The OCRA Newsle er For May 2014 Newsle er contents: 1) Gree ngs from the Secretary 2) Prior Month s board mee ng minutes 3) Prior Month s Mee ng Highlights 4) President s QRM 5) Ar cles 6) QSL from members From the Secretary s desk Field Day has passed, a great me was had by all present at the Lamb residences (Wilson and DeeAnne, Chris and wife). Our thanks to both families for having us and some of us especially thank the grandchildren for their bright eyes and fire for life. 73, Adriano (KV7D) Board Mee ng Minutes Board mee ng called to order 6:47pm 1. Present at the mee ng were: R. Woodward (Woody), K. Snyder, S. Ahlbom, D. Eddleman, M. Carwile, T. Toroborg, T. Mc Guire 2. June 2014 borad mee ng minutes were read dna approved. 3. Treasurer report. Dan is no cing some trends which are of interest Dan presented a financial trend report. More data to come a er Dan compiles 2014 data M. North to make a presenta on to DFMA about triangle are ham demographics.z 4. D. Eddleman made a mo on to share in the dona on of $50 for Dee Lamb flower dona on. Mike Carwile second, mo on carries. 5. Woody made a mo on that OCRa pay s for Wilson and Dee Ann Christmas dinner. Karen Snyder second, mo on carries. 6. 145.230 Repeater antenna has been ordered and will be here in 3-4 weeks. 7. D. Snyder Field Day log report overall contacts 3,168. Rougly 16,300 overall points. 8. D. Ramm Field Day food report $124.29 9. Woody made a mo on to commend DFMA for providing essen al facili es at Field Day ($100.00 contribu on). Mo on to adjourn made by Woody at 7:46 De Adriano (KV7D) OCRA Secretary Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 1
Board Mee ng Minutes Board mee ng called to order 6:47pm 1. Present at the mee ng were: R. Woodward (Woody), K. Snyder, S. Ahlbom, D. Eddleman, M. Carwile, T. Toroborg, T. Mc Guire 2. June 2014 board mee ng minutes were read and approved. 3. Treasurer report. Dan presented a financial trend report on club expenditures. For 2013 we spent 33% of our organiza ons income. More data to come a er Dan compiles 2014 data M. North to make a presenta on to DFMA about triangle area ham demographics' 4. D. Eddleman made a mo on to share in the dona on of $50 for Dee Lamb flower dona on. Mike Carwile second, mo on carries. 5. Woody made a mo on that OCRa pay s for Wilson and Dee Ann Christmas dinner. Karen Snyder second, mo on carries. 6. 145.230 Repeater antenna has been ordered and will be here in 3-4 weeks. 7. D. Snyder Field Day log report overall contacts 3,168. Rougly 16,300 overall points. 8. D. Ramm Field Day food report $124.29 9. Woody made a mo on to commend DFMA for providing essen al facili es at Field Day ($100.00 contribu on). Mo on to adjourn made by Woody at 7:46 De Adriano (KV7D) OCRA Secretary Notes/Announcements The OCRA Membership Mee ng for August 2014 will be held on Monday, 11, star ng at 1900L (7:00 pm) at the Orange County Emergency Services Building, 510 Meadowlands Drive in Hillsborough. The board mee ng is no longer held before the general mee ng. Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 2
OCRA 145.230 MHz gets a faceli By Adriano (KV7D) In early May Rob Noel contacted me to tell me that he was unable to show IRLP to a prospec ve ham in the Efland area. I knew that 145.230 had a limited coverage area, so I told him that he probably was on the fringes of the coverage area. That however got me thinking, as I could connect into our Uhf repeater located on the same building from roughly the same loca- on, so I decided that I d be a good assistant repeater manager (while Dan Eddleman KR4UB) our repeater manager was on vaca- on. Rushed home a er work one evening, packed up my new found love my Array Solu ons AIM4170 analyzer and went on site. Shut off the power to the repeater amplifier stage to prevent inadvertent emissions and I went to work; Disconnected the Heliax cable from the duplexer, connected into my trusty analyzer, power up the app and WOW! To my surprise the SWR profile was off the charts. Double checked with my finding, just in case the 4170 was affected by other RF emi ng equipment on the roof with my Daiwa 801CN and confirmed we had a serious issue on hand. Not sure what the next step would be I returned the equipment in func oning order and le the site. The next day I contacted Dan to share the info and suggested we shut down the repeater to protect the Amplifier, Dan was surprised I hadn t done so already, but I thought it proper to acquire approval before actually doing it. Dan and I were unsure as to how old the antenna on was so I contacted Steve Jackson (KZ1X) and discovered the antenna was over 15 years old and that the manufacture had been having problems with rainwater ge ng into the antenna. At the club monthly mee ng I shared the informa on with the group and was asked to pursue pricing a replacement antenna, with the help of Steve KZ1X and Charles Durst NC4CD a much be er replacement was proposed. Dan took the informa on I provided and ran forward with it...see our new 145.230 areal below almost ready to be installed. 73, Adriano (KV7D) Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 3
A very nice thank you note from Dee Ann Lamb for OCRA and DFMA gi toward her flower garden. Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 4
A great me was had by all par cipants as well as guests at the Lamb resort and SPA, (not really, just the homes or Wilson, De Anne, Chris and Robin Lamb). As you can tell by the satellite photo the property is very nice and houses a gues mated 2 acre pond in between the two lots on the south side. Though it is not a public loca on and somewhat remote (we need more signs next year if we do it again) to the general public, but, a very nice place to hang many, many wire dipoles as wll as hanging around with friends having another meal. The 3 orange lines depic ng the 40m wire beam show the loca on your secretary KV7D and his trusty co. captain Joes Simpson (K4SAR) located our set-up, way, way too close to the 40m CW sta on (less than 50 feet separated our areal, more separa on next year. Enjoy the pictures (not all taken pictures were included, too many) I just sampled through and picked out some of interest. Adriano (KV7D) Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 5
This is the clearest depic on of OCRA/DFMA members on field day. Nothing is greater then a grandma and her grandson A bright future as a ham radio amateur, broadcaster, newscaster? Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 6
Some of our members thought this was an opportunity for off road racing. KG4NEL Jim and Jerry KD4YJV Enjoying a li le break The 6m crew pondering their plan of a ack Finally someone doing some ham stuff. Karen KD4YJZ, Dave NA4VY, Bob W4RWC Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 7
There has to be some comfort in performing emergency communica ons, doesn't it? Ah! The future looks bright for amateur radio, Derek, Will Shambley and his li le brother hard at work I don t care what the map sais, North is that way! What a beau ful sight Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 8
No comment needed right! Another meal? Lad looks ready for business Man these new high density gizmos are sure ge ng small- Bruce N1LN at the helm. We didn t take prisoners in Texas, let me at them. CQ, CQ, CQ Field Day Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 9
Man, it sure didn t look this big in my front yard.did it grow? Think it s gonna work? Not sure, but it looks as if the trees are in the way Terry, me and Steve Jackson Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 10
What a beau ful sight Brian is loaded and ready Now, who s at the radio? Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 11
QSL of the month A QSL I received a while ago from Texas. Orange County Radio Amateurs Newsle er Page Number 12