S.A.R.A. Minutes from meeting on 2/12/2003

Saratoga City Hall

Submitted by Greg Reynolds KG6HDI

The following dues were paid:

Don Farwell W6GYD $10.00 cash

Lou DeGive WA6RAG $10.00 cash

John Glass NU6P $10.00 cash

Don Bertossa KC6OGH $10.00 cash

Joe Talaich N6IWJ $10.00 check

Greg Reynolds KG6HDI $10.00 cash

Rob Vance N6ROB $10.00 cash

Jay Geddes WA6CAI $10.00 cash

Total $70.00 cash $10.00 check

Also in attendance were:

Rich Crouch N6RC

Clyde Witmyer (sp?)

The meeting started with Rob Vance doing a demo of echolink (www.echolink.org). Echolink is a VoIP method for connecting computer to repeater to station or other combinations using the world wide web. You may download the software application for free and the first time you run it, it will authenticate your call sign.

It was suggested that we enable our club repeater with this technology. Rob described ways to set up the club repeater to echolink. There was a motion to get a computer and an interface card, but it was not voted on because Don Farwell offered to donate the computer and Joe Talaich offered to donate the interface board.

At the next meeting Don Farwell’s friend will give a talk on his technique of taking panoramic photographs with a digital camera. He will need a projector.

There was some discussion on the club station at city hall. Most of the equipment is fine, some obsolete needs to be disposed of, and the cabinet wiring needs better dressing. Cabinet door also needs repair. The city is requesting us to make the equipment in the cabinet more presentable. Our packet system is currently on 2M and it should be on 220Mhz.

Next Rich Crouch gave a demo on DX Central (www.qsl.net/dxlab). DX Lab is a suite of applications. You can connect a computer to a radio and the computer controls the radio. It can also control a rotator. There is also a database application (DX Keeper). Rich invited any club members up to his house to see his setup. He will burn a CD to install the DX programs. He offered his assistance to help set up any club members shack.

Roster for 2002 was never distributed.