PACARC Business

Events

Pictures

Projects

Frequencies

Shacks

Palestine/Anderson County Amateur Radio Club – K5PAL

www.pacarc.org P.O. Box 1376, Palestine, TX 75802 K5PAL@arrl.net

MEETING MINUTES

The regular monthly meeting of the PALESTINE/ANDERSON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB - K5PAL was called to order at 7:00pm Tuesday, September 2^nd, 2025, by President, Charlie McReynolds, W5IAK. This was a dinner meeting. Chris Claytor, K5OOL, led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were thirteen (13) members and one (1) guest(s), for a total of fourteen (14) persons present.

The Minutes and Treasurers Reports were posted from the last monthly meeting. The current Treasury Balance is $2874.78

There were no application(s) for membership.

NET CONTROL:

October 6^th Ken Vickery, KI5JRY

October 13^th Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD

October 20^th Charles McReynolds, W5IAK

October 27^th Louie Downey, AI4SW

Monthly Speakers: Tommy Sprinkle, N5NTS, gave a complete discussion and on-air demonstration of his new kit built QRP Labs QMX transceiver, following up on his introduction last month. The kit is for intermediate builders and offers many features of a larger radio at a great price. The only tedious part of construction is winding the approximately 20 inductors.

Activity Reports:

Manny Perez, KE5YBA, discussed working several stations in Puerto Rico , Peru , and Ecuador . He presented a very nice photo montage of past Field Day activity to the club which will be displayed on the clubhouse wall.

Larry Davis, KB5JHW, reported that the microphone jack on his Kenwood TS440S has become loose in the socket and prevents transmission. He is looking for someone to repair it or, failing that, a good used HF radio, preferably a Kenwood to match his power supply.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

ARES: Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, reported there were no ARES activities this month.

VE: Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD reported no VE sessions this month. Jeff reminded local VE’s that the ARRL VEC is moving to digital session reporting and scheduling so all VE’s will need to register with exam.tools . The process is straightforward and is required as the program goes forward.

BUILDING MAINTENANCE: Charlie McReynolds, W5IAK, reported that Taylor Montgomery, KE5KJK mowed the lawn Monday before the meeting, assisted by Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD. We need to look at possible blade replacement and end of season maintenance in the next couple of months. Jeff said he ordered a new air filter for the mower because the current one needs replacing. He also recommended a work day to clean the accumulated dirt off the wooden siding around the building to keep it from termite and water damage.

FIELD DAY: Ken Vickery, KI5JRY, reported on the new bandpass filters, and that all the data for summer Field Day was turned in to the ARRL before the due date. We should see the results of the club’s efforts in the November QST. He commended Toby Nivens, KD5TN on the large number of stations worked with his portable beam on 15 meters.. WFD will be the last full weekend in January, 2026, and we are looking for a spot. This does not have to be a public place as there are no points for locating in one. Ken is taking suggestions for the location.

TUESDAY PROJECT NIGHT: Project Night meetings are held on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of each month. No meetings this month. There was however discussion regarding a session discussing tower erection and coax jumper making with and emphasis on putting on connectors.

OLD BUSINESS: Picnic-In-The-Park, (PITP), was August 31^st. Since it was a day of heavy rain, there were no attendees. The Board meeting was held September 1^st, in the clubhouse at 7:45 am with Charlie and Jeff in attendance. Ken was out of town. The next PITP and Board meeting will be September 28^th, and will be at Dogwood Park or at Whataburger.

NEW BUSINESS: The annual Club Christmas Party will be Thursday, December 4^th, 2025 after the club meeting the previous Tuesday. The location will be King Buffet because of the convenience of a private room for us and everyone can choose what they want from the buffet. There will be club provided door prizes and other prize donations from the membership are greatly appreciated. The club announces the Ham and Elmer of the Year awards at this dinner. Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD, explained the absence of the courtesy tone and the squelch tail on the 147.080 repeater lately. We have had operators who keyed up the repeater many times a day without a callsign or any audio at all in violation of FCC rules. Hopefully they will get the message that this is not acceptable ham practice on our repeater and we will be able to bring the tone and tail back in the future. Jeff regrets having to do this but since he was elected club callsign trustee, he is the one who has to answer for problems on the repeater.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The annual Belton Hamfest will be Saturday, October 4^th at the Bell County Exposition Center .

The club library is open and available for all members to use the materials. Just let WB4WXD know what you have borrowed and when you return it.

Club patches are available at $3.00 each.

The next Meeting will be on October 7^th, and will not be a dinner meeting. Ken Vickery, KI5JRY, made a motion to adjourn and James Peeler, KE5HLU, seconded it.

Meeting adjourned at 7:59 pm.

Jeff Montgomery, WB4WXD

Secretary/Treasurer 2025-2026

PACARC

09/3/2025