PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Thank you for everyone that came out to our field day event. We had lots of fun, made a bunch of contacts and even loaded up a section of fence to use as an antenna! We were able to make quite a few good contacts with a fence antenna! We even had some non hams on the air with our stations. Check out the pictures below.
Looking fowards into July, the ARES group and weather spotters will be out at the Emergency Expo Thursday, July 25, 2024 at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie 4-7pm. Hope to see your there.
Before you know it, it will be time for Midwest Superfest! Tickets can be purchased online at our website, or get a table and sell some old stuff!
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and being safe.
73’s, KD9RYH
MEETING MINUTES
Board of Directors – June 4, 2024
The meeting called to order at by President Ben Knapp at 7:05 p.m. on Zoom
Board members present: Ben Knapp KD9RYH, Tom Hunt W8NWG,, Darren Weir KD9HZZ, Tanya Knapp KD9YPM, Scott Tranchitella K9XJT, Jake Walters K9LE, Rich Schmitz K9RCS, Rob Herrin, KD9DBQ.
Treasurer’s Report: Tanya reported that as of June 4, our account balances are as follows: Checking $2,687.34; Savings $3,376: Money Market $7,677; Paypal $262.93 and Square $379.72. Checks were written to Willife Prairie Park $250 (Field Day Pavillion) and Darren Weir $817.45 (Midwest Superfest Grand Prize). The report was accepted on a motion from Rob, seconded by Scott.
Membership Committee Report: Jake talked about two people who took the exam and did not yet get their FCC callsigns. Advised to stay in touch with Bob Bush.
Midwest Superfest Report: Darren reported that he is working on additional signs and sending more emails to vendors. Tickets will be available available at Club meeting. Some were mailed out to members.
Repeater Committee Report: Tom reported that Jake and Steve working on Linking .85 and .075. Getting equipment together.
Field Day: Rich, K9RCS (Activities Director) in charge of Field Day.
Old Business
Still looking for someone to take Secretary job and to assist Adam. A notice will be sent to members via Ham Club Online and on Facebook
The tower at Red Cross building needs to come down. Discuss organizing a work party.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
_______________________
Membership – June 11, 2024
In attendance were the following, in no particular order: NM0O, W9WGN, W8NWG, KD9ZKZ, KD9AER, KD9YWB, W9JDP, K9RCS, KD9PXZ, K9LE, KD9HZZ, K9QZ, K9XJT, KD9ANU, KT9Y, N0XOH.
At 7:00 PM, the meeting was called to order by Vice President Scott Tranchitella, K9XJT, filling in for Ben Knapp, KD9RYH, who was absent.
Based on a motion by Jim Polson, W9JPD, and seconded by Darren Weir, KD9HZZ, the minutes from the last meeting in May were approved as published in Bandbits, based on a voice vote by the members present.
Treasurer’s Report – The Treasurer’s Report was read by Tom, W8NWG for Tanya KD9YPM, who was absent. A motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report was made by Brett Buchanan, KD9PXZ, and seconded by Jake Walters, K9LE, which was also approved based on a voice vote by the members present.
Repeater Report – Tom Hunt, W8NWG, reported that Jake Walters, K9LE, and Steve Grob, KD9AER, are working on a project to link the 075 and 850 repeaters. A second project we are trying to get going is to place a remote receiver radio out in the NW part of Peoria County to be connected via the Internet to the 075 repeater, thereby increasing the effective range of the 075 repeater, which can be heard out there, but which is hard for transmitting stations to reach that far. This second project may require some expenditures, hope to keep that to less than $500.
SuperFest Chairman’s Report – Darren Weir, KD9HZZ, reported the Tower Electronics will not be a vendor at this year’s SuperFest, rather they will be at the Chicago FM Club Hamfest on Sunday September 22nd. On a positive note, Dennis Smith of Silver Linings and Amateur Accessories has requested 4 tables. Amateur Accessories has been a vendor at prior SuperFests, selling accessories and radios in the past. Tom Beebe has sent info regarding applying for Club Grants from the ARRL to fund SuperFest Forums in future years, don’t have to be a non-profit to obtain such, but the applications need to be submitted by July 26th. Darren also has tickets available if anyone needs more.
Scott K9XJT reiterated a desire to develop a Mesh Net in the area using 5-6 appropriate used Linksys routers and antennas. He further has a desire to hold a 220 Voice Net.
Old Business – None
New Business – None
The Club is still in need of someone to volunteer for the position of Secretary. If you are interested in helping out, please contact any board member.
A Motion to Adjourn the Business part of the meeting was made by Jim Polson, W9JDP, and seconded by Jake Walters, K9LE. This motion passed based on a voice vote by the members present.
The Raffle Drawing was held.
At 7:30 PM, the meeting transitioned to the Program part, where Scott Tranchitella, K9XJT, led a fun demonstration of launching small lines for the purpose of erecting an antenna using an air-powered “potato” launcher. Further, Doug Nelson, KD9TEG showed off his ability to throw an arborist throw weight high into the air and down the field for the same purpose.
