Presidents Column
Spotter training:
It's that time of year again when we all need to renew our weather spotter
training. Joe Goudsward has contacted us and would like to put on a training
session, but wants to include others in the area as well as the hams. He would
like to include: people from law enforcement, BLM, DNR, DES, NPS, Forrest
Service and others. Joe is looking at the May meeting or
possibly the June meeting.
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program:
It looks like the program is getting off the ground, I was reading the
forum messages, and some are positive and a few negative, but I think a
program such as this has some interesting aspects and merit for many of us
including myself.
5 MHz:
There has been some experimentation on 5 MHz with the possibility of a new
ham band in that area. The experimentation so far has been between 5100 and
5150 kHz with 15 participating stations, WA2XSY-1 THROUGH WA2XSY-15, on CW and
Pactor.
Field Day Pins:
The ARRL has FD pins available for $5. Is anyone interested? I am.
Bands:
The bands have been in great shape. Even 40 m is good. I know because the 40 meter net I check into has been getting clobbered by QRM from the Far East.
Jim Hall AA8Y
1/3 of 2000 is gone! Paid your dues yet?
The club still needs your dues to help offset various expenses. Also, don’t forget to pay your repeater dues. By paying club dues, you help keep it healthy and active. Paying your repeater dues keeps the Eagle Head repeaters and digipeaters running smoothly. Summer’s coming and they’ll need all the finances possible to upkeep and upgrade the various repeaters! They’re in the process of purchasing the building housing the 82 repeater and some of the equipment located on flattop mountain. This is a substantial expense and your dues will go far to help accomplish this goal. The club also plans to replace an old controller on 88 and add a link to 82. All of this requires money. With your help, these goals can be realized by this summer.
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
March 2nd , 2000 Meeting Minutes submitted by KD7FVR, Ron Schimpf
The March meeting was held at Sacajawea Middle School. President Jim AA8Y called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. 22 members were in attendance.
Cory KC7MRQ introduced our guest speaker, Doug Chabot of the Avalanche Center. Doug presented a very educational and informative slide show on evaluating avalanche danger.
Avalanche advisory phone numbers are:
587-6981 - Bozeman
646-7912 - West Yellowstone
838-2341 – Gardiner
The Avalanche Center has a web site at www.mtavalanche.com. From this web site, you can subscribe to a daily e-mail avalanche advisory.
The business meeting was held after the break.
Minutes of the February 3, 2000 meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Don KC7EWZ reported (in Harley KI7XF’s absence) that the club balance is $1200.00. Treasurer’s report was accepted by unanimous vote.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jack N7ODN announced a VE Session Saturday March 4 at 9:00 AM. All elements will be available. A registration only session will be held Friday March 3 at 1:30 PM.
Get your outgoing QSL cards to Lyndel N7LT.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Don KC7EWZ received an e-mail from Fred KE7X relating that the EOC may have to be moved due to remodeling in the courthouse.
Eaglehead Repeater Association
Don N7FLT received packet information from Bob W7LR. The Flat Top purchase is a done deal. The ERA has purchased the solar panels, batteries and structure from Big Sky Lumber. They want us to remove the repeater cabinet and antenna from the mountain. They can provide us access via their road. Mr. Kelleher appears to be more amenable to allowing us access through the normal route.
OLD BUSINESS
Lyndel said Montana Field Day 2000 is picking up steam. This is a one-time event for the year 2000, to be held on Saturday June 24. Lyndel was appointed as the GHRC official representative for the event. The club approved use of The HyGain beam, the Ham 4 and the club trailer for Field Day 2000.
NEW BUSINESS
Jack N7ODN will make contact and offer to run a VE session for the Glacier Hamfest.
Jack N7ODN has an accumulation of Certificates of Successful Completion of Examination. Another session is needed to collect these certificates. Jack will determine if April 15 is an acceptable date for this session. May 6 was also discussed as a possibility. A decision will be made at the next meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 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 list for the rest of the year.
Congratulations to all who upgraded!
Tech class (new licensee)
Vikki Bohlman KD7HGY
Scott Graber KD7HGZ
Andy Macrae KD7HXA
Shelley Peterson KD7HXB
Melody Schimpf KD7HXC
Ross Snider KD7IEV
Kim Snider
General Class
Andrew Jesaitis KD7EMO
Wendy Reeser KD7DYW
James Sweaney KD7DYU
General Class (after 4/15)
Ron Schimpf KD7FVR
Darrell Berreth KC7NHFDon Wilson KC7EWZ
Pat Sands N7SVIDon Bissell K7DRB
Kurt Borge KC7PFG
Gordon Lister KD7HHA
Extra Class
Robert Williams N7ODM
Extra class (after 4/15)
Walt Baxter WB7USV
Ralph Bergantine KC7PFH
Ric Helvey KB7KB
John Nash K7YXU
Doug Peterson KK7VC
Don Regli KI7OJ
Larry Cronenwett KA7WXN
Dale Heidner W7NAV
Theodore Hundtoft KA7QCY
Willard Cox N7FMT
Greg Estep KC7SK
Jim Fuller N7VMR
Jerome McDonald W7FVB
Albert Zoller W6OTE
Element definitions:
1A=5WPM 3A=Tech written
1B=13WPM 3B=General written
1C=20WPM 4A=Advanced written
2=Novice written 4B=Extra written
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
New class license apply!
