South Dakota State Link Working Committee - Meeting Notes

November 15, 2004 Chamberlain 1 pm

The group was called to order at 1 p.m. by Dick Neish W0SIR.

Introductions of individuals and groups represented were made

with eighteen individuals present representing all of the known

user groups.

A survey of the current node status and work to be performed

was done resulting in the following list:

Turkey Ridge - Bad VHF Channel Element, VHF antenna

needs replacement. New channel element will be ordered by Brian next week. The UHF Micor mobile needs to be replaced.

Humbolt - Bad Motorola switching power supply, battery

maintenance required. Brian may have replacement power supply.

Garden City - UHF repeater/link is inoperative, VHF repeater

is OK. A MFS5000 UHF unit should replace the existing radio.

Wessington Springs - VHF is OK, UHF link to Humbolt is

inoperative, Needs battery maintenance, the entire site

needs overall troubleshooting and verification, the path

to Humbolt needs reevaluation. There is a power supply

issue (BAND?) and Don has a replacement.

The tower and the three antennas and associated feedline need to be replaced. Height is an issue as far as the Humbolt/Turkey Ridge link path is concerned.

Reliance - all equipment currently in Eldon's shop in Pierre, the existing antennas and feedlines have been removed from

the site where the equipment had been located. The

equipment needs to be physically repackaged and then operationally checked out for reapplication at another site.

There are issues as to the placement of power supplies and batteries. Access and power at the new site will

need to be addressed.

Pierre - The equipment seems to be working properly.

There are interference issues on VHF at this site.

Murdo - No known problems.

Phillip - No known problems. Battery maintenance is

required.

Terry Peak - No known problems. Battery maintenance is

required.

Rapid City UHF link extension - The hardware is currently

operational, and is at Don's QTH. It needs to get back to

Rapid City for reinstallation.

As the work necessary to restore the link to full operation

far exceeds the time and resources available to either Don and/or Brian, the following groups and individuals stepped

forward to assist:

Turkey Ridge - Guy Chaney N0VC, Al Nedvedt N0OII, Bill

Sage KC0AXU, Barry Arneson K8SD

Humbolt - Rich Beebe N0PV

Garden City - Jim Smith - Burghardt

Wessington Springs - Don (and others?)

Reliance - Jim KD0S, Eldon, and volunteers

Pierre - Jim KD0S, Eldon, and volunteers

Murdo-Eldon and the pierre volunteers

Philip - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)

Terry Peak - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)

Rapid City UHF - BHARC (W0BLK) and NHARC (KC0BXH)

Funding was then discussed. The current operational

costs are running about $800 to $1,000 a year, and are

all being paid out of various individual's pockets. The

new Reliance site will require approximately $250 to

$300 in additional commercial power charges.

While some capital equipment upgrades such as towers,

antennas, feedlines, and radios might be available through

grant funds or donations, the on-going operational costs

could be offset by donations.

Solicitation of the users and groups for contributions towards

operational funds is a possibility that needs to be explored.

Some ideas discussed for funding included approaching

commercial concerns such as large retail stores for

community involvement funding, how groups such as SkyWarn

raise funds, and IRS contribution allowances.

Much more work needs to be done in this area.

Other Items of interest:

Consensus of the group is that restoration of the Reliance site is top priority.

The upcoming SD Section Convention next April needs a booth

where the link system can be showcased, questions can be

answered, and funds can be solicited.

Tie-ins to the new "North Link System" were discussed, and

will be addressed in detail once Reliance is returned to service,

and interference issues in the Pierre area are tackled.

A tie-in to Clear Lake was also discussed as a possibility, but

only after the existing link system is made operational again.

The next sit-down meeting of this group will occur in April at

the Section Convention. The notes were taken by John WB6GHA, who gratiously volunteered to do so.

I want to thank everyone who attended. I feel we have a pretty good start to getting the system back up.

73's!

Dick Neish W0SIR

Working Committee Chair

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