Oakland County Amateur Radio Public Service Corp (ARPSC)
            W8OAK Repeater – 146.900 MHz/100pl
                        Weekly Net 8 pm every Thursday
                        Hospital Radio Net – 7:30 pm last Thursday of month
            W8OAK Repeater – 444.325 MHz/107.2pl
            Packet 144.950 MHz/1200 baud
                        W8OAK-3 BBS and W8OAK-7 KA-Node
            APRS – 144.390 MHz
            Web Site: http://www.arpsc.com

Meeting Minutes for 7 January 2009

            On 7 January 2009 at 7:00 pm, Joel Goldberg – W8HIU, Emergency Coordinator (EC) for the Oakland County, ARPSC, called the meeting to order in the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  The order of business included:

(I). Report from the Emergency Coordinator (EC), Joel Goldberg – W8HIU:

            Members must have the new Oakland County ARPSC identification card with the blue strip.  If you don't have this, see Steve Iannucci at the meetings.

            On Wednesday, 4 February 2009, there will be a General Membership Meeting at the Oakland County Executive Office Building on Pontiac Lake Road.  Those members coming to the light supper before the meeting will need to make a reservation with Lorretta in the EOC office at 248-858-5300.   John Fleming - K8UP, District 2 Michigan Section ARPSC Emergency Coordinator, is expected to announce the new Oakland County EC at the meeting. 

            Joel suggests that members might want to change the organization's by-laws to add a 3rd membership category.  This would include an inactive category.  He asked members if there might be some other way to continue these people within the organizational membership. 

(2). Report from Steve Iannucca, Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness (ER&P):

            Steve hopes everyone had a happy holiday and he looks forward to an interesting 2009 year.  Beginning now, observations for National Weather Service will include both tornado warnings and a new category of 70+ mph wind.  A review of wind speeds of 70+ mph during the past 3 years indicates the EOC would have been activated 6 additional times.  Wind speeds of 70+ mph will become part of Skywarn training.       

(3). Report from John Fleming – K8UP, District 2 Michigan Section APRSC Emergency Coordinator:

            Last December 2008, there was a District 2 EC meeting.  Plans are being made for one or two 2009 activities which will include Oakland County.  When these plans are further developed, the membership will be informed.  District 2 is still in the middle of their search for a new Oakland County EC to replace Joel Goldberg, W8HIU.

(4). Report from Rory Locke – KC8SZR, Net Manager and Reports:

            Rory will be reporting to the ARRL that Oakland County ARPSC volunteers covered 138 events in 2008, which amounted to an estimated value of $64,300 in service. 

            He is considering creating different levels for net operators.  It is apparent that some operators are not interested in the whole range of operations.  Also, net operators should keep in contact for monthly schedules.   

(5). Report from Randy Love – WF5X, AEC and Repeaters:

            Someone is messing with our coded touch tones over the repeater.  These are used to turn on or off four different recorded messages and to set the time.  Randy prefers not to change to complicated touch tone codes.  Furthermore, this person is not identifying him/herself.  Whoever this is, please do not do this.   A false tornado warning could be set off.  Other settings on the repeater are handled by phone.  If any member becomes suspicious he/she is hearing this person, see what you can do get their identification, keep track of the time of day, and let Randy know. 

            There have been reports that the repeater's audio becomes distorted.  Another member added that she experienced this problem while driving to this meeting.  One user's transmissions were clear all the time, but another's became distorted in later conversations.  To Randy, it doesn't sound like a problem with the repeater machine.  Everyone's conversation would be distorted.    One possibility might be the other person's distorted transmissions were somehow a voter conflict between several receive sites.   Randy will try to track this down and will get help from Steve Murphy.   Joel Goldberg, W8HIU reminds us that Steve Murphy, N8NM is a full time employee for the county and has other numerous responsibilities.   Priority work could delay him. 

            Query: What is our primary alternate repeater for W8OAK?  Answer: Clarkston Repeater.  

(6). Report from Marsha Fleming, N8FE, on Call-up Procedures:

            The membership call-up list is still being organized and fine tuned.  One problem area is determining member's status or classification.  She and Jim Poehlman – K8ABZ plan another meeting. 

(7). Report from Mike Smith – N8GUZ, Training:

            This year we are going to have some classes during the work week.  A review of IS classes taken by members shows: 1/3 have taken all the classes or their equivalent, 1/3 have 1 or 2 classes, and 1/3 have none.  When more classes are put together, greater efforts will be made to encourage more students to participate.  The following classes have been scheduled or noted.