April 15th
June 3rd
September 9th
December 9th
April 2000
1 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe
2
3
4 Net 146.88
5
6 Club Meeting
7
8 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe
9
10
11 Net 146.88
12
13
14
15 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe
16
17
18 Net 146.88
19
20
21
22 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe
23 / 30
24
25 Net 146.88
26
27
28
29 7:30am Breakfast Korner cafe
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.
Schedule of Events
April 1st. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM. April 4th. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM. April 6th. — Club meeting 7pm April 8th. — Ham & eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM. April 11th. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM. April 15th. — VE Testing at Cobleigh Hall at 9AM room 632. April 15th. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM. April 18th. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM. April 22nd. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM. April 25th. — 146.88 Net at 8 PM. April 29th. — Ham and eggs at 4-corners cafe 7:30 AM 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
Mics and Manuals Needed
K7BZN Sacajawea Middle School Ham Club needs power cords and hand mics for their Kenwood TS-430s and a TS-120S. The TS-430S uses a standard 8 pin mic connector and the TS-12S uses a standard 4 pin mic connector. They also need a service manual for the TS-430S.
Montana Amateur Radio History
10 years ago – April 1990
Pete Peters W7OW was the Section manager. 15 hams attend a packet seminar by N7GXP on proper TNC commands and settings. Butte MT QSO party scores: W7LR first place with 62,373. A Ten Tec Paragon cost $1,899. A US Tower low profile freestanding unit like KK7VC’s cost $1,429. An Ameritron AL-80A 1KW amp cost $995.
20 years ago – April 1980
Bob Leo W7LR was the Section Manager. MT Section net meeting on 7240 at 1630Z. Bozeman and Butte clubs meet on several joint events and expect to host the MT QSO party. The ICOM IC-701 HF rig costs $1195. A TET 6 element tri-band beam cost $199.95. A Wilson 61 foot tubular tower cost $549.95. A Yeasu FT-901DM cost $1,459. A Kenwood TR-2400 handheld cost $395..
50 years ago – April 1950
Fred B. Tintinger, W7EGN was the Section Manager. KUX and KJX help LOD get back on the air from the Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman. IXL is back from W6-Land and claims possibilities of 144 Mc. Mountain-hopping over most of the State. KOR is on 28-Mc. F.M. and is Bozeman outlet for 3520-k.c. C.W. net. 6 volt dynamotors where $9.88. Vibroplex Super Deluxe keyers that were 24-K gold-plated base top were $27.50. The Almo Grid Dipper Oscillator kit was $21.50. The Lysco Transmaster Model 600 transmitter was $99.50. The Johnson Viking 1 transmitter kit was $209.50. The Vesto Roto rotor was $149.75.
News From Around the State
Butte Amateur Radio Club elections
Presidnet – Bill Tarrant, W7ROE
Vice President – Gregg Symons, KB7QZF
Secretary – Will Cox, N7FMT
Treasurer – Rodney Pewitt, N7TRG
Lori Hamner, N7NNR has returned from the Canada Ski For Light Competition held February 14-20th in Kolonia, B.C. Lori placed third in the 5.8K race finishing in 34 minutes, 20 seconds and bringing home a bronze medal.
BARC was Y2K ready on December 31st with 18 members under the leadership of EC Ron Zemljak, N7LDQ. Contact was established with the State EOC and maintained until 2:30 AM on January 1st, 2000.
From the Bitterroot Amateur Radio Club:
George Holmes, KK7TL, broke his leg. Bob Luedeke, N7IWB, while working on a floor, gave way and fell from a 14 foot high deck into some wood on a concrete slab and broke a rib and his pelvis in four places. Roger Beer also broke 5 ribs.
Know who this guy is?
From April 1980 QST, page 88.
Hamfests & National Amateur Radio Events
HAMFEST
The Eastern Idaho UHF Society Hamfest
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/AAM0EIDHAMFEST
The 66th ANNUAL WATERTON-GLACIER
INTERNATIONAL HAMFEST
JULY 14, 15, & 16 2000 Essex MT.
Talk In: 146.520Hamfest Registration:
HAMFEST REGISTRAR c/o P.O. Box 253
Florence MT 59832 406-273-2894HAMFEST
The 3rd ANNUAL GALLATIN HAM RADIO CLUB
HAMFEST
OCTOBER 14, 2000 IN BOZEMAN, MT.
