Author: w9uvi

President’s Report

One more month before the end of the year. Normally we get together for dinner in December, but this year we are going to a Rivermen game! Thanks to VP Scott, we are getting discounted tickets at $17 each. This will be on Friday, the day after our normal meeting day. More information can be found on the website or on Facebook. The reservation deadline is December 1. You can email your reservation to w9uvi@arrl.net

Elections for next year: Everybody remains in the same position.

I want to personally think Vice President Scott for his hard work and dedication this past year. He has come up with some really interesting ideas and presentations for the club. I can’t wait to see what happens next year!

Planning for the Fritz Bock Memorial Balloon Launch is in progress. Please contact Rich Holtman (KD9ANU) with any questions you may have. There are a lot of things that need to be planned for with this launch and any help is much appreciated!

The radio room cleanup is in process and well underway. Rich is updating the computers and I will be reorganizing the room a bit. If anyone wants to ever use the radio room to get on HF, contact myself or a Board member. We are hoping that members, old and new, will start taking advantage of this room again.

Thank you for everyone’s participation in the club. Without you and your hard work, we wouldn’t exist. As a reminder, dues are requested to be in by January 1st. You can pay online (small convenience fee) on our website or via check and snail mail.

I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas and I hope you have a great holiday season!

Justin Flick – N9WX
309-830-1967
N9WX.ARES@gmail.com

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Silent Key

Lisa Offutt, KB9YYC, of Mossville passed away in late November from ALS. Lisa and her husband Peter, KB9YYD were former members of the Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club.

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Meeting Minutes:

7:01 p.m. on Nov. 10, the regular PAARC meeting begins with introductions

Bandbits approval… a motion by Jim (W9JDP), Jon (NM0O) seconds. All are in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
$16,104.80 total in all accounts
$10,901.03 in money market
$535.44 in savings
$196.94 PayPal
$4,471.39 in checking
(For November, had some withdrawals for tower rental, internet and Expo Gardens rental.)

Tom makes a motion to accept the report, Brett (KD9PXZ) seconds. All are in favor.

SuperFest meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom this Thursday.

Nothing new from the repeater committee. But…

• Jon brought up maybe having a fundraiser idea for our potential tower move. But we need to figure out if we actually want to still move towers.
• We’re still having issues with the .075 antenna, but will have a tower climber look at it when they’re up for other business.

NEW BUSINESS:

• At next month’s meeting, Scott will lead discussion on two different types of digital radios (one with no RF, one that does DMR with no code plugs)
• Scott might get the group free Rivermen tickets for our yearly social event (will check… had 41 people last year for social event)
• Fritz Bock Memorial Balloon Launch sometime in Spring 2023 to honor a former member of our club who died in 2019. Planning will begin with some upcoming Zoom meetings, then face-to-face to start building the kit. Let Rich (KD9ANU) know if interested in helping. $640 was donated in Fritz’s name to do this launch, but we will need to budget out the rest of the gear we will need.

Mark (W9WGN) makes a motion to adjourn the regular meeting, Jon seconds. All are in favor and we’re done.

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Peoria County ARES

Dec 7, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Dec 14, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Dec 21, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, Training, Winterheat Simplex Event, Winlink, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272

_________________________________________________________

Superfest

The December meeting will be Thursday Dec 22 at 7pm on Zoom. You can join the meeting by clicking on the Superfest link on the Club Meetings page.

We are beginning the process to trademark Midwest Superfest^TM if anyone has any experience with trademarks, your assistance would be welcome. If you can assist, please contact Deb, WD9EB@arrl.net.

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November Net Logs

11/6
K9XJT KC9IH W9WGN NM0O K9HJZ KD0SZZ KD9ANU N9GUE N9SJZ KB9ATO KB9SF KD9IVV KD9AER N9WFT K9TNT W8NWG KD9JXR NP2WJ KD9VYM K9RCS WF9E KC9YTT N9NDF KD9PXZ KD9RYH KD9STL K9UQF KB9OGS KD9QQU Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

11/13
KD9ANU WD9EB W9WGN W9JDP K9TNT KD9PXZ NM0O W8NWG N9NDF KD9JXR KB9ATO KD9AER KD9IVV KD9NYE W9WTF K9XJT NP2WJ KD9IBC KD9STL K9RCS KC9IH KD9MOA KD9TEG KB9TNZ N9SJZ N9WFT WD9EGV WW9DLM KD9RYH K9UQF WF9E KC9YTT KD9VYM KT9TB KB9OGS Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

11/20
KD9ANU WD9EB K9XJT KD9QQU KC9IH W8NWG NM0O W9WGN N9GUE K9HJZ N9WX KD9VYM KB9OGS KD9TEG KD9IVV KB9TNZ W9JDP K9TNT KD9AER KD9PXZ N9NDF KD9JXR N9WFT K9RCS KD9ERS KD9IBC WW9DLM WF9E NP2WJ KD9RYH K9CEW K9UQF N9SJZ KT9TB KD9VIN KD9NYE KD9STL Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

