Join us (next meeting is Saturday March 11 at 6pm) in person at the Waterloo Airport, or via Zoom : - WWW URL: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://zoom.us/j/99863201285?pwd%3DcWUyQWxrRk81OEcwN1Q0dzF1UTBLUT09 - Zoom computer or mobile app: meeting ID 998 632 01285, passcode 955710 - Phone: (312) 626-6799 (Chicago number) Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur Association (NIRAA/W0MG) Meeting Minutes, February 2022 The February gathering of the Northeast Iowa Radio Amateur's Association (NIRAA) was called to order at 7:28 PM, Saturday February 11, 2022 by KB0VGG at the Waterloo Airport. There were 22 members (18 ARRL) and 2 guests in attendance locally and remotely this evening, listed below. Tonight's presentation (before the meeting) was by Tom Risse on CFU MINUTES ------- Adjustments to last month's minutes: K0CQH: switch Al and Dave attribution in the New Business W0SJ: In the old business, Ton Reese should be Tom Risse and on the presentation schedule for March, Tom Reese should be Tom Risse. DK0DK: The check for $138.00 written to Al was for reimbursement for his costs associated with the Christmas Dinner, not Winter Field Day. Report accepted with 3 adjustments (KB0VGG/N8TWO) TREASURER'S REPORT ------------------ Dave (KD0DK) reports we have $1,948.53 + $280 - $22 = $2,206.53 in the savings/repeater fund and $1,090.18 (no change) in checking. Winter Field Day payment to Mark will show up on next month's report. Report accepted (WB0MAR/N8TWO) 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 --------- (no report) COMMITTEES ---------- Presentation Committee (Curt/NK0T, John/WB0MAR): (no report) Hamfest Committee: (Dave/K0CQH): Tried reaching out to Crossroads but they aren't returning calls after our initial exchange. Stan (W0SJ): have we considered the old Hy-Vee / new VA location? we've used that before. (out by Kmart) Al (KB0VGG): another option is to just bundle it with our August picnic? OLD BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG) recapped Winter Field Day: - conditions were poor (cold, deep snow) but operations ran very smooth - setup and tear0down went great - we were at a different cabin this year, but it worked out well - the radios weren't always well-utilized, we probably need to do operator sign-up to keep them active - this cabin was pretty far from the main road, which required shuttling people - Big Woods Lake is technically a better location but the cost is high ($300) and limited hours (4PM-11AM) which would require reserving three entire days, whereas this cabin cost $35 for the entire event Let Al know if you have any suggestions for next year. Mark (N8TWO) recapped Winter Field Day also: - 117 contacts (94 phone, 23 digital) - total of 6 multipliers, including full battery and solar - end score was 840 - band coverage was good, we got contacts on 10, 15, 20, 40, and 80m NEW BUSINESS ------------ Al (KB0VGG): brought up Summer Field Day: - we'll be meeting with the Antique Acres board - what do we want and need? - the "facilities" there are nice, and they have commercial power - do we want an enclosed building or an open one? Al (KB0VGG) and Dave (KD0DM) are going to create and maintain a club inventory tracking system Nathan (N0ZYC): I have some idea of where club property is, will forward it. Also, I've been looking into the design and order of some new banners for club events. 3-4 "feather flags" would be a welcome addition to our existing wide banner and (ancient) metal sign, mainly for the purpose of helping direct people to our exact location once they get in the area - helping with making the turns from the main road to get to us. Nate'a also looking into getting the club some QSL cards, although they're getting harder to find and have gone up quite a bit in price. Many previously popular vendors have simply stopped selling QSL cards. William (AE0QI) would like a list of club members. Al (KB0VGG) we can provide members a list of names and calls of current members, though we're still working on getting the club's website redone. Stan (W0SJ): Vicki (W0VJB) fell and broke some toes while at the Hamnation ham convention in Florida, and will be coming home early, wish her well. The "Bouvet Island DX-pedition" is hot, they're at over 7,000 contacts so far. FT8 is a good reach, but they are running on their own frequency, and are on "fox and hound" mode, with the fox below 1,000 and the hounds above. The island is about 1,000 miles North of Antarctica. Visit HTTPS://WWW.3Y0J.no for more information. Motion to adjourn at 7:54 PM (NK0T/K0CQH) 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: Mar 11 KB0VGG on ham shack safety Apr 8 Summer Field Day planning May 13 WB0MAR inviting robotics club? June 10 July 8 Aug 12 August picnic Sept 9 Oct 14 Nov 11 Election/dinner Dec 9 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 ----------------- - Winter RF Fest - February 25, 2023 from 8am to 12pm, 2930 Willis Avenue, Perry, IA 50220 $10 admission, $15 tables. Visit https://qsl.net/kd0neb/index_files/Page383.htm for more information OTHER EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ------------------------------ - Dave (K0CQH) is selling his Icom 746 Pro, $600 firm - WeatherSpotter training 5pm on April 5, at the CF Public Safety Office (main st and greenhill rd) 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 media: https://vftp.net/N0ZYC/W0MG/index.html MEETING ATTENDANCE ------------------ Members: N0ZYC Nathan Fisher KB0VGG Al Jones N4HRL Harold Lucas WB0MAR John Humpal AE0QI William Wright N8TWO Mark Colby K0CQH Dave Knittel KB0RSW Randy McClain KF0JPR Randy Albright KF0JPS Terry Stweart KD0DK David Kelly KD0DM David Morrow W0HHF Dick Nelson KE0JJE Richard Morgan W0SJ Stan Johnson KE0IWP Janice Fitkin KE0IWQ James Fitkin N0RXB Wendell Wagner N0TKC Taryn Colby NC0N Cory Hill NK0T Curt Wilson KF0EGO Don Utley Guests: KE0KXL Tom Risse KF0JBW Garrett Sager 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 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