Talk in: 146.88/146.52/447.7
Hours 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Contact Don Wilson, KC7EWZ for more information
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
Oct 14 GHRC Hamfest
Montana Field Day 2000 – April update
Fun
Field day. It's probably the most fun that you can have at an Amateur radio club function. What a great way to get everyone together to enjoy food, camping, talking, playing games and of course operating Field Day.
Concept
Realizing that each club has VERY different Field Day operating practices, Lyndel, N7LT, Bill, K7MT and Bob, N7CZ came up with the concept for a statewide Field Day. Their desire was to gather all the clubs from around the state of Montana and put on a once ever, Year 2000, Field Day event that shares experiences and Amateur Radio knowledge among the clubs. The idea has grown to what we've now labeled as "Montana Field Day 2000" or simply, MTFD2000. In the past couple of months, MTFD2000 has gathered support from various clubs and is looking to become what it's creators envisioned!
Logistics
A site has been located and set. Bill, K7MT reports that the Little Red schoolhouse in the Helena valley located 4 miles north of Helena on Sierra Road just east of the freeway will be the official MTFD2000 site. This is a really nice site with trees, covered shelter, and plenty of room for setup, camping and motor home parking.
Saturday evening there will be a potluck. Bill, K7MT, said that he'd be working on getting donations of hamburgers, buns and maybe hotdogs from the local stores! Don’t forget to bring something else for the Saturday potluck to share with others and enjoy all the great food with your new friends.
It was decided at our first planning meeting in Great Falls that we'd operate 3A. The Great Falls Club will set up the CW station and computers for logging. Bill K7MT will take care of the Digital and VHF/SAT station. Bozeman is setting up its communications trailer, 3 element tribander and a ham IV rotor for the SSB station. We'll also have PSK-31 for everyone to experience in the digital location. Bill, K7MT, might be persuaded to operate Hellschriber for all of us to view! We're also tossing around the idea of a packet station and maybe fast scan TV for people to experience.
We have a web page (http://www.qsl.net/mtfd2k/) where you can read all about the latest happenings with MTFD2000. In that web page you will find a comment section where you can voice your opinions about what you think of the idea of MTFD2000. You can also make suggestions and volunteer. The web page will have a live web cam, which will broadcast live photos of the event every 5 minutes for the duration of Field Day on the Internet! We will have photos posted to the site for everyone to enjoy and see what they missed it they couldn't make it. The site will also keep you up-to-date on the latest changes. There will be links to lead you to various related Field Day items like other Field Day web sites and the Field Day rules. Please check out our web site. Better yet, join MTFD2000 and get involved!Competition
We’re the competitive types! We hope to put in a strong effort and make a good show for field day. We have some top-notch hams planning 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 June 24th and 25th.
If you’d like to help, please contact us! We need as many volunteers as possible and welcome all the help we can get.
MTFD2000 Contacts:
Lyndel Thiesen N7LT Bill Erhardt K7MT Email: n7lt@arrl.net Email: erhardt@mt.net Phone: 406-388-9531 2851 FESTIVAL
1679 Remuda Dr. HELENA MT 59602 Belgrade, MT 59714-8835
Bob Avritt N7CZ, Editor Note: The
Email n7cz@hamsnet.net GHRC will have FD
Phone 406-452-3311 up Bridger Canyon for
1123 3rd Ave. NW those who can not
Great Falls, MT 59404 make it to MTFD2000
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
New GHRC web page host needed
As of March 1st, Laura, KJ7UN is relinquishing her role as the GHRC web page host. She is very busy with her work and can’t devote the time needed to keep the GHRC web page running like it needs. This is a plea from the Newsletter editor to beg anyone with web page authoring experience to PLEASE step up and take this burden from Laura’s and the club’s shoulders. If you’ve never done it before but always wanted to, maybe this is your calling? This is a big job and needs to be taken care of right away to maintain the professional appearance that Laura has these past few years. On that note, THANK YOU Laura for such a wonderful job of developing, building and maintaining our web site for the past few years. You will be missed as the web mistress for the GHRC web pages.
NET CONTROL
April 4 K7CUB June 6 (open)
April 11 KC7EWZ June 13 KC7EWZ
April 18 KD7FVR June 20 WA7U
April 25 KI7XF June 27 (open)
May 2 N7ODN July 4 (open)
May 9 KC7EWZ July 11 KC7EWZ
May 16 WA7U July 18 (open)May 23 KC7PEM July 25 (open)
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 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 on 146.88.
W7ED
Gallatin Ham Radio Club
Membership and info
P.O. Box 4381
Bozeman, MT 59772
Email: w7ed@arrl.net