11/27
WD9EB, W8NWG, KD9VYM, NM0O, N9GUE, K9XJT, K9HJZ, KC9IH, W9WGN, KD9DBQ, K9TNT, KD9PXZ, KD9IVV, KD9JXR, KD9AER, W9JDP, N9WFT, K9RCS, W9WTF, KB9ATO, N9NDF, KD9QQU, KD9STL, KB9OGS, KD9SPJ, K9CEW, KD9ANU, WW9DLM, KD9RYH, KC9YTT, K9UQF, KB9TNZ, KD9TEG, KD9ERS Submitted by WF9E 73

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December Club Events

December 1 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

December 7 – 7:00 pm ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

December 9 – FRIDAY – 7:00 pm: Club Meeting Social Event: Peoria Rivermen Hockey (vs. Huntsville Havoc) at Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center. Spouses welcome! Tickets are $17 each. Please reserve your tickets by email: w9uvi@arrl.net by December 1.

December 14 – 7:00 pm ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

December 17 – FCC License Testing: Morton Knights of Columbus, 616 W. David Street, Morton, IL. FRN Required. Bring two forms of identification and a copy of your license (if upgrading). Testing Fee: $15.

December 18 – Happy Hanukkah!

December 21 – ARES Meeting – details to be announced

December 22 – Superfest Meeting – via ZOOM

December 25 – Merry Christmas!

President’s Report

I would like to start off by reminding everyone that elections for the Board of Directors are coming up quickly. I do plan to run for President again for 2023. That being said, I welcome anyone to run against me. There will soon be a list of available positions posted. Please consider running for a position. If you are currently on the BOD and do not wish to run for next year, please inform me ASAP so we can list your spot as open.

We have a great Club. Let’s keep it going with participation! I welcome any and all ideas for classes and events. Even if you don’t think your idea is a good one, please tell me about it! I love learning and doing new things. Even going back to the roots of becoming a ham for the first time. Someone may have the same question that you do, speak up!

Justin Flick N9WX

_________________________________________________________

Many thanks to the club members participating in the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive special event in October.

We activated special event station N9S, and made a lot of contacts.

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Meeting Minutes:

Board of Directors

No meeting due to lack of a quorum

Membership

6:58 p.m. meeting begins

Introductions around the room for those who have joined us tonight…

Time to approve the last meeting’s minutes in Band Bits… Tom moves,
Deb seconds. All in favor and it passes.

Club elections are coming up… so if you want to join the board, put
your name in the hat. (President, VP, secretary, treasurer will be up)
Let Justin or any board member know if you want to run – same for
current board members who want to stay in their positions.

Treasurer’s report:
$135.37 savings
$7,100.23 checking
$8,398.63 money market
$100 PayPal

Justin moves $400 from checking to savings, $2500 from checking into
our money market account.

New balances:
$535.37 savings
$4,200.23 checking
$10,898.63 money market

Mark accepts the report, Jim seconds. All are in favor and it passes.

Repeater committee update:

• Now operating on our 160-ft tower position, which was originally our
  D-Star antenna. (1.5 SWR)
• 180-ft original position has high SWR (6 to 1 with 100 ohm impedance)
• Need to get original position looked at when other tower work is being done.
• Still sounds good and has decent coverage.
• Have had recent trouble on Sunday nets due to tropo ducting.
• Other work on repeaters to come…

Superfest:

• We still haven’t gotten the bill from Expo Gardens.
• We did a lot better than Deb expected at the 2022 Superfest. Around
  $3500 from Superfest once we get money back from the East Peoria site.
• The W9UVI website has been updated with the main Superfest page
  looking different than the rest of the site.
• There is a price change for 2023. Tickets will be $8 in advance for
  two raffle stubs, $10 at gate for one stub. If wanting two stubs at
  the gate, will be $15. (Two stub option at the gate was an experiment
  this year that actually worked!) Tables will be $25 like they have
  been, but only up until July 1, 2023 – then $35/table.
• We’re not going to charge for site electricity because we aren’t
  going to be charged as a club (we were at Expo for 2022)
• Flea market will be $10 for first space, $5 for each additional
  space until July 1, 2023. Then just $10 for any spot.
• Tower Electronics is a lock for 2023!
• Anybody who wants to join us in camping for 2023 fest, Deb is
  renting an RV, Tom and Justin are bringing theirs… There’s a
  campground in a wooded area that will be the club’s area.
• Tom, Rich and Deb have worked on a vendor letter for 2023 that
  mentions electrical hookups for people on-site, along with off-site
  accommodations.
• Next Superfest meeting is in two weeks.

Spoon River Drive report:

• The special event station was during the first and second weekends
  of October… Justin and Ben the first weekend. Tom, Mark, Deb, Rich
  on the second weekend.
• We had QSOs with 37 people the first weekend, with 10 the second weekend.
• The director of Spoon River Drive was real happy that we participated.
• We had a lot of people that stopped by our table, including some lapsed hams.

