July 1996
Letter from
Don
MARC Repeater
Update
As you are probably aware of by now, the MARC is the proud owner of a new
Yaesu Vertex repeater equipped with a Cat-300 controller. The full features
of the new system are too numerous to mention all of them here. A couple of
features we will discuss are the Autopatch and the Reverse Autopatch.
As of this time the club has elected to run the Autopatch as an open patch
to all club members. To bring the patch up, simply enter * and go right into
your number. Do not un-key until you have dialed your number. The repeater
will read-back the number then it will connect. At the end of your patch enter
# to disconnect. Don't forget to ID at the start and at the end of your patch!
Our full feature autopatch also has the capability of supporting 100 speed
dial slots. As of this time we have about 11 slots assigned. If you would
like one please contact WD5HLD. Most people have their home phone number assigned
to their slot. To make a speed dial call to your slot or someone else just
dial 6 plus the 2 digit speed dial slot number. As an example: If you wanted
to place a speed dial call to me you would just dial 602 and the phone would
ring at my home QTH. Notice that it does not require a * when you are using
speed dial, just the 6 and a 2 digit slot number. Of course at the end of
the call enter a # to disconnect.
The Reverse Autopatch is another feature we have. The Reverse Autopatch enables
anyone who does not have access to a radio the capability of being able to
call you by telephone and it will ring out on the air via the repeater. As
an example: If Howard's XYL needs to talk to him and he is out in the car
somewhere, she would call the repeater at 483-4888. After 1 ring she would
hear a short tone, she would then enter the numbers 80005# The repeater would
then announce on the air " Call for W5UTL". If Howard is listening and hears
this he would then enter from his touch tone pad the number 800 and would
be connected to the call on the phone. At the end of the call Howard would
enter the patch down code of # and the call would be terminated. If you would
notice, the last 2 numbers in the reverse autopatch code ( In Howard's case
it's 05 ) is Howard's speed dial slot number. PRETTY SLICK HU ?
Please safeguard these control code numbers and don't give any of them out
on the air. Reminder; We have lots of scanner listeners out there that could
cause us a lot of problems with these numbers.
That's about all I have time for now, I will give everyone additional info
on other features we have with this new system as soon as I can figure them
out HI HI.
73 Don WD5HLD
I HOPE EVERYONE NOTICED THE NICE PICTURE OF DENNIS IN THE MERIDIAN STAR
Letters from all members are greatly appreciated. Thanks Don for this valuable
and informative update. I would like to Thank Don and Roger for all their
efforts in programming our new repeater. They have really done a wonderful
job. I have heard comments from as far North as Scooba, Noxapater, and Philadelphia;
East almost to Tuscaloosa; West to the Natchez Trace; South to Waynesboro
& Dixie Mills. Fantastic! It is definitely receiving and transmitting
much farther than our old repeater. Thanks to all who helped with the installation.
Where are we going to put the old repeater? Come to the meetings and let us
hear your suggestions.
Club meets every Saturday 10 A.M. at Queen City Truck Stop. All visitors and
new members are welcome. Some folks come early for breakfast.
Don't forget to check into the Tuesday evening 2-meter net at 7 P.M. each
week on 146.700. Any announcements, emergency traffic, or a simple hello and
73 can be passed along to others. Let us know how you are doing. Net controller
is Bill KB5ASR. THANK HIM FOR A GREAT JOB.
Next testing session in Meridian will be in September for all who wish to
upgrade their license.
You might like to listen for Shannon on the Mir Space Station ( ROMIR ) on
2 meter 145.550
President Report: Field Day was
a great success. Thanks to all 15 operators who participated. We made 198
CW contacts, 140 SSB contacts for a total of 536 points. We also received
bonus points for operating with less than 150 watts, operating on emergency
power, publicity from the media, operating in a public facility, sending a
field day message to our section manager, and coping the field day message
from W1AW for a total of 1572 points. Thank you John for tracking our
points for us. Thanks for the great fish, fun, and fellowship. We had a great
turn out from the wife and kids making this a real good family affair. Please
Thank Steve KC5THA, Tom KC5NNB, Steven, Debbie, and Chad for cooking the fish,
fries, and hush puppies.
Secretary Report: Concerning the
new digipeater in Rose Hill; The frequency is 145.71 with an antenna up 900
feet. This makes it easy to work packet direct to Jackson. The Central Mississippi
Digital Radio Association
( CMDRA ) is responsible for this project. Contact Bill if you would be interested
in joining this organization.
Treasurer Report: Thanks to all who have made a contribution to the new
repeater fund. However; We still need $241.94 more funding. This figure also
reflects the cost of a box that had to be purchased to install the controller
in. This brings the total cost of our new repeater so far to $1723.94. If
anyone has any extra cash lying around, please mail your contributions to
John Davis, 2215 28th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301.
If you have not paid your dues, please do so as soon as possible.
NEWS:
Raincoat Charlie (William Irwin, K3CQR of De Bary, Florida) was fined $500
After he admitted to the FCC that he was guilty of jamming signals of other
hams on 14.315 MHZ.
A Georgia ham has decided to use Amateur Radios' participation in emergencies
as a subject for her Master thesis, and she is asking for your help. Bella
Romain, N4ILQ has decided to do an in-depth study into what motivates hams
to risk their own lives to provide help to others. Since nobody has done such
a study and she needs a topic for her thesis, she decided to combine the two
into a single project that would benefit her as well as the Amateur Radio
service as well. If you would like to become a part of this project, drop
a note to: Bella Romain, N4ILQ, 285 Timber Ridge Trail, Carrollton, Georgia
30117.
The use of our 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands are being threatened for commercial
use by low - earth orbit satellites for the purpose of paging and other low-data-rate
message services. Written comments, with an original plus one copy, should
be sent to : Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington,
D.C. 20554. Each comment should include at the top, "Reference No. ISP-96-005"
and " Advisory Committee Informal Working Group 2A. Do comment. But be civil.
Don't abuse people who are simply doing their jobs. We have to get across
that casting covetous eyes on amateur bands is counterproductive, and contrary
to public interest. To accomplish this we need lots of comments. Please remember
that the objective is to educate and persuade, not to intimidate. The facts
will speak for them self. The facts are on our side. We provide a useful service
for the public in times that regular forms of communications are out of order. Your letters and comments will make a difference, only if you write.
As you all know, Gate 1 for the vanity call sign program was opened on May
31. If your call sign changes, please call John Davis so he can make note
of the change in his computer. Form 610-V must be completed and a $30.00 fee
is required to request a vanity call sign. If you need instructions or information
about vanity call signs, you may call FCC Consumer Assistance Branch, 1-800-322-1117
or write to: Federal Communications Commission, Amateur Vanity Call Sign Request,
P.O. Box 358924, Pittsburgh,PA 15251-5924
Current Changes: New Club Call is now W5FQ
N5NML - Howard is now W5UTL
KC5UED - Darrell is now W5MAV
Have a great month
