Dear Fellow Ham,     
We still await leaves on the trees and black flies.  Other than the really hot days of May 1-3, it has been rather cool. The wood frog eggs are taking a long time to develop. I have learned that I can't press Trout-Lily flowers when it is only 42 F. and there is no sun. The returning birds are coming in very slowly. It has even been too cold to place all the young plants I have grown outside to harden off.  
      
N1CHF came up to the valley the last week in April. On May 1st he and KA1ZOE helped KW1C with his 40 meter antenna. New coils had to be put in place while the antenna was on the tower. It was quite windy and N1CHF said he had quite a battle to reposition the tipped up antenna when the coils had been replaced. The new coils solved the problem, and KW1C reported good contacts on 40 meters that same day.

On May 3rd N1CHF came out to work on the 146.640 repeater. The water level in the batteries was checked and they required  only a small amount of water.  The Damp-Aid was replaced. N1CHF climbed the tower, took some digital pictures, and removed the pulley
        

at the top. We had a rope in the pulley, but it broke the first winter, somehow frayed by wind abrasion. Steve thinks the pulley may have caused some of the static we heard.

Steve also noted one of the radials had broken off the antenna during the winter. We were unable to find it. He said eventually they all will break and should be replaced by solid aluminum rods.

Stan has placed more colored sleeves on the guy wires to make them more visible. (The sleeves are from Danny Nichols). On May 12th, Stan moved some of the blocks on the tower pad and  used angle irons to square the base for the first tier of blocks.
     
Address comments, questions or suggestions to:
Gale Flagg,  108 Franklin School Rd., Fort Kent, ME 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670, email: galeflagg@sjv.net

Next Meeting: TUESDAY, June 8,  Alumni Conference Room,
Nadeau Hall, UMFK ,  6:00 PM 

Called to Order: 18:00 hrs.
In Attendance:  N1FG, N1QMC, N1PMS, N7GLR, KA7VNR.

Secretary's Minutes: The April meeting was a non meeting with only N1PMS and N1FG present. No business conducted. We watched the 2004 Can-Am Dog Race Video.

Treasurer's Report:   March Balance  $657.45 + .47  interest  + Dues $50.00 = April Balance $707.92 + interest .54 + Dues $48.00 = May Balance  $756.46, N7GLR motioned to accept, N1PMS seconded. Passed

Old Business:
1. Rocky Mountain Report:13.57 volts at 11:21 May 1st. This was enough higher than 146.640, so that I figured it was sunny at Rocky Mountain. An hour later it was clear in Fort Kent!  
 

2. 146.64 Report:12.54 volts at 11:22 May 1st. Damp Aid replaced and water level in batteries checked May by N1CHF. Radial missing from antenna. (see pg. 1)
 

3. N7GLR asked about linking 146.640 to Presque Isle repeater, and linking 146.640 and 146.715.  No positive response from Presque Isle. N1CHF is working on the linking of our two repeaters.
 

Election : The ballots were counted.
President: N1FG, Gale
Vice President: N1QMC, Sandra
Treasurer: N1CHF, Steve
Secretary: KW1C, Marty
Technical Manager: N1CHF, Steve
Public Information Officer: N7GLR, Charley

 1. Fort Kent High School Senior Class Canoe Trip: N1FG received a phone call from Terry Rioux asking for the club's help in monitoring the trip. It will be Sunday, June 6, starting from The American Dream at 1:00 P.M.  Last year we had one mobile ham to follow the canoes down river and report their location at several view points. We had another ham at Riverside Park to receive the mobile ham traffic. If you are interested, please contact N1FG.

2. Form 605 issued before December 2003 will no longer be accepted by the FCC.  See discussion about this on page  3.

3. FCC Proposal would make wide-ranging  changes to Amateur Service Rules.  Some of these proposals were discussed:  Eliminate the prohibitions on manufacture or marketing of Amateur Service power amplifiers capable of operating between 24 and 35 MHz. Eliminate a need for public announcement of volunteer examiner test locations and times. "The FCC has ordered the revision of the definition of 'amateur operator'  in Section 97.3 (a) (1) to reflect that entry in the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS), not a license document, determines whether a person is an Amateur Radio operator. " 

4. Proposed Restructuring for Amateur Radio: Not discussed. Mentioned on page 3 of March Feed-Point.

5. The FCC has okayed RFID Tags for 433.5 to 434.5 MHz.The tags are used to track shipments and packing containers. The device was designed to increase security at ports, rail yards, and warehouses. Manufacturers of 433 mHz systems will have to register locations of their system base stations to aid in interference resolution.

Program: Geocaching   See more on page 3.

Adjourned: 19:16 hrs.  Submitted by:  N1FG

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16".

Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer - N1FRX
 

Pioneer has expressed an interest in leasing space on the 146.640  tower for wireless internet service. They have determined that it is a suitable site. The last we heard they were putting together a lease. N1CHF wants to see their mounting plan for solar panels and small dish.

We will keep you posted on this.  We are going to work out a way for the club to get some of the money, of course.
 

FEED-POINT: Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
Officers:
President: Gale Flagg N1FG
Vice President: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Secretary: Rotating
Treasurer: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF
Editor/Publisher/Printer: Gale  Flagg - N1FG /Stan Flagg   834-6670 
Associate Editor/Web Edition: Steve Boomhower, N1CHF 
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership  $ 12
Associate Membership  $ 6
Articles:
Articles may be submitted by anyone with a good idea, and may be re-printed only in their entirety and with credit going to this newsletter.