| NIHRAC (K3YGG) NIH Building 13 Room G-903 Bethesda, MD 20892 |
Emergency Communications Center NIH Building 11 Room 308 phone: 301 496-5311 |
NIHRAC Web site http://nihrac.od.nih.gov
NIHRAC Email address nihrac@k3ygg.ampr.org
The meeting was called to order by President Walter Stewart 12:10 pm in the Building 11 ECC. The minutes of the January 7 meeting were approved as distributed.
Members attending the meeting included Ed Gordon KB3DBX, Bob Haslach N3FRT, Bill Hook W3QBC, Albert Lock KA3WCF, Larry Martin W3IBO, John Muller W3QF, Frank Putnam N3ZPQ, Chuck Sherman N3WTO, Harold Simon N3PXK, Walter Stewart WM3Z, Tom Vegella K1FEX and Bryan West K2BW.
Bill Hook has begun to record some of the sounds of digital signals heard on the Amateur Radio frequencies. Using a video camera to photograph the receiver frequency plus the decoded text appearing on a computer screen, the accompanying audio will be heard and the audience asked to identify the "mysterious radio noise". The modes to be presented will include radioteletype (Baudot RTTY & ASCII), packet, PACTOR, AMTOR, GTOR and others.
An updated list of club projects and activities was distributed with last month's printed minutes and is available on the NIHRAC Web site. Mentioned are the several radio systems that NIHRAC maintains and it was suggested that we consider one or more of these at each meeting. Noting that our newly installed R7000 vertical antenna had recently lost its upper half, it was suggested that the topic for the day be item 1B - "Antennas (Bldg.11)". Thus, some members went to the roof after adjournment to inspect the NIHRAC antenna farm. A summary of their findings is attached to these minutes. At the March meeting we will continue the discussion of NIHRAC's antennas.
It was noted that the Montgomery County RACES was activated during the power outages that accompanied the storm. NIHRAC was acknowledged for the use by RACES of our 145.29 MHz repeater to support communications between the Rockville EOC and the East County Warming Center located in Silver Spring.
Walter Stewart reported that after losing telephone service because of the storm he used the autopatch on the NIHRAC 447.925 MHz repeater to arrange pickup of his son in Silver Spring. Walter also stated that daughter Andrea has been recognized at Churchill High School as an emergency resource capable of making telephone calls via Amateur Radio using her FT50 HT when the school's phones (including cellular) fail.
It was mentioned that the log periodic HF beam antenna at the Parklawn Building used by the DHHS Office of Emergency Preparedness suffered a broken boom as a result of icing. Larry Martin mentioned that he had experienced damage to his antennas and house.
John Muller advised that he will represent NIHRAC for the February 9 exercise. Members were invited to be on hand at the ECC from 7:00 - 9:00 pm to help John and learn something about message handling and operating the equipment at our station.
The Nominating Committee appointed at the January 7 meeting consisting of Andy Mitz, Dan Reggia and Bill Hook presented the following slate of officers.
President - Walter Stewart Vice President - Albert Lock Secy./Treas. - Chuck Sherman Asst. Secy./Treas. - open
There were no additional nominations made from the floor. Frank Putnam volunteered to be a candidate for the position of Assistant Secretary/Treasurer but stated that he will be able to serve only until July. His offer was accepted and the above names, plus any additional nominations made, will be voted upon at the March meeting.
Noting the past service of Larry Martin as President and his present activities as Vice President and Trustee of the K3YGG license, the Committee recommended that Larry be recognized as President Emeritus. A motion to this effect was made, seconded and passed unanimously.
It was mentioned that emeritus status might be bestowed upon other past officers who continue to actively serve the NIHRAC after their retirement from federal service.
C. Hume McClure NI3A was thanked for his contribution of $15. Although not a NIHRAC member, Charles uses our 2 meter repeater and participated with us on Thanksgiving morning to help provide communications for the Turkey Chase foot race benefitting the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Youth Services.
As mentioned at the February meeting, Andy Mitz has offered to cooperate with the NIH Emergency Planning Coordinator in updating the role of NIHRAC in the Disaster Preparedness Plan and to consider our participation in a future exercise. Andy will meet with Bill Magers in the ECC on February 23 at 8:15 a.m.
Bryan West invited NIHRAC to assist the Parklawn Amateur Radio Club in providing radio communications support for the Parklawn Classic foot race to be held at noon on Friday, April 30. Further information will be forthcoming.
Tom Vegella suggested that the facility located at 12709 Twinbrook Parkway be designated as a subunit (satellite) of the NIHRAC Bethesda NIHRAC ECC. He noted that some PHS-1 DMAT equipment is kept in readiness there and that an amateur 2 meter/70 cm FM voice and packet radio station is in operation using the callsign KB3DBX. Tom mentioned the possibility of remote, computer controlled operation of K3YGG HF transceivers from "12709" using a VHF or UHF link and suitable interfaces. Other amateurs at Twinbrook include Bryan West and Ed Gordon. Tom said that security issues concerning access can be worked out.
It was noted that the callsign of the Parklawn amateur station is now W3PHS, replacing WA3VVK. Ross Merlin (WA2WDT) is the Telecommunications and Communications Resources Manager for the PHS/Office of Emergency Preparedness/NDMS. (OEP).
The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.
de ka3wcf & w3qbc
After the meeting some members visited the Building 11 roof to inspect for damage following the recent ice storm.
A) Cushcraft R7000 HF Vertical
1) The upper half was broken off just above the lower set of guys and was found laying on the roof interior to the walled area where the antenna is attached.
2) It could not be determined if the breakage occurred as a result of wind and ice or if it was stuck by something during the recent installation nearby of a boom at the site where the new cooling tower will be erected.
3) Unneeded guy ropes were removed, the broken part of the antenna taken to the ECC for storage and additional yellow warning tapes attached to the guys still in place.
4) The 20 ft. wooden ladder contributed by a NIHRAC member and used by volunteers to install the antenna on August 6, 1998 could not be found on the roof. Without a ladder of this height we will be unable to remove the remaining sections to effect repair.
B) KLM Log Periodic Beam Antenna
1) This antenna seems to have escaped damage although a few elements have rotated a few degrees off-axis and are no longer horizontal. These can be straightened and their clamps tightened. The beam remains locked in place awaiting replacement of its rotator and tower.
C) Other antennas
The wire dipole used for HF packet appears to have sagged a bit but is still up. A mast to support the west end would be a useful addition.
The Hy-Gain 18AVT trap vertical mounted on the iron railing near the present cooling towers appears to be intact. No damage was noted to the various VHF and UHF antennas. de w3qbc