[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARC SHORTS - APRIL 2014 NEW LETTER and MEETING NOITCE

[Rick Bunn]

ARC-SHORTS

April 2014

Club Repeaters: 147.315 (PL 107.2), 444.6 (PL107.2), 224.82 (PL107.2), 53.13
(PL107.2) 927.6 (-25Mhz, PL107.2), and 1282.600 (PL 107.2), DSTAR 145.38Mhz,
442.060, and 1284.600

NEXT CLUB MEETING

Our next meeting is APRIL 18,2014  at 3600 Wheeler Ave.  Just off Duke
Street in Alexandria about 1 block west of Quaker Lane.  We start the
meeting at 7PM with our program and follow with a short business meeting.  

This month's program Kim KD9XB who will talk about the disappearing
shortwave broadcast stations and VOA.

Dinner prior to the meeting will be at Atlantis (Bradlee shopping center of
Rt. 7 just east of 395) with folks starting to gather about 5:30.  Our guest
speakers get a meal on the club.

MARCH  MEETING MINUTES

Erik was not at the last meeting.  The program was given by Keith who
presented the use of modified routers to use WIFI and IP technology to
create a MESH net for use in Amateur Radio.  Turns out that two of the WIFI
channels are in an amateur band.  Keith pointed out that you can pick up the
routers for a few bucks and modifications is not too difficult.

Lots of possibilities

73 Rick

 

Security Note

It has come to my attention that identifying members by name and call sign
in our newsletter which is on our web page and sent via e-mail access to
personnel information.   In order to correct this (for those where the cat
is not already out of the bag), we will use first names and call suffixes in
future articles.

VA QSO PARTY

Our February program was the yearly VA QSO Party presentation and it served
to energize the club members.  VA QSO Party is the second largest QSO party
in the country next to Pennsylvania.  This is not normally a high power high
pressure contest, but it's getting that way!

This year I offered my station to our newest members and John KK4RBB took me
up on the offer.  Due to his time and my time he was limited in the number
of hours he could work (I had range duty on Saturday morning and my XYL had
dinner plans), but John did a great job with 131 contacts mostly on 40 meter
SSB and I would bet that he learned a great deal about HF SSB operations in
the process.

In order to stay in the low power group, we did not run more than 100 watts
(150 is the max!).  The antennas were a poorly placed dipole and a GAP
vertical (ON4UN calls it a dummy load), but John worked most of the state
and several other states.   My guess is that next year he will double his
score.

Another point to think about is that this can be the warm up for the annual
Field Day event.    

Hamfests - 

The 59th annual York Hamfest, takes place on April 12 at the Porter's
Community Fire Company in Spring Grove, PA.  The York area is a couple hours
north from Alexandria off I-83.

The annual Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service Springfest takes place on April
13 at Moose Lodge 898 in Chesapeake.  Talk-in is on the club's 146.82 (PL
162.2) repeater.   

The Greater Hagerstown Hamfest takes place on May 3, 2014 at the Washington
County Agricultural Center in Boonesboro, MD.  The hamfest is sponsored by
the Antietam  Radio Association.  It's a nice location with a good size
building and room for tailgaters.  Talk-in will be on the club's 147.090+
repeater.

It's also not too early to start thinking about the Dayton Hamvention.  This
year's event takes place May 16, 17 and 18.  I have 5 rooms reserved for
this year and 4 and a half have been spoken for.  We have room for one more
club member who would like to go.  The cost per person should still be
around $200 plus whatever food and goodies you buy.  If you are interested
in going, let me know by the club meeting on April 11 so I can order the
tickets. N4ASX has offered to drive his SUV, so Rick has room for one more
person.  

Training - 

 

Our class continues with between 10 and 12 students each week.   As we write
this month's ARC Shorts, it's hard to believe we are halfway through the
class.  We should be hearing them on the air by mid-May.            

 

Contests -

 

If you participated in the VA QSO Party and have not sent in your log, be
sure to do so ASAP.  The deadline is April 15.  When filling out your score,
be sure to include the Alexandria Radio Club in the space for club name.
This will help with the overall club score.   

 

April 12 & 13 - New Mexico QSO Party.  Exchange is your name and state.

 

April 19 & 20 - Michigan QSO Party.  Exchange is a serial number and state.

 

April 19 & 20 - Ontario QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state/province.

 

April 20 - SSB portion of the ARRL Rookie Roundup.  Operators licensed less
than a year can work all stations.  Operators licensed longer than a year
can only work rookies.   

 

April 26 & 27 - Florida QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

 

 

 

Alexandria Radio Club Repeaters - 

All of the Alexandria Radio Club's repeaters are now on the air.  That
includes both analog and digital repeaters.  We encourage you to try them
out.  If you don't have equipment for a band, someone may have something you
can borrow.  Who knows, you just might find your new favorite band.     

  

73, 

Rich, KA4GFY

 

Two Annual Memberships awarded for support to the club.

At the last meeting the club voted to award annual memberships to Randy MJF
and Craig GOR for their efforts to get our 6 meter repeater up and on the
air.  A letter will go out shortly to both informing them of their
membership.   I hope they see this in a better light then W.C. Fields who
once remarked that he would not accept a membership in an organization who's
standards were so low as to offer him a membership.  Craig and Randy,  thank
you very much for all the hard work in putting the new 6 meter repeater
together and for getting it in place.

ARES QUESTIONAIRE

It has been a while sense we had an ARES program or a dedicated ARES
meeting.  Our area is not like other parts of the country, we rarely have a
call up and most of them are due to weather.  In order to get a better idea
of who of you are interested in supporting ARES and what you can bring to
the 'party' please fill out and return by e-mail the following questionnaire

1 - Call, Name, Phone number(s), License class

2 - Are you an ARES volunteer or would you like to have your name added to
the list of Alexandria ARES volunteers?

3 - Please describe your radio capabilities (If you are a volunteer or plan
to volunteer)

4 - Do you have APRS equipment?

5 - Are you interested in supporting public service events.

Social Events

Monday Night Half Price Burgers - There is a group that gets together at
Shooter McGee's (Duke and Paxton Streets) on Monday evenings at 6:15 PM. A
good burger and soft drink runs about $9.00.

 

 

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