Event coming up…

• Saturday, October 22: PAWS Giving walk/run. Bring your HT to help
  run the race at Junction City. 4pm, done by 6:30 in the evening. Can
  email Rich (KD9ANU) if you have questions.

JOTA is on Saturday.

Rich and Jim move to adjourn, Deb seconds… the meeting ends at 7:23 p.m.

Scott gives a presentation on mesh nets.

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Peoria County ARES

Nov 2, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Nov 9, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
Nov 16, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, PAWS Event on 10/22 – Review, Training Documentation, Economy Windows Computers for Hams – Update, Using GPS Position Reports in Winlink, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272

____________________________________________________

October Net Logs

10/2
Thanks to the W9BFD group this week!
KD9ANU W8NWG KB9ATO KB9SF KD9AER KD9PXZ WW9DLM KD9IVV KD9ERS N9NDF NM0O K9XJT N9GUE N9WX KC9IH K9HJZ KD9JXR N9WFT KD9QQU KD9STL KD9SZZ KB9TNZ WD9EB W9WGN KD9RYH K9UQF KD9RJH KD9NYE K9TNT KD9VSG Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/9
WD9EB KD9ANU KD9QQU W8NWG KC9IH NM0O KB9SF KD9AER K9HJZ N9GUE KD9HZZ W9JDP W9WGN N9NDF KD9NYE K9TNT KB9ATO WW9DLM KD9JXR N9WFT K9RCS KD9PXZ K9UQF NP2WJ KD9IVV WF9E KD9ERS KD9RYH KD9STL KD9TEG K9CEW KD9RJH K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/16
W9WTF KD9ANU KC9IH KD9QQU NM0O K9RCS K9HJZ W9JDP K9TNT N9SJZ N0XOH KD9IVV KD9AER W8NWG KD9PXZ KD9JXR KD9ERS WD9EGV W9YES N9NDF KD9NYE W9WGN N9WFT WF9E KD9RYH KD9STL KD9SZZ NP2WJ KB9OGS KD9MPI K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/23
KD9ANU WD9EB KC9IH KE8UIB NM0O K9XJT KD9TEG KB9SF N9GUE K9HJZ KD9SZZ W9JDP N9SJZ KD9AER KD9IVV KDPXZ KD9NYE KD9JXR K9TNT K9UQF N9NDF K9RCS KD9RYH KD9QQU KD9MPI WB9RJY KB9ATO W8NWG KB9OGS N9WFT KD9STL W9WGN N0XOH Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

10/30
KD9ANU KC9IH K9XJT W9WGN N9GUE KD9TEG K9HJZ W9JDP N9SJZ KB9ATO KD9AER KD9IVV W8NWG NM0O KD9PXZ N9NDF KD9JXR KD9SZZ KD9RYH K9RCS KD9NYE WF9E N9WFT WW9DLM KB9OGS WB9RJY KD9ERS KD9STL KD9VYM K9CEW Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

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November Club Events

November 2 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

November 3 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

November 9 – 7:00 pm ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

November 10 – 7:00 pm Club Membership Meeting – Traditional shortwave radio and the RTL-SDR (Software Defined Radio). Bartonville American Legion.

November 16 – 7:00 pm ARES Meeting – Zoom

November 17 – 7:00 pm Superfest Meeting via Zoom. This meeting has been moved up one week due to Thanksgiving.

November 24 – Happy Thanksgiving!

President’s Report

It’s been quite a year for our club, and despite the challenges, we’re doing very well.

Again this year we had to relocate Superfest due to weather, but it was s success. We generated enough revenue to meet our expenses for the year. I can’t thank our volunteers and Board members enough for their guidance and hard work.  Most of all, thanks to the vendors and the flea market tailgaters for making this a great event.

The best is yet to come! We are looking forward to next year’s event at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe.

This fall things will be busy and exciting. We hope you will join us for our Special Event Station activation, N9S, where we will be promoting the history of Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive. We will be operating from the Fulton County Fair on the first and second Saturday and Sunday of October from 9 am to 5 pm. Stop by and say hello!

Later this month, we will be providing communications support for the annual PAWS run Saturday, October 22 at Junction City. We hope to see you there.

We’re hoping to have another POTA (Parks on the Air) event in the near future. It will be in the area, but at a different location than Jubilee College. I’m still hopeful that the weather will hold out a bit longer. It would be a one day weekend event. Send me suggestions for dates, times and locations: n9wx.ares@gmail.com.

Also on October 15 we will hold a license exam session at the Morton Knights of Columbus hall. Here is your chance to earn a new or upgraded license. All newly licensed hams will be given a complimentary one year membership in the club!

As we approach the end of the year, it’s time to think about election of club officers. Here is your opportunity to get involved in the direction of the Club. Let me know if you have any questions and if you are interested. After all, this is YOUR club!

