President Gene W0KAD opened the meeting at 7:00 PM
Gene W0KAD announced that we have a Silent Key—Evan KD7LUE who will be missed. Gene passed around a card to be signed by all.
New members were introduced. Foster and N3KCJ and Bill K6WWK have joined our ranks.
General Fund - $1,913.18
Repeater Fund - 2,157.95
Total - $4,071.13
Gene W0KAD thanked Carolyn AB7KC for all her hard work on the Roster.
Lloyd N7GV said the last classes for Technical and Extra licenses will be next Sunday, Feb. 18th. Then testing will be held on both Sat. Feb 24 and Sun. Feb. 25th at 2:00 PM at the SAV building. He also reported that the after school class at Continental School are going well. He is a little unsure how many will actually finish the year, but that he felt good about how things were going.
Gene W0KAD announced that we have a new Net run by our new Tech. It is held every Wed. at 9:00 AM on 2 meter frequency 145.290. It is great to see our new licensees get into the swing of things.
Bill AA0TF will lead a group of interested people on geo caching tour to find 6 different caches. They are to meet in the parking lot of La Placita at 10:00 AM Thur. 2/15/07 up at the Observatory Picnic grounds for free pop and a snack brought by each individual.
Ron VE6RGP reporting that everything seems to be in good operating order. He said that the “27” and “29” repeaters are used a little bit more than when he arrived in GV and urged people to use them. He said the UHF (449.375) is rarely used. He also reported that SAV will be getting high speed internet in the next 3 weeks which will then allow him to set up remote use of the club station HF radio. Club members can download free software and will be able to control our new beam antenna as well.
Bob AD7FQ will make arrangements to get tickets for those interested in going to a spring training game between the Diamond Backs and Colorado Rockies on March 12th. The game begins at 1:05 PM at Hi Corbitt field in Tucson.
The annual Spring Picnic was scheduled for Thursday 4/5/07 at Madera Canyon. It will be a pot luck. Joe NX2L will bring his famous stew along with a means to keep it warm. Gene W0KAD will bring a Beam Antenna donated by Dale W0DGY to be assembled and tuned. The beam will be use on Field Day.
The meeting was turned over to various members to discuss antennas that can be used in Green Valley. Jack W6NGZ discussed a horizontal loop with 4 legs 17” 9” each. A computer program he used is EDNEC and a beginner version of the program comes with ARRL handbook.
Tom W1HRO told us he has had reasonable luck with his flagpole antenna which he indicated was very reasonably priced.
Dick W7KAM told us about his Cushcraft NA5V vertical antenna which he was allowed to put up for emergency communication purposes. It is a 5 band antenna that cost around $260. It can take upto 250 watts and will withstand an 80 mile an hour wind. He simply drove a iron pipe into the ground as a mast (no concrete base was necessary.
Gene W0KAD talked briefly about his screwdriver antenna. He used chicken wire layed out flat on his roof for radials and has had reasonable success with it.
Rudy N3EGB told us about his “Slinky” dipole antenna. He indicated he was only able to talk with Jack W6NGZ across town. Omar KW7OS reported he had about that much success with one also. Rudy is using an OUTBACKER antenna and has had good success with it. He was able to buy it used at a much reduced price as they are expensive.
Omar KW7OS showed us a home made antenna that is for 20 meters. It was about 16” tall and can be used either vertically or horizontally. It has a lot of interesting qualities and may be an antenna of the future. Many companies in the US are not interested in it as it can be built at home and they would have to sell it for a lot less than they can get with their present antennas. A web page that talks about many antennas is antennex.com.
Meeting was closed for general discussion at about 8:40 PM.
Folks..if you’re planning on going to ballgame, you’d better ante up by breakfast Wed. March 7th... if not, tickets will be on sale at the box office March 12th at 1:05, High Corbet Field. Game between the Diamond Backs and Rockies.
Picnic April 5th in Madera Canyon..we’ve ordered good weather. Bill AA0TF is going to provide some geo caching.. and MAYBE... WE HOPE... Olga will provide us with some of that great Hot Sauce she makes…Let’s hope so.
The sample shirts are here and Gene W0KAD will be placing an order after the GVARC March meeting.
The shirt is by Outer Banks. Gene has Samples of Sm, Med, Large. x-Large and even 2x-Large and will take orders anytime you see Gene or email him with your order.
The Shirt with Logo is $25.00 you can have you Name and Call letters embroidered for an extra $6.00
House Bill 2595 was heard in the Arizona House Appropriations Committee Wednesday, February 21st.
This bill recognizes the Federal preemption known as PRB 1 that requires "reasonable accommodation" from Cities and Counties for Amateur Radio Antennas and structures.
What makes this bill different is that it extends "reasonable commodation" to CC&R's and HOA's.
The Bill PASSED Committee on a bipartisan 15 to 1 vote.
Early this Week there will be a vote on the floor of the House.
If you have not yet contacted your Arizona House Representatives - Please do so now!
We have won 1 battle.
But we have not yet won the War.
The bill will voted on by the House and then sent over to the Senate.
In the Senate we then go to Committee again.
If we pass the Senate Committee we then go for vote by the full Senate.
After all this it is on to the Governor still need your help and support to get this done.
Call or email your Representatives and Senator if you have not already done so.
Thank you, Dan Brown
NA7DB Mayor City of Page.
Lloyd N7GV will be presenting a class starting Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 PM and continuing every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon. Class will meet on Sunday at 2:00 PM and Thursday evening at 7:00 PM. Each class period will be about 2 hours long and the course will run for 5 or possibly 6 weeks. An exam will be scheduled at the end of the course. Classes and exam will be at the SAV building. The Extra pool consists of 783 with the exam consisting of 50 questions. The Extra is the top license and is more involved that the lower classes. The Extra class book by Gordon West will be used. Contact Lloyd if you are interested—N7GV 648-2834. You do not need to be a member of GVARC to attend this class.
Continental School Radio Club students continue building kits and learning electronics. Starting this week, we will introduce the students to digital logic. Several students are planning to enter the annual miniature solar car race and solar house competition. This is a county wide competition for Middle school students, held in Tucson on Earth Day. In previous years we have placed as high as 2nd in the solar house and 4th in the car race. All are hoping to do better this year.
The ARRL Regulatory Information Branch advises all Technician and Novice licensees that they may not operate FM mode on 10 meters (or anywhere else below 30 MHz). Novices and Technicians may operate CW and data on the segment 28.0 to 28.3 MHz, and CW and SSB phone on the segment 28.3 to 28.5 MHz. Novices and Technicians must limit their output power to 200 W PEP on these 10-meter segments and on any HF bands where they have privileges (ie, CW on 80, 40 and 15 meters). Amateur Radio FM emissions are not permitted below 29.0 MHz. The RIB also notes that a valid Certificate of Successful Completion of Examination (CSCE) for element credit issued prior to February 23, 2007, does not automatically convey operating privileges under the new rules. The holder must first redeem the CSCE by applying at an examination session and paying any application fee. If the Volunteer Examiner (VE) team accepts the CSCE for element credit, it will issue a CSCE for upgrade credit. Only then may upgraders operate under their new privileges, identifying as /AG (if upgrading to General) or /AE (if upgrading to Amateur Extra) until the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) database reflects their new license class. A CSCE is only valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, no exceptions.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the monthly Newsletter are requested to submit their information no later that the first Monday of the month. This gives me ample time to produce the letter. Please send your information to Phil Brooke.