On Tuesday, 17 October 2023 at 1900 hours local, Mark, WA5MA, called to order the meeting of the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club in Room-3140 of Keplinger Hall at the University of Tulsa.
You can download the agenda for the meeting via this link:
drive.proton.me/urls/YKC0VCXNKR#1eQdD6obFcPs
WA5MA introduced those officers of the club who were present; 39 persons added their names to the attendance register, a copy of which you can download via the following link:
drive.proton.me/urls/T4H0K8J8WG#79gfwJLfuUUW
WA5MA asked if any club members present are not receiving the club newsletter. Nothing heard.
WA5MA asked for any questions or comments about the minutes of last month’s meeting. Nothing heard. Paul, KE5EHM, moved to approve the minutes as written; John, NJ5Z, seconded; the minutes were approved by acclamation.
WA5MA noted the absence of the Treasurer, saying that Jerry, KE5PMK, had not notified WA5MA of any problems. Since the newsletter contained a copy of the financial report, WA5MA asked for any questions or comments. Nothing heard. Ray, K5CFY, moved to approve the financials; Tommy, WD5AGO, seconded; motion approved by acclamation.
WA5MA postponed news of the ARRL and ARDC grant programs due to the absence of Bart, N5TWB, who was reported last seen on vacation in Utah.
WA5MA did not ask Andrew, W5AWS, about club badges, a number of which were clipped to the ledge of the whiteboard for collection. These badges remain ready for collection: Wayne, WA5YNE; Larry, KI5URK; Bart, N5TWB; and Mike, KI5EGH.
WA5MA said that he had received reports from some users of the Superlink system that they had been told not use it. WA5MA said that is a misunderstanding. WA5MA encouraged everyone within range to use the Superlink repeater system to ensure that it remains functional and is there working when we need it in an emergency. However, having established contact on the Superlink, if you are within range of a local repeater or simplex then change frequency and free the Superlink for others to use; this is particularly true in Tulsa where we have several local repeaters for local communications. Bottom line: Use the Superlink!
WA5MA asked Robert, KI5WDD, for news of club apparel.
KI5WDD said that a fresh order will happen in the near future and that there will be a special design to commemorate the 100th year existence of Tulsa Amateur Radio Club. Contact Robert, KI5WDD, for club T-shirts emblazoned with your callsign.
KI5WDD yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that since N5TWB is absent, we will hold news of ARRL Foundation Clubs Grant Program and the ARDC Grant until next time.
WA5MA said of Route 66 On The Air, that we logged over 1,800 contacts using SSB, CW, and FT8 into Austria, Germany, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, France, Ireland, and the UK. Remell, KA6DOY, managed to have a QSO on SSB with a Maritime Mobile operator on a cargo ship south of Newfoundland who, apparently, wants a QSL card.
WA5MA asked Dave, W5PPA, for news of the Scouts Jamboree On The Air.
W5PPA said that the event will happen on Saturday, 21 October 2023, at the Jack Graves Scout Reservation in Broken Arrow from 0900 hrs until 1500 hrs.
W5PPA said that he has a few club operators who signed on to help the Scouts talk to other Scouts around the world. Operators will have access to the Reservation from 0730 hrs through the gate just east of the main gate. Simplex talk-around frequency for the day is 146.550.
W5PPA yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that David, N5DMK, conducted another exam session in this room on the same day as the Simulated Emergency Test. The exam produced five new Technician and five new General licensees.
WA5MA said that at the November meeting we must elect new officers. Last year we changed the rules slightly to allow the president to continue in office since there was nobody willing to take the job and replace WA5MA who didn’t mind continuing in the position. WA5MA said that anyone who wants to volunteer for any position should make themselves known by email, telephone, text message, or in person.
WA5MA asked whether there was anyone in the club with EMC/RFI experience because WA5MA had been asked about a cooker turning itself on in the middle of the night, possibly at the same time a nearby ham radio operator was on air. Nothing heard. However, from the floor, Andrew, W5AWS, said that we need to know the make and model number of the cooker; Gregg, W5GGW, said that Ferrite cores on the power input would help; but, in the end we agreed that we need more information. WA5MA said to let him know if anyone has any ideas.
WA5MA asked whether there is anyone good at radio/amplifier repairs. Nothing heard. From the floor, Remell, KA6DOY, said that he might know someone. John, NJ5Z, said that avionics repair shops might be able to help.
