(Meeting Type: In-Person)
(Ponchatoula Community Center)
October 11th, 2022
...
SELARC Meeting Minutes
(Meeting Type: In-Person)
(Ponchatoula Community Center)
October 11th, 2022
Call to order: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD) at 07:00 pm
Pledge of Allegiance: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)
Introductions: Done
Minutes of previous meetings: Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)
- 1st motion to accept meeting minutes as posted by Tyrone Burns (N5XES)
- 2nd motion by Tim Desmond (KG6G)
- All Approved
Members present: Keith Samrow (KF5VLX), Mike Jackson (KI5GGP), Ralph Shaw (K5CAV), Ed Mason (KE5GMN), Pat Mason (KE5KMM), Dean Melancon (KG5AAE), Ernie Bush (N5NIB), Russ Plyler (WI5ARD), Larry Lima (KI5JVY), Robert Jaeger (KI5TYD), Tim Desmond (KG6G), Tyrone Burns (N5XES), Bob Spahn (WD5BJW), Terry Williams (N1TDW), Mark Lacey (WX5RN), Ronald Newcombe (N5RYA)
Guest present: Rung Lima, Kate Lukinovich
Treasurers’ report: Ernie Bush (N5NIB)
- 1st motion to accept the treasurer's report as presented by Tyrone Burns (N5XES)
- 2nd motion by Mark Lacey (W5RX)
- All Approved
Bills / Correspondence:
- $900 has been paid out to Crown Castle / Pinnacle - Tickfaw Tower
- $1,250 donation from Joe Lacassio
- $25 membership dues
- Waiting to hear back from Matt Anderson on paying the Repeater Council (LCARC) dues of $15.00.
- $900 for the price of the new antenna at North Oaks tower site.
New member applications / renewals: Ernie Bush (N5NIB)
- N/A
- 1st motion Name (Callsign) ← N/A
- 2nd motion by Name (Callsign) ← N/A
- All Approved.
Health and Welfare:
- Carol Redmond (KE5GOC) may still be in a nursing home.
- KD5AXU Jerry has been moved into a new facility and in a bit of pain.
- Mark Lacey (WX5RN) 's wife is back home from the hospital.
ARES report: Pat Mason (KE5KMM)
- Monday nets were averaging 23-24. The nets have dropped down between 14-15 the last few weeks.
- Saturday the State ARES is doing a simulated test. It was scheduled for the 1st of October but was pushed when Ian was headed towards Florida. Jim Coleman (AI5B) will be the point of contact to send messages through Winlink too. It all starts at 9 AM and runs till 10:30 AM. There will be a check-in on 147.00 & 146.610 possibly.
- The A/C unit failed where the 146.610 repeater location. After it was repaired there was some damage to the repeater sustained from some equipment not being reset in the building. There has been a new pre-amp installed. The repeater is back on the air but the antenna problem still continues.
Hamfest Committee: Tyrone Burns (N5XES)
- The location of our next Hamfest will be at the Ponchatoula Community Center
- We have permission to use the 3 rooms above on the 2nd floor. Our typical meeting room and the 2 rooms on the North wall.
- Waiting to hear if we can use the bottom room in the Northwest corner next to the offices. Lynette is checking with the group that controls that room to see if they would not mind.
- Ernie took measurements of the Community Center and created a layout of the tables. Keith, Ronnie, Dean (Extra Tables)`
- Clean-up our club room before the event.
- Identify items that need to be removed and sold before or during the hamfest.
- At least 2 antennas need to be working for talk-in and listening for HF/VHF/UHF.
- Need to get gaffer tape.
- We need Volunteers
- We need to set prizes at our next meeting. Please call, text or email so we can discuss during next month's meeting.
