July, 2009    

The next meeting of the ARC will be on Tuesday, July 7, at 7:00 PM in the EOC Training Room.

A question for the membership: To what level should we put “links to commercial web sites” on our web site? We occasionally get requests from suppliers of antennas or other items that have some interest to radio amateurs to put a link to them. They apparently surf around and find our site then send us a message with the request. Up to now we have only put on our site specific links to amateur related organizations, clubs, etc. and local Emergency related sites. We can add other links, but just haven’t. As a membership do you think there is value in adding other links, or are you satisfied finding such sites using Google, etc? Give us some feedback if you care one way or the other.

At “Dayton” I picked up a new ARRL Repeater Directory. In reviewing the systems on the same frequencies we utilize I found this list. I thought it might save you digging thru the listing yourself. Also if you hear the other repeater calls on our repeater output frequency you might be able to judge the quality of the band conditions. Here they are:

Our friend and member Dick, WA9STB, has undergone additional surgery as he battles cancer for the third time. While we hope for his continued improvement and enjoy hearing him on the air we ask for your prayers to aid in his recovery.

I’m happy to report that at the meeting we’ll have two new member applications to submit to the membership for approval. Dale Bales, KV9W and Jon Fields, KC9PWR have submitted the necessary application so come to the meeting to approve these new members and welcome them to our organization.

In late May Steve, WA9CWE, and Tom, W9EEL, visited the .82 repeater site and reviewed the poor reception that has plagued us over the last month. We discovered that the antenna switching relay was defective, so we replaced it with one purchased at the Hamvention. That seems to have helped a great deal. However, we’ll need to retune the duplexer at some point, and it still might be desired to replace the upper antenna. We’ve been using the lower antenna more to see how it performs in our communications needs.

We have submitted repeater updates to the Indiana Repeater Council so that future publications of the ARRL Repeater Directory will show our new Club Call, W9OBH, on the .82 repeater. We update our information to the Council every other year, or as any changes are made. The .09 and the 443.35 repeaters did not have any changes. I listed the .82 repeater with the 110.9 PL so that other systems would be able to recognize the tone that we use. We won’t require it, but it doesn’t hurt to have it on an incoming signal.

You might mark your calendar for Saturday morning, July 18 at 9:00AM for a net on .82. This is the date for the summer State RACES Test. We’ll activate the EOC, call a net and take checkins on .82 and then report the results to the State EOC via several amateur bands and communications modes. Please remember to check in. Our County organization always has the greatest number of checkins, and it would be good to carry on that tradition. Your support is what keeps our County on top of the list.

Also the Run-the-Mounds Communications Exercise is Sunday, November 1. Mark that afternoon on your calendar.

See you at the meeting on July 7.

73, Steve