Welcome to the MARC Newsletter a publication of the Michigan Area Repeater Council. This news letter is published quarterly in conjunction with the quarterly business meetings. If you prefer a non-columnized version of this newsletter click here for the wide version.

President’s Update:

MARC is receiving a fair amount of coordination requests and is up to date in the processing. If an applicant cannot be granted a coordination, usually because of the lack of available repeater pairs in the area, I keep the application active for 1 year. After one year a final check is made and if there are still no available pairs, the application is cancelled. If you want to keep an application active, submit a TDS application once each year. If your existing coordination is not on the air or operating below the parameters of the granted coordination, please repair the repeater or return the coordination to the MARC database for another applicant to use. Many areas of the state are desperately low or out of repeater pairs that can be assigned. A nonfunctioning repeater is like an old abandoned house, It’s not good and it’s hard to get rid of.

Digital repeaters have been around for a considerable length of time. So far, there has been very little input from our members or interested amateurs on how it’s all working. I hope soon that MARC will make resolution #11 permanent by placing it into the Bylaws.

The basic resolution is:
MARC will provisionally coordinate digital repeaters with a necessary bandwidth of less than 6.25 kHz on splinter channels on the 2 meter and 70 CM bands. MARC will provisionally coordinate digital repeaters with a necessary bandwidth of less than 9 kHz on splinter channels in the 70 CM band. Necessary bandwidth based on FCC emission designator.

Repeater separation standards will be a minimum of 70 miles between co-channel repeaters. Adjacent channel spacing between digital repeaters will be left to coordinators discretion; however spacing to adjacent channel analog repeaters will be no less than 50 miles.

Any comments from our members or any interested amateurs?
Let MARC know by email: mail@miarc.com

73, Phil W8IC

Electronic Meeting Information:

The June 7, meeting is an Electronic Meeting at 1:00pm!

PHONE BRIDGE ONLY:

Dial In Number:    888-232-3870
Event ID:        603585#
   1. Dial into bridge using Dial In Number
   2. Enter Event ID
   3. If the meeting organizer is already present,
        you'll be connected. If not, you'll be
        placed on hold until the organizer appears.

WEBMEETING & Phone Bridge:

Your browser must be Microsoft™ Internet Explorer Version 4.x, 5.x or Netscape™ Communicator Version 4.x.

   1. Activate your Web Browser
   2. Go To https://connect2.uc.att.com/attinc/meet/?ExEventID=8603585
   3. Enter your name and email address
   4. Click on the "join event" button
   5. Once connected click on the telephone
       icon for dialing instructions.

Participation in the webmeeting is only needed for things like slideshow presentations, or use of a whiteboard where someone may need to do an illistration. It also allows us the opportunity to display the actual text of a motion for everyone to read. If you are unable to participate in the webmeeting you may still join in on the phone bridge from wherever you are.

The abilities for MARC to use the Phone Bridge and Webmeeting facilities has been brought to us by Jim WB8AZP and his employer.

We hope that moving to this format will increase participation by the membership of MARC so that we are better able to serve the amateur community.

MARC Meeting Minutes

Date: March 1, 2014
This meeting took place electronically.

Officers:

President: Phil Manor, W8IC
Vice President: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Secretary: Ann Manor, KT8F
Treasurer: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Director: Fred Moses, W8FSM*
Director: Jim Kvochick, K8JK
Coordinator: Dan Thompson, N8WKM
Coordinator: Phil Manor, W8IC
Coordinator: Jim Poehlman, K8ABZ
Database Manager: Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
Newsletter Editor: Dan Thompson, N8WKM

*Absent:
Visitors: Tom Hanson, N8DGD; Mike Smith, KC8WJA


Note: call signs of board members are not repeated in the minutes as they are listed above.

Meeting called to order by Phil at: 1:02 PM.

Old Business:

Fred brought up the issue of simulcast. Discussion. Phil requested that Fred write up a proposed DOG resolution, to be submitted to the board for review and comments. It should be published in the next newsletter and then voted on at the next meeting.

New Business:

Jim K8ABZ asked about accessing info from the Marc databases and questioned if he has access to all updates. Dave will instruct Jim, a MARC coordinator, how to download info from the database.

Mike asked if links and control frequencies are published. No, as they are private. Contact Phil, W8IC, our link and control coordinator to solve any issue with links and controls. (Dan, N8WKM, does the links and controls on 220 MHz and 900 MHz and above).

Dave had a question regarding the new ability to submit repeater info directly to the ARRL repeater directory. This is supposed to allow a trustee or repeater owner direct access. Dave asked if any owners or trustees have heard from the ARRL on this issue. At today’s meeting, no one stated having had any contact from the ARRL regarding this issue.

Dan stated he may attempt to make a change in his repeater directory listing on the ARRL site to see if this new feature is working.

Adjournment:

Motion to adjourn made by Dan, seconded by Fred at 1:30 PM, motion carried.
Motion carried.


Respectfully submitted,
Ann Manor, KT8F, Recording Secretary

Treasurer's Report
For the Period: 11/30/2013 to 02/28/2014

MARC Funds balance on 11/30/2013 was $ 4428.43
Income for December, Januaryand February was $ 42.15 from dues and interest.
Expenses for December, January and February were $2.10 from Postage and PayPal fees.

MARC Funds balance on 02/28/2014 was $ 4,468.48

Respectfully Submitted,
Dave Johnson, WD8DJB
MARC Treasurer

Supporting Detail

MARC Funds as of 11/30/2013