[MRIC] HF Test, Next Meeting, and Nov. Minutes

[BrettHam at aol.com]

All Maryland RACES Officers:

Just a few reminders:

We will be  conducting our first state-wide HF net test Tuesday evening 
during the MEMA  COMMEX. You will recall from the last meeting in November that 
Frederick County  offered to be net control for this test, and give us a report 
at the next MRIC  meeting. I think they are just planning on doing a check-in 
for equipment  checks. We do not have our NVIS HF antenna up at Talbot yet, so 
Talbot will not  be participating in the HF net this month. As a reminder, the 
following  frequencies were approved for the HF net at our last meeting:

80 meters 3.950 MHz LSB (tune 3.9515), and
40 meters  7.250 MHz LSB (tune 7.2515)

Also, I wanted to remind you that our next  MRIC meeting is this Saturday 
January 12. I think I recall Dan sending out the  address about a week ago. 
Please mapquest for detailed directions from your  location.

Also, please find attached the minutes of the last meeting for  your review 
and vote on Saturday (these were also sent out the day after the  November 
meeting). Please review prior to the meeting so we don't have to  spend time 
reading them during our meeting. We will also be voting on a  mode for a state-wide 
digital network (looks like the group is leaning toward  Winlink2000) and we 
will be voting for a Chairman at the end of the meeting. The  only name in the 
hat right now is mine. Anyone else that would like to run for  Chairman, you 
may announce via this email reflector.

I was sick in bed  for 2 weeks with bronchitis last month and have been 
swamped the past week or so  trying to get caught up (what's new), and I have a lot 
to prepare for tomorrow's  drill, so I'll try to get a proposed detailed 
agenda out by Wednesday, but the  major items are listed above for your 
consideration.

Looking forward to  seeing you all again Saturday, and making history by 
standardizing a digital  mode for Maryland RACES!
 
See you then.

Brett Hammond - K3TAL
Chairman,  MRIC
410-829-6749 (cell)
 



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Maryland RACES Interoperability Committee (MRIC) Meeting Minutes for November 10, 2007: 

Dave Prestel (W8AGR) hosted the meeting at the new public safety training facility in Howard County. The facility was very nice and more than adequate for our needs.

The meeting was called to order at 10:35. The following ROs were in attendance:

Anne Arundel - Frank Winner – N3SEO
Calvert - Leslie Dickey – N3YR
Charles Mike Tackish – KA3GRW  
Frederick - Roy Bates – N2CSQ (for James Devilbiss)
Harford - George Remhof - KB3LJB (for Pat Scolla)
Howard - Jon Wilson – KF3O
Kent - Bob Lovell – KB3ENU
MEMA - Al FitzSimons – W3YRS
Montgomery - Fred Bader – K3CSX
Prince George’s - Dan Blasberg – KA8YPY
Queen Anne’s - Chuck Hodell – N8ADN
St. Mary’s - Ray Brown – KB3FWW
Talbot - Brett Hammond – K3TAL
Washington - Bob Long – KD3JK

Brett Hammond announced the request by Terry Sapp (DHMH) on behalf of the DHMH HRSA program and Hospital Association to create a specification for equipment that every Maryland hospital should have to ensure they inter-operate with others on voice and data nets. Terry also requested an estimate of cost.

The following agenda was reviewed and approved by unanimous consent, without objection:

  Welcome
  Attendance
  Review Agenda
  Approval of Minutes
  Updated MD RO Contact List
  Web Site Update
  2008 Meeting Schedule
  NVIS Presentation - Ray Brown KB3FWW
  State-wide HF Network Frequencies (VOTE) - Dan Blasberg KA8YPY
  Lunch
  Winlink Presentation and DHMH Announcement - Brett Hammond KB3HGP
  MT63 Presentation
  D-STAR Presentation - Dan Blasberg KA8YPY
  DHMH Hospital Estimate
  Next Meeting Agenda
  Adjourn

Dan Blasberg motioned to accept minutes as distributed and they were accepted by unanimous consent, without objection.

Minor corrections were made to the RO contact list and the list was approved by unanimous consent, without objection. The updated list will be distributed following this email.

There was no update on the web site status.

The 2008 meeting schedule was discussed, and the following dates agreed upon:

January 12 in Prince George County
April 26 tentatively in Frederick County
November 8 tentatively in Queen Annes County

Ray Brown made a presentation in Near-Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) HF antenna systems.

