Murray State University Amateur Radio Club

Meeting Minutes, August 4, 2009

 

The meeting was called to order at 19:15 by President, Randall Winchester.

 

In attendance:

 

Debbie Barton, W8IBT Denis Barton, WB8 SKP
Bob Aldrich, WD8OWA Candy Aldrich, XYL of WD8OWA
Powell Henderson, KI4SII Randall Winchester, WD4HVA
Bill Call, KJ4W Whipple Walker, W4STW
Dale Barrett, WB7D Valerie Barrett, KG4OCJ
Mary Erickson, Guest Mike Erickson, Guest
Mike Metcalf, KJ4ITH Pat Stevens-Metcalf, XYL of KJ4ITH
Charles Weatherford, KQ4EV Jackie Metcalf, Guest
Terry Ward, KD4WCE William Winchester, Guest
George Knecht, KI4RZY Kris Hill, KJ4BLT, guest
Ben Johnson, Guest John Hart, K04ZE
Rick Neafus, Guest Gary , K1DXI

                                

The question of the day was “How does your antenna feedline come into your station?”  

 

Minutes – No additions or corrections. All were in favor of accepting the minutes as written.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Bill Call reported no changes. Account balance is $1,081.45 and he has one deposit yet to make.

 

VE Report – One exam sessions scheduled for this evening and a request for an exam session later this month. Volunteer examiners were scheduled for a session on Saturday, August 22nd.

 

Systems Report – Bill Call reported all systems are running. The 24 and 440 machines are working good as is Echolink.

 

Staff Advisor Report – John Hart reported that the stuff needed for his grant projects have been ordered and he will give us more information later in the meeting.

 

Net Report – Matt Freeman was not available and was monitoring the weather in the event a weather net would need to be called.

 

QSL Managers Report – Valerie Barrett reported there were no new cards.

 

Ham Bits – Presented by Bill Call were pictures and an explanation of the 440 repeater equipment. The 440 repeater is a Uniden Commercial repeater from the 1980’s and is located on Faculty Hall.

 

Old Business – None

 

New Business – John Hart has been asked to teach a Ham Radio class to the new Clark College residents. He is planning the class to be open to any student.

 

Program – 802.11 Hinternet Project. This is part of John Hart’s grant projects and is to provide a backbone link that will link area repeaters as well as provide a backbone of communication for the university. Encryption can be accomplished on the backbone, but a ham radio operator would be able to access the system without using  encryption as stated in part 97. John is starting with linking the Hamlin, Farmington and Fine Arts repeaters as well as WKMS. The LBL has requested remote wireless camera operation at the Nature Station and this could be accomplished over the backbone.

 

Upcoming Hamfests – Huntsville, AL, August 15 & 16, 2009

 

Rick Neafus, former Amateur Radio licensee and graduate of Murray State University spoke his experience as an MSU graduate providing security and communications systems around the world. He feels Amateur Radio is  a dying concern and that this is not a good thing because Amateur Radio teaches students communications in real world applications and how important that has been to him in his career. He gave examples of his work in Ethiopia and Bermuda and how his background in Amateur Radio has helped him.

 

Good luck to the three hams on their exams for upgrading their license this evening.

 

Whipple Walker made a motion to adjourn, meeting adjourned at 20:15.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Barton, W8IBT

Secretary