GMARC MEETING MINUTES 21-OCT-08

I.  Call to Order by President, Ingo AC8AW at 7:07 PM.

II.  Introductions & Upgrades

There were 2 Visitors present -   Tom KD8GZE, Bob KA8VSI

III.  Minutes

Minutes of the 19-Sep-08 meeting are available at the meeting and on the GMARC Web Site, and printed copies were available to those present.

Motion to approve the September Minutes by Dave W8RIT and seconded by Scott W1BIC.  Motion passed.

IV.  Treasurer’s Report

            Joel WU8Y, our Treasurer, was not present.  No report of our bank balance was available.  The Antenna Fund has $2,369.45 as of 21-Oct-08.

            No motion was made regarding financial data presented.

V.  Membership Report by Bobby N8CY

            We have 35 members in good standing, who have paid their 2008 dues.  

VI.  Relocation of 2-Meter Repeater to Lake Orion, MI

           Scott W1BIC and Ben WB8FJO renewed the discussion about relocation of the 2-Meter Repeater to the GM Warranty Return Center in Lake Orion Michigan.

            Motion by Bobby N8CY to:

            1) Relocate 2-Meter Repeater to GM Warranty Return Center in Lake Orion, MI and purchase suitable new antenna with tripod mount.

            2) Purchase “Link” radios & new yagi antennas to link 2-Meter & 440-MHz Repeaters

            3) Make application with MARC to re-coordinate 2-meter Repeater in new location.

            Seconded by Al N8ARO.  Automatically tabled to 18-Nov-08 meeting for a vote.

            Discussion:

1) Scott W1BIC already has a rack to be used to mount power supply, controller, repeater, and power amplifier at new location.  The Club will not need a “fancy” new antenna at the new site location.  It is proposed to use 900-MHz “link” radios to tie the two repeaters together.

2) Coordination should not be an issue.  Only previous issue was coordination with Ohio, and moving 35-miles North will only improve the situation.

3) Per Scott W1BIC the GM 8^th Level person and the UPS Site Manager have already agreed to let GMARC make this move.

Motion to authorize the Club to spend up to $1,500 to purchase a new commercial grade antenna for 440-MHz Repeater and make necessary repairs to (2) existing Power Amplifiers located at the GM Renaissance Center.  Seconded by: Dave W8RIT.

Discussion:

1) Wes KD8DHS asked what are the eventualities if GM sells the RenCen?  Scott W1BIC explained that Rivers Holding actually owns the RenCen, and Heinz / Tower Management are responsible for management of the premises.  It is unlikely that a sale / lease-back would have any impact.

2) Kurt WU8V questioned the previously discussed “quantity discount” to purchase (2) commercial grade antennas, and what would be the impact if the motion to move the 2-meter repeater to Lake Orion is not approved in November.  Scott W1BIC stated that it is unlikely that we will be in a “rush” to order the new 440-MHz antenna since installation at the RenCen during Winter months is unlikely.

3) Al N8ARO offered (2) Motorola 440-MHz crystal controlled radios that he owns that could be used as the “link” radios with appropriate new crystals.

Motion passed unanimously – (13 Voted)

VII.  New Business

Dave W8RIT requested Bobby N8CY to post the picture he took at the Rochester Crop Walk on the www.GMARC.org Web site.

Motion by Scott W1BIC to donate $200 to Trinity Lutheran Church in recognition of use of the Church Lecture Hall for out meetings in 2009.  Seconded by:  Kurt WU8V.  Motion Passed.

VIII.  Break from 7:45 PM to 8:10 PM

            The 50/50 raffle winner was Ingo AC8AW $22.00, who donated his winnings to the Antenna Fund. ($23 to Club).  New for the first time there were (5) consolation winners drawn – each of which could “pick a prize” from the blue boards that were left over from the Trunk Swap.  The winners were:  Scott W1BIC, Dave W8RIT, Rich KC8HMJ, Dave W8RIT, and Dina N8YJI.

IX.  Program – D-Star Radio by Ingo AC8AW

            Ingo AC8AW recently purchased a D-Star VHF HT and made a presentation about D-Star Technology as it relates to Amateur Radio VHF / UHF / Above. 

            D-STAR = Digital Smart Technologies & Amateur Radio, and is based on research done by the Japanese Amateur Radio League (JARL) – which set the standards for Digital Voice / Digital Data over Amateur Radio Frequencies.

            Voice uses Advanced Multi-Band Excitation (AMBE) with 2,400 bps of voice with 1,200 bps of Forward Error Correction (FEC).  Voice samples were presented courtesy of KC5ZRQ, and the D-Star reception was dramatically better vs. FM under weak signal conditions.

            Direct Digital Data uses the Texas Interconnect Team (K5TIT) responder and routable TCP/IP data frames.  In general, Data / Voice / Position [simultaneously] will improve efficiency of Amateur Emergency Radio Service operations and meeting our charter from the FCC in this regard.

            Michigan D-Star Repeaters are:

W8LIV              Howell                                       WX8GRR          Grand Rapids

WD8MKG         Holton                                       K8LCD              Hell

            Currently, I-COM is the only manufacturer of D-Star compatible repeaters in the U.S.  Kenwood does make some repeaters to Japanese Specs according to their diagrams.

X.  New Members & Attendance

            13 Members attended, and there were 2 Visitors.

            Total Collections to be delivered to the Treasurer:

                        Coffee Fund                   - $     6.47        

                        50/50 Raffle                   -      23.00

                        Antenna Fund                -      22.00         AC8AW (Donated 50/50)

                        Membership Dues          -        0.00

                                    Total --              $    52.47

Upcoming Events for GMARC:

· USECA Swap                           26-Oct-08            8:00 AM

· Next Membership Meeting       18-Nov-08           7:00 PM

XI.  Meeting Adjourned at 8:55 PM.

            Motion by Kurt WU8V, seconded by Scott W1BIC.

            Respectfully submitted,


            Bobby Corr N8CY,

            Secretary – GMARC

            N8CY@gmarc.org