A lot has been happening lately. That’s what our club is all about. The key to making good things happen is PARTICIPATION. Participation in events and activities, on the Sunday net, and of course renewing your membership.

Thanks for being an active member!

Justin, N9WX

____________________________________________________

Meeting Minutes:

Board of Directors , September 8:

6:18 p.m. call to order

Bandbits approval? Tom motions, John seconds…. all are in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Savings = $235.34
Checking = $2,582.20 (Three Sisters has not yet cashed their check;
also waiting on refund from East Peoria)
Money market = $8,396.78
$100 left in PayPal ($222.07 just transferred from it)

Grand total = $11,214.32

Pending expenses:
Darren getting signs at $22 a sign (x8), so $176 + $300 for banner
$150-200 ($15 each or so) for volunteer T-shirts

Deb makes motion, Darren seconds. All are in favor.

REPEATER COMMITTEE: Nothing new to share.
– Tom and Justin have been hearing a Windows tone going out over
repeater… need to investigate.
– Still need to maybe have the transmission line inspected and our UHF
D-Star antenna removed (before snow flies.) Scott has volunteered to
host UHF at his place on a 40ft tower.

OTHER BUSINESS:
– Need to find out more about annual JOTA with Scouts… October 22
and 23. Is it a club event? If so, we need to be more involved.

SUPERFEST:
– Dwight was able to overprint tickets that haven’t been mailed yet…
will have new raffle stickers for tickets that have already been
issued.
– New map and revised info are live on w9uvi.org
– Will we need cones for parking, asks John? Deb says we’ll use them
for the flea market area and will probably need people to help direct
parking.
– John will bring 50 cones on Thursday… if we need more, he can
bring additional ones on Friday.
– Will we do golf carts, asks Justin? Deb is looking into getting two
of them from the fine residents of Hopedale.
– Justin won’t be able to be there Thursday, but will be there Friday-Sunday.
– Justin is bringing a camper with AC, Darren is bringing a trailer to
transport golf carts.
– For security, Justin will be there Friday and Saturday night… but
will need more volunteers so Justin isn’t alone.
– There is no football game at Richwoods Superfest weekend, so we’ll
have the place alone.

OLD BUSINESS: None.

Motion to adjourn… Tom makes motion, Deb seconds. 6:49 p.m. and we are done!

Membership, September 8:

7:05pm call to order

Motion to approve Bandbits? Mark makes motion, Scott seconds… all
are in favor.

Adam will set up a feature on our website so people can be alerted by
email when there’s a new post like Bandbits.

TREASURER’S REPORT:
Checking = $2,582.20
Savings = $235.34
Checking = $2,582.20 (Three Sisters has not yet cashed their check;
also waiting on refund from East Peoria)
About $700 in expenses still out for Superfest ($176 for signs, $300
for banner, $200 for volunteer T-shirts)
Dumpster is $300-350 additional

$11,214.33 total

Scott makes a motion, Darren seconds. All are in favor.

_____

SUPERFEST:
– We need volunteers!!!
– Deb will turn on signup sheets on site tonight. (gates, flea market,
Thursday setup, Friday afternoon, security, someone in EP in case
people go to the wrong place, etc.)
– John volunteers to make a sign for the original East Peoria
location. Darren will work on it as well.
– For on-site simplex, 146.43 MHz. W9UVI will be talk-in repeater.
– Rich has a projector and screen for classes; Scott will bring a
wireless mic and powered speakers
– Will have to go with Expo food instead of originally-planned food trucks.
– Peoria Fire Department is having training the week of SuperFest at
Expo Gardens, so supposed to get in to site at noon Friday.
– Banquet tables will be $4.50.. cheaper than other places we’ve
gotten in the past at least.
– We have 10×10 portable awning, 10×20 as well. Scott also has
another. Bring extra awnings if you have one!
– For security, Justin would like one other person with him as well.
John says he can help with one of the nights.
– Only Deb is allowed to sell flea market spots… 7 a.m. gate opens.
No selling from general parking spots!
– Justin will be running testing this year… Bob won’t be there. If
you have VE credentials, bring them so we make sure we’re official.
– If someone shows up at the gate and is only there to test, they can
be escorted for free. Scott may bring wristbands to designate. If they
pass their exam, we write on band so they will get full free
admission. They also get a membership to the club (will make sure we
have membership forms on site.)

Tabling rest of business for Scott’s Echolink presentation… 7:49 p.m.

____________________________________________________

SuperFest

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH SUPERFEST!!!

Midwest Superfest 2022 is over, still getting some of the bills so don’t have the final totals, but the club did make money.

Planning and work for Midwest Superfest 2023 has already begun, if you were not able to attend the September Superfest meeting but want to be included on the Superfest committee, please contact Deb, WD9EB

The next Midwest Superfest meeting will be at 7pm on Thursday Oct. 27th via Zoom. Please use the link on the club meetings page.

