Join us (next meeting is Saturday February 14 at 2pm) at the Waterloo Airport, or via Discord. Click this invitation link to add our server to your Discord app: https://discord.gg/Uyz4jeQKhW (2025) Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, January 2026 The January gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 1:59 PM January 10, 2026 at the Waterloo Airport. There were 13 members (11 ARRL) and 1 guest in attendance (locally and remotely) this evening, listed below. TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ activity and balances for period: 12/1/2025 - 12/31/2025: Savings (repeater fund) account: $2,809.26 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- (no changes) ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $2,809.26 ending balance checking (share-draft) account: $1,797.79 starting balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- +$ 100.66 dues -$ 198.52 check to K9DCR for repeater repair +$ 45.00 testing fees in and out -$ 45.00 testing fees in and out ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,699.93 ending balance upcoming deposits and expenses: (none) Report accepted ( N0ZYC / N0TKC ) Please contact our treasurer Dave (KD0DK) if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Club dues can be paid in person at the meeting or online on our club website at https://www.w0mg.net/ MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: Nathan (N0ZYC): added Discord link back onto the top of the minutes Mark (N8TWO): Jacob (KF0VVJ) last name is "Weaver" Report accepted with 2 adjustments (W3STS/KB0VGG ) REPEATERS --------- Al (KB0VGG): 94, 82, and DMR are all going wel 444.975 is back in Al's car, just need to swap it (15 minutes or so of work) COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ Nathan (N0ZYC) discussed the CFU tour last month (and the exciting elevator trip) NEW BUSINESS ------------ Al: (KB0VGG): reminder to those that have recently changed their ISP and thus their email address, please notify Nathan (N0ZYC) of your new address to continue receiving announcements and minutes. Mark (N8TWO) discussed the upcoming Winter Field Day event coming up before the next meeting, Jan 24-25. Several members are interested, does Ingawanis sound okay again this year? (discussion, members prefer the North cabin) Cedar View will be $45 to reserve for the weekend. Motion to reserve (W0MAR/N0ZYC) Mark has reserved it. Al (KB0VGG): Curtis (NK0T) would like to let go of his 220 repeater, trying to reduce his expenses. Will contact Curt to see what he would like to get for it. Stan (W0SJ): Speaking of 220, Dave (WD0BWQ/SK) had some 220 radios if anyone is interested) Mark (N8TWO) pointing out there's been very little activity on the 94 repeater this fall, encouraging members to try to spend a little more time on the air. Also the 94 repeater mast recently bent, probably a combination of the thin walled aluminum and high winds we've had recently. Looking to get it replaced with steel mast pipe. Stan (W0SJ): Dave (WD0BWQ/SK)'s estate is finally getting settled. Most of the high value items have gone to Joe, and they're looking for others that are interested in helping clean out the basement (and one room upstairs) to reduce the volume to be taken to the dump, so free for the taking. Bring a flashlight, contact Stand for dates and times. Motion to adjourn at 2:36 PM ( N0ZYC / KD0WVN ) today's presentation was by John (WB0MAR) on "Ham Radio:: the most reliable long-distance communications" 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, sodering, new director at FEMA, EOC? Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. Tentative presentation schedule: FEB 14 : MAR 14 : APR 11 : MAY 9 : JUN 13 : JUL 11 : AUG 8 : SEP 12 : OCT 10 : NOV 14 : DEC 12 : 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 ----------------------- contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@w0mg.net or Al (KB0VGG) on class/test day at 319-243-8819 UPCOMING HAMFESTS AND EVENTS ---------------------------- Feb 28 - Perry RF Winterfest - 2.5 hr drive from Waterloo 8am-12pm at National Guard Armory, 2930 Willis Avenue Perry, IA 50220 $10 admission, $15 tables, test registration at 9am Talk-in Frequency 145.190 (-) 114.8 tone URL: https://www.arrl.org/hamfests/harc-winter-rf-fest-5 URL: https://harciowa.org/winter-rf-fest March 21 - Mahoska Hams Swapmeet - 2.0 hr drive from Waterloo 8am-11:30am at American Legion Hall - 302 High Ave East, Oskaloosa IA admission by donations, $5 tables talk-in 145.490 (-) 146.2 tone contact 1: N0SJF Vernon Stanley 641-622-2154 vstanley@iowatelecom.net contact 2: KC0RRM Donald Brian 641-660-0404 dbranbe@hotmail.com ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- Randy (KF0JPR) has a pair of HyGain yagi new in box for sale, asking $100 ea Doug (K0DV) has a 6m beam new in box also that's looking for a new home Don (W0DT) has a number of radios for sale Don (KD0WGB) has a Zero Fire ground plane vertical (10-80m, 43ft) for sale 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://w0mg.net/?page_id=1736 - additional club media and 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) MEMBERS ------- N0ZYC Nathan Fisher N8TWO Mark Colby WB0MAR John Humpal KF0JPS Terry Stewart KB0JIT Paul Sipes KF0PBS Noel Dietz KB0VGG Al Jones W3STS Scott West KF0JPR Randy Albright N0TKC Taryn Colby W0SJ Stan Johnson KD0DK David Kelly N4HRL Harold Lucas GUESTS ------- KD0WVN Nick Miller 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 Roberts (K9DCR) vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer Dave Kelly (KD0DK) treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2024 John Humpal (WB0MAR) dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2025 Randy Albright (KF0JPR) dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2026 Scott West (W3STS) dir3(a)w0mg.net ABOUT ----- NIRAA meets most months on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 2:00 pm (winter meeting time) 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