[CTSARA] Meeting Minutes February 3, 2011 KB1SUN

[John Sabini Jr.]

http://www.ctsara.org/20110203MonthlyMeeting.doc

Stamford Amateur Radio Association
Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2011

Call to Order

The monthly meeting of the Stamford Amateur Radio Association was called to order at 8:00pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at the Stamford Government Center.
Announcements

1.  The Club congratulates John W3EIC and his XYL on the birth of their first QRP.

2.  The next VE session will be on March 26th at the Stamford Government Center.  See here for details: http://www.ctsara.org/VEtest.htm 

3.  Fred K1FC reported that the Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge event in January was a big success.  About half of the Boy Scouts expressed an interest in becoming amateur radio operators.  Jon KB1QBZ made numerous QSO’s over the Bridgeport repeater.

4.  A six-to-eight week Technician course anticipated to begin in March is in the planning stages.

5.  Jon KB1QBZ reported that we have once again been asked to provide communication support for the Bennett Cancer Run in June.  Please contact Jon if you are interested.

6.  Frank KB1IFX asked for the names of amateur radio operators who would be interested in staffing an EOC.  The Red Cross is looking to have a roster of 15 or so qualified individuals.

7.  The Sunday night net before the Newsline may occasionally be operated as a directed net in order to practice message handling and directed-net skills. 

8.  The repeater controllers have been meeting periodically for training sessions to use the repeater control codes and are making good progress.

9.  John WB1GRB is updating the SARA website with more information for new and aspiring amateur radio operators.

 
 
Treasurer’s Report

Ernest KA1NGG distributed the 2011 dues notice and the meeting and will be mailing notices out to members not in attendance shortly.  He also reported that we have approximately $3,000 in the Club account.
50/50 Raffle

Luis KB1TJM won the 50/50 raffle for the third time in a row but graciously ceded the prize for another drawing.  
Bill KB1IFY won on the second drawing.

Presentation

Martin Ewing, AA6E, a volunteer at the ARRL Lab, gave a fascinating presentation on Software Defined Radios.  SDR’s use software to perform much of the signal processing done by hardware in traditional radios.  A brief demonstration yielded signals in the AM broadcast band, which let us see what it looks like to receive a signal on an SDR.  Unfortunately, John WB1GRB holding on to the end of a long piece of wire was insufficient to pick up any signals in the amateur bands. PHOTOS: http://www.ctsara.org/2.3.2011.photos.html
   
 
Upcoming Presentation

Anticipated presentations include “Antenna Myths” in March, “Practical Aspects of Installing Mobile Radios” in 
 
April, and Terry W1TSM’s presentation of the 2011 Field Day Battle Plan in May.  Check http://www.ctsara.org for details and changes.

 
Adjournment
 
The meeting adjourned with refreshments at 9:40 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by: Tony O’Connor, KB1SUN

J/S WB1GRB



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Stamford Amateur Radio Association

John Sabin Jr. WB1GRB
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John Sabini, WB1GRB: wb1grb at hotmail.com
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