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BREAK BREAK BREAK !!!
The April 13, 2021 General Membership Meeting has been canceled.
The April 13, 2021 General Membership meeting is canceled due to the ongoing corona virus restrictions. However, the Board of Directors are looking into having a Zoom meeting at some point, so stay tuned.
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Repeater Report
Capilla Repeater
Due to the loss of our tower on September 9, 2020, the following actions have been taken to get the site back on the air.
On December 5, 2020, an internet connection from an adjacent shack for the 96 was installed, allowing the 96 to be linked to the system. But the D-Star repeater remains in a stand-alone mode. Presently the backup generator is not connected, but the club received a 14 battery donation which were installed to provide backup power to the site.
We are working to get funds to rebuild the tower and hope to get the tower rebuilt by early summer. The tower will also allow KNME to get their translator back in operation. The club will then start working on getting replacement antennas as funds allow.
Hub
All the repeaters are online with normal operation. Some tower work is planned for the Hub this spring to install a HF antenna for emergency support for the VA and CAP. The club received a new desk, which has allowed the setting up of a club HF and UHF stations. We hope to make this station available to club members in the future.
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Above: The HF station and desk assembly newley installed at the HUB
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In addition to the donated desk, the club received a crank-up tower and a large multi-band beam antenna. We hope to get this set up at the Hub to support all the HF activities.
The club will be working on rewiring the 12-volt system to better use the Hub’s batteries for the power backup and support the CAP equipment.
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Above: Russell (KG5PWG) and Alec (KI5EFG) removing antennas at Robbie Hill's (KC5FT) home. The antennas are to be installed at the HUB
Below: The crank-up tower coming down and being prepared for transport to the HUB. The work party consisted of Goodie (WA5SJW), Russell (KG5PWG), Jon (KE5POL), Alec (KI5EFG), Don K (KF5MEF), Jim (AF5FI) & Nancy
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Sandia Crest Repeater
The Sandia Crest repeater (442.450 MHz) is operating normally.
Diamond Memorial Repeater
A decision has been made to decommission the Gary Diamond Memorial repeater on the crest in the near future.
This decision was made due to a number of issues. One issue is that presently there are a number of UHF repeaters on the crest, so this repeater is somewhat redundant. Another issue is the very limited access to the repeater because it is in a state owned building.
The club wants to give a big thank you to Mike Langner (K5MGR) and Larry Goga (AE5CZ) for their work to maintain the repeater all these years!
La Mosca Repeater
This repeater is operating normally with no problems reported.
Microwave Ridge Repeater
This repeater is operating normally with no problems reported.
Tapia Mesa Repeater
This repeater is operating normally with no problems reported.
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Other Club Related News
GMRS
The URFMSI and the NM Linked GMRS system share a number of repeater sites. This is a win-win for both. Mountain top radio sites are important for good repeater coverage and the sites are very limited. So, it makes sense to share the available facilities, equipment and technical duties as much as possible.
VA “N5VA” Station
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the N5VA station at the VA hospital has been off the air. But the VA operators have set up a 20 meter dipole plus a multi-band vertical antenna at the Hub and are on the air again operating from the Hub. Please stop by and talk to them from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, Monday thru Friday on 14.287 MHz. The HUB is located at Gibson and San Mateo.
Civil Air Patrol
The URFMSI provides the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) with an auxiliary radio operating station at the Hub. In support of the CAP, members of the club helped install a new VHF antenna on the Sandia Crest. The new antenna has improved their communications for the eastern side of the state. In addition, club members installed aircraft tracking receivers at La Mosca and Capilla.
The CAP is very active in support of the COVID-19 related mission. URFMSI’s support of CAP is part of the club’s mission statement to help provide communications in times of emergencies.
Cibola SAR
The URFMSI is hosting the Cibola Search and Rescue VHF/UHF crossband repeater at the Hub. The installation of the crossband repeater has been a great help for their missions on the west side of the Sandia mountains.
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Announcements
FREE!
The club has a large selection of electric parts for projects, repairs or other. Contact Don at W5FHA@arrl.net.
The next General Membership meeting is canceled
The April 13, 2021 General Membership meeting has been canceled due to
the corona virus restrictions. We are looking into a virtual zoom meeting at some point in the future.
Ham License Testing
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ham license testing is limited at this time. However, Valencia County Amateur Radio Association (VCARA) is providing VE testing. Visit VCARA’s website (www.kc5our.com) for more information. In addition, the High Desert Amateur Radio Club (NM5HD) is giving tests, for more information visit the club’s website (https://nm5hd.org).
Amazon Smile
We are pleased that club members have signed up for the Amazon Smile program and listed the URFMSI as their charitable organization. Signing up to Amazon Smile does not add cost to the items you buy but provides much needed funds back to the club.
Membership
Please remember to go to our website and check your membership status. We have a large number of members that are past their membership expiration date. We continue to need your support. With your help we can rebuild our Capilla site, pay our electric bills, and other club expenses.
Tailgates
There was a great tailgate on March 20, 2021 at the American Legion Post 13 in Albuquerque. Plus, Ken (KO5Y) scheduled excellent weather for the event as well.
A second tailgate is in the works for the June time frame at the same location, so monitor the nets for the date.
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Club Mission Statement
The mission of the Upper Rio FM Society, Inc. is to provide a State-of-the-Art Amateur Radio repeater network for the benefit of our members, licensed Amateur Radio operators, the community and provide public service communication support in times of emergency.
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