ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

 

Friday, April 21, 2017

Alexander’s Steak House

Champaign, IL

 

  • Meeting called to order by President Greg K9QI at 8:05 pm. Present were President Greg K9QI, V/P Tim K9CQ, Sec’y/Treasurer Will W9WSS, Directors Al K9SI, Steve WD9CIR, Milt K9QZI, Ass’t Freq. Coord. JP KC9KKO, Tech Committee Chair Paul W9DWP. Not present Freq. Coord Aaron N9OZB due to illness.
  • Greg sent out several items via email earlier in the week. The position of Ass’t Freq. Coordinator that JP Watters KC9KKO is holding should be an official position to assist and back up the Frequency Coordinator. It was recommended that JP handle the position under Aaron’s request, and it should be officially recognized. It has been working for years, and it will become official at this time. It was under former President Bill KA9FER that the position should have a backup. When previous IRA Secretary/Treasurer Larry KA9KDC, SK suddenly passed away, we were in a situation that eventually was cleared up when Bill FER was able to get through to Larry’s spouse to procure the IRA files from Larry’s previous work computer, and turn them over to the interim, then eventually elected Secretary / Treasurer Will Sperling W9WSS. A second signatory will be  able to sign checks in absence of the Treasurer. Paperwork will be obtained by Will to start this process through the IRA’s bank.
  • JP read Aaron’s Frequency Coordinator’s report which is in the record, due to Aaron’s absence. Discussion ensued regarding emailing vs. US mailing renewal documents that are returned to Aaron.
  • Will W9WSS read the Treasurer’s report which is in the record. Copies of the printed report were given to the Board members and officers present.
  • Facebook was discussed. There was further discussion, and it could be a possibility with Board members having administrator access to the Facebook page.
  • Al was asked by Greg if he would be willing to host the IRA meeting next year (2018). He agreed if he was elected to another term at the general meeting on April 22, 2017.
  • Greg asked Paul DWP about the tech committee. An interference report was received and investigated. A report will be sent out to the parties involved. No names, locations, or individuals will be identified in the report to the general membership. Members should be encouraged to contact the IRA tech committee for investigation. We are here to serve you if you have issues to be resolved.
  • Greg said that when a system is analog, and wishes to go digital, how long do we have the system sit on channel center? Or when do we have them go to a 6.25 offset? What if they wish to go back to analog, or to Fusion? Ask people to voluntarily give back ½ their channel so we can give other systems waiting to get on the air. No decision has been made to make it mandatory at this time. It would be voluntary until a later time. This would fundamentally be fir UHF systems, i.e., DMR, D-Star, P-25. This is looking at maximum use of frequency coordination. Systems must be correct under coordination as listed.
  • Greg is currently filling in for Bill FER’s President position. Greg is up for election as President this year. This year the Directors up for re-election are Al K9SI and Jerry N9RBQ. They have both indicated that they would be willing to run for another two-year term. All Board members are up for re-election except for Steve CIR and Milt QZI. A slate needs to be opened, and then nominations can be taken from the floor. If no other nominations are taken, then the current Board can be nominated by acclimation after being seconded, and voted.
  • Meeting closed at 9:55 pm by Greg K9QI.

ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES

 

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Windsor Road Christian Church

Champaign IL

 

  • Meeting called to order by President Greg Buchwald K9QI at 1000 hours. He thanked the organizers who made this location and hotel accommodations possible, Al K9SI, and Milt K9QZI.
  • Greg had all Board members and officers introduce themselves to the group. Two visitors helped K9SI set up the room.
  • Motion to waive the reading of last year’s minutes. Seconded, and passed.
  • Coordinator’s report read by JP KC9KKO, Assistant Coordinator, due to Aaron N9OZB’s absence from the annual meeting due to illness.
  • Will W9WSS read the Treasurer’s report and update on Secretary’s function with membership roster / duties. Motion made, seconded, and approved the report.
  • Paul W9DWP read the technical report of an interference complaint of a 222 MHz and a 440 MHz systems. The problem was explained, and a cause was determined. The interfering issue will be addressed to the repeater owners of the complaint. Paul encouraged repeater owners to do a PM on their respective systems on an annual basis. Greg advised that the IRA will investigate cases of interference with due diligence, and make proper notifications to the repeater owners of the discrepancies for correction of the problem(s). A participant mentioned that John Deere in McClain County was causing interference on various frequencies including Amateur Radio channels operating “a beacon.” Greg asked that this information be forwarded to him for further investigation. Repeater WD9HRU is being affected.
  • Multi-state WAR meeting was attended by a few IRA Board members earlier in the year.
  • Coordination modeling had been discussed. Next year it will be discussed more extensively. No interference has been reported under this new modeling plan.
  • Greg thanked the other states for working with us on this project.
  • Mike N9EAO has a few thousand feet of hardline available for free to charitable Amateur Radio organizations. It’s newer cable. and is in good shape.
  • Skywarn and RACES organizations will have the availability for a replacement repeater from Motorola through Greg K9QI at no cost. This will happen to organizations that perform public service (Skywarn and R.A.C.E.S.). 110 watt Motorola Quantar P25/Analog mixed mode repeaters will be available.
  • Question regarding VHF narrow-banding; Greg said that will not be mandatory at this time. Other alternatives are being investigated for coordination plans in the future.
  • At one time, it was being considered to have UHF repeaters forcing their digital systems to go narrow band. It had been discussed extensively and will not be mandatory, however voluntary with cooperation of repeater owners and clubs.
  • Please make sure that the frequency coordinator is kept up to date with whatever mode each repeater is currently being operated under (analog, digital, D-Star, MotoTRBO, Fusion, etc.).
  • Greg did a brief presentation on a power-point platform based on deliberate and harmful interference complaints to various services on several frequencies. He also demonstrated a portable DMR repeater accessing the network via a cellular hot spot.
  • For the elections, the slate for today’s vote is Greg K9QI President; Tim K9CQ V/P; Will W9WSS Sec’y/Treas; Al K9SI, Director; Jerry N9RBQ Director. Additional nominations for these positions were called 3X. There were no other nominations. JP KKO made the formal nominations of the aforementioned slate. No additional nominations were called. A motion for nominations to be closed, seconded and the five members were elected by acclimation,
  • Greg K9QI thanked everyone for their support of the Board and Officers of the IRA.
  • Mark WB9QZB wanted to mention that the CAPRA conference would be in September 15-17, 2017 at Earth City, MO near St. Louis. This is all facets dealing with digital communications.
  • System Fusion forum will be at Dayton Hamvention on Saturday afternoon. Mark QZB will be the moderator. It is usually well-attended.
  • Next year’s IRA annual meeting will tentatively be on April 14, 2018. It will be at the same location as this year. Finalization will be forthcoming.
  • There was a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded, and passed. Meeting adjourned at 1122 hours.

ILLINOIS REPEATER ASSOCIATION

 

BOARD of DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

(after General Meeting)

 

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Windsor Road Christian Church

Champaign IL

 

  • Meeting called to order at 1134 am.
  • Board and Committee members remained after the general membership meeting in attendance.
  • Position of Frequency Coordinator remains Aaron N9OZB, and Assistant Coordinator remains JP Watters KC9KKO. Moved and accepted.
  • Chair for Technical Committee is Paul Dumdie W9DWP.
  • Since the topic of donating $300 to Dave Karr KA9FUR was inadvertently omitted from the membership meeting, it was voted and passed that we would continue to make the same donation this year also. A check for $300 was given to Dave.
  • Meeting closed at 1135 am.