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FEED-POINT |
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The Official Newsletter of the Saint John Valley Amateur Radio Association |
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February 2004 Vol. 14 No. 2 |
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Letter From Our President Dear Fellow Ham,
Out on the Can-Am trails December's rain and snow melt have come back to haunt the trail crews. Water that froze when the water was very high has since receded leaving hollow places under ice. In two places there have been break-throughs in the last week necessitating frantic bridge building. One 30' bridge has had to be built over the Red River. In one place, the dropped ice left a 5' drop down from the trail. |
The organizing of radio communications has continued. The hospitality chairman of Can-Am has found places for visiting hams to sleep. Our thanks to Priscilla and Laurel Daigle, Sherman and Necia Daigle, and Phyllis Pelletier for providing a place for 6 hams. We have hams coming from Millinocket, Harmony. and Virginia, as well as
from Mars Hill, Caribou, and the Presque Isle area. We seem to need more outside
hams, because a few local hams can't seem to arrange for time off during
the races. Next Meeting: TUESDAY, March 9,
Alumni Conference Room,
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| Date | Event | Place | Contact | Sponsor | Local Time | Frequency |
| Sunday | Net | NB | VE1PIN | IRG | 20:00 | 145.13 |
| Monday | Net | Fort Kent | N1FG | SJVARA | 19:00 | 146.64 |
| Monday | Net | Presque Isle | WA1YNZ | AARA | 20:00 | 146.73 |
| Page 2 Feed-Point, February, 2004 |
Report of February 10th 2003 Meeting Called to Order:
18:10 hrs. Treasurer's Report: January balance $720.50 + Interest $.59 = February Balance $721.11. Old Business: 2. 146.64 Report: Battery charge tests today: Low 11.76 and high 13.71. We are keeping the trail packed to the tower. The snow drifts at the turn at the top and just east of the tower pad. Makes it difficult because you can't see the packed trail because of drifted snow! 3. Dues DUE: It will
be time for several people to pay dues in March. Go to
www.qsl.net/
n1chf to see
when yours are due. |
New Business:
1. New coax purchased from HRO: Radio shack did not have the proper connectors, so I ordered from HRO. 50' of RG8-U with connectors installed cost $33.95. The coax is for the antenna at Lonesome Pine for Control Center. The coax was brought to the meeting and given to N1JHD, who has the antenna. 2. Can-Am Hams:
A list of hams for the Can-Am races was presented. There were 22
hams on the list. Four more had question marks as we are waiting to hear
from them. (Note: Since then we have lost one, and one ? on the list can
not help because of work. ) 3. Mobile Radio Concerns from James Alder KF5WT: Emails received asking if Maine Law about cellular phone for new drivers was affecting mobile ham operation. 4. Anyone having trouble getting Feed-Point via the blue button on the web page, try this: http://www.qsl.net/n1chf/feedpt/latest.htm Program: Video: The
Moon: very interesting presentation of the exploration of the moon, from the
first probes, to the Russia-US race for the first landing on the moon. Adjourned:
19:14 hrs. |
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In Case You Are
Interested:
HAM-ELMER GROUP:
Computer group helps perspective hams obtain their license, guide
newly licensed operators, & answers technical and procedural
questions. Question & answer format. See
groups.yahoo.com/group/HAM-ELMER/
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
Sandra Daigle 3-20
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| Page 3 Feed-Point, February, 2004 |
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Can-Am Dog Races
2004
The
new batteries were put into the 146.640 cabinet on Thursday February 19. N1CHF made the disconnects and reconnects, assisted by
KA1ZOE, N1JHD, N1FG. Two snowmobiles were used to transport us,
batteries and tools to the tower site. If the wind
hadn't been blowing hard, it would have been comfortable. Steve's
hands took awhile to thaw out. Louie got dumped off the snowmobile on
the way down on that corner on the east side of the tower. When we got
back to the house we all stood around the wood stove for a half hour.
After the warm up session, N1CHF and N1JHD put the antenna up at control center, using the new coax. On Friday, February 20, N1FG and N1MRT installed the power supply and Kenwood radio. Both repeaters, .64 & .715 gave us a great signal. WN1OTV arrived and he and N1MRT were taken to their host families. The schedule for operators was all set, when a call from KB1GKY told us he was a new father. Naturally he wanted to stay home! Congratulations, Mike. N1PMS was summoned. He accepted going to Black Lake yet again in place of Mike. Thanks, Pete. He had to stay there way longer than he should have, because he was not informed that one 30 mile team scratched. Larry Guimond, Pete's transportation, went to look for that team. The snowmobile had a break down and Pete had to wait while Larry went home to fix the sled. |
The problems we had were all
before the race. Once 8:00 Saturady AM on race day came, all went
well. The race was called at the starts by N1FG & K1RLY. KB1EBE &
WN1OTV did a fine job as the Net Controllers on their 12 hour shifts.
Most of the time they had one or even two other operators with them.
The money we spent on new batteries for both repeaters was well worth it. Installing the new antenna on Rocky Mountain helped, too. In spite of practically no solar charging, both repeaters performed very well. The batteries held an adequate charge through out. It was good that the two net controllers had back-up radios with them. There was a glitch with the Kenwood at one point and it was replaced. Another time on Monday, one power supply cable got disconnected. We quickly connected another power supply and radio, thinking the radio being used had malfunctioned. Then someone noticed the cord! Antenna down February 25 by N1JHD, N1PMS, and N1FG. Many Thanks to all 22 hams who helped. You did a great job. We especially thank those who traveled a great distance. KB1EBE, WN1OTV, KW1C, K1RLY, N1MRT, K1HEL, KB1CLC, VE1PIN, N1PMU, N1PMS, WA1YNZ, N1WRX, KA1CQX, KC1SE, KA1OOW, N1HSQ, N1FG, N1ZBX, N1JHD, N1ZHQ, N1QMC, N1CHF.
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For Sale Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" x 16" x 16". Includes mounting hardware. Best Offer - N1FRX |
Brain Teaser Three words changed by a letter by Richard Lederer: Change a letter in each word, to make a familiar trio: * slop, book and
listed * led, while and glue * Beady! Arm! File! * ear, drunk, and be berry.
* look, pine and sinner * fun, soon, and stirs |
| Page 4 Feed-Point 2004 |
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FEED-POINT: Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio. |
FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD.
FORT KENT, ME 04743