N.E.W.S. Group VHF-SHF club Mar 8 meeting:
at the Richard Salter STORRS LIBRARY of Longmeadow, MA
(25 miles north of Hartford)
featuring:
BOARD MEETING - 11:30 AM at Enfield Royal Buffet exit 47 Rt.190E.
Located in Big Y shopping plaza, 55 Palomba Dr.

GENERAL MEETING - from 1 PM to approximately 3 PM.

PREZ SEZ DE N1JEZ

NEWS 03/08/08
The ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes is history. I hope you have submitted your log.
Frank, KT1VT and Joe, N1DMP joined me this year at my camp in Newark, VT (FN44ar).
We had a great time running limited multi. I wish the bands had been in better shape.
Activity seemed lower as well. It is reflected in our score, which was down from last year.
We ran our usual Sunday morning WSJT skeds with pretty good results.
Sunday night is typically very busy as people are digging for contacts, but it
seems football got in the way this year. Fortunately I'm in such a
remote location TVI was not an issue.

This month Tom, WA1MBA will update us on his 78 GHz amplifier project
using the UMS CHA-1077 part. He's made some significant progress from the
previous years when Al Ward dubbed the project "Tom's Oscil-Amp".
I got to see Tom's presentation at MUD last year. It's a fascinating
look at what it takes to tame these devices.

The 10 MHz GPS Stabilized Oscillator Build Project continues to move forward.
Paul, W1GHZ found a 10 MHz SMD VCXO made by Crystek that will drop in place
of the FOX unit. The good news is that this part is $8.10 versus the $19.64
FOX wants for their oscillator. I'm still waiting for any orders for parts.
So far I only have 3 orders. If you need parts, please either send me your list,
or bring it with you to the meeting. I want to order soon.

Our 2008 Eastern VHF Conference is shaping up. Art, W1RZF has graciously
volunteered to help with prizes. Thanks Art! He will start the ball rolling,
sending out letters to all potential donors. Mark, K1MAP has previously said
he could receive the prizes and transport them to the conference since he lives
nearby and has a store in town. If anyone else can pitch in, please let us know.

Don't forget to put the Cross Border Microwave Activity Day on your calendar.
It's June 7, 2008. We'll have more on this on the NEWS email reflector as it approaches.

Looking further ahead, we will have one BOD seat opening up in July.
Mark, K1MAP's term comes to an end. We'll hold an election during the July picnic.
Also, we're looking for ideas for presentations next fall.
Our meetings will be September 27 and November 15.

I'm keeping an eye on one of the GPS satellites that is about to become 'active'.
The significance of this is that its designator will be PRN 32.
There is speculation that some GPS receivers may not handle this well due to
the fact they were designed for 31 satellites (PRN 0-31).
As I write this on Feb 10, it is transmitting but is set 'unhealthy'.
The DOD plan is to set it to 'healthy' on Feb 19. I'll be checking my Z3801A,
Jupiter 11 engines (used in the 10 MHz GPS Oscillator project),
my trusty old Garmin GPS III and a couple of Magellan units my wife has to
make sure there aren't any problems. I assume the worse that would happen is
that particular satellite won't be used in a final solution. We'll see.

Finally, thanks to Joe, N1DMP for his talk on DTV at our last meeting.

See you March 8 at the BOD meeting/lunch at the Royal Buffet.

73, Mike, N1JEZ

The Board of Directors meeting is open to everyone, guests included,
and will be held at a new location:

The Royal Buffet: 11:30 am
55 Palomba Dr. (off CT-Route 190), Enfield, Ct 860-749-7888
From I-91, north or south, take Exit 47E on to Rt.190 East.
Go 0.25 mile, then turn left on Palomba Dr. into the
Big Y shopping center parking lot, where the Royal Buffet is located.
Plan on arriving around 11:30am. Then we will have plenty of time for the
BOD meeting, socializing, and for the 10 minute ride up to the meeting
site for the start at 1:00pm

To go from the Buffet to the Storrs Library:
Get back on I-91 North to Exit 49, then follow directions(From the South)
below. It is about a 10 minute ride north (5-6 miles).
General Meeting: 1pm at the Richard Salter STORRS LIBRARY,
693 Longmeadow St. (Rt.5) in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
(This location is only 2 miles North of our old meeting site at the
Radisson-Crown Plaza, and it's on the same road!-Route 5)

LOCATION: 2 miles north of the Radisson on the same road (Route 5),
or 1.5 miles south of exit 1, I91 in Springfield/Longmeadow.
Just north of the intersection of Route 5 and Rt 192.

DIRECTIONS: (basically the same from the South, except 2 miles north
on Rt 5 instead of 1 block north)

From the South (or North if You miss Exit 1 or You are going to the BOD Meeting):
I-91 EXIT 49, Longmeadow/Enfield. Take a RIGHT at the end of the ramp,
(If you are coming from the north take a left at the end of the ramp)
then NORTH on ROUTE 5, approx 2.1 miles.
The Library has a very small sign and is the second driveway past the
intersection of Rt 192.

From the North:
I-91 EXIT 1, Longmeadow puts you right on ROUTE 5, SOUTH, then about
1.5 miles south past a CVS on RIGHT. Watch for library on your LEFT
just before Rt 192 intersection.
From East or West: Take the Mass. Turnpike, or I-84 to get to I-91.
This location is between Hartford, CT and Springfield, Mass

Details: The STORRS LIBRARY is a white building set back from
the road. The Library has a very small sign on ROUTE 5.
Parking on the side and rear of the building.
Walk-in Entrance on the side you pass driving in.
When inside the building take a right into Children's
Library/Discovery Room, then a left just before the
Children's info desk to the room.
This is a very nice facility.
The Betty Anne Low Meeting Room is large, very clean,
and will hold 70+ persons, about 6+ tables.
There is a built-in pulldown screen, so if you are
making a presentation, you only need to bring some
type of projector. We are responsible for keeping the
room clean, and keeping the noise at a reasonable level,
and no materials or signs may be affixed to walls,
or doors. There is no smoking inside the building,
and no alcoholic beverages are allowed on the property.

See our March NEWSLetter.

See clips of K1WHS and MUD2007 on WZ1V's YouTube video Playlists.

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