Dan Blasberg presented his selection of potential HF frequencies to be used for a state-wide Maryland RACES net.

A motion was made by Dan Blasberg and seconded by Bob Long to adopt:
 80 meters 3.950 MHz LSB (tune 3.9515), and
 40 meters 7.250 MHz LSB (tune 7.2515)
as frequencies for a statewide Maryland RACES net.

A Roll-call vote was taken:
Yes - Anne Arundel Frank Winner – N3SEO  
Yes - Calvert Leslie Dickey – N3YR  
Yes - Charles Mike Tackish – KA3GRW  
Yes - Frederick Roy Bates – N2CSQ  
Yes - Harford George Remhof – KB3LJB  
Yes - Howard Jon Wilson – KF3O  
yes - Kent Bob Lovell – KB3ENU  
Yes - MEMA Al FitzSimons – W3YRS  
Yes - Montgomery Fred Bader – K3CSX  
Yes - Prince George’s Dan Blasberg – KA8YPY  
Yes - Queen Anne’s Chuck Hodell – N8ADN  
Yes - St. Mary’s Ray Brown – KB3FWW  
Yes - Talbot  Brett Hammond – K3TAL  
Yes - Washington Bob Long – KD3JK  

The motion passed unanimously, 14 to 0.


A motion was made by Dan Blasberg, and seconded by Bob Long, to accept the following frequencies as potential HF net frequencies:
14.225 SSB
14.340 SSB
21.265 SSB
28.650 SSB
29.250 SSB
29.550 SSB
50.550 SSB
52.490 FM

A roll-call vote was taken:
Yes - Anne Arundel Frank Winner – N3SEO  
Yes - Calvert Leslie Dickey – N3YR  
Yes - Charles Mike Tackish – KA3GRW  
Yes - Frederick Roy Bates – N2CSQ  
Yes - Harford George Remhof – KB3LJB  
Yes - Howard Jon Wilson – KF3O  
Yes - Kent Bob Lovell – KB3ENU  
Yes - MEMA Al FitzSimons – W3YRS  
Yes - Montgomery Fred Bader – K3CSX  
Yes - Prince George’s Dan Blasberg – KA8YPY  
Yes - Queen Anne’s Chuck Hodell – N8ADN  
Yes - St. Mary’s Ray Brown – KB3FWW  
Yes - Talbot  Brett Hammond – K3TAL  
Yes - Washington Bob Long – KD3JK  

The motion passed unanimously, 14 to 0.

There was consensus to run the first Maryland RACES Net during the MEMA COMMEX in January. Frederick County volunteered be Net Control.

Brett Hammond gave a Winlink Presentation.

Mike Barrett from TSA and MARS talked about the pros and cons of MT63.

Dan talked about D-STAR capabilities and how they were employed for the Marine Corps Marathon.

There was discussion and general consensus that MRIC members were leaning toward Winlink 2000 for a statewide data network. It was agreed a formal vote will take place at the next MRIC meeting in January.

Regarding Terry's request for an estimate: There was some discussion about what equipment should be installed at hospitals so they could inter-operate with other Maryland RACES stations via voice and data. Someone commented that the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations required Amateur Radio equipment at all hospitals. After some discussion, an estimate of $20,000 was agreed to be adequate. This configuration supports UHF/VHF voice, HF voice, UHF/VHF digital, HF digital and typical installation costs. A detailed specification needs to be developed.

A MRIC Maryland RACES Winlink Architecture working group was formed to develop a network architecture for our digital network. Ray Brown, Bill Clark, Mike Barrett TSA/MARS, and Dan Blasberg agreed to serve on this group.

Agenda items were developed for the next meeting:

- Maryland RACES HF Net report - Roy Bates
- 60-meter HF - Dan Blasberg
- Vote on state-wide digital mode(s)
- Winlink Architecture Working Group report
- Technical presentation by a member of the Winlink 2000 development team. (TBD)
- Elections for MRIC Chairman.

Dan Blasberg motioned to open nominations for elections, and it was accepted by unanimous consent, without objection.

Bob Long motioned nominations also be accepted via email (provided the person being nominated wants to be nominated), and it was accepted by unanimous consent, without objection.

Brett Hammond offered to serve as Chairman again and there were no other nominations.

The meeting was adjourned at 15:15.

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