Saturday, 10 January 2009 – Waterford Fire Department CRP and First Aid Classes.  For reservations, call Ronald Speers at 842-618-7569.  Cost is $20 for each class which includes a book and materials.  CPR training includes infant, child, adult CPR and the use of defibrillators.  CPR starts at 9 am and First Aid Class at 2 pm.    

Wednesday, 21 January 2009 – IS-22 class with Lloyd Suter, N2NGQ.  Starts at 6:30 pm in the EOC.  Call Lorretta to reserve at 248-858-5300.

Wednesday, 11 February 2009 – IS-100 class with Lloyd Suter, N2NGQ.  Starts at 6:30 pm in the EOC.  Call Lorretta to reserve a spot.  

Wednesday, 25 February 2009 – Net Control Operators (NCO) with Larry Hornsby - KB8POD.  Starts at 6:30 pm in the EOC.  Call Lorretta to reserve a spot.     

            Query: Would the IS-802 class – Emergency Support Functions Communications be useful?   Mike replied that he is currently looking into this. 

(8). Report from Alan Craddock, Club and City Liaison:

             Tuesday, 13 January 2009 – VE Testing Session at the Southfield EOC which is in the basement of Southfield Parks and Recreation Building, 7 pm.

             Wednesday, 14 January 2009 – Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club meeting, topic IRL

            Sunday, 18 January 2009 – Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club Hamfest, 8 am to noon.

            Tuesday, 3 February 2009 – VE Testing Session at Oak Park, 7 pm. 

(9). Report from Bill Bond – W8WRB on Hospital Radios:

            The December 2008 Hospital Net had 12/15 hospitals reporting.  Missing were POH Pontiac, Botsford, and Providence Park Novi.   Botsford has a new team leader.   Providence Park does have a functioning radio at this time.  This radio is being moved to the Director's office.   ICOM IC-2820 radios have been installed in Huron Valley Sinai, and Oakland Regional which is near 9 Mile and Greenfield Road.  Royal Oak Beaumont and Troy Beaumont will soon have one. 

            Bill gave a slide presentation on how to operate the new ICOM IC-2820.  This radio is a bit easier to use than the older IC-2720.  Various frequencies have been programmed into the radio's memory.  Several points need to be mentioned.  The combination button for both low power and priority should be watched carefully.  If the priority mode is accidentally keyed, one might find the radio "pulsating" as it changes between channels.  If this happens, take the radio out of lock mode and quit the "priority" mode.   

            Query: If the priority mode goes on, is there a screen visual?  Answer: No.  However, this secretary finds a "PRIO" should display in the lower right corner of the band – J Murphy. 

            The radio is recommended to be in the lock mode to prevent accidentally keying some unintended function.  When in lock mode, one will find the volume and frequency buttons still work.  Incoming receive may go silent if the squelch button is set too high.  It is recommended the squelch button be set in the 10 or 11 o'clock position.    

            These new radios have a digital mode for future use.  Already, several Oakland County digital frequencies are being explored for use: 145.65, 145.67, and 147.21.  No decisions on how to use the digital mode have been made by District 2 Michigan Section ARPSC.   This section is also developing a data base of frequencies used by the counties and their respective emergency ARPSC organizations, but it is not ready for publication. 

(10). Report from Murray Scott -,KE8UM of Logistics:

            The EOC's two meter radio for Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) has one new part installed, but requires another.  Parts for the PK 232 radio arrived which will allow Murray to add software up-grades. 

(11). Report from Jim Poehlman – K8ABZ on Membership:

            Last month, Jim sent out another membership form to people who haven't yet updated their information.  He received back 25 new replies which increases our active membership to 178.  Jim points out that Lorretta in the EOC office (and not Jim) keeps the list of IS classes each member has taken and passed.  When filling out the membership update form, he asks members to mention in the comment box if they have changed any information.

(12). Report from Gary Sklar – K8IKW on Public Service Information: 

            Gary intends to restart his newsletter again.  A finished copy will be passed on to Lorretta to be emailed.   Since others are reporting on community wide activities, he will focus more on county EOC happenings. 

(13). Report from Mike Nebel – N3BEL on Sirens.

            Siren Testing will begin again in March.  Our website now has our siren stats for 2008. Certificates of appreciation are being prepared for volunteers who took part. 

(14). Report from Joe Miller – KJ8O on Special Events:

            Sky-warn Recognition Day took place 6-7 December 2008.  Twenty-seven stations were worked.   This proved to be a good opportunity to work HF stations at the National Weather Service (NWS).  Members were handed a sheet listing up-coming 2009 events for the Oakland County ARPSC.  Note that the Michigan QSO Party will be on 18 April 2009.     

Respectfully submitted,

James R. Murphy, N8SML

Secretary, Oakland County, ARPSC

8 January 2009