Join us (next meeting is Saturday October 14 at 6pm) in person at the Waterloo Airport, or via Discord. Click this invitation link to add our server to your Discord app: https://discord.gg/P7TS4DQ2 Tonight's presentation was by Jan (KE0IWP) on kit folders for new hams. - start with a Contrats cover sheet - include list of potential Elmers and their specialties - listen to W1AW to practice your code copying - page of helpful URLS, including AA9PW.COM,QRZ.COM,ARRL.ORG,HAMSTUDY.ORG,YOUTUBE CHANNELS - maybe a meeting every few months just for new hams - might want to give test takers this packet even if they don't pass their first test - if they pass, hook them up with someone to get them on the repeater and "break the ice" / mic shyness - new hams who have recently obtained their first license from the FCC may apply for a welcome package from QRZ. Applicants must apply within 6 months of the license grant date per the FCC records. see https://www.qrz.com/jumpstart/account-required for details Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, September 2023 The September gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 6:35 pm Saturday September 9, 2023 by Al Jones (KB0VGG). There were 21 members (10 ARRL) and no guest in attendance (locally and remotely) this evening, listed below. MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: Harold (N4HRL): wife's name is Rebby in the attendance Report accepted with 1 adjustment (KB0VGG/N0TKC) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ balances for period: 8/1/2023 - 8/31/2023: checking (share-draft) account: $1,673.48 beginning balance ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,673.48 ending balance savings (repeater fund) account: $ 672.92 beginning balance #1,145.00 donations deposited ---------- -------------------------------------------------- $1,817.92 ending balance (does not include Tom's $1,000 matching donation) Report accepted Please contact Dave if you would like to get your dues paid for the year. Our club membership form is also available on our club website at https://www.w0mg.net/ REPEATERS --------- Tom (AR0TB): Chuck's DMR repeater is intermittent due to hotspot battery problems Chuck (W0ALO): that should be fixed now COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) Hamfest Committee: (Dave/K0CQH): (no report) OLD BUSINESS ------------ To (AE0TB) recently challenged us with matching donations to replenish the repeater fund, and the club has met and exceeded the donation matching limit. We've received $1,145 in addition to Tom's $1,000 matching. Tom will match any additional donations (up to $500) received between now and our Christmas party. Curt (NK0T) gave an update on the club's interest in purchasing the new dual-mode repeater, Bill (W0GEN) is willing to donate $200 toward purchase of the repeater with duplexers, reducing the club's cost to $1,000. Al (KB0VGG): Bill (W0GEN) has offered to take over management of the club web site. Tom (AE0TB) will assist with domain name and DNS transfer, as well as file migration. (the new system will be using WordPress) We will need to designate some administrative users that have access to make updates, changes, and additions to the web site. Also the club's calendar is currently pulling from a GMail account so those permissions will also need to be transferred. Curt (NK0T) has the 1/2-inch hardline removed from the water tower. (that was replaced for install at CFU), it's a bit beat up but someone may be able to use it, maybe one of our new members. Motion to donate it to a member that can use it. (N0ZYC/KE0IWP) NEW BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG): do we want to go with Elk's Club again for this year's Christmas party? (unanimous) They'd like to reduce the desert to one item, there were no objections to double chocolate cake. Al (KB0VGG): our treasurer is going to snowbird on us, we'll need someone to temporarily take over duties that require someone to be physically here. Jan (KE0IWP) is probably the only other person still on the account but she's going to be snow-birding as well, so we may need to get another person set up. Taryn (N0TKC) has volunteered to be interim local treasurer for at least some of that time. Al (KB0VGG): several members are currently shouldering numerous club responsibilities, we should review them and see what can be handed off to reduce the overburdening. (general discussion of upcoming club foxhunt event) - this probably needs to be held at a park, we need to review options and make a selection - if we schedule it on the same weekend as JOTA it will severely limit the number of scouts that can attend (not an issue this year since we're not planning a scout hunt this year) - we may want to require RSVP for the event, so we can schedule the groups and hunts in advance - since we won't be limited to the JOTA 45 minute rotations, we can schedule longer duration hunts with higher degrees of difficulty - Al (KB0VGG) has obtained some offset attenuator kits several have been claimed, four remain available these kits use 4mhz crystals but we have 2mhz crystals available - Mark (N8TWO) would like to hold a foxhunt planning