Presidents Column

It was beginning to look a lot like Spring, and time for some serious
antenna work. And now we get snow. Maybe this is the weather for serious
antenna work?

I got an email that said that the Montana Field Day 2000 is a go. It sounds like a great idea. At the same time, for those who want to stay closer to home, we will be having our local field day as usual.

The last exam session was a success and another session is scheduled for March 4th.

The Bozeman High School Radio Club is up and running under the sponsorship of Glen, KD7AZT. We need to get an antenna up so the transceiver can be used to show what can be done and hopefully spark more interest among the students.

Jim AA8Y

 

 

Have you paid your dues yet?

 

Don’t forget to pay your club and repeater dues. By paying your dues, you help to keep our club healthy and active. Paying repeater dues keeps the Eagle Head repeaters and digipeaters running smoothly. Summers coming and we will need all the finances possible to upkeep the various repeaters!

GHRC dues are $20/person, $25/family, $10/student

Make your payments to:

Gallatin Ham radio Club, W7ED
P.O. Box 4381
Bozeman, MT 59772

Eagle Head dues are $30/year
Make your payments to:

Eagle Head Repeater Assoc.
6790 South Third Road
Bozeman, MT 59715-8353

February 3rd , 2000 Meeting Minutes submitted by KD7FVR, Ron Schimpf

February’s meeting was held at Sacajawea Middle School. President Jim AA8Y called the meeting to order at 7 PM. 25 members were in attendance. Minutes of the January 2000 meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Harley KI7XF reported that the club balance is $1800.00. Treasurer’s report was accepted by unanimous vote.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Eaglehead Repeater Association

Bob W7LR reported on the Eaglehead Repeater Association. The association has been discussing purchasing the remaining equipment, solar panels and structure at the Flat Top site from Big Sky Lumber. They have presented proposals to Kelly McDougal and are waiting to hear back from him. Bob has been dealing with the Forest Service, who will issue the use permit. There are some politics involved in access to the site but it is beginning to look pretty good.

Bob has put in an insurance claim for the damaged solar panel in the amount of $325.00.

At a previous meeting, the GHRC had set aside $500.00 for the Eaglehead repeater Association to purchase solar panels. The balance in the ERA account is $920.00. (Maybe $200.00 better.)

Hamfest

Don KC7EWZ will confirm committee heads for the next Hamfest on October 14, 2000. He would like to get out the advertising out soon. Don still has the layout for the ‘99 brochure. He can change the date, time, etc. for the next hamfest. A vendor in attendance at the last hamfest wants to be our auctioneer to auction off the junk that is not selling. The consensus was to hold the auction near the end. Last year the event ran from 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM. The club decided to move closing time up to 3:00 PM.

Vivian K7CUB submitted a request for the room at Sacajawea Middle School. It’s not approved yet but should be no problem. There may be a user fee this year of $70 – $90.

The budget for advertising and prizes was discussed. Don proposed spending less on advertising than last year. Agreement was made to eliminate advertising in the Mini Nickel and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Also discussed was charging $2.00 admission at the door. The admission fee would purchase a ticket for the door prize. Bob W7LR made a motion to establish a budget of $1000.00 -- $200.00 for advertising, $800.00 for prizes. The motion was seconded and carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Lyndel N7LT announced that he is still accepting outgoing QSL cards for overseas contacts. Lyndel will be sending a package soon, so get them in to him as soon as possible.

Don KC7EWZ has reserved the Brackett Creek location for Field Day.

NEW BUSINESS

Don KC7EWZ has printed several membership and e-mail lists. He incurred about $40.00 expenses preparing the lists. He suggested making the lists available at $2.00 each, or the club could reimburse his expenses. Todd WA7U made a motion to have the club reimburse Don $40.00. The motion was seconded and carried. Members who are current on their dues may pick up the list.

Glenn KD7AZT has started a new radio club at the Bozeman High School. He asked if GHRC would be willing to donate some coax to the school club. Fred KE7X moved to donate 100 feet of coax. The motion was seconded and carried.

Todd WA7U announced that he is resigning his seat on the Gallatin County Search and Rescue Board. Todd has been on the board for 3½ years. He said that the person who applies for this position should have been a ham operator for a while. They should be familiar with HF work, emergency communications, and have a working knowledge of the area repeaters. The board meets at 7 PM on the first Tuesday of every month at the Sheriff’s Posse Shack. Don KC7EWZ volunteered to apply for the position.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bob W7LR announced that K7MT has three mono band beams for sale. (A 10m, 15m, and 20m.)

Sacajawea School Club Roundup is Feb. 14-18. Don N7FLT has the sign up sheet for volunteers.

