Mark, WA5MA called the meeting to order at 1900 hours in room 2005 at
Keplinger Hall, University of Tulsa.
WA5MA introduced the new club officers for 2022: 1st VP, Jack W5JHC;
and Secretary, Andrew W5AWS.
WA5MA asked for round-robin introductions.
Our December meeting was the Christmas Dinner for which there were no
minutes. WA5MA asked for any questions about the November minutes of
meeting. Nothing heard. Paul, WB5ANX, moved to approve the minutes;
Russ, KF5UZG, seconded.
WA5MA asked for any questions about the November financial report,
recognizing the absence of Treasurer Jerry, KE5PMK. Nothing heard.
Gregg, W5GGW, moved to approve the financial report; Bart, N5TWB,
seconded.
WA5MA proceeded with TARC Member Recognitions, in particular: Ann,
K5AEB, outgoing 1st Vice President; Russ, KF5UZG, for long service as
Secretary; Bob, W5RAB, for maintaining the repeaters; Bart, N5TWB, for
his role as public service liason; Paul, WB5ANX, as the ARES emergency
coordinator; Jack, W5JHC, for his work transforming the W5IAS web-site;
and Steve, KF5VCQ, for his work fitting out the COM1 trailer.
WA5MA yielded the floor to Remell, KA6DOY, who recognized these Ham
Rescue volunteers with certificates of appreciation: Mark, WA5MA; Ray,
K5CFY; Jack, W5JHC; and Bob, W5RAB. There were others who weren’t
present to receive their certificates.
KA6DOY yielded the floor to WA5MA who mentioned last week’s TARC Net
discussion of Anderson PowerPole connectors and reiterated that white
Lithium grease should NOT be used. Uncertain, but I, W5AWS, think it
was Bob, W5RAB, who recommended using DeoxIT contact cleaner:
https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5
Consensus of the assembled company was to only buy genuine Anderson
PowerPole connectors. Cheap off-brand counterfeits are a false economy
that could result in dangerously degraded connections.
WA5MA reached the end of the business portion of the meeting. Gregg,
W5GGW, moved to close this part of the meeting; Jack, W5JHC, seconded.
WA5MA yielded the floor to Jeff, AE5ME, who gave a very interesting
program about WinLink, VARA FM, and M17. A big downside is that it is
only available for Windows OS. However, Jeff said that it does run
under the WINdows Emulator (WINE) on Linux. I, W5AWS, have CrossOver
from Codeweavers running on my Linux box and found it available for
installation. Here’s the short description:
“Winlink Express (formerly RMS Express) is the preferred Winlink radio
email client because it supports all new system features, and it is the
only client supporting the Winlink Hybrid Network for email delivery
with or without the internet. Winlink Express is designed to be easily
used by single users with a single call sign but it may also be used to
simultaneously send and receive mail with one or two more tactical
addresses or alternate Winlink accounts. It supports a wide selection
of transceivers, TNCs and multimode controllers, sound card modes using
the WINMOR, ARDOP, and VARA virtual TNCs (WINMOR and ARDOP software
TNCs included), Pactor, SCS Robust Packet, VHF/UHF AX.25 packet radio,
and direct telnet to CMS servers or RMS Relay (for amateur radio High
Speed Multimedia [HSMM], Broadband HamNet, D-Star DD mode, internet,
and other TCP/IP networks).”
So this is definitely something to explore using the Linux-Crossover
combination. There is a free, throttled, version of Winlink available
for testing; the unthrottled version license is priced at $69.
Though Winlink will work with various interfaces, including the
computer sound card with suitable cabling and isolation transformers,
Jeff, AE5ME, strongly recommended using the DRA50 radio interface from:
https://www.masterscommunicati
AE5ME also recommended the http://ok.arrl.org/ web-site for lots of
information on configuring and using the Winlink system:
AE5ME also quickly mentioned the open-source M17 system that supports
simultaneous voice and data transmission and reception:
AE5ME yielded the floor to WA5MA who mentioned events in the near
future:
1…License upgrade exam on January 29th in Room-2005 of Keplinger
Hall.
2…Winter Field Day is scheduled for January 29 & 30, probably at
Chandler Park where the COM1 trailer will be present
3…Oklahoma QSO Party on March 13 & 14.
4…Pick a contest, any contest! Try POTA or SOTA! Call CQ! Just get on
the air.
Next meeting will be on February 15th.
WA5MA adjourned the meeting at 2035 hours.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
W5AWS, TARC Secretary.