____________________________________________________

Peoria County ARES

Oct 5, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

Oct 12, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

Oct 19, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, PAWS Event on 10/22, Training Documentation, Very Economical Windows Computers for Digital Modes, Using GPS Position Reports in Winlink, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES

email: kd9anu@arrl.net

Winlink: kd9anu@winli

September Net Logs

9/4
W9WGN KD9ANU WD9EB K9XJT KC9IH KD9IBC N9GUE KB9ATO K9TNT W8NWG N9NDF KD9PXZ KD9JXR KD9IVV WF9E KD9SZZ NM0O KD9AER N9WFT WW9DLM KB9TNZ KD9STL K9QZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/11
WD9EB KD9ANU N9WX K9XJT KD9ERS WF9E KB9TNZ KC9IH KD9QQU W9JDP WD9EGV N9GUE KD9SZZ K9RCS KB9OGS N9SJZ W9WGN NM0O KD9PXZ KD9JXR NP2WJ KD9AER KD9NYE KD9VSJ KD9IVV W9WTF KB8ATO N9NDF W8NWG KD9STL KD9RYH KD9MPI WW9DLM KT9TB K9HJZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/18
W9WTF WD9EB KD9ANU KC9IH KD9IBC W9JDP N9GUE KD9LIE K9RCS KD9HZZ N9SJZ N9NDF KD9IVV NM0O KD9PXZ W9WGN KB9ATO KD9NYE KD9JXR WW9DLM N9WFT WF9E KD9QQU WD9EGV NP2WJ KB9SF KC9PZQ KD9ERS KD9STL K9CEW KB9OGS KD9AER W8NWG KD9VSJ K9HJZ KD9RYH KD9SZZ KD9TEG K9XJT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

9/25
KD9ANU WF9E W9WTF KC9IH W8NWG K9HJZ N9GUE K9TNT N9NDF KD9JXR KD9AER KD9QQU KD9PXZ KD9VSJ VP2WJ WD9EGV KD9STL N9SJZ KD9IVV W9WGN NM0O KD9RJH W9JDP KB9ATO K9XJT KT9TB KD9ERS KD9MPI WW9DLM KB9TNZ KD9RYH WD9EB KD9ERT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

____________________________________________________

October Club Events

October 5 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net – 147.075 Repeater

October 6 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

October 8 – 9 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – N9S Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Special Event Station activation. Fulton County Fairgrounds, Lewistown, IL. All are welcome!

October 12 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater

October 13 – 7:00 p.m. – Membership Meeting: Ham Radio Mesh Net, American Legion, Bartonville

October 15 – FCC License Testing: Morton Knights of Columbus, 616 W. David Street, Morton, IL. FRN Required. Bring two forms of identification and a copy of your license (if upgrading). Testing Fee: $15.

October 18 (TUESDAY) – 7:00 pm – ARES Zoom Meeting – Watch your email for Zoom login information.

October 27-7:00 pm – Superfest Meeting – Zoom

President’s Report

As we all know, Midwest Superfest is just a short time away! We desperately need your help to pull this off. We have had some setbacks, but I know that we will succeed! We had to change our location due to weather damage at the East Peoria Event Center, so Midwest Superfest 2022 is going to be held at Expo Gardens in Peoria, IL.

Again, I am asking for your help and support. Volunteers are needed from Thursday the 15th through Sunday the 18th. I will be working Security overnight on Friday and Saturday, but I would like to have at least one more person dedicated to this position. We need help with marking the flea market spots on Thursday. We need help at the front gate checking and selling tickets. We will have the logo stickers and magnets for sale at the Club Table and will need someone for that. These are just a few of the positions available. If you (or know anyone who) are willing and able to help in any position… Please contact Deb Suhs at WD9EB@ARRL.net ASAP!

I want to thank all of you who have supported the club and Superfest. Without you, we would not exist.

Justin Flick, N9WX President, PAARC

____________________________________________________

Meeting Minutes: Membership

7:09 p.m.: meeting begins

Welcome to new member Adam (KD9SBI). Introductions all around.

Deb makes a motion to approve Bandbits, Jim seconds. Unanimous approval.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Savings: 235.32
Checking: 1423.85
Money market: 8395.91
PayPal: 280.37
470 in checks that deb has for Superfest tickets

Dion makes motion to approve, Jim seconds. It’s approved.

