[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Radio Club Newsletter and Meeting Notice - ARC SHORTS NOVEMBER 2014

[Rick Bunn]

ARC-SHORTS

 

November  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 ALL AR UP AND RUNNING - HAM IT UP! Get on the air!

 

NEXT CLUB MEETING

 

Our next meeting is November 14, 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 is uncertain.  If N4TCW is available, I've asked him to
talk about the HackDC bunch and what they have been working on.  If not, we
still have the formal election of officers for 2015 and planning for next
year.

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.

 

OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES

 

Our program was Bryan Dorbert, N3ST vice president of the Middle Atlantic
Repeater Council (T-MARC).   Bryan is also the frequency coordinator.  Bryan
provided a run down on how T-MARC works to allow us to share our VHF/UHF and
other spectrum.  With each repeater taking up two frequencies,  it is
important that they be DE conflicted so we minimize interference between
clubs and areas.  T-MARC has been doing a great job.  

 

Next Meeting

 

I've asked Lee N4TCW to talk to us about Hack DC.  He may or may not be able
to attend.  If he cannot attend, we will hold our elections and do some
planning for 2015.

 

December  Meeting

 

The December meeting (December 12th)  is our annual Christmas Party.  This
year, thanks to Ian, N8IK, it will be at Fiona's in the Kingstown Shopping
Center.  If you have not R.S.V.P.ed yet call Ian and tell him you plan to
attend (N8IK at arrl.net) .

 

The club usually recognizes members who have done something special during
the year.  If you have an idea for an award,  please send your idea to Rick,
N4ASX, (N4ASX at Arrl.net)

 

Next Year's Programs

 

We are trying to find NEW programs.  We hope to get a few from Amateur Radio
Research and Development (AMRAD), maybe one from FEMA,  one from our DEC,
Something on Antennas, a project or two.

 

We will be supporting the Washington's Birthday Parade,  carpooling to
hamfests, Field Day and maybe a Fox Hunt or two.

 

Got an idea for a program or for an activity, let us know.

 

PRESIDENT'S column 

 

I only have two more of these to write. I have been president of the club
for the past two years, and I was secretary for two years before that. I
don't think I've done great, and I haven't done terrible. I'm probably going
to be remembered as a Millard Fillmore category president.

 

Really, it's not that hard. The guys doing the training work harder than I
ever have, as well as our ARES representative, and the guys who put Field
Day together. I think the only requirement for the office of president is
that you have been a ham for 3 years. The next time someone asks if you want
to serve in a club office, ask what the job entails rather than just
automatically running away. The club members will appreciate it. However, my
club pension and $1.79 will buy be a pack of twinkies, so nobody is in it
for the money.

 

For my accomplishments, I can't think of anything right off hand. No major
initiatives were required or done. The last two Field Days had city
government representatives (last year, councilwoman Del Pepper, and this
year, another councilman and the mayor of Alexandria himself). 

I can claim *some* credit, since

it was my job as president to invite them. I don't think my "President's
Corner" articles will be considered literature in the class of Hemingway or
Steinbeck (unless we're referring to Iggy Hemingway or Fred Steinbeck).

 

At least I didn't do anything dumb like declaring that we were going to have
a QRP-only Field Day.

 

I realize that not everyone can make it to every meeting, but we would be
glad to see more of you if you could come occasionally. You may find an
opportunity to serve that would be appreciated by the club, and make you
feel all warm and fuzzy, too. The next thing I know of that's coming up is
in February, when we normally assist the city with the George Washington's
Birthday Parade. If you have a 2-meter HT, you have all the equipment you
need.

 

The club election is going to be at the next meeting. I will turn over my
gavel to the next president at our Christmas party, which will be at Fiona's
Irish Pub in Kingstowne. I ate there for lunch one day, and I was impressed.
I hope to see everyone at the meeting and the party.