Notes taken and submitted by Rich Holtman, KD9ANU
______________________________________
MIDWEST SUPERFESTTM
We have some great prizes lined up for this year’s Midwest Superfest. Our grand prize is the Yaesu FT-710 Field 100 watt HF/50 MHz Base/Portable Transceiver, perfect for portable or base station operations.
Our second prize is the BTECH DMR 6×2 handheld. This radio features VHF/UHF (136-174MHz & 400-480MHz, Encryption, GPS, Talker Alias, APRS, Voice Recording and more. The third prize is the Arrow II 146/437 Handheld portable satellite antenna, perfect for satellite QSOs, International Space Station contacts or Fox Hunts. We will draw for these prizes Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
In addition, we have a number of other great hourly prizes to be drawn all day Saturday and Sunday morning. They include: a $50 gift certificate from The Wireman, $10, $20 gift certificates from Mastrant; $50 gift certificates from Alpha Antenna; $100 gift certificates from DX Engineering; gift certificates from RT Systems; a MFJ-332S Magnetic Base. MFJ-553 Wood Base Straight Key; MFJ-1778M G5RV Junior antenna; MFJ-108B 24/12 Dual Clocks; MFJ-1717SFZ High Gain 144/440 Flex Antennas; a fourpack of MFJ-700C4 RFI Chokes; MFJ-302 Ear Speaker; and a 1 MFJ-261 Dry Dummy Load (15w avg. 100w peak). Our thanks to these manufactures and retailers for their generous prize donations. We have more coming in, so stay tuned.
Midwest Superfest is less than 3 months away, remember to get your tickets. You have till September 18th to pay for them or return the unsold tickets.
You can reserve your Flea market spots online and also your Indoor Vendor spots.
______________________________________
PEORIA COUNTY ARES
Amateur radio operators use their training, skills, and equipment to provide communications during emergencies, When All Else Fails®.
July 3, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
July 10, ARES Net @ 7:00 PM CDT on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
July 17, ARES Monthly Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 PM
July 25, Emergency Expo, The Shoppes at Grand Prairie, 4:00-7:00 PM (setup before)
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
______________________________________
JUNE NET LOGS
6/2
W9WTF KD9RYH KD9ANU W8NWG KD9WRX KD9IBC K9HJZ KD9TEG KC9IH N9NDF KD9YPM W9WGN N9CS KD9WVP KD9VIN K9TNT KD9JXR KD9YER N0XOH KD9YWB N9WFT KD9AER KD9ZKZ WF9E WW9DLM KD9P K9LE K9RCS KD9MPI KD9AOJ K9UQF KD9STL N9ASP KD9WLD KD9QQU Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
6/9
KD9RYH KD9ANU W9WGN K9HUZ KD9IBC KC9IH KD9YPM NP2WJ W9JDP N9NDF NM0O KD9UJXR N9WFT W8NWG KD9PXZ KD9WLD KD9ZKZ KD9NYI KE9AOJ KB9ATO K9RCS KD9IVV WF9E KD9YWB N9CS K9UQF KD9IBC DK9DBQ KB9ASP DB9STL DB9RUH KD9QQU Submitted by K9LE 73
6/16
KD9RYH K9LE W9WGN KD9AER KD9WRX NP2WJ KC9IH KD9IVV W9JDP KD9JXR K9QZ KD9PXZ KD9ZKZ N9WFT W9WTF KE9AOJ KD9STL KD9WLD W8NWG KD9YWB KD9MPI N9ASP/AE K9RCS N9NDF KE9AON KD9IBC Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
6/23
KD9RYH K9LE KD9ANU K9XJT KE9AON W9WGN KD9IBC KD9VRW KC9IH KD9MIT K9HJZ KD9TEG KD9YPM W9JDP K9TNT N0XOH NM0O KD9PXZ KB9ATO N9WFT KD9AER KD9ZKZ W8NWG KD9AOJ KD9JXR W9WTF K9QJ N9ASP K9UQF KD9STL KD9WLD N9NDF K9RCS KD9NYE K9CEW N9GZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
6/30
KD9RYH K9XJT KD9ANU N9ASP W9WGN KD9IBC K9HJZ KC9IH KD9VAN W9JDP K9TNT KD9JXR N9NDF KB9ATO NOXOH KD9IVV W8NWG KD9YWB KD9ZKZ KD9AER KD9STL N9WFT K9LE K9RCS KE9AOJ KD9PXZ KD9YER N9CS KE9AOR KD9WLD KD9ERS K9CEW K9UQF K9QZ Submitted by KD9DBQ 73
______________________________________
JULY CLUB EVENTS
July 2 – 7:00 p.m. – Board Meeting – Zoom
July 3 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
July 9 – 7:00 p.m. – Membership Meeting: details TBA
July 10 – 7:00 p.m. – ARES Net on the W9UVI (147.075) repeater
July 25 – Emergency Expo – Shoppes at Grand Prairie – More Information
July 30 – 7:00 p.m. – Midwest Superfest meeting via Zoom
______________________________________
CLUB EMAIL LIST
If you would like to be notified by email when BandBits and other club news is posted to the website, click here: email list sign-up to be added to our email distribution list.