Jack N7ODN knows of a 20m mono band beam in Manhattan that is available for donation to a school. It may involve a work party to pick it up.

Harley KI7XF is preparing to send orders for the Australian 2m direction finders. Anyone else who wants one, get the money to him soon.

BREAK

After the break, Cory KC7MRQ presented a very interesting hands-on demonstration of thermoelectric modules. These are devices that can generate electricity by heating one side and cooling the other. Or, when a current is applied, the module will heat on one side and cool on the other. They are capable of a 60° C maximum temperature difference and can handle power up to 125 W. Cory said anyone who wishes to learn more about thermoelectrics could visit a web site at www.melcor.com

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 PM.

 

 

Upgrade Honor Roll

This is a new column to honor all who receive or upgrade their license! Those who upgrade will remain on this lest for the rest of the year.

Congratulations to all who upgraded!

Tech class (new licensee)

Vikki Bohlman KD7HGY

Gordon Lister KD7HHA

Scott Graber KD7HGZ

Andy Macrae KD7HXA

Shelley Peterson KD7HXB

General Class

KD7EMO Andrew Jesaitis

KD7DYW Wendy Reeser

Advanced Class

Doug Peterson KK7VC

Extra class after April 15th.

WB7USV Walt Baxter

KC7PFH Ralph Bergantine

KB7KB Ric Helvey

K7YXU John Nash

KK7VC Doug Peterson

KI7OJ Don Regli

General class after April 15th.

KC7NHF Darrell Berreth

KC7EWZ Don Wilson

 

NET CONTROL

February 1 N7LT April 4 K7CUB
February 8 KD7FVR April 11 KC7EWZ
February 15 W7LR April 18 KD7FVR
February 22 KI7OJ April 25 KI7XF
February 29 N7ODN
May 2 N7ODN
March 7 KC7BLO May 9 KC7EWZ
March 14 N7GS May 16 WA7U

March 21 KD7FVR May 23 KC7PEM

March 28 W7OIQ May 30 W7OIQ

If you’ve not signed up as a net control operator yet, please do so! As members of the GHRC, each of us should take at least half an hour each month to help run the net. This is a very small sacrifice of time which greatly enhances the quality of our net and club.

If you’ve never run the net before, contact either KC7EWZ, Don or N7LT Lyndel for an outline on how to run the net. All you have to do is substitute your call sign and you’re ready to be net control. Running the net is a great experience which will help prepare you for participating in emergency communications.

The net is every Tuesday evening at 8PM.

 

 

Montana Amateur Radio History

10 years ago – March 1990

Pete Peters W7OW was the Section manager. Red Lodge got a new solar powered repeater on 147.00. Flathead valley got new 911 service on repeater. An ICOM IC-735 HF rig costs $999.00. An ICOM IC-02AT 2 meter handheld cost$349.95. A Rohn HDBX 48 free standing tower costs $464.00.

20 years ago – March 1980

Bob Leo W7LR was the Section Manager. Created the Montana section net on 3910 KHz. K0PP active on 160 and doing well in contests. Lots of 6 meter and 432 activity by WA7HAH, KA1EA and company was working OSCAR. Montana hams hanging out in CA during winter can be found on 3915 in mornings. A Kenwood TS-820S HF rig costs $1299. A Rohn 25G 50 foot guyed tower cost $464.02, A Kenwood TS-520 $629.95, Yeasu FT-207R handheld $399.

50 years ago – march 1950

Fred B. Tintinger, W7EGN was the Section Manager. The great Northern train master at Whitefish called W7BNU and asked for amateur radio help in dispatching train orders between Whitefish and Spokane as a heavy wind and rain storm had disrupted both Great Northern and commercial communications lines between the two cities. 3.85 Mc phone was use for communications and continued in service until commercial services were restored. W7CAL is on 144 Mc with 522. W7AYG flew his plane to W7IBG’s and W7CBY’s shacks for a visit. The Hallicrafters SX-71 receiver costs $179.50, An HT-17 transmitter costs $39.50, a new alliance tenna rotor cost $29.37, and a 50 foot 4 legged tower cost $175.

 

Happenings Page

Schedule of Events

bulletMar 2nd — Club meeting at Sacajawea Middle School
bulletMar 4th. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM.
bulletMar 7th. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM.
bulletMar 11th. — Ham & eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM.
bulletMar 14th — 146.88 Net at 8 PM.
bulletMar 18th. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM.
bulletMar 21st. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM.
bulletMar 25th. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM.
bulletMar 28th. – 146.88 Net at 8 PM.

March 2000

1

2 Club Meeting

3

4 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe

5

6

7 Net 146.88

8

9

10

11 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe

12

13

14 Net 146.88

15

16

17

18 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe

19

20

21 Net 146.88

22

23

24

25 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe

26

27

28 Net 146.88

29

30

31

If you have any events you would like to see posted here, please email or mail them to the Editor for inclusion in the April newsletter. Deadline is March 20th.

