Month: January 2016

  • HCRA BOD meeting notes for January 20th, 2016

    HCRA BOD meeting notes for 20-Jan-2016

    Attendees:
    President: NT1K
    Vice President: N1FTP
    Treasurer: NV1Q
    Membership: K1VOI
    Program Dir: W1AST
    ZB Editor: WA1MOW
    Tech Dir: K1YO

    Absent:
    At-Large: W1MOR
    Secretary: WM1B

    President Report:

    – Jim Mullen has volunteered to help out with updating our Website.
    – A Web Forum has been created at “members.hcra.org”. The site will be
    directed and administered by the BOD. It will be a members only site and
    integrated with our web site.

    VP Report:

    – 90 tickets for the TS590SG have been sold to date. The minimum goal is 150
    tickets sold. Many tickets will be sold at the MTARA flea market. We should reach
    our goal plus some.

    Treasurer Report:

    – There was quite a bit of discussion on how to divvy up the funds from the Xmas
    party. From members to non-members to MTARA members and non-member
    spouses as well as member spouses. There may be some double-dipping. This
    needs to be revisited.

    Financial Statement:

    Beginning balance: $6771.95
    Dep/Wdr: $1038.68
    Ending Balance: $7810.63

    Membership Report:

    – There are 89 members with 80 paid and 9 family members. Question was
    raised, why does it take so long for some individuals to renew? Could there be
    some sort of incentive added to renewing? One suggestion was to put all the paid
    members in Zero Beat. If your name is not there, you didn’t pay. This also answers
    the question “Did I already pay my dues?”. Also discussed was greeting new
    members and asking them what their interests are at the monthly meetings.

    Program Dir Report:

    Here is a tentative list from W1AST

    – February 6, 2016: Jon Koltai, Hamsource – Power poles & really cool shack gadgets
    – March 2016:  First Robotics Competition: Gary, WA1MOW
    – April 2016: Mini Presentation: Jeff, AB1WT: Portable IRLP & Echolink Node PLUS
    Show and Tell
    – May 2016: Jon Perelstein, WB2RYV –  How to Report Weather & How to Properly
    Read Your Weather App
    – June: Field Day planning, Jeff, NT1K

    ======================================================

    – September 9, 2016: Tony Brock-Fisher, K1KP – Solar Power and RFI, what you
    need to know
    – October 7, 2016: Dennis Markel, N1IMW : The history of WCC and Chatham
    Marconi Radio.
    – Nov 2016: tbd
    – Dec 2016: annual HCRA Holiday Party

    Zero Beat Editor:

    – Submit your articles by 29th of January. Submit anything, please. Someday there
    will be blank pages in Zero Beat…

    Technical Director Report:

    – 2 requests on interference. Services rendered, none.

    ————————————————————————————————————-

    Old Business

    Welcome Package:

    A draft of the Welcome Package was handed out. The BOD must read and submit
    changes to Jeff or Larry within the next 2 weeks. These Packages will be handed
    out to all who pass their exams.A motion was made for HCRA to pay for the printing of the Welcome Package. The front page should be printed in color with printing on both sides. Staples is the preferred vendor for printing.

    In Favor – 7
    Apposed – 0

    A motion was made for HCRA to pay for the printing of the HCRA tri-fold as well.
    In Favor -7
    Apposed – 0

    Stub J-Pole Project:

    The material has been purchased and cut. 80% of the project is complete.

    License class exams:

    Classes will be held on April 27,28, and 30. With Saturday being a full day.
    Bob, K1YO has volunteered to help with the Extra Class.

    DXLabs Class:

    Setup will be on Feb 6th starting at 9am. Looks like 6-7 people will be in the class.
    The Club will supply Coffee and donuts.

    ————————————————————————————————————-

    New Business

    Field Day:

    We need Band captains ! Band captains bring their own radios and computers.
    Antennas and antenna accessories are supplied by the Club.

    Larry W1AST has volunteered to step up for 40m CW.
    Jeff NT1K will be contacting the Parks & Rec dept.