SUPERFEST UPDATE FROM DEB (Note that this report was made to the membership prior to the storm damage that forced us to move Superfest):

• All club members should have 10 tickets to buy or sell.
• Need to talk to Aaron about what’s going on at the Superfest site…
  will make sure things are ready.
• Justin says that air conditioning looks to be working because
  condensation is gone from windows. Deb also noticed that the roof has
  been redone.
• Our contract with Three Sisters Park has been signed. Half of the
  deposit has been sent to them (why our checking account is so flush.)
  $750. Guaranteed price from 2023-2028. Then, the price will be
  renegotiated for the next five years after that. As long as we want
  Three Sisters on the third weekend of September, it’s ours.
• Will use every building out there except the barn. If we need it, we
  can add it as well.
  Flea market will be in the campground area, which means some spots
  will have guaranteed electric hookups. Will have room to expand, even.
  Chapel will be used for forums. Meeting rooms for testing.
• 50 amp service by the museum is for big vendor RVs
• Susan at Three Sisters has been real good to us, with nice breaks:
  Only paying $3,500 for the weekend. And vendors won’t have to rush
  out… they can even leave the next day. She’ll be at this year’s
  event in East Peoria to check out how we have it set up.
• Deb is getting pictures of Three Sisters in advance so we can have
  flyers available THIS year for next year’s first event out there.
• Deb has signup sheets on our website… Deb will work with Adam on
  activating. Everything info-wise on Superfest is live and active (flea
  market map, vendor letter, tickets, etc.)
• We’ll have a simplex frequency for people there, so bring your HTs.
• Tables will be coming from just Pekin instead of two places. Rich
  has a trailer lined up.
• We have two food trucks reserved.
• If anybody is volunteering, they get a bright yellow shirt so people
  know you’re there to help. Send Justin email ASAP with size
  (n9wx.ares@gmail.com)
• 2019 was 60 years of Superfest at Expo, so at least that old.
  Jobs needed for SuperFest:
• Talk-on for people who are lost.
• Ticket sales at the gate.
• Helping people to flea market spots
• Making announcements
• Meet Jim or Todd at Expo to get sound equipment we need

Two weeks from tonight, Superfest meeting is at the Red Cross.

REPEATER UPDATE FROM TOM:

• Echolink is up and running. It turns out that the router just needed rebooted.
• Suggests that Scott may want to train again on Echolink for membership.
• UHF D-STAR repeater is now shut down.
• We were hoping to move the 075 repeater to a taller tower, but
  prices came in much higher and tower climbers were in short supply…
  so postponing that move for now.
• So now, Midwest is only charging for antennas in use instead of
  what’s actually on the old tower.
• Midwest is having another tower climber out for another client, so
  we’re going to try to piggyback to have things checked on our setup
  (we have some remaining issues with noise on the repeater.)
• 075 is at 180ft and VHF DSTAR is at 160.
• Next job is getting out to Timber Hollis repeater and getting Fusion
  back up (was an bad internet connection that has allegedly been
  fixed.) Need to get there before the current fire chief is gone.
• Moving things to the Proctor repeater site is probably dead.
• 61 is leased to the end of the year.
• Tower rent is $1,130 for six months for two antennas.

Any old business? No.

ARES from Rich:

• Has been slow because of no severe weather.
• Second WinLink set up at the bunker. Good opportunity to practice
  sending from one radio to another.
• Going through training.
• Will have a monthly meeting on Wednesday night at the bunker for a
  tour. (Kickapoo)

Jim makes a motion to end meeting, Mark seconds. We
adjourn to Scott’s presentation on satellite work.

Additional item….

• Rich wants to start planning for a spring balloon launch in honor of
  Fritz. If interested in planning, let him know. Unfortunately, very
  little equipment survived the last few balloon launches. Got a bunch
  of records from Fritz’s wife Susan but can’t even figure out what
  model of balloon we were using. (NWS in Lincoln may know
  manufacturers, though.)

____________________________________________________

SuperFest

By now you know that we have had to move Midwest Superfest 2022 from the East Peoria Event Center to Exposition Gardens in Peoria due to storm damage to the front of the EP Event Center where our indoor vendors would be setting up. As Justin talked about in his President’s Message there are several jobs we need help with. Please keep an eye on the website, we will soon have a Midwest Superfest Jobs page that we are asking everyone to please help with. We will be discussing Midwest Superfest, what still needs to be done before hand and what we have to do during it at the monthly club meeting. If you have any questions before hand, please contact Deb WD9EB@ARRL.NET.

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Peoria County ARES

Sept 7, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater 

Sept 14, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater 

Sept 21, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: Infrastructure Activities, PAWS Event on 10/22, Training Documentation, How to reply to Winlink ICS 213 messages, and more.

Please submit your Training Documentation form.

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

____________________________________________________

August Net Logs

8/7
WD9EB KD9ANU N9WX NM0O N9GUE KC9IH KD9IBC K9HJZ W9JDP K9HJZ W9JDP N9SJZ KB9ATO K9TNT KD9PXZ KD9JXR W8NWG KD9AER W9WGN KD9ERS K9RCS WD9EGV WF9E KD9RYH N9WFT NP2WJ W9TTX N9NDF KD9HZZ KD9NYE WW9DLM KD9RJH NA9LE KB9TNZ KD9STL KD9SZZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

8/14
KD9ANU K9XJT W9WGN W8NWG WF9E K8HJZ KC9IH N9GUE W9JDP KD9ERS K9RCS KB9ATO N9NDF KD9PXZ KD9VAM NM0O KD9SPI KD9AER K9TNT KD9VLQ KB9TNZ KD9RYH KD9IVV N9WFT KD9JXR KD9STL KD9QQU KB9SF KD9MPI Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