 

 

ARRL and GHRC W7ED Out Going QSL

Service For Members

Don’t forget to get your outgoing DX QSL cards to Lyndel N7LT for inclusion in the next shipment of cards to the ARRL outgoing DX bureau. The club is picking up the shipping costs so save some money and get your DX cards in!

VE Test Sessions

 

Test sessions are held at 9 am in room 632 at

Cobleigh Hall on the MSU Campus the first Saturday AFTER the first Thursday during the following months: December, March, June, September. This schedule may be revised. Make sure to check your newsletter each month for any changes to the VE Testing

Schedule.

For more info: Contact Jack, N7ODN

2000 Schedule

Special Session:

Pre-registration only!

March 3 at 1:30pm

————————–

March 4th

June 3rd

September 9th

December 9th

 

News From Around the State

Race to the Sky Report: 13 - 16 Feb, 2000

Amateur Radio Operators : These volunteers maintain 24 hour/4 day communications from all checkpoints along the race route and relayed information to Helena. This information includes arrival/departure, number of dogs in/out, and their status in the race. The information was updated on the world wide web http://www.race2sky.net and made available for public dissemination. Their donation of time and thousands of dollars worth of their own personal equipment ensures the mushers are tracked and assistance provided if an emergency should arise. Lincoln Jerry Webster KJ7TR, Darrell Thomas N7KOR, Gary Ferree W7DEO, Tish Cockerham KC7WBM, Rollie Fisher KC7WBP, Ennie Fisher KC7WBO, Bill Kornec KC7CIS, Billy Kornec KC7NBU, Todd Linville KE6NVV, Oscia Linville KC7WBI Whitetail Ranch Bob Williams W7IPB, Jim Haslip W7CK Seeley Lake Frank Irish KA7LEB, Bob Black K7BA, Jerry Willis N7STM, Holland Lake Darrell Christofferson KG7MO, Ardis Christofferson N7WKF, John Armstron K7BIR , Fred Gloschat (N7ZUY), Helena Bill Erhardt (K7MT)

Information was passed on local repeaters to Lincoln, Mt. and then by packet radio to Helena. Packet operation was very successful as it allowed easy information flow from packet to the web page and then to race headquarters. The event also tested our ability to maintain 24 hour/4 day communications system over a four county area under field conditions which is similar to an ARES type situation. Well done to all and thanks for their time, equipment, and long hours.

 

Hamfests & National Amateur Radio Events

 

March 4-5 ARRL International DX Contest.

March 11 Mike & Key Fleamarket, Puyallup, WA

March 25-26 CQ WW WPX Phone Contest

Apr 8 Lilac City ARC, Spokane, WA

Apr 29 YRC swapmeet in Billings (tentative)

May 19-21 ARRL National Convention, Dayton, OH

June 1-4 NW Division Convention, SEAPAC,

Seaside, OR

June 24-25 Field Day

 

HAMFEST

The Eastern Idaho UHF Society Ham Fest

will be April 22nd.

Their web page with the latest info and can be found at:
http://www.srv.net/~wa4vrv/hamfest.htm
See you there!
>From Jay, WA4VRV/AAM0EID

 

HAMFEST

Argus Barker W8QMD announced to the Bitterroot Amateur radio club there will be a hamfest at Burntfork in

Stevensville on May 11, 2000 at 9AM. Starting at 5PM that evening, there will also be a music jam!

 

HAMFEST

The 66th ANNUAL WATERTON-GLACIER

INTERNATIONAL HAMFEST

JULY 14, 15, & 16 2000 Essex MT.
Talk In: 146.520

 

Hamfest Registration:
HAMFEST REGISTRAR c/o P.O. Box 253
Florence MT 59832
406-273-2894

 

 

Montana Field Day 2000

Plans are still on for Montana Field Day 2000 (MTFD2000) We have three locations to choose from in the Helena area. We will probably go with one of the campgrounds near the lake, that’s still to be determined. Most of the clubs (except the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club) have opted to bow out. That’s unfortunate, but nonetheless, we plan to make this the best field day that Montana has seen in a long time. The whole purpose of this event is to get together with groups of hams that we are not used to seeing every year in June. This way we get to experiencing each others different techniques and operating practices and just plain have fun meeting and spending time with our fellow hams from across the state.

We’re also the competitive type! We hope to put in a strong effort and make a good show for field day. We have some top notch hams that plan to attend. We hope to get them behind the dials for a couple of hours pounding out fast code and making lightning quick phone contacts for us to ohh and ahh at. Why? Because it’s a kick to watch these superb hams in action. It gets your blood pumping! We’ll also have plenty of room at the keys and mics for brand new hams to give it a try. Best part is, we’ll all have these great elmers amongst us to learn from!

