[SDham] SD Two Meter State Link Meeting Notes

[John Burch]

South Dakota State Link Working Committee - Meeting Notes
November 15, 2004    Chamberlain    1 pm

The group was called to order at 1 p.m. by Dick Neish W0SIR.
Introductions of individuals and groups represented were made
with eighteen individuals present representing all of the known
user groups.

A survey of the current node status and work to be performed
was done resulting in the following list:

Turkey Ridge - Bad VHF Channel Element, VHF antenna
needs replacement.  New channel element will be ordered by 
Brian next week.  The UHF Micor mobile needs to be replaced.

Humbolt - Bad Motorola switching power supply, battery
maintenance required.  Brian may have replacement power 
supply.

Garden City - UHF repeater/link is inoperative, VHF repeater
is OK.  A MFS5000 UHF unit should replace the existing radio.

Wessington Springs - VHF is OK, UHF link to Humbolt is
inoperative, Needs battery maintenance, the entire site
needs overall troubleshooting and verification, the path
to Humbolt needs reevaluation.  There is a power supply
issue (BAND?) and Don has a replacement.

The tower and the three antennas and associated feedline 
need to be replaced.  Height is an issue as far as the 
Humbolt/Turkey Ridge link path is concerned.

Reliance - all equipment currently in Eldon's shop in Pierre, 
the existing antennas and feedlines have been removed from
the site where the equipment had been located.  The
equipment needs to be physically repackaged and then 
operationally checked out for reapplication at another site.
There are issues as to the placement of power supplies 
and batteries.  Access and power at the new site will
need to be addressed.

Pierre - The equipment seems to be working properly.
There are interference issues on VHF at this site.

Murdo - No known problems.  Battery maintenance is
required.

Phillip - No known problems.  Battery maintenance is
required.

Terry Peak - No known problems.  Battery maintenance is
required.

Rapid City UHF link extension - The hardware is currently
operational, and is at Don's QTH.  It needs to get back to
Rapid City for reinstallation.

As the work necessary to restore the link to full operation
far exceeds the time and resources available to either Don 
and/or Brian, the following groups and individuals stepped
forward to assist:

Turkey Ridge - Guy Chaney N0VC,  Al Nedvedt N0OII, Bill
Sage KC0AXU,  Barry Arneson K8SD

Humbolt - Rich Beebe N0PV

Garden City - Jim Smith 

Wessington Springs - Don (and others?)

Reliance - Jim KD0S, Eldon, and volunteers

Pierre - Jim KD0S, Eldon, and volunteers

Murdo-Eldon and the Pierre volunteers

Philip - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)

Terry Peak - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)

Rapid City UHF - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)


Funding was then discussed.  The current operational
costs are running about $800 to $1,000 a year, and are
all being paid out of various individual's pockets.  The
new Reliance site will require approximately $250 to
$300 in additional commercial power charges.

While some capital equipment upgrades such as towers,
antennas, feedlines, and radios might be available through
grant funds or donations, the on-going operational costs
could be offset by donations.  

Solicitation of the users and groups for contributions towards
operational funds is a possibility that needs to be explored.

Some ideas discussed for funding included approaching
commercial concerns such as large retail stores for
community involvement funding, how groups such as SkyWarn
raise funds, and IRS contribution allowances.

Much more work needs to be done in this area.

Other Items of interest:

Consensus of the group is that restoration of the Reliance 
site is top priority.

The upcoming SD Section Convention next April needs a booth
where the link system can be showcased, questions can be
answered, and funds can be solicited.  

Tie-ins to the new "North Link System" were discussed, and
will be addressed in detail once Reliance is returned to service,
and interference issues in the Pierre area are tackled.

A tie-in to Clear Lake was also discussed as a possibility, but
only after the existing link system is made operational again.

The next sit-down meeting of this group will occur in April at
the Section Convention.  

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The notes were taken by John WB6GHA, who graciously 
volunteered to do so.  I want to thank everyone who attended.  
I feel we have a pretty good start to getting the system back up.  

73's!

Dick Neish  W0SIR
Working Committee Chair
..