WA5MA said that a lady contacted him about her husband’s radio gear that he cannot use anymore due to advancing Alzheimer’s disease. WA5MA said that he had looked at it all. A lot was junk but there were a few good pieces that might be of interest to someone. WA5MA asked the lady whether she wanted to donate or sell the equipment. Selling is what is wanted. WA5MA had some boxes of stuff that he urged anyone interested to view and make an offer.
WA5MA yielded the floor to Tommy, WD5AGO, our guest speaker who gave a presentation on the care and feeding of Lithium chemistry batteries.
WD5AGO, does drag racing with an electric bike, so knows how to dump 40kW of energy into a motor for ten seconds, dematerialize at one of the track and almost instantaneously materialize at the other end of the track.
Here, W5AWS summarizes WD5AGO:
1…Users of Lithium batteries need to know what they are doing and understand the voltages and various chemical compositions involving with Lithium batteries.
2…Lithium battery fires generate oxygen that sustains combustion.
3…Lithium battery fires generate toxic smoke and liquid, principally Hydrogen Floride that is highly corrosive to flesh and bone. See the attached picture from the Wikipedia article to get an idea of what could happen:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fluoride#Health_effects
WD5AGO carries a tube of calcium cream to neutralize HF.
4…Lithium batteries are sensitive to mechanical shock and high or low temperatures that can cause piercing of the dialectric membrane coupled with rapid discharge and thermal runaway.
5…Lithium battery fires are usually quenched by flooding with water. Fire services are more aware of the problem given the rising numbers of electric vehicles on the road.
6…Don’t float-charge a Lithium battery.
7…Don’t store Lithium batteries at 100% State Of Charge (SOC)
8…Store partially discharged and then bring up to full charge before use. Most battery packs are shipped at 50% SOC.
9…Use chargers designed to work with Lithium batteries.
10..Battery packs usually have a built-in Battery Management System to adjust the charge on the internal cells and provide some monitoring for safety purposes, but they can’t be fully relied upon depending on the manufacturing source.
11..Bottom line for most of us casual users: Buy good quality packs from reputable, well-recognized manufacturers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions assiduously.
12..Don’t be an accident waiting to happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
WD5AGO is still alive having survived a youth of high-power RF experimentation with high-power vacuum tubes giving off X-radiation and RF energy, and his middle years as a drag racer on Lithium powered drag bikes.
We enjoyed WD5AGO’s lively presentation and applauded appropriately.
WD5AGO yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that he had missed the SET item on the agenda and asked Paul, WB5ANX, to come forward to summarize the recent Simulated Emergency Test (SET).
WB5ANX said that the SET involved six different nets and message passing. Twenty-six different callsigns checked in. 989 Winlink messages were passed in two hours.
WB5ANX said that the SET was designed to show what worked and what didn’t and to check that operators can adapt to changing conditions. The SET proved that we could move pictures around that were first transmitted from smartphones by acoustically coupling via a radio to a smartphone at the other end that reassembled the picture for onward transmission through Winlink to where it is needed.
WB5ANX said that at first the SET involved just Tulsa and Rogers Country but expanded to the rest of the State and surrounding areas on out to five different countries.
WB5ANX said that the SET was a success and that he is still writing a comprehensive after action report.
WB5ANX yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that next year is the Centenary of the Club and said that we need a committee of four members to coordinate the celebratory action.
WA5MA wrote four items on the whiteboard under the Centenary title and asked members present to put their names against each item, volunteering to be one of the members on the committee.
WA5MA said that we are starting a YL group and wanted to speak with heather, KI5LCP, and Megan, K5MEM, after the meeting.
WA5MA said that next month the meeting will be on the 17th. Remell, KA6DOY, pointed out that the 17th is a Friday, and that the third Tuesday is the week of Thanksgiving, recommending that we hold the meeting on Tuesday, November 14.
WA5MA asked for a show of hands approving the meeting on the 14th next monthy–unanimous approval.
WA5MA asked for any other business.
AE5ME said that there is a Winlink test on October 19 at 1019 hours in conjunction with the Geological Survey to test the earthquake reporting system. Contact AE5ME to participate.
KA6DOY spoke for Bart, N5TWB, about the Sand Springs Christmas Parade on Friday, 2 December. The club martials the floats into position beginning at 1630 hrs and finishes at 1900 hrs when the parade starts moving.
KA6DOY said that the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce appreciate our help every year.
KA6DOY yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting: Jack, W5JHC, so moved; Gregg, W5GGW, seconded; approved by general acclamation.