meeting soon to get started planning for a hunt around May Al (KB0VGG): we need to start planning where to move the club's remote station with Bill leaving that property. Moving it to CFU, or CFU's manager's location are possible options. Nathan (N0ZYC) had concerns about all the club's stations at CFU at once. Curt (NK0T) has noise concerns. Al (KB0VGG): the club could benefit from holding occasional "hands-on" workshop-type events. Ideas? Dave (KD0DK): next Saturday is the Iowa QSO Party, 9am-9pm. Jan (KE0IWP) would like to get together a list of Elmer volunteers with their specialties per her presentation K0CQH - antennas and technical K0DV - various KB0VGG - antennas N0ZYC - solar and RDF N8TWO - GOTA NK0T - technical, antennas, radio checkout Motion to adjourn at 7:05 PM (KB0VGG/N0TKC) UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS ---------------------- presentation ideas: electronics history, radio bug-out bag, alternate power, solar power, spotting electronics scams, mag-loop antennas, broadband blocking filters, Denver/cf robotics club, new director at FEMA, EOC? Contact Al (KB0VGG) if you'd be interested in giving a presentation. Tentative presentation schedule: Oct 14 Rado Basics (KB0VGG) Nov 11 Election/dinner Dec 9 Jan 13 Feb 10 Mar 9 Apr 13 May 11 Jun 8 REGULAR EVENTS -------------- - ARES net check-in is at 9pm every Sunday night, on 146.94/34 - Iowa Digital Net runs every Tuesday night at 7pm, 3.5885 MHz USB / 1500 Hz WF (Olivia 8-500) - Iowa 75 Meter Evening Net runs Mon-Sat at 6:00 pm on 3.970 MHz / LSB Also meets at 12:30 pm on same. - Iowa 160 Meter Net runs Sunday night at 9:30 pm on 1.9745 MHz / LSB - DMR checkin 7:30 pm Sunday night on talk group 3119 - Ham Radio Fellowship / Breakfast every Wednesday morning at 9AM at the Wendy's at Love's Travel Stop in Waterloo. (3301 Greyhound Drive) VE TESTING AND TRAINING ----------------------- contact Mark (N8TWO) for current information at classes@w0mg.net UPCOMING HAMFESTS ----------------- The 3900 Club is having HAMBOREE 2023 on Saturday, October 7th at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Boone, IA. Details will be added to the 3900 Club website at http://www.3900club.com/HF2023.pdf The event includes VE testing, food vendors, and handicapped-accessible parking. Admittance is $7 (14 or younger get in free), includes 1 raffle ticket Tables $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Tailgate space is $5 contact by email: HAMBOREE@3900CLUB.COM or phone: 515-838-2285 Talk-in on 146.85, negative offset (no PL tone) ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------- Don (KD0WGB) has a dual band vertical and a alpha delta dx-dd 80/40m trapped dipole. The dipole is center fed with just an SO-239, you will need a tuner. Total length is 82ft. Both are free to a good home. (they're spares he's not using) W0MG/NIRAA LINKS ---------------- - Club Website: https://www.w0mg.net/ - Membership form: https://www.w0mg.net/contact/membershipform.pdf - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/waterloo.hams/community/ - Cedar Valley area repeaters list: https://www.w0mg.net/repeaters/ - additional club resources: https://vftp.net/N0ZYC/W0MG/index.html - Amateur Radio Practice Site (tests and code): https://www.aa9pw.com/ - Discord server (current invitation link at top of minutes) ATTENDANCE ---------- Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher KB0VGG Al Jones WB0MAR John Humpal N4HRL Harold Lucas KF0JPR Randy Albright KF0KDE Danael Zilk N8TWO Mark Colby KE0IWP Janice Fitkin KE0IWQ Jim Fitkin K0DV Doug Vernier N0TKC Taryn Colby W0VJB Vicki Bicket AE0TB Tom Bicket K0CQH David Knittel NK0T Curtis Wilson KD0DK David Kelly KD0DM David Morrow KF0NDD Miguel Chavez NC0N Cory Hill KF0HRF Richard Marsh W0ALO Chuck Angel Guests: (none) Members wishing to pay club dues (or have paid and are not indicated above) please contact our Treasurer in person at our monthly meeting or by email at treas(a)w0mg.net Members of the board may be contacted over the air or via email: President Al Jones (KB0VGG) pres(a)w0mg.net Vice President David Morrow (KD0DM) vp(a)w0mg.net Secretary Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) sec(a)w0mg.net Treasurer Dave Kelly (KD0DK) treas(a)w0mg.net Director 2021 John Humpal (WB0MAR) dir1(a)w0mg.net Director 2022 Taryn Colby (N0TKC) dir2(a)w0mg.net Director 2023 Jan Fitkin (KE0IWP) dir3(a)w0mg.net ABOUT ----- NIRAA meets most months on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 6:00 pm, at the Waterloo Airport, in the old restaurant. Parking is available at no cost in the short-term lot. (3 hr free limit) Our primary club repeater is on 146.94 mhz, negative offset, with a PL tone of 136.5 hz, with coverage centered in Black Hawk County. Many members are also monitoring channel 3119 on DMR. Our club website is at https://www.w0mg.net/ and the club's primary email contact is sec(a)w0mg.net You're receiving these meeting minutes because you have given the NIRAA club your email address for minutes and announcements. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply requesting removal from one or both distribution lists. - Nathan Fisher (N0ZYC) Secretary, W0MG