West Australian Repeater Group (Inc.)

Minutes of the General Meeting 2/08/1999
Held at the RSL Hall, Fred Bell Pde. East Victoria Park.

Meeting Commenced at 1942 Hours

2 - Minutes:
The minutes of the July 1999 General Meeting were read and accepted VK6UU/VK6HAO).

3 - Matters Arising:

3.1 - Taits:
Rob VK6TRC
reported that a further Tait was available for test, and others were coming
along.

3.2 - VK6RAV:
Nothing to report.

3.3 - VK6RTH:
Rob VK6TRC reported that a working party ( VK6's LD, CSW, BSW, TRC, and swl
Duncan) had put up the new dual band antenna, found that one of the coaxes was faulty
and had removed it. (This temporally taking the 70 cm repeater off air,. subsequently a
diplexer had been purchased and fitted returning the 70 cm repeater to operational status.) batteries had been topped up, cable ties up the mast had been replaced, also scrub growing around the site had been cut back.

One job remaining is to clean up battery terminals.

Low voltage tone has been heard for a short period from time to time but this is expected to disappear as the longer days of sunshine arrive.

4 - Treasurer's Report
Christine VK6ZLZ reported that the latest bank statement showed a balance of $1,888-26 as at 23/7/99.

Expense claim submitted for payment was:
VK6TRC - Parts for VK6RTH Antenna Diplexer, Distiled water, Cable ties, $144-74.

Motion that this be paid VK6UU/VK6HAO carried

5 - Membership Report:
Christine VK6ZLZ had nothing further to report.

6 - Correspondence:

6.1 To VK6 division of WIA
requesting support for a repeater license application to the ACA.
The preferred call sign to be VK6RVP (Victoria Park), and stating that the following frequencies agreed with the WIA band plan;
70 cm - TX 438.425 Mhz, RX 433.425 Mhz.
2 Mtr - TX 146.775 Mhz, RX 146.175 Mhz.
Link - 420.200, 440.150, 440.000 Mhz.

6.2 From VK6 division of WIA, supporting the above.

Action the secretary to delay actual application to ACA until site repeaters are ready for installation.

7 - Sunday Club Net:
VK6CSW reported that net continues.

8 - General Business

Possible new sites were again discussed;

8.1.1 - Kalamunda
Action: Rob VK6TRC to follow up with Western Power.

8.1.2 - Victoria Dam
Action Will VK6UU to write letter to authorities.

8.2 - Crystal Brook
Action Cliff VK6LZ to follow up on previous correspondence,
on the assumption that control of the site has now changed hands.

8.3 - MTRC-1 Controller Board
Mal VK6MT described the basic functions of the new controller board
Time out for ID
Control Tones
DTMF details
2 x carrier detect (main and link)
2 x transmit enable (main and link)
plus anything else that may be required
DTMF - disable time out/ident, enable transmit, three spare I/Os
Audio mute, voice ident, toggle beep or 'K'

Will VK6UU asked for printout to assess ease of interfacing to eg. VK6RLM.

8.4 - VK6RVP Victoria Park
The need for a diplexer was established, VK6LD thought that the old Katanning diplexer might be available.
Action Will VK6UU to contact Garry to see if he had any plans for it, possibly offer a new 2 mtr antenna in exchange.

8.5 - VK6BBR BBS survey
Dennis reported no further action as yet - to be followed up.

8.6 The 40 Metre Gateway
Will VK6UU reported that the submission (to the ACA) still appeared to not be getting anywhere.
It had not even been read by one of the WIA liaison team.
It appeared that the ACA were concerned that insufficient security against retransmitting inappropriate licence grades had been built in, even though the current technology of using CTCSS tones had already been accepted on other repeaters.

There was further discussion on the security aspects, and the suggestion was made to carry the Sunday net on 40 Metres under manual control (VK6UU).

8.7 Bulletin Board VK6BBR
Dennis VK6LD gave a situation update:
- VK6TRC/VK6CSW had put together a 70cm Tait to replace the 70cm port transceiver.
- The 747 used for the 70cm link to Gnangarra needs replacing.
- The FM92 used on the forwarding port is on loan from VK6JI.
- Problems seem to be creeping into the system,
- but the only item to be changed has been the Computer.
- Three UHF transceivers require to be replaced with the "newer" Taits
- (one is ready, two to follow). Two 2 metre transceivers also require to be replaced.
- A quantity of converted FM92's are available at a reasonable price.
- It was decided to stay with the Taits for UHF,
- and to purchase FM92s for 2 Metres.
- Some of the members present (VKs TRC, MT, LZ, and CSW)
- also wished to purchase an FM 92.

Action: Dennis VK6LD to purchase seven x 2 mtr FM92 transceivers
(four with local control, three with remote control heads).

8.8 Possible WARG WEB Page
There was a discussion on the options, but would it produce more members ?

8.9 Mt William VK6RMW
Peter VK6HAO reported that some users had noticed that it was again suffering from a noisy signal and becoming difficult to access.
It was noted that one of the joint site managers was currently overseas.
Action : Wait and see

8.10 Trainee Assistant Sysop for VK6BBR
A request for expressions of interest in the position of Trainee Assistant Sysop is to be publicized.
This is in order to cover the holidays and other absences of the two main sysops.
Duties are more than just remote sysop status and require site visits to be covered.

Action: Secretary to notify WIA Broadcast Officer.

The meeting was declared closed at 2140 hrs.

VK6LZ Secretary

WARG Minutes