[AReU] AREU Meeting Last Night

[w4tas]

We had a great group at the AREU meeting last night. I think that there were
about 8 of us. That is about normal attendance. I would like to see more so
you folks think about coming on down. We have a great time. No business
meeting just "monkey business" for the entire meeting. Let me know if you
don't know how to get to the Bell Shoals Baptist Church and I will set you
straight.

We had Mike (KB4JHU) with a fine portable set up with a dual band FM rig
and an IC706 in a case with power supply and antenna tuner. This is to be
used for emergency operation or at Field Day activities. It would also serve
as a station to be used at picnics or other outdoor activities.

I brought alone a portable set up for satellite operation. I have not
settled on a final design yet but it is getting close. It seems that Home
Depot has some mighty fine aluminum suitcases for about $20.00. They
are the "cat's meow" for such things. I recommend picking one up for
packing equipment around to various activities. I plan on building a
portable HF station around one of these units. Look for me at the picnics
and we'll see how it works.

Ed (W7LGD) brought his MFJ antenna test set and we tested some
antennas for 70 cm. Specifically, we tested my home brew 435 MHz
satellite antenna. The results were dismal but I think (hope) that it was
because of being in the building and not outside. It worked pretty good
at Field Day last year.


By the way, we are having the BARS spring picnic in conjunction with
the TARC club this year. It will be on March 22, 2003 at the TARC
club house. The AO40 satellite will be up and I will be trying to make
a few contacts with my portable station. I have heard that the food will
be fabulous also. In addition, the TARC club station will probably be
available for operation if you can work yourself in. I hear that they have
a great boat anchor station now and the antennas are second to none.
I hope that we will have a big turn out. I'm really looking forward to this
new experience.

73

Tony
W4TAS