    Field Day will be discussed at the next membership meeting.

    Open Floor

    More special classes and presentations.

    – Introduction to digital modes
    – Tips and Tricks on Towers
    – Contesting in general/Awards chasing
    – Member Benefits

    EZ-UP with Walls

    Gary made a query as to purchasing a good EZ-UP for the Club. In the $300 range.

    One with walls. A motion to purchase a EZ-UP with walls and not to exceed $300
    was made.

    In Favor – 7
    Apposed – 0

    The Big E’s 100th

    The discussion was around HCRA participating for only a weekend. Gary will look
    into getting permission and location. Participants will be required to purchase their own entry tickets for each day. To be successful, we need to make this a very
    big deal. SDR’s, HF live, Multiple Monitors, tower, large antenna. More will be
    discussed at the next BOD meeting .

    Next meeting with be in Mid March and be a VOIP meeting.
    Jeff will be handling the details with “Google Hangouts”

  • HCRA’s Amateur Radio License Class – April 2016

    HamRadioClass

    Hampden County Radio Assocation Amateur Radio License Class
    April 2016

    Are you or do you know someone who’s interested in amateur radio? Do you want to upgrade your license? The Hampden Country Radio Association (HCRA) is holding classes and study groups for those interested. With a combination of these classes and at-home studying, it’s possible to make it happen. Learn from experienced instructors who are active within the amateur radio community who are willing to help you along the way.

    CLASS HAS ALREADY PASSED. 
    We now have 13 new techs, 1 new Tech+General, 5 New Generals and 1 New Extra. Class had a 97% pass rate. Next course will be planned for the Fall (Sept/Oct) 

    Thank you to those who signed up 

    Dates:

    Wednesday April 27th, 2016 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
    Thursday April 28th, 2016 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm
    Saturday April 30th, 2016 – 9:00am to 3:00pm
    VE Session: Saturday April 30th, 2016 – 3:15pm (Walk-Ins Welcomed)

    Where:
    Holyoke Medical Center Auxiliary Conference Center
    575 Beech Street, Holyoke MA, 01040

    Cost: FREE/$15 Exam Fee

    Classes open to anyone and everyone interested in obtaining or upgrading their amateur radio license.

    Our classes consist of two weekday night classes and one full Saturday class with an examination following the course. Due to the short amount of time, it’s up to the candidate to do most of the studying at home before attending the classes. The classes will cover the exam questions, provide some details about the questions and help you to better understand the material needed to pass the exam.

    Even though it’s not required, it’s suggested that you purchase and use the latest edition of ARRL’s Ham Radio License Manual (Level 1/Technician) to study. Other alternatives can be found online like KB6NU’s No-Nonsense study guides (FREE For Tech/General). It’s best that you study and learn as much as possible before attending the classes.

    We’re also having study groups for those who are interested in upgrading their current license to general or extra class

    If you’re interested in these classes or study groups, please contact the following or fill out the form below.

    Jeffrey Bail (NT1K)
    NT1K@arrl.net
    P.O. Box 562
    Agawam MA, 01001

     

  • HCRA Meeting, January 8th 2016. Guest Speaker will be Jeff Jolie (NM1Y)

    Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Jeff (NM1Y) will not be able to make it to the meeting to give his presentation. However Jeff will be providing us with a DVD about the DXpedtion and the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) will still be there to hold an area meeting. 

    Happy new year! HCRA is starting it off with a bang!

    We’ve invited Jeff Jolie (NM1Y) to be our guest speaker of the first meeting in 2016. It should be exciting as Jeff was part of the DXpedition team that activated Navassa Island. Navassa was considered to be one of the rarest DX entities because of its location and restricted access. The Crew manage to get permission and gain access to the island. During their time there, they’ve managed to make just over 140,000 contacts. Jeff will be doing a presentation about the K1N DXpedtion.

    HCRA has also invited the Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) to hold an area meeting in conjunction with HCRA’s meeting. This will allow those who are intersting in contest a chance to see what it’s all about. Anyone and everyone is welcome to meeting.

    Hope to see you there.