F  E  E  D  -  P  O  I  N  T

The Official Newsletter of the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association

June, 2009Vol. 19 No.6
Letter From Our President


What was predicted as a rainy week has so far been very nice. Warm sunshine after the inch of rain has made the garden grow. The wind has not been as bad as it was earlier, which is a good thing. The 146.640 antenna has a bend in it from the high winds in May.



AA1XD sent an e-mail saying the new antenna for 146.640 is backordered to July 1st. They expect to come up to install it the middle of July if the weather cooperates. They intend to come up on a Friday and do the work on Saturday.





N1FRX was given a two meter base station by KW1C. N1FRX set it up recently, so perhaps we will hear him on 146.640.


On the net June 15th, N1EVO asked for a 10-meter experiment after the net. I heard nothing, but KB1OWW was able to copy WA1CXA. N1EVO heard WA1CXA partially.



Gale Flagg
108 Franklin School Rd
Fort Kent, Maine 04743
Phone: 207-834-6670
E-mail: galeflagg@sjv.net


Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 14, 6:00 PM
UMFK, Nadeau Hall, Alum. Conf. Room
Schedule of Coming Events
DateEventPlaceContactSponsorTimeFreq
SUNNetNBVE1PINIRG2000145.130
MONNetFort KentN1FGSJVARA1900146.64
MONNetPresque IsleWA1YNZAARA2000146.73
Page 2Feed-Point, June, 2009
Minutes of June 9, 2009 SJVARA Meeting

Start Time: 18:05 Members present: N1FG, N1JHD, W1TCP, N1EVO, KA1SJV, F1FTK, N1QMC, KB1OWW
Treasurer's Report: N1FRX:
Savings Account$3313.65
Dues Collected$12.00
Interest on Savings:$2.78
To Checking Account for Antenna -$500
Checking Account$134.08
Transfer from Savings$500.00
New Balance:$3462.51

Motion to accept report by N1EVO. Seconded by KA1SJV
Old Business:

1. Rocky Mt.: Still off the air. Rpeater is burned due to antenna malfunction. Cabin needs major repair. Plans to move the repeater to a more easily accessible site still in the works and being looked into by N1EVO, who is still working on information, etc, for the Saint Francis site.

2. 146.640 Repeater: The repeater is now on the air in A-1 order. No one knows exactly why or how the repeater was fixed, especially KB1OWW and N1EVO, who were working on it. KB1OWW thought the problem might be with relays. They could not open the repeater without a motorola key. When N1CHF was asked about the key, he said someone up here must have one. Steve Boomhower said that neither the Rocky Mountain repeater nor the 146.64 repeater have relays.



The new antenna for this repeater will be arriving in early July.

3. Other Business:Everyone is busy attempting to get their gardens in order.

During "Show and Tell" KB1OWW showed us what happened to the Rocky Mountain antenna and explained how that affected the repeater there.
N1QMC discussed the medicinal properties of the June bug and how it could actually be used for food. (Nobody thought they would like to try it!) N1FG recounted the story of a friend who made dandelion wine and there was a June bug in it. He claimed it was the best wine he ever made.
Discussion on HF contacts made, attempted to be made, and not successfully completed. The benefits of using various types of antennas, like dipoles, ladder, beam, etc.
New Business: There was no new business to discuss.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, July 14, UMFK, Nadeau Hall, Alumni Conference Room. 6:00 PM

Adjourned by consent at 19:02

Submitted by Sandra Sardo Daigle, N1QMC

In Case You Are Interested
Happy Birthday
Solar Cycle 24: An international panel of experts has predicted that Solar Cycle 24 will peak in May 2013 and will be the weakest since Solar Cycle 16 peaked in 1928.
Don Ouellete--07-01 Dean Wiggins--07-04 Pete Pelletier--07-23
Page 3Feed-Point, June, 2009
Theremin

The Theremin was the first “electronic” music instrument. It was invented in the 1920s in Russia by Leon Theremin. You don’t touch it at all. There are 2 antennae. One, a horizontal loop, controls the volume, which is done by raising the left hand up and down. The other, a vertical antenna, is for pitch control, which is done by moving the right hand towards or away from the antenna. The pitch is generated by the difference between two oscillators (one fixed and one variable ~3 kHz higher). They sense the capacitance of your hand.



Here's a link to see and hear what it can do when properly played. http://www.peterpringle.com/thereminmp3s.html If anyone knows of one that might be available, please contact me. I'm looking for any RCA, MOOG EtherVox, Ethervox MIDI or Etherwave Pro.
Don, K1FTK


543-6033

Don sent me the link to the theremin playing after I was talking to Diane on the phone and heard Don's theremin in the background and asked about it. It is incredible to see how the music is produced.

For Sale

Heavy duty 40' galvanized steel tower, 16" X 16". Includes mounting hardware. $200. N1FRX.
Force 12 EF-510, 5 ele 10m Beam w/balun New in the box, never installed Retails at $470/$480 ... asking $350 Call Don, K1FTK, at 543-6033
A Bit of Humor
Attorney questions and some witness answers
     *Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?

* Q: How many times have you committed suicide?

      *Q: She had three children, right? A: Yes.

Q: How many were boys? A: None Q: Were there any girls? 


F E E D - P O I N T            June, 2009

Published by the St. John Valley Amateur Radio Association
and distributed free to members and friends of Amateur Radio.
President: Gale Flagg N1FG
Vice President: Gil Daigle, N1JHD
Secretary: Sandra Daigle, N1QMC
Treasurer: Charles Zafonte, N1FRX
Public Information: Charles Ames, N7GLR
Technical Advisor: Carl Pelletier, N1EVO and June Despres, KB1OWW
Editor/Publisher/Printer
Gale Flagg - N1FG / Stan Flagg 834-6670
Associate Editor/Web Edition
Charles Ames N7GLR
Membership Information (Annual Dues):
Regular Membership $ 12
Associate Membership $ 6
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.




FEED-POINT
108 FRANKLIN SCHOOL RD
FORT KENT ME 04743