Iroquois County Amateur Radio 147.030+ and 444.625+ - Meetings 2nd Thursday at the Red Cross Office in Watseka, IL

President Carl K9CS called the meeting to order at 7:29 pm at the Red Cross in Watseka.

Old Business

Minutes of the March meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was read and approved.

Sam W9QKF reported that all three of our repeaters are working well. The 2-meter repeater duplexer could use a tune up when a spectrum analyzer can be borrowed. The blank channel elements for the Micor came in. Sam is to order them filled with the proper crystals at ICM. We are going to turn down the CW-ID and reset levels on 147.03.

A discussion of selling our old duplexers and buying a set of 95 to 100 db TX-RX ones. We will look at hamfests for a set.

Tim W9TRF and Janet KC9LBZ showed how to look up the results of our Red Cross background checks.

Mike reported that the link from 2 meters to 440 is working from his house. Only use when needed. Get filled out ARES papers to Roy KA9MZJ.

New Business

Mike KC9HHT reported that 147.555 stations are running APRS and packet up North.

The tower at the Fairgrounds was Oked by Marvin Perzee but we need to cite the location with Justin KC9GNH, Marvin, Sam and Carl. Tim is to erect the tower.
Sam is to loan a dual band radio and power supply for fair week. Sam to donate dual band antenna, Justin the tower and feedline, Tim the labor. Total budget is for $300. from WGFA. Some might go to radio club. Discussed a ham display for the fair.

May program is on Fox Hunting by Clay N9IO at May meeting.

We need at least one more person to be a VE in order to have tests for ham radio.
Chris W9LIZ has snacks for May. Sam had snacks (rum cake) for April. Program for April was film of ARRL headquarters. Mike discussed D-Star

Net control for Monday Net 4/16 Carl, 4/23 Sam 4/30 Tim 5/7 Brian

Carl. Chris, Steve, Tim, Janet, Sam, Mike and Justin and guest Keith Ralph were in attendance. Sam Ripple Sec

We had Skywarn Net Operations taking place on Thursday night 4/13 as well as Friday night 4/14 as Spring severe weather popped into full swing.

The following is a brief report from 4/13. Net operations began at approximately 10 PM. The following spotters checked in and made reports:

KC9IZH Phil (National Weather Service)
KC9GKG Dave Koomer McLean County ESDA
KB9YZI Jeremy Green Hoopeston
K9CS Carl Schroeder 2 miles S. of Watseka
W9LIZ Chris Schroeder 2 miles S. of Watseka
W9QKF Sam Ripple Watseka
KC9GWF Sam Thomas Chebanse near I-57

During the net I reported the oncoming cells to KC9GKG as he was mobile heading for the area. That group of cells later generated a short lived tornado in Livingston County. We had some cells go across the south part of Iroquois County which generated some thunderstorm activity. Net operations concluded at 12: 55 AM.

Tonight (Friday 4/14) net operations was coordinated by Sam Ripple (W9QKF) and later by Roy (KA9MZJ) and concluded by myself (KC9HHT). Net operations began at 6:45 PM and the following spotters checked in:

W9QKF Sam Ripple Watseka
KC9IZH Phil (National Weather Service)
KB9YZI Jeremy Green Hoopeston
K9CS Carl Schroeder 2 miles S. of Watseka
W9LIZ Chris Schroeder 2 miles S. of Watseka
KA9MZJ Roy Eades Loda
KB9JJJ Rolla Dolph 1359 E. State Route 49
W9PEP Paul Patterson Porter County Indiana
KC9FON Tim Focken Watseka
K9NR Don Kerouac Kankakee
KC9COR Kyle Conrad Brook, IN
KC9HHT Mike Marcier Watseka
KC9GNH Justin Kaiser checked in through WGFA from Marion, IL

There were several reports of hail around 6:30 PM; Roy (KA9MZJ) reported pea size hail in Loda and Carl and Chris Schroeder report pea size south of Watseka as well. Rolla (KB9JJJ) reported ping pong ball size hail (3/4″) hail in his home area. Sam Ripple reported that his daughter in Milford was getting Golf Ball size hail and there was reports of some windshields being cracked from the hail in Milford.

Several reports were made direct to the NWS from Kyle (KC9COR) through our repeater as funnel clouds and short touchdowns were reported to him by Newton County Sheriff’s office as the cells cut across Newton County from the Northwest to the Southeast of Newton County.

Mike Marcier - KC9HHT
Iroquois County Skywarn Net
Iroquois County Amateur Radio Club