Meeting adjourned at 2030 hrs local.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Andrew, W5AWS. -=-=-=-
You can download the agenda for the meeting via this link:
drive.proton.me/urls/YKC0VCXNKR#1eQdD6obFcPs
WA5MA introduced those officers of the club who were present; 39 persons added their names to the attendance register, a copy of which you can download via the following link:
drive.proton.me/urls/T4H0K8J8WG#79gfwJLfuUUW
WA5MA asked if any club members present are not receiving the club newsletter. Nothing heard.
WA5MA asked for any questions or comments about the minutes of last month’s meeting. Nothing heard. Paul, KE5EHM, moved to approve the minutes as written; John, NJ5Z, seconded; the minutes were approved by acclamation.
WA5MA noted the absence of the Treasurer, saying that Jerry, KE5PMK, had not notified WA5MA of any problems. Since the newsletter contained a copy of the financial report, WA5MA asked for any questions or comments. Nothing heard. Ray, K5CFY, moved to approve the financials; Tommy, WD5AGO, seconded; motion approved by acclamation.
WA5MA postponed news of the ARRL and ARDC grant programs due to the absence of Bart, N5TWB, who was reported last seen on vacation in Utah.
WA5MA did not ask Andrew, W5AWS, about club badges, a number of which were clipped to the ledge of the whiteboard for collection. These badges remain ready for collection: Wayne, WA5YNE; Larry, KI5URK; Bart, N5TWB; and Mike, KI5EGH.
WA5MA said that he had received reports from some users of the Superlink system that they had been told not use it. WA5MA said that is a misunderstanding. WA5MA encouraged everyone within range to use the Superlink repeater system to ensure that it remains functional and is there working when we need it in an emergency. However, having established contact on the Superlink, if you are within range of a local repeater or simplex then change frequency and free the Superlink for others to use; this is particularly true in Tulsa where we have several local repeaters for local communications. Bottom line: Use the Superlink!
WA5MA asked Robert, KI5WDD, for news of club apparel.
KI5WDD said that a fresh order will happen in the near future and that there will be a special design to commemorate the 100th year existence of Tulsa Amateur Radio Club. Contact Robert, KI5WDD, for club T-shirts emblazoned with your callsign.
KI5WDD yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that since N5TWB is absent, we will hold news of ARRL Foundation Clubs Grant Program and the ARDC Grant until next time.
WA5MA said of Route 66 On The Air, that we logged over 1,800 contacts using SSB, CW, and FT8 into Austria, Germany, Brazil, Cuba, Canada, France, Ireland, and the UK. Remell, KA6DOY, managed to have a QSO on SSB with a Maritime Mobile operator on a cargo ship south of Newfoundland who, apparently, wants a QSL card.
WA5MA asked Dave, W5PPA, for news of the Scouts Jamboree On The Air.
W5PPA said that the event will happen on Saturday, 21 October 2023, at the Jack Graves Scout Reservation in Broken Arrow from 0900 hrs until 1500 hrs.
W5PPA said that he has a few club operators who signed on to help the Scouts talk to other Scouts around the world. Operators will have access to the Reservation from 0730 hrs through the gate just east of the main gate. Simplex talk-around frequency for the day is 146.550.
W5PPA yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that David, N5DMK, conducted another exam session in this room on the same day as the Simulated Emergency Test. The exam produced five new Technician and five new General licensees.
WA5MA said that at the November meeting we must elect new officers. Last year we changed the rules slightly to allow the president to continue in office since there was nobody willing to take the job and replace WA5MA who didn’t mind continuing in the position. WA5MA said that anyone who wants to volunteer for any position should make themselves known by email, telephone, text message, or in person.
WA5MA asked whether there was anyone in the club with EMC/RFI experience because WA5MA had been asked about a cooker turning itself on in the middle of the night, possibly at the same time a nearby ham radio operator was on air. Nothing heard. However, from the floor, Andrew, W5AWS, said that we need to know the make and model number of the cooker; Gregg, W5GGW, said that Ferrite cores on the power input would help; but, in the end we agreed that we need more information. WA5MA said to let him know if anyone has any ideas.
WA5MA asked whether there is anyone good at radio/amplifier repairs. Nothing heard. From the floor, Remell, KA6DOY, said that he might know someone. John, NJ5Z, said that avionics repair shops might be able to help.
WA5MA said that a lady contacted him about her husband’s radio gear that he cannot use anymore due to advancing Alzheimer’s disease. WA5MA said that he had looked at it all. A lot was junk but there were a few good pieces that might be of interest to someone. WA5MA asked the lady whether she wanted to donate or sell the equipment. Selling is what is wanted. WA5MA had some boxes of stuff that he urged anyone interested to view and make an offer.
