a few operators participating at the recent event, mainly just Al, Mark, and Harold. (not many contacts were made, around 40) George Wyth park is still supporting the event however, as long as social distancing can be maintained. Technically the event is ongoing, though we have no immediate plans to set up again for it. Meeting adjourned at 8:08 PM UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- CF Rocket Club presentation for this summer/fall 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 Sunday night at 4pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) (note new day and time as of Feb 2020) - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- Sat Sept 19, 10-12 at the Hudson Library contact Tom (AE0TB) for current information UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- Sat Aug 8: CVARC Hamfest, ARRL Iowa State Convention Linn County Fairgrounds, 201 Central City Road, Central City http://w0gq.org/hamfest/ Talk-In: 146.745 (PL 192.8) nm0s@nm0s.com Mason City hamfest (TBD) OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ (NONE) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: https://www.w0mg.net/ - Membership form: http://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform.pdf - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/waterloo.hams/community/ - Cedar Valley area repeaters list: https://www.w0mg.net/repeaters/ MEETING ATTENDANCE ------------------ KD0DK David Kelly KC0AKJ Jay Nabholz W0VJB Vicki Bicket N8TWO Mark Colby N0TKC Taryn Colby AE0TB Tom Bicket N0RXB Wendell Wagner KE0IWP Janice Fitkin N4HRL Harold Lucas N0ZYC Nathan Fisher KB0VGG Al Jones WB0MAR John Humpal NK0T Curt Wilson KE0IWQ James Fitkin Members wishing to pay club dues (or have paid and are not indicated above) please contact our Treasurer in person at our monthly meeting 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 Kelly (KD0DK) - treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2018: John Humpal (WB0MAR) - dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2019: Stan Johnson (W0SJ) - dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2020: Jan Fitkin (KE0IWQ) - dir3(a)w0mg.net NIRAA meets most months at Windcove (Western Home Communities) apartments at 300 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, with coverage centered in Black Hawk County. Many members are also monitoring channel 3119 on DMR. Our club website is at https://www.w0mg.net/ and 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