- Please submit any ideas you have for prizes and/or locations via email to Tyronne Burns (N5XES) and Russ Plyler (WI5ARD) via email address listed on QRZ.com
Repeater Committee: Tyrone Burns (N5XES) & Russ Plyler (WI5ARD)
- Tickfaw
- It appears that the 600 kHz station down in the New Orleans area is mixing with the repeater. If you happen to hear the 147 acting up tune to the 600 kHz AM station to see if you can see the increase in signal power from this broadcast station.
- Ernie & Russ went to check the guy wire cables and found issues with the ground. None of the waterfall grounding was in place and over a ⅓ to ½ the grounds for the 6 anchor points were not in place.
- Crown Castle is supposed to send the grounds maintenance guys out to clear out the vegetation. This should have been completed by the October meeting.
- Crown Castle is supposed to add grounding to the anchor points by the end of the year. It did sound like the true goal was to be done within the month of it being reported but will have to wait.
- Crown Castle had no plans of adding the waterfall grounds back to the tower. Request was put in to provide the club recommendations on what we could do to address the grounding on at least the 4 cables on the East side of the tower which actually created the most interference.
- Intermod
| Order | Intermodulation
Products |
f₁ = 600 kHz
f₂ = 147 MHz |
||
| 1st Order | f₁ | f₂ | 600 kHz | 147 MHz |
| 2nd Order | f₁+f₂ | f₂-f₁ | 147.600 MHz | 146.400 MHz |
| (+) Offset | (-) Offset | |||
- Next Steps
- The next step will be to try using the (+) offset for the 147 repeater. On hold till it is understood how grounding effects. Odd offset may need to be done if grounding or lack of does not resolve our issue.
- Insulation is on location and needs to be installed on the ceiling.
- Wall outlets have exposed wiring and burnt plugs that need to be corrected.
- Hammond
- The North Oaks tower is up in place. This week the next tower crew should be on location to complete the installation of the cables and remaining antennas.
- Beacon lights are in place.
- Mike is waiting to hear back from Tower Crew on remaining work to be completed.
Old Business:
- none
Field Day: Mark Lacey (WX5RN)
- Date: June 24th, 2023
Training
- The November meeting will cover DC connectors and grounding systems which is being prepared by Dean Melancon (KG5AAE). If you have a preferred DC connector please bring it to the meeting for a type of Show-and-Tell. This was postponed another month unfortunately but for a good cause.
New Business:
- Congratulations to the new upgrade from the VE Session of the Florida Parishes VE Group.
- General
- Salvador Genusa - KG5UAR - Bush, La. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- Nicholas Kuhns - N8DSK - Covington, La. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
- General
- November Meet & Greet Over Food & Drinks (5 PM to 7 PM)
- Mike’s Catfish Inn
- 1009 W Oak St., Amite City LA 70422
- (985) 748-5126
- November Meeting (7 PM to 8:30)
- Amite EOC
- 114 N. Laurel St., Amite City LA 70422
- Thanks to Ed for lining out the EOC for our November meeting since the Community Center will be unavailable.
- Amite EOC
- November Meeting (7 PM to 8:30)
- Mike’s Catfish Inn
- Christmas
- Date: December 13th, 2022
- Location: Salty Joe’s BBQ Shop
- 43344 S Range Rd., Hammond LA 70403
- (985) 956-7099
- No Dirty Santa, Just food and spirits.. and a meeting.
Upcoming events / Hamfest / Cancellations:
- OZONE Hamfest
- How did everyone like the hamfest this year?
- Chattanooga Hamfest
- October 14th & 15th
- East Ridge Community Center, 1517 Tombras Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37412
- Chattanooga ARC Website
- DSARC (Deep South Amateur Radio Club) Hamfest
- The Greater New Orleans HamFest
- November 5th
- VFW Hall, 1133 Hickory Ave., Harahan LA 70123
- 8 AM to 1 PM
General discussion, presentation, or training:
- Christmas parth discussed previously.
Motion to adjourn:
- 1st motion to adjourn meeting by Tyrone Burns (N5XES)
- 2nd motion by Ernie Bush (N5NIB)
- All Approved.
