[SMCARA] Nov/Dec Meeting report

[w4okw]

The St Mary's County Amateur Radio Assn held it's combined Nov/Dec meeting
at the air museum on Thursday 9 December 2004.

After a quick introduction of attendees, Garner gave the treasurers report
( we are solvent!) with no outstanding bills.  There was no secretary's
report and no new business, so we proceeded directly into old business.

Old business consisted of reports on the progress of the museum station
project.  Steve, K3EZ,  brought us up to date as follows:

1.  Tom Kunkel, K3DSP has restored and repainted the cabinets, installed
castors, and fabricated the plastic security covers.  The cabinets are now
back in the museum warehouse.

2.  Dwayne Kincaid, WD8OYG, the proprietor of LDG Electronics has donated a
new automatic antenna tuner for the station.  Appropriate recognition will
be part of the display along with other equipment donations.

3.  The antenna installation was discussed and the club membership voted to
purchase a  new GAP Titan antenna instead of using the Hustler 4BTV.  This
antenna will provide greater band coverage and has been successfully used at
the MARS station.  Garner has placed an order with AES for delivery to the
museum.

4.  When the antenna arrives, a working party will be called to assemble it
and collect the remaining hardware necessary to install the HF, dual band
and WiFi antennas on the building.  We discussed the proposed antenna
location and the routing of coax etc with Toby of the museum staff  for his
concurrence.  He gave us some suggestions for the installation and routing
of coax that will be incorporated.

5.  Ren, W3BNY, will head up running the feedlines and  any conduit
required.  Tom, W4OKW, offered to install connectors on one end of the coax
runs (to allow the unterminated ends to be pulled through the conduit from
the outside).  Following running of the feedlines, a junction box, with
appropriate coax and data connectors will be installed near the proposed
station location in the display hall.

6.  When all the antennas and hardware are ready for installation another
working party will be called to actually do the outside installation and
running the feedlines.  The collective opinion was that  mounting the
antennas to the cement block back wall of the building, as opposed to using
the metal shell would give a sturdier installation.  Ren, Steve and Garner
will order the necessary  hardware, including A-D type surge arrestors.
Tom, K3DSP, has donated an A-D coax switch to select a second antenna in the
future (B&W dipole).

To do List:

1.  HF-380 and rack mount - Pete, WA3UMY
2.  Coax to Tom for connector install -Tom and Pete, W4OKW and WA3UMY
3.  Obtain blank 19" panels for cabinets.  Some should be available from old
MARS station (Tom)
4.  We need a volunteer to machine some rack panels to accomodate the LDG
tuner, VHF/UHF dual band rig, coax switch, and other accessories.
5.  Pete has rack mounted dual speaker panel.
6.  Install appropriate AC power distribution in racks.  There is an
existing outlet box, and minor wiring should be all that is required.
Master switch and indicator lamp can be incorporated on the antenna switch
panel.
7.  ??????? If anyone has any further ideas, suggestons, etc, please send an
email to the list.

Last request:  Does anyone have a 20 to 24 foot extension ladder?? We will
need it to get up on the roof and back of building to install the antennas.

Thanks to Walt for providing the delicious cookies and the museum for firing
up the coffee pot!!   See you at the January meeting, where we will have
another update on the museum station and will discuss the possibility of
scheduling a winter dinner.  In the past, we have not had much luck in
scheduling a formal event, so we will pick a date and announce a place and
whoever shows up will have a great time (order form menu sort of thing).
Now if someone wants to volunteer to set up a more organized effort feel
free to step up to the plate (pun).

73 from the SMCARA and have a great holiday.

Tom, VP and temporary scribe.