8/21
WD9EB K9XJT N9WX KD9ANU KC9IH W8NWG WD9EGV N9GUE KD9ERS KD9IVV KB9OGS KD9PXZ W9JDP KD9TAE NM0O
W9WGN K9TNT K9RCS KD9AER WW9DLM N9WFT KD9RJH KD9QQU K9UQF WF9E KD9RYH KD9QQT KD9JXR KD9STL KB9TNZ N9NDF KB9ATO KD9TEG KT9TB KD8NYE KB9SF KD9SPI Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

8/28
KC9IH K9HJZ WD9EGV KD9IVC N9GUE W8NWG W9JDP N9WX K9RCS KB9OGS KB9ASO NM0O KD9PXZ K9TNT KD9ERS K9XJT KD9NYE N9NDF K9MOA KD9AER KD9JXR K9TLZ KD9RHY WW9DLM
KD9STL W9NDG Submitted by KD9QQU 73

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September Club Events

September 1 – 7:00 pm – Board of Directors Meeting – Zoom

September 7 – 7:00 pm – ARES Net – 146.075 Repeater

September 8 – 7:00 pm -Membership Meeting – Bartonville American Legion: Setting up and using EchoLink. Please install EchoLink on your laptop and/or phone before the meeting. Click here for information on how to install EchoLink.

September 15 – 7:00 pm – ARES Meeting

September 17 – 18, 2022  MIDWEST SUPERFEST – NEW LOCATION: EXPO GARDENS, 1601 W Northmoor Rd. Peoria – All (pink) tickets issued for the East Peoria location will be honored. Flea Market, Indoor Vendors, License Testing, Learn about DMR, Satellite Demo, Learn about Winlink, DXCC Card checking and more. –  Purchase Tickets

September 29 – 7:00 pm -Superfest Meeting

President’s Report

Hello, and welcome to Tornado Season! Five years ago this month a tornado hit Chillicothe, IL. It is time to be Weather Aware. The National Weather Service has several online classes coming up for those interested in becoming weather spotters. If you’re interested in weather spotting, or have further questions, join the Peoria County ARES Team headed by Rich Holtman – KD9ANU.

With the weather becoming warmer soon, the hope is to get out into the field more. The plan is to move our meetings outside to be able to enjoy our surroundings. Does anyone have suggestions for locations? Bradley Park? Red Cross parking lot? I feel if we get out into the public eye more, we might just grow interest and our club.

I still need to contact a couple of surrounding clubs to see if there is any interest in joint projects. That being said, planning is in the works to have a Fox Hunt in the summer. If you know anyone who is interested in joining us, please inform them that more information will be coming.

Also, as a reminder, our Starved Rock POTA expedition is coming up! Mark your calendars for May 6-8th, 2022. I am really getting excited about this trip. I have already started getting stuff together. The hope is to have a grill set up for all to use. Please bring what you want to grill. Hope to see you there!

If anyone has any information about public/private events that are coming up and may need communications support, please contact Justin Flick N9WX at n9wx.ares@gmail.com

____________________________________________________

Meeting Minutes: Board of Directors

7:07 pm call to order

Minutes from last board of directors meeting were approved unanimously.

Justin: Glad we had good turnout for Winter Field Day. Very glad Bradley radio club came by to help out. We’ve invited them to join us for events throughout the year. Connor made 35 CW QSOs in a short amount of time…. doubled our contacts! 92 total.

Lift rental really helped. Put another 20m antenna up on Sunday. Rob said W9UVI didn’t appear on spot clusters… but Field Day rules say we’re not supposed to spot.

Nothing new from repeater committee. Justin talked to Bill about Midwest repeater situation… he’s still up in the air about buying the antenna and feed line from us. Unless we can find someone to take it or buy it, we’ll need to take it down. Will check back in March.

Scott says that riggers at the Civic Center might be able to do it for less money. But need to make sure that they’re licensed and insured for such work. Antenna is up 120 feet. Bill did say he has a guy who does tower work for him.

Have not done anything with the .85 repeater at the fire station yet. Still need Matt and Tom to set up WIRES-X. Internet is set up, but uncertain about configuration.

Super Fest meeting update: Deb says we got an invitation from the ARRL to host the Central division convention at Super Fest this year. Deb suggests saying no, but instead tell them we’ll do it in 2023 at Three Sisters Park. Need to confirm with the park if we need to give them money now for our reservation. ARRL will do advertising for us for three states if we host.

This year, no big speaker – Scott will do satellite demo, Jerod/Nick/Tim? will hopefully do DMR demo. All in-house for Super Fest this year.

Treasurer report from John:
$235.25 in savings
$8,392.46 in money market
$2,773.89 checking (includes monthly withdrawal for Noiz Communications for internet at repeater site)
$330 for Morton rentals for Field Day lift
$212 for P.O. Box
two deposits from Amazon marketplace $156.70, $10.86 (returning of solar panel and connectors for trailer)

Deb will pay $113 for her share of the lift.

