Welcome to the MARC Newsletter a publication of the Michigan Area Repeater Council. This news letter is published quarterly in conjunction with the quarterly business meetings. If you prefer a non-columnized version of this newsletter click here for the wide version.

Presidents Update..

Dennis was unable to report for this months newsletter. As a result I have placed here some of his comments from the last newsletter. Results from the election that he may normally announce here may be found within the minutes section of the newsletter. Editor: Dan Thompson

I have, at the present time, one request for a 2M Co-ordination, one for 440, and ten for 440 D-Star. Now that I have my laptop back from HP, these requests should be cleared up within thirty days.

In MARC’s Repeater Directory, we show nineteen 2M repeaters that last sent their TDS in 2006, and sixteen 440 repeaters in the same boat. Please use this link to go to the Repeater Directory to see the status of your repeater.

Remember, TDS’s are due yearly, but can go up to two years. Please help keep your information current in our Database. Trustee’s, if your in the red on our website, please submit a current TDS. Mailing in a paper TDS’s will no longer be accepted. It must be sent in electronically.

Please go to the: most recent activity report To see what’s going on concerning updates and coordination’s.

Our December meeting will be held electronically on Dec 5th , promptly starting at 1:00PM.

If anyone has any questions, you can reach the Board via of the website, or my phone number is 586-465-7126.

73,
Dennis, W8DFG
President

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Database Managers Comments

We have a number of TDS forms that are overdue. In fact, over 26% of the repeaters in our database are two or more year’s delinquent. So take a minute and check your entry in the MARC Repeater Directory to see if it is time to update your records. If you don’t find your repeater listed that means that your repeater was removed because we have not received an update in 3 or more years. The only exception is if you specifically requested that your data not be published to the ARRL. If you don’t fall in that category, MARC’s next step will be a notification of pending de-coordination.

Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

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Electronic Meeting Information:

The December meeting is an Electronic Meeting!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Dial In Number:    877-344-4249
Event ID:        8380841#
   1. Dial into bridge using Dial In Number
   2. Enter Event ID
   3. If the meeting organizer is already present,
        you'll be connected. If not, you'll be
        placed on hold until the organizer appears.

WEBMEETING & Phone Bridge:

Your browser must be Microsoft™ Internet Explorer Version 4.x, 5.x or Netscape™ Communicator Version 4.x.

   1. Activate your Web Browser
   2. Go To https://att.interwise.com/att/meet/?ExEventID=8380841
   3. Enter your name and email address
   4. Click on the "join event" button
   5. Once connected click on the telephone
       icon for dialing instructions.

Participation in the webmeeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illistration. It also allows us the opportunity to display the actual text of a motion for everyone to read. If you are unable to participate in the webmeeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

The abilities for MARC to use the Phone Bridge and Webmeeting facilities has been brought to us by Jim WB8AZP and his employer.

We hope that moving to this format will increase participation by the membership of MARC so that we are better able to serve the amateur community. Things went well in December and we are looking forward to our second electronic meeting scheduled in March.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: September 12, 2009
This meeting took place at Delta Twp. Fire Department In Grand Ledge, MI


Officers:

President: Dennis Gaboury, W8DFG
Vice President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Director: Ron Gordon, W8YUC
Director: Jim Kvochick, WB8AZP
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB

Absent: Dennis W8DFG, Jim KB8IFE
Visitors: Corwin Moore WB8UPM and Glenn Wright KA8E

Note: call signs of board members are not repeated in the minutes as they are listed above Except for Jim WB8AZP, and Jim KB8IFE.

Meeting called to order by the Dave Johnson at: 1:05 PM.

Motion to approve minutes from the June meeting were made by Phil, second by Dan, vote, minutes approved.
Treasurer’s report provided by Dave. Motion to accept the report made by Jim, supported by Ron, vote, motion carried.

Old business:

Elections:

Nominations presided over by Ann. Nominations opened for Vice President, Treasurer and Director.
Members Nominated:
Vice President – Phil Manor W8IC
Treasurer – Dave Johnson WD8DJB (I)
Jim Kvochick, WB8AZP (I)
Nominations closed.
Ron made a motion that the secretary cast a unanimous ballot electing the nominees, seconded by Dan, vote taken, motion carried.

New Business:

Corwin brought up an issue regarding an uncoordinated repeater. A discussion followed on how to deal with non-coordinated repeaters that are not disrupting communications with other repeaters. The discussion resulted in the consensus that coordination is not required per the FCC. The FCC will normally require the non-coordinated repeater to take measures to stop interference to a coordinated repeater system, which may include turning their repeater off.

Corwin, WB8UPM reported on recent legal issues regarding the ARROW ARC’s former repeater site.

A discussion was held regarding paper repeaters (repeaters which are not on the air) and trustees who are delinquent in their TDS reports. Jim, WB8AZP sends out letters of intent to decoordinate repeaters that are overdue on their TDS submissions. Jim questions the trustee of any reported paper repeater.

Radio Mobile software was discussed and how it might be used to coordinate repeaters. MARC is currently using software to determine coverage on 900 Mhz for coordination. Coordination of other bands use distance calculations at this time. Switching to a different method would be difficult as adjoining states cross coordinate using mileage. There are also other issues involved when placing repeaters closer than the existing requirements.

Comments:

There were comments on how well the phone bridge with Internet meetings are working three times a year. This is saving the members and officers a lot of time and expense.

Dan reported on the software he is working on to coordinate repeaters, using the internet. His project is moving along. He also mentioned that he might have a disk that contains all the present software needed to coordinate repeaters in Michigan. He will try to locate it and make copies.

Phil remarked that we do not currently have a 440 coordinator for non-digital. Phil stated he could start working on 440 non-digital in order to prevent an increasing backlog. The BOD was in agreement. Phil also mentioned that Fredric Moses, W8FSM sent a message to him offering to help. Phil will try to have Fred take over 440 coordinations when the coordination application backlog is more up to date.

Next meeting:

Adjornment:

Motion to adjourn made by Jim, seconded by Dan at 2:10 PM. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F

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December Meeting Information:

Saturday December 5 2009
1:00 pm EST
Electronic Meeting
Callin Numbers:
    Toll-Free 877-344-4249
    Toll         978-964-1720
    Blackberry 978-964-1720 x8380841#
    United Kingdom 0207-198-66-17
Access Code:    838041  (For Bridge & Webmeeting)
Webmeeting URL: https://att.interwise.com/att/meet/?ExEventID=8380841
Meeting Number: 838041

Directions:

For the Conference Bridge:
Dial the callin number listed above.
Wait for the call to be answered by the automated receptionist.
When prompted enter the meeting number listed above followed by the #.

For the Web Meeting:
Click on the link provided above.
Enter your name and email address, then select the "join now" button.