Join us won’t you? It’s going to be a great time! We look forward to seeing you there on June 24th and 25th. You can even come early and help set up on Friday afternoon!

If you’d like to help make this the best FD ever, please contact us! We need as many volunteers as possible. The logistics are huge with a event this size and we welcome all the help we can get.

Don’t forget to check out our new web page at:http://www.qsl.net/mtfd2k/

MTFD2000 Contacts:

Lyndel Thiesen N7LT Bill Erhardt K7MT

Email: n7lt@arrl.net Email:

Phone: 406-388-9531 erhardt@mt.net

1679 Remuda Dr. 2851 FESTIVAL

Belgrade, MT 59714-8835 HELENA MT 59602

Bob Avritt N7CZ,

Email n7cz@hamsnet.net

Phone 406-452-3311

1123 3rd Ave. NW

Great Falls, MT 59404

Newsletter Articles Needed!

As your newsletter editor, I’d like to ask the age old plea for articles and information. Anything you might have that would be of interest to other hams is what I’m looking for to include in our monthly newsletter.

If each of you could contribute just one thing once a year, I’d have enough material to fill every page of this newsletter.

Some of the things you could write about are: Antennas, Dxing, Emergency Services, Public Service, License upgrade experiences, Operating experiences, Contesting and the list goes on.

Contributions from magazines and other electronic media are also welcome. If you find something that you feel would be of interest to our club from the Internet, please forward it to me and I’ll see if we can get it in the Newsletter for everyone to enjoy.

Please send your newsletter articles and information to:

Newsletter Editor,

Lyndel Thiesen N7LT

1679 Remuda Dr.

Belgrade, MT 59714

Email: n7lt@arrl.net

Phone: 388-9531

Ham Radio Humor

You might be a Redneck Ham if:

You think:

A Quarter wave is your mother making you wave at the little girl you never liked.

Half wave is you waving at a pretty girl while your wife is looking the other way.

Standing wave is your wife smacking you in the back of the head for half waving at the girl.

Feed line is what you get in to eat.

Resistor is what you do to an ugly girl.

Coax is what you do with a pretty girl.

Rubber duck is a decoy.

Linear has something to with your family tree, despite it's lack of branches.

Radiator is part of your pickup.

Propagation is the rate of reproduction.

Ionosphere means, "the basketball is mine".

Tube is the TV.

Transistor is a nun who had a sex change.

Zepp is a breakfast cereal.

Whip is what your kid can do to the honor student.

Harmonic is what Charlie McCoy plays music with.

Image is something the rich folks can keep.

Parasites is two locations.

DX is just a brand name for gasoline.

QRP is a kidney disease.

Impedance is a jig you do while looking for a restroom.

Ohms is Watson's detective partner.

Current is some kind of berry.

A handheld could lead to romance.

A loudspeaker is a cheerleader.

Ampere is a ear deformity.

Volt is what you do on a Tuesday in November.

Watt is often asked by someone hard of hearing.

Chip is something you avoid stepping in, out in the pasture.

Beam is an illumination for frog gigging.

Quad is a form of carburation.

Slow Scan is what you do when a girl walks by.

Contact is what you yell when jump starting your pickup.

Digital means displaying one finger.

A condenser is something that puts milk in cans.

An inductor works for Amtrak.

A coil is used to make moonshine.

Polarization is the difference between races.

Meter is being introduced to a woman.

160 is the average speed for a NASCAR race.

Mobile is another brand of gasoline.

Switch is swapping mates.

Knife is pulling out a bigger blade in a fight.

Push-to-Talk is forcing yourself to be heard in a beer joint.

Pair-of-strippers are two naked girls.

Keyer is a locksmith.

Connector is a dating service.

Rotor is a new fangled brake on a car.

(Ed. source unknown from the internet)

 

School Club Roundup Submitted by Vivian, K7CUB

 

February 14-18, 2000

SMS participated in the School Club Roundup again this year. There were 12 student operators. They enthusiastically talked to people all over the country.

The totals for the contest were the following: 401 total Qs, 34 schools, 9 clubs,45 states, 9 foreign contries for a total score of 97,042. Our last year's score was 50,996.

We also want to thank Don N7FLT, Don KC7EWZ, Don WI7OJ, Mal N7GS, Bob W7LR and Doug KK7VC. It would not of happen without the support of the adults that came to assist the kids.

The kids were excited about the contest. It’s a high point for the club so far. Now we’re focusing on licensing studies. Thanks to everyone who helped out both here and at home.