WA5MA yielded the floor to Tommy, WD5AGO, our guest speaker who gave a presentation on the care and feeding of Lithium chemistry batteries.
WD5AGO, does drag racing with an electric bike, so knows how to dump 40kW of energy into a motor for ten seconds, dematerialize at one of the track and almost instantaneously materialize at the other end of the track.
Here, W5AWS summarizes WD5AGO:
1…Users of Lithium batteries need to know what they are doing and understand the voltages and various chemical compositions involving with Lithium batteries.
2…Lithium battery fires generate oxygen that sustains combustion.
3…Lithium battery fires generate toxic smoke and liquid, principally Hydrogen Floride that is highly corrosive to flesh and bone. See the attached picture from the Wikipedia article to get an idea of what could happen:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fluoride#Health_effects
WD5AGO carries a tube of calcium cream to neutralize HF.
4…Lithium batteries are sensitive to mechanical shock and high or low temperatures that can cause piercing of the dialectric membrane coupled with rapid discharge and thermal runaway.
5…Lithium battery fires are usually quenched by flooding with water. Fire services are more aware of the problem given the rising numbers of electric vehicles on the road.
6…Don’t float-charge a Lithium battery.
7…Don’t store Lithium batteries at 100% State Of Charge (SOC)
8…Store partially discharged and then bring up to full charge before use. Most battery packs are shipped at 50% SOC.
9…Use chargers designed to work with Lithium batteries.
10..Battery packs usually have a built-in Battery Management System to adjust the charge on the internal cells and provide some monitoring for safety purposes, but they can’t be fully relied upon depending on the manufacturing source.
11..Bottom line for most of us casual users: Buy good quality packs from reputable, well-recognized manufacturers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions assiduously.
12..Don’t be an accident waiting to happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
WD5AGO is still alive having survived a youth of high-power RF experimentation with high-power vacuum tubes giving off X-radiation and RF energy, and his middle years as a drag racer on Lithium powered drag bikes.
We enjoyed WD5AGO’s lively presentation and applauded appropriately.
WD5AGO yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that he had missed the SET item on the agenda and asked Paul, WB5ANX, to come forward to summarize the recent Simulated Emergency Test (SET).
WB5ANX said that the SET involved six different nets and message passing. Twenty-six different callsigns checked in. 989 Winlink messages were passed in two hours.
WB5ANX said that the SET was designed to show what worked and what didn’t and to check that operators can adapt to changing conditions. The SET proved that we could move pictures around that were first transmitted from smartphones by acoustically coupling via a radio to a smartphone at the other end that reassembled the picture for onward transmission through Winlink to where it is needed.
WB5ANX said that at first the SET involved just Tulsa and Rogers Country but expanded to the rest of the State and surrounding areas on out to five different countries.
WB5ANX said that the SET was a success and that he is still writing a comprehensive after action report.
WB5ANX yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA said that next year is the Centenary of the Club and said that we need a committee of four members to coordinate the celebratory action.
WA5MA wrote four items on the whiteboard under the Centenary title and asked members present to put their names against each item, volunteering to be one of the members on the committee.
WA5MA said that we are starting a YL group and wanted to speak with heather, KI5LCP, and Megan, K5MEM, after the meeting.
WA5MA said that next month the meeting will be on the 17th. Remell, KA6DOY, pointed out that the 17th is a Friday, and that the third Tuesday is the week of Thanksgiving, recommending that we hold the meeting on Tuesday, November 14.
WA5MA asked for a show of hands approving the meeting on the 14th next monthy–unanimous approval.
WA5MA asked for any other business.
AE5ME said that there is a Winlink test on October 19 at 1019 hours in conjunction with the Geological Survey to test the earthquake reporting system. Contact AE5ME to participate.
KA6DOY spoke for Bart, N5TWB, about the Sand Springs Christmas Parade on Friday, 2 December. The club martials the floats into position beginning at 1630 hrs and finishes at 1900 hrs when the parade starts moving.
KA6DOY said that the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce appreciate our help every year.
KA6DOY yielded the floor to WA5MA.
WA5MA asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting: Jack, W5JHC, so moved; Gregg, W5GGW, seconded; approved by general acclamation.
Meeting adjourned at 2030 hrs local.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Andrew, W5AWS. -=-=-=-