Join us (next meeting is Saturday April 13 at 6pm) in person at the Waterloo Airport, or via Discord. Click this invitation link to add our server to your Discord app: https://discord.gg/hSPGhWxtZE There was no presentation this evening Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, March 2024 The March gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 6:01 pm March 9, 2024 at the Waterloo Airport by Dave Morrow (KD0DM). There were 18 members (15 ARRL) and no guests in attendance (locally and remotely) this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: Flowers for David Morrow's step-daughter were sent by Al (KB0VGG) not Dave (KD0DK) Report accepted with 1 adjustment ( N0ZYC / KF0EGO ) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ balances for period: 3/1/2024 - 3/31/2024: $2,705.26 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- (no activity) ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $ 2,705.26 ending balance checking (share-draft) account: $1,600.10 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $ 20.09 deposit (stripe) $ 20.00 deposit (dues) ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,640.19 ending balance A check for $160 was written to Curt (NK0T) for the remote station tuner, and $74.89 to Al (KB0VGG) to reimburse for the flowers. These will probably appear on next month's statement, in addition to $60 in and out for testing. Report accepted ( K0CQH / KF0EGO ) 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 --------- Curt (NK0T): 220 is still working. The club's remote station now operates on 160 through 10. Chuck (W0ALO): 94, 800, and 900 are going Mark (N8TWO): the club's DMR is working, Ingawanis is running strong Al (KB0VGG): up but still a bit deaf due to trees COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Dave (KD0DM): Al (KB0VGG) was going to start a list of proposed club activities, though that is still a work in progress. Dave (KD0DM): Antique Acres will not be available for Summer Field Day. (it's already booked) We are still working on getting last year's deposit back though so they have our next deposit on-hand still when we next go there. Al (KB0VGG) is working on getting another venue for Summer Field Day. Dave (K0CQH): lookout park is nice but we can't run overnight there. Since Antique Acres got booked on us, maybe we should just book them now for next year? That'll be June 28-29 2025. Al (KB0VGG) ordered a General Test study guide but doesn't recall who. Contact Al if this was for you. (general club discussion of the upcoming August picnic / junk in the trunk) Stan (W0SJ) briefly discussed Dave's (WD0BWQ) estate. As most of you can imagine, there's a lot of stuff to go through. NEW BUSINESS ------------ Mark (N8TWO): the local BSA has asked the club to help with their Spring Camporee on May 4. This year's theme is "signs, signals, and codes". They would like us to run a morse code station, teach what morse code is, learn their name in morse code, and send/receive a 5 word message. The event will be at camp Ingawanis as usual, and we would need to be set up and ready by 8:30 am. The event ends at 4pm. They're offering us lunch - we need to give them notice of any dietary restrictions. Mark is specifically looking for volunteers to help that are good with code and can teach the scouts a little. Much staring at Dave (KD0DK), Dave (K0CQH), and Curt (NK0T). Curt is willing, CQH is a "maybe". We could also set up a second station for emergency communication, run it off solar and battery power? Best estimate on attendance right now is 40-60 scouts, ages 10-17. Code practice will be at the (South) Archery range, with the "emergency station" at the South entrance. Nathan (N0YC): they're going to need someone to talk to, so we either need to man another station ourselves, or set up a second station somewhere else at the camp for them to communicate back and forth with. It doesn't even have to be far apart, could be at opposite ends of the same shelter for maximum convenience? Curt (NK0T): another thing they could look into for the event is signal flags. Wendel (N0RXB) still has a few code oscillator kits. Dave (KD0DM): Al (KB0VGG) is looking for a volunteer for Summer Field Day Coordinator. (no hands seen) Stan (W0SJ) hit a jackpot at the bin store, lots of USB memory sticks, selling 3 for $2. Wendel (N0RXB) also has some bin store goodies available. Mark (N8TWO)'s APRS IGATE is set up, now just needs time, coax, and an antenna to get his APRS node up. John (WB0MAR): for those wondering why tonight's KWWL tour was cancelled - the chief engineer that invited us was fired last Thursday. Motion to adjourn at 6:40 ( KF0EGO / NK0T ) UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- presentation ideas: electronics history, radio bug-out bag, alternate power, solar power, spotting electronics scams, mag-loop antennas, broadband blocking filters, Denver/cf robotics club, new director at FEMA, EOC? Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. Tentative presentation schedule: Apr 13 : May 11 : June 8 : July 13 : REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tuesday night at 7pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) - Iowa 75 Meter Evening Net runs Mon-Sat at 6:00 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 ----------------------- Apr 13: testing at the Waterloo airport June 22: testing at Field Day Sept 14: testing at the Waterloo airport contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@w0mg.net UPCOMING HAMFESTS AND EVENTS ---------------------------- April 20 - NIRAA fox-hunt at George Wyth Park May 4 - Spring Camporee at Camp Ingawanis May 11 - Junk in the Trunk at Cedar Rapids ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- Don (KD0WGB) has a dual band vertical and a alpha delta dx-dd 80/40m trapped dipole. The dipole is center fed with just an SO-239, you will need a tuner. Total length is 82ft. Both are free to a good home. (they're spares he's not using) 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/ - additional club resources: https://vftp.net/N0ZYC/W0MG/index.html - Amateur Radio Practice Site (tests and code): https://www.aa9pw.com/ - Discord server (current invitation link at top of minutes) ATTENDANCE ---------- Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher K0CQH David Knittel KF0EGO Donald Utley KF0PCQ Chris Reynolds N4HRL Harold Lucas W0ALO Chuck Angel W0SJ Stan Johnson KB0JIT Paul Sipes KF0KDE Danael Zilk N8TWO Mark Colby KD0DM David Morrow KD0DK David Kelly N0TKC Taryn Colby AE0TB Tom Bicket NK0T Curtis Wilson WB0MAR John Humpal N0RXB Wendell Wagner KB0RSW Randy McClain Guests: (none)) 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 Members of the board may be contacted over the air or via email: President Al Jones (KB0VGG) pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President David Morrow (KD0DM) vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer Dave Kelly (KD0DK) treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2022 Taryn Colby (N0TKC) dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2023 Jan Fitkin (KE0IWP) dir3(a)w0mg.net Director 2024 John Humpal (WB0MAR) dir1(a)w0mg.net ABOUT ----- NIRAA meets most months on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 6:00 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