10 payments in January, 1 in February via PayPal for member dues

$443.30 in PayPal since December

Unfinished business:
Scott will make a couple of extra sets of keys for the trailer hitch.

Still haven’t replaced tires on the trailer. Rethinking the idea of the trailer… moving away from idea of a portable communication center. Will still be moving it around events, so still need tires (and possibly also exterior lights.)

New business:

For upcoming POTA camping trip, reserving a shelter is an extra $50, so will just plan to use someone’s camping site (so far have 033 and 032 reserved.)
Checkin is 3 p.m. Saturday, checkout 3 p.m. Sunday.
Up to four people and two vehicles for site.

Old boy scout cabins are close by with dog friendly cabins that are cheaper than Starved Rock. (Kishauwau)

It’s also Mother’s Day weekend!

Deb needs headshots of new club officers.

Will also put up more details on POTA event on website.

Meeting Minutes: Membership

7:06pm: meeting commences.

SuperFest meeting on Feb. 24th at 7 p.m. For those with ideas or can’t make it, email Deb.
Minutes published in Band Bits from last club meeting approved by membership.

Treasury report from Justin, N9WX:$235.36 savings$2,773.89 in checking$8,392.46 in money marketPayPal has almost $600 in itScott moves to present it, Jim Polson seconds. Membership approves.

Scott Tranchitella, K9XJT did a presentation on EchoLink.

Unsure why EchoLink not active on our repeater… but Scott giving presentation on how to use it with N9NWI-R as stand-in. Matt says that he needs to install an adapter at the repeater site, then W9UVI will be up.

____________________________________________________

Peoria County ARES

Note time change for the ARES Net, no longer at 8:00 PM, going forward to be at 7:00 PM.

Mar 2, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CST on the 075 repeater
Mar 9, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CST on the 075 repeater
Mar 16, ARES On-line Conference @ 7:00 PM CST (Watch your email for Zoom conference info)

Call or email Rich if you are not on the ARES Roster and desire to join the Zoom Conference.

On-Line Conference Agenda includes: ARES Local Parks On The Air, Training, Winlink News, Antenna of the Month, Upcoming RATPAC Sessions, Help Wanted, Volunteer Opportunities, & more!

ARES website: http://www.peoriacountyares.org/

Rich Holtman, KD9ANU, Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Peoria County ARES
email: kd9anu@arrl.net
Winlink: kd9anu@winlink.org
Cell: 309-256-4272

____________________________________________________

EchoLink

In late February EchoLink was installed on the W9UVI/o75 repeater. EchoLink allows users to get on the air from any location with internet using a smart phone, tablet or computer.

Learn more.

____________________________________________________

SuperFest

The March Superfest meeting will be held on Thursday 24th at 7:00pm, please use the link on the Club meeting page to join.

____________________________________________________

February Net Logs

2/6
W9JDP KD9HZZ N9SJZ NM0O W8NWG K9TNT KD9JXR KD9IVV KD9PXZ K9RCS K9FIT KD9RYH N9GUE K9XJT KD9STL WF9E KD9ANU KB9TNZ N9NDF KD8SZZ KB9ATO K9UQF W9WTF WW9DLM KD9NYI KD9IBC W9SEB W9WGN Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

2/13
KD9IVV N9NDF W9JDP K9XJT N9GUE W8NWG KD9PXZ KB9ATO K9FIT KD9JXR KD9QQU KD9ERS WF9E WW9DLM KD9STL K9TNT KD9LSV Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

2/20
W9JDP K9TNT KD9PXZ W9WGN KB9ATO N9NDF W8NWG KD9JXR NM0O N9WFT K9FIT KD9IVV KD9AER KD9QQU WW9DLM N9GUE KD9ANU WD9EGV K9RCS W9SEB NP2WJ KD9LSV N9WX KD9NYE K9UQF KD9SZZ KD9IBC WF9E KD9RYH KT9TB KD9SPJ KD9STL K9XJT WD9EB KD9ERS Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

2/27
W9WGN N9GUE KD9ERS KD9ANU KD9SZZ KD9IBC K9HJZ K9TNT W9JDP KD9QQU KD9JXR NM0O KD9PXZ KD9IVV W8NWG KD9AER K9XJT KD9NYE KD9UIM KD9RYH W9SEB N9NDF KB9ATO K9UQF NA9LE K9CEW WD9EGV KD9NYI WW9DLM K9FIT N9WFT Submitted by KD9DBQ 73

____________________________________________________

March Club Events

March 3 – 7:00 pm: Board of Directors Meeting via Zoom.

March 10 – 7:00 p.m.:  Club Meeting via Zoom – openSPOT3 demonstration. openSPOT3 is a battery powered, portable, stand alone digital radio internet gateway (hotspot) designed mainly for amateur radio. Zoom login information available here.

March 31 – Superfest Meeting via ZOOM