Join us in person at the Waterloo Airport, or via Zoom: - WWW URL: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://zoom.us/j/99863201285?pwd%3DcWUyQWxrRk81OEcwN1Q0dzF1UTBLUT09 - Zoom computer or mobile app: meeting ID 998 632 01285, passcode 955710 - Phone: (312) 626-6799 (Chicago number) Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, April 2022 The April gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 7:00 PM, Saturday April 09, 2022 by Al (KB0VGG). There were 17 members (11 ARRL) and 2 guests in attendance this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: (none) Report accepted with no adjustments (KB0VGG/KC0CQH) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave (KD0DK) reports we have $1,090.18 in savings/repeater fund and $1,923.53 in checking. This includes the receipt of $100 in dues. Report accepted (N0ZYC/N8TWO) 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 https://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Al (KB0VGG): we removed a heavily corroded polyphaser from the hardline at Ingawanis, though we're still showing a bad SWR, possibly a bad bay or harness on the antenna. We have a replacement antenna ready to go but for now are just using a very small backup antenna on the roof. Al's repeater is still a bit deaf due to trees, but is otherwise fine. 146.94 still has a loud PL tone on the transmit Chuck's 146.82 continues to work great. Tom (AE0TB): currently helping the Tama County amateur radio group and emergency managers there. We have been invited to put up an antenna on one of their two towers. There may already be hardline in place, and Racom will do the antenna install. (we have to provide an antenna) There is a VHF pair available to cover Tama County. Expected coverage is south of I-80 to North of Waverly, West of Marshalltown almost to Cedar Rapids. Chuck (W0ALO): the 925 should be back up within the month, with P25 and analog on a Quantar running 90 watts. Bill has some 5/8" hardline with N ends in the shop along with some 1.5" of unknown length if needed. COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): no report Field Day 2022 Committee (Harold/N4HRL): no report OLD BUSINESS ------------ Harold (N4HRL): we still have three positions that need filling for summer field day: public affairs, public safety, and visitor greeting. Contact Harold if you are able to assist. NEW BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG): discussion of the club obtaining permanent zoom hardware instead of borrowing it monthly. Will see what we can gather up and discuss what remains needed next month. (projector, webcam, bluetooth speakers) Dave (KD0DK) is expecting a bill next week from Black Hawk Insurance (policy from Grinnele Mutual), it has a due date of May 10, next club meeting is May 14. The last two years have been $231 and $233. Motion to pay bill assuming no major hike. (W0SJ/N0TKC) Al (KB0VGG): we need to replace the polyphaser at Ingawanis. Tom (AE0TB) has a surplus and will donate one. Nate (N0ZYC) will donate some mastic for weatherproofing. Discussion of donation to Rocket Club for their presentation. Motion to donate $50. (KE0IWP/N0TKC) Motion to adjourn at 8:30 PM (W0ALO/KB0VGG) Tonight's presentation was on model rocketry by the CF Rocket Club UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- May: discuss upcoming Field Day presentation ideas: electronics history, radio bug-out bag, alternate power, solar power, spotting electronics scams, mag-loop antennas, broadband blocking filters Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - 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) - Iowa 75 Meter Evening Net runs Mon-Sat at 5:30 pm on 3.970 MHz / LSB Also meets at 12:30 pm on same. - Iowa 160 Meter Net runs Sunday night at 9:30 pm on 1.9745 MHz / LSB - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 - Ham Radio Fellowship / Breakfast every Wednesday morning at 9AM at the Wendy's at Love's Travel Stop in Waterloo. (3301 Greyhound Drive) VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@w0mg.net UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- Collins Swap Meet on May 14. (same day as club meeting) OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ George Wyth park activation (May 14) Summer Field Day (June 25-26) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: https://www.w0mg.net/ - Membership form: https://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 ------------------ Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher KB0VGG Al Jones N4HRL Harold Lucas W0GEN Bill Dedic KF0FOX David Caso N8TWO Mark Colby N0TKC Taryn Colby W0VJB Vicki Bicket AE0TB Tom Bicket KE0IWP Janice Fitkin KD0DK David Kelly W0SJ Stan Johnson K0CQH Dave Knittel KF0EGO Don Utley WB0MAR John Humpal NC0N Cory Hill KA0DBC Lois Johnson Guests: KD0WVN Nick Miller W0ALO Chuck Angel 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: Al Jones (KB0VGG) - pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President: Curt Wilson (NK0T) - vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary: Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) - sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer: Dave Kelly (KD0DK) - treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2020: Jan Fitkin (KE0IWP) - dir3(a)w0mg.net Director 2021: John Humpal (WB0MAR) - dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2022: Taryn Colby (N0TKC) - dir2(a)w0mg.net NIRAA meets most months on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 7:00 pm, at the Waterloo Airport, in the old restaurant. Parking is available at no cost in the short-term lot. (3 hr free limit) 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