Minutes of the Napier Amateur Radio Club
Meeting on Wednesday 4 March 2020 at the Clubrooms 123 Latham Street
Chair: Dave ZL2MQ, the meeting started at 7:30pm.
Present: Wally ZL2MO, Dave ZL2DW, Karl ZL1TJ, Peter ZL2CD, Mike ZL2MY, Peter ZL2LF, Stu ZL2XC, John ZL2AGE and Mark Cowan.
Apologies: ZL2ST, ZL2IT, ZL2SS, ZL3TT, ZL2US, ZL2VM.
Minutes of the previous meeting: Read and confirmed to be correct: ZL2CD, ZL2LF.
Arising: Nil
Correspondence: Acknowledgment of receipt of $1000 deposit by East Pier.
Invite to Debby NZART to visit combined branches sometime September or October.
A response from Debby but no firm commitment as yet.
Correspondence with Dave ZL2DW re: joint branches website development.
Email from Daniel Vandenberg regarding reciprocal licensing.
Notice from energy supplier Powershop of another price increase.
Finance: financial statement attached, $ 1000 deposit paid to East Pier.
General business: Dave 2DW: The Pakowai Hall needs to be booked in time for the proposed Debby Morgan visit. Alternatively the Napier club rooms could be used.
Financial contribution was discussed, travel compensation paid to Debby by Branch 13 at the occasion of her previous visit was based on a Km rate rather than cost of fuel.
Dave 2MQ moved that NZART be invoiced for the $1000 deposit paid to Eastpier.
Dave 2DW: “DMR rules”, the new digital repeater is working well, coverage substantially better than the previous D-Star repeater. Users at about 15 at present and increasing.
A lengthy discussion / explanation led by Dave 2MQ followed.
Karl: from various email exchanges it would appear that the proposed joint branches website will be limited to an essential resource from which names, phone numbers etc. can be found by those seeking further information about amateur radio in Hawke’s Bay.
John ZL2VAF, editor of Break-Out magazine, offered to maintain this.
Peter 2LF’s grandson, who is IT knowledgeable may also be available for some input.
Club Programme: The April meeting is to feature an EME demonstration by Dave 2MQ, subject to a suitable dish antenna being available and being installed in good time. The alternative of a brief video of Dave’s home station in operation may be more realistic.
Karl asked Mark Cowan if he would like some assistance with the construction with a basic aerial. Mark is likely to take up the offer in a few month’s time.
The meeting closed at 8:45 pm
Karl ZL1TJ