opened

20:00

closed

20:38

Check-ins (28)

• Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)
• Jeff McDowell (KI5CES)
• Avery McIntosh (N7ALM)
• Brian Gaskamp (KA5BKG)
• Garrett Martin (W5HVS)
• Ron Estes (KJ5EFO)
• John Walpole (K5ZY)
• Joe Napoli (KG5SDF)
• Thomas Sanborn (KJ5DAA)
• Ralph Cobb (W5RYC)
• Bill Rose (K5WTR)
• Don Ling (WB5CKO)
• Bill Preston (KZ3G)
• Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)
• Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)
• Ken Wilson (KE5DFR)
• Mike Wisby (KA5HIA)
• David Bailey (K5DKB)
• Becky Miller (K5BEC)
• Mike Mertes (KZ5M)
• Ron Hambric (N5SBN)
• Harold Turbyfill (KG5SDG)
• Bennie Naiser (KA5TWB)
• Phil Gates (N5ZKF)
• Jon Edwards (KI5YZR)
• Troyce Wilson (KC5CBI)
• Jonathan Graham (KD5GG)
• Pierre Catala (WA1UAT)

Officer Reports

President

David Bailey (K5DKB)

• Next meeting
  • 2024-02-17 09:30
  • American Legion Post 159

Vice-President

Paul Bilke (KF5WGJ)

• excused

Secretary

Matthew Barry (KG5LYE)

• Minutes will be sent out after the net.
• Winter Field Day point tally submitted: 3543 total points
  • 192 contacts (227 pts)
    • 157 phone contacts (1 pt each)
    • 35 CW contacts at (2 pts each; 70 pts)
  • Multiplier (for band/mode combos): ×9
    • phone on 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m
    • CW on 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m
  • 1500 bonus points (500 each):
    • alternate power source
    • antenna setup
    • operating away from home

Treasurer

Lorna Flansburg (KI5FIZ)

• 58 members
• Bank balance: $9,086.14
• If you haven’t yet renewed your 2024 membership, you can do so:
  • at our next meeting
  • Online at HamClubOnline
  • Email me at treasurer@w5bcs.radio for a PayPal invoice
• Next ham license exam after our next meeting: 2024-02-17 11:00

Announcements / Comments

Question #163 for conversation: Winter Storm Yuri happened about this time a while ago and caused a lot of problems with power. What battery power do you keep for your ham radio equipment, if any?

(If interested in submitting a weekly question, email n5zkf@arrl.net)

Ron Hambric (N5SBN)

• Got back from cruise
• Carnival Jubilee
• Monday morning 09:00, the ship made a rescue of two men in a kayak
  • Their boat sank night before 10 mi off coast of Cancun
• N5BRZ ARES net tonight
  • 20:30 or after the W5BCS, whichever is later
  • KD5DLW repeater

Dick Zimmer (W5DZ)

• 60 Ah AGM Deep cycle battery under desk
• Float (trickle) charger and a switch on the desk.

Bill Rose (K5WTR)

• 4× 100 Ah AGM batteries
• 400 W solar panels and charge controller for the batteries
• 3000 W Sine wave inverter for house fridge and freezer
• “Batteries are the most expensive part”

Phil Gates (N5ZKF)

• several small “previously serviced” AGM batteries in battery boxes
  • each has own voltmeter and ammeter
  • used them during Yuri to run radios and a few things around the house
• no solar; use power supply to charge them

Ken Wilson (KE5DFR)

• Have 2× 100 Ah Li-Ion batteries and solar panels on the trailer

Joe Napoli (KG5SDF)

• 20 Ah gel cell battery on a trickle charger
• Run VHF and HF rigs off of it

Information Exchange

Jonathan Graham (KD5GG)

• $18 CW decoder at walmart.com
  • doesn’t have an enclosure
  • Connect audio out of radio, then speaker out other end
  • 12 V power supply

Closing Remarks

Ken Wilson (KE5DFR)

• Figured out why generator wasn’t pulling out of tank at Winter Field Day:
  • hole in the cap gasket