Meeting of October 13, 2020

Big Bend Amateur Radio Club

Minutes of Meeting

October 13, 2020

The meeting was attended by 21 members and guests.

W5NPR                               BILL                          ALPINE

KE5WCP                            STEPHEN                  FORT DAVIS

KG5ZIC                              PAMELA                    FORT DAVIS

KA5PVB                             CHUCK                     ALPINE

WA5ROE                            BOB                           ALPINE

WA5MHO                           DEAN                        ALPINE

 KI5EXF                             SHARON                   ALPINE

KI5ANQ                             SCOTT                       ALPINE

N5HYD                              DOUG                        FORT DAVIS

N5MVV                             ANGIE                        FORT DAVIS

KE5KNQ                           ROB                            ALPINE

KB5R                                 RUSTY                       ALPINE

KX5SP                               STEVE                       ALPINE 

KG5LMG                          MARVIN                    FORT DAVIS

N5JOE                               JIM                             ALPINE

KF5KMA                           DANNY                     ALPINE

KI5JTR                              RACHEL                    SAN MARCOS

KD5KBU                           JIM                             FORT DAVIS

K5WSA                             BILL                           FORT DAVIS

KG5ZIB                            JUDI                            FORT DAVIS

KG5HEJ                           AL                                ALPINE

Due to the Covid-19 virus, the meeting was conducted on 2-meters utilizing the BBARC 2-meter repeater system.

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by President Stephen KE5WCP.  

The minutes of the September 8, 2020 meeting were read and approved.

Angie N5MVV reported a current balance of $9,886.58.  Activity included two payments to Big Bend Telephone for $35.41 each.

Doug N5HYD gave a repeater report as follows:  “We think the repeater issue is all from the 146.82 Christmas Mountain site.  We are pretty sure the solar charge controller has an issue and that the batteries are past their usual operational life span and we are down to just a few of the 20+ year old solar panels.”  A maintenance trip to Christmas Mountain is being planned. 

Scott KI5ANQ reported continued efforts on his part to upgrade the EchoLink system.  He discussed the eventual logging of EchoLink users as an intended upgrade.  He also discussed the BBARC website and the addition of EchoLink logs.

Bob WA5ROE reported on the Estate Sale of N5NYZ, Tom Guis, who had become a Silent Key.  The sale is scheduled for October 24th from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and is limited to ham operators.  The sale has been added to the website with photos of some of the equipment, tubes and parts available for purchase.  He emphasized that the photos in no way fully represent all available for sale.

It was discussed it was unlikely that the meeting room at the West Texas National Bank would reopen any time soon and the November meeting would probably be on 2-meters.  Should there be any changes, an announcement would be forthcoming.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted

Bill Roberts

W5NPR