Minutes of the East River Amateur Radio Club
November 3, 2003 Ryan’s Steakhouse, Bluefield, VA.                         
http://www.erarc.com
The November meeting of the ERARC was opened at 703pm by Gary Kadar N8GK, 
ERARC Vice President. There were 18 members and guests in attendance. Gary 
welcomed all.
Bob Frazier WB8NRK, ERARC treasurer gave a report including: Flower fund: 
$0.00. Bob said that he’d received several renewals for membership and as of 
this evening, he had 111 paid memberships compared to 147 at this time last 
year. (Please consider sending your dues to Bob at: 505 Eads Mill Rd. 
Princeton, WV 24740. Dues are still $10 and $1 for each additional family 
ham member (at the same address). Contact Bob Frazier at wb8nrk@arrl.net.) 
THERE WILL BE AN ERARC ARRL VE TEST SESSION THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 9AM 
AT THE MERCER CO. 911 CENTER, GREEN VALLEY, WV. TALK-IN ON THE 145.49- W8MOP 
REPEATER.
Hooger Fisher W4OF, ERARC Secretary, read the minutes of the October 
meeting.
*New business*: none
*Old business*: *Generator servicing*: Russel Taylor KC8GBE said that his 
brother in Wytheville (Mark IV Honda) will work on the unit anytime. Gary 
Kadar said that he’d haul the generator to Mark IV anytime and would wait on 
Russel to call him with the details. *Extension cords for Field Day, etc.*: 
Discussion. Gary Kadar said that he’d call Charlie Whittaker at State 
Electric to see what they have in 10-12 gauge wire for extension cords and 
get back to the club. *Repeaters*: Jay Belt K8CTI and Don Anderson WD8OOR 
both said that everything was OK. Don mentioned that he needed the spec. 
sheets for the repeaters re: SERA coordination that John Riddle N8RIG may 
have some of them. Jay said that he needed to get a copy of the key (that 
he’s borrowed from 2-Way radio) to the gate for ’49, 442.45 and 53.37. Gary 
and Dave Cox KG4MCC said that Rolen’s Lock Service was probably a good 
choice for key duplication. *VHF contest*: Gary said that he didn’t get the 
results into the ARRL in time so don’t look for them in QST. *Christmas 
dinner*: Will be on December 1, 2003 at << 6pm >> for the dinner with the 
meeting to follow. He said to PLEASE talk it up and try to get as many 
members to attend as possible. (Patty Dietrich KG4AYM is trying to get door 
prizes lined up for the event. Please contact her if you can donate or get a 
prize donated gdietrich@inetone.net) Gary also mentioned that there are 
still a few members attending breakfast at the Country Kitchen, Green 
Valley, every Saturday around 830am and any additional interest and 
attendance would be good.
Jerry Connelly KC8TES asked if the change to 8pm for the Mercer Co. ARES net 
has produced any more participation. Answer: “Not really”, but with time, 
more people may ‘get used’ to the net time change and check in.
Gary said that he’d like to see more programs during the meetings to promote 
more interest and education. He mentioned the PSK/31 demonstration that he 
did. Jerry Connelly said that he’d like to see that one again and would also 
like to see a packet demonstration. Steve O’Dell said that the WV DAREN 
(digital amateur radio emergency network) packet network is still going 
strong. Gary also mentioned Echolink. Bill Sowers K8WBS said that he’d 
looked at the ‘usage’ of the system the other night and that there were 
145,000 users for the day. Gary said that if we could get hold of a phone 
line during the meeting that we could demonstrate Echolink during the 
meeting. It was also mentioned that we could, possibly, use a wireless 
computer to demonstrate it also. GARY WILL RE-DEMONSTRATE PSK/31 DURING THE 
JANUARY 2004 MEETING. Betty Viers KG4CTL said that if we had some programs 
that maybe spouses would get interested, or more interested, in amateur 
radio.
Dave Cox asked about the HF remote control idea that had been brought up and 
if it was still in the works. Jay Belt said that he could not find an 
interface for the Yaesu FT-100.
Gary Kadar talked about the recent solar flares, the “northern lights” and 
no changes noted on HF.
ARES: Dave Cox asked it there was enough room on the www.erarc.com website 
for a ‘call-up’ list for the ARES members in case of emergency. Gary said 
that John Riddle, himself and Dave, for example, could be on the list to 
start up a Calling Tree to get ARES members mobilized.
Ed Viers KD4WOO asked if anyone had tried to add the Bland Co., Va. 911 to 
the auto-dial list for the repeaters. Discussion. Betty Viers said that she 
would contact the Bland 911 and get a number for Don Anderson to program 
into the repeaters.
Jerry Connelly asked if anyone had tested the HF rig at the Mercer 911 
center since it had been repaired. Answer: “NO”, not unless Bob Besenyei 
NT8X had tried it. Gary said that it would be checked out this Saturday 
during the VE test session.
Arlie Hicks N8AH won the 50/50 drawing for the flower fund.
ARES net controls for October: 4th George Dietrich KF4YGL, 11TH Jerry 
Connelly KC8TES, 18th Hooger Fisher W4OF, 25th Tom Gordon WW8D.(THE MERCER 
CO. ARES NET WILL BE HELD AT 8PM EVERY TUESDAY)
There being no more business, the meeting was closed at 0738pm
Respectfully submitted, George “Hooger” Fisher 111, W4OF, Sec.