Murray
Meeting Minutes, February 2, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 19:10 by President Randall Winchester.
In attendance:
| Debbie Barton, W8IBT | Denis Barton, WB8SKP |
| Chuck Williams KJ4HBK | Charles Willson, AD4QS |
| Bill Call, KJ4W | Tim Edmonson KA4WWS |
| Mike Metcalf KJ4ITH | Pat Stephens-Metcalf KJ4QEC |
| Rich Beam, K4ADW | Terry Ward, KD4WCE |
| Bill Husfield, K9MMW | Mary Husfield, KC4TIE |
| Ronnie McCrary, KJ4ROH | David Hightower, KE4PWW |
| Robin Jones, KF4GCD | Bonnie Allen, Guest |
| John Hart, KO4ZE | Randall Winchester, WD4HVA |
The question of the day was: “When did you last participate in a public service event?”
Minutes – Chuck Williams motioned to accept the minutes as emailed, Tim seconded. Motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report – Bill Call reported a balance of $1242.20, no change from last month. He did collect dues from six people tonight and gave a reminder that 2010 dues are payable, you will be considered delinquent if not paid by the April meeting!
Systems Report – Bill Call reported no problems this month, although 94 repeater is still affected by wind.
Staff Advisor Report – John Hart reported that the Kentucky Space Project is progressing fine and the wireless internet is moving along (25 mile connection between MSU and the PBS transmitter site is working).
VE Report – A VE session is being held tonight after the meeting.
QSL Managers Report – No
report, Valerie Barrett was absent.
Net Report –Matt Freeman
reported, via email, the January Net Report of 4 sessions, no traffic, 56
stations, 91 minutes, and 84.9 operator hours.
Ham Bits – Randall Winchester started out with “Justin Gibbs is famous” with a link (which had been changed) to Justin preparing for the winter storm.
The main object of Ham Bits was Thales Communications, Inc and their Liberty Multiband Land Mobile Radio. Interoperability is still a problem in emergency situations as Federal Agencies, State and Local governments and the Department of Defense all use different public safety bands. Homeland Security has contracted with Thales Communications, Inc. to develop a handheld radio that can be used on all public safety bands (136-174 MHz, 380-520 MHz and 763-869 MHZ) with one antenna. All bands, all modes, all encryptions, one radio. Randall stated that Murray State University is the only university to be testing these radios for Thales Communications and immediately found two problems which have been reported. When Thales Communications brought the radios in and were giving a demonstration of how indestructible they are Bill Call managed to break one. Then Randall was programming one and broke it, turns out it had a programming problem which he thinks has been fixed, as the new ones he received he has been able to program. Randall passed one of the radios around so that we could see the radio currently being tested by our local emergency response agencies.
New Business – A weather-spotting class will be held February 11th at the Freed Curd Auditorium at 6:30 pm. Please plan to attend.
Ronnie McCrary, KJ4ROH applied for an Associate Membership. Bill Call made a motion to accept Ronnie as a member of the MSUARC and John Hart seconded. All were in favor, motion passed.
Union City will have their annual Hamfest on March 20th.
Chuck Williams asked for volunteers to help out with communications and parking for the Western Kentucky Polar Plunge at Kentucky Dam Village on February 20th 8:30 am to Noon (approximately). This benefits Special Olympics.
Chuck Williams also passed along congratulations to Denis Barton, WB8SKP for his First Place (50 MHz and 144 MHz), Kentucky Section, Single Operator Low Power Award for the 2009 ARRL VHF Sweepstakes.
Old Business – none.
Program –Murray State University Cycling Club Road Race, February 27th and 28th. The course is the same as last year. Each race has a set number of laps from 1 to 4. The cycling club has asked for a lead car and a tail car for each race and those cars must have APRS capability.
MSUARC may make this event and expanded exercise to test an Aerostat with a portable repeater. MSU will be taking delivery of an Aerostat tomorrow. An Aerostat has the capability to raise to 150’ and also carries power along the tether. This could be a disaster training event.
Randall adjourned the meeting at 20:10 for a VE session which is immediately following.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Barton, W8IBT
Secretary