 

73,

 

-- Tom Kirby KJ4FUU

President, Alexandria Radio Club 

 

EDITOR"S NOTES:

 

Above are our current President's words.  Tom underestimates the work he's
done.  For two years, he's made sure that the club is running well.  Without
his efforts and his participation,  it's very easy for a club to go into
decline.  Tom does not drive, but he's been willing to participate in all of
our public service activities.  He's been very active in getting on all of
our repeaters.  

 

Far from being Millard Fillmore he's been more like Teddy Roosevelt he
speaks softly (QRP) and carries a big stick (efforts that show us that the
hobby is multifaceted!

 

The job of a club officer is to manage.  Find members willing to do the work
needed.  It is a lot of work.  Many hands make light work, but without his
push,  the work falls to those few.   Tom is right to encourage all members
to participate actively in the club.  The club is made up of all of us, the
OLD HANDS and NEWBIES.  Once in a while I hear someone say "The Club should
do this or that"  To me that's a volunteer!  

 

Tom,  Thanks for your work over the last several years (two as president and
a few years in other jobs) and welcome to the past president's club and to
the peanut gallery.

 

While I'm at it, thanks to Larry KK4CBL for jumping in when needed, for Erik
for his efforts and for Ted who braves the fund raising efforts.  

 

Special thanks to Jack, K5OTZ for chairing our successful Field Day.  It is
one of the biggest efforts of the year and he got a lot of us out and got a
great place for our event this year.

 

73 Rick

N4ASX

 

ARES

 

Many of us just helped out with the 39th Marine Corps Marathon.  This is the
BIGGEST and MOST PUBLIC event in the area for amateur radio.   It is also
one of the best practices for emergency services.

 

It's a ALL DAY event and you never really know what's going to happen at
your assigned position.   The net set up is somewhat more complicated than
our normal operation.  Two hams were asked to leave the Pentagon ground by a
person who claimed to be part of Pentagon Force Protection Agency telling
them that they did not have a permit to operate on the Pentagon Reservation
and had to depart.  This is being checked out and will not happen again!

 

This is also a great time to check out your go kits.  For me I learned that
misplacing a simple DC power distribution block could cause great problems.
I was lucky that a sharp eyed Navy Chief (KP6FFP I think) spotted in in the
grass under the table at 6AM.  The newest revision to my go kit is a Rig
Runner bolted to the shelf in the power box.

 

Early next year we will have folks show off their go kits.  I know that Don
KI4D, Ian N8IK and a few others have go boxes.  Just something to think
about.

 

Thanks to all who volunteered for the MCM.  The feedback I got from Marines,
Navy folks and others tells me that we are GREATLY appreciated.   We may be
amateur radio operators, but there is no doubt about our professionalism
with radio operations.

 

73 Rick

N4ASX

 

Hamfests -

 

We have hit the winter slow period for hamfests.  The next one in the area
is Odenton, MD, so keep an eye out for that.  Richmond Frostfest is
scheduled for Feb 7, 2015.  

A couple hamfests have made big changes.  The Vienna Wireless Society's
Winterfest is moving to March 22, 2015, according to the VWS website.  The
Baltimore ARC's hamfest is moving to Father's Day, June 21, 2015 and the
location is in Upperco, MD.   More details to follow.

 

Training - 

 

Our class kicked off with 22 people in attendance and we have maintained
most of that number. We are getting a lot of good questions from the
students which is a sign of how engaged they are.    

 

We look forward to hearing them on the air in December and early next year.

 

Plans are being made for the next class starting in March and ending May.  

 

Contests -

 

November 15 thru 17 - ARRL Sweepstakes, SSB portion.  The exchange is fairly
complex, serial number, precedence (A, B, M, Q, S, U), your callsign, check
(year licensed) and ARRL section.  So, my exchange with N8IK would be:
N8IK 001A KA4GFY 79VA.  Some radios w store both voice and CW strings in a
keyer. Use the memory keyer on your radio to store everything from the
precedence to the end.  Then, you are only sending the other station's
callsign and the serial number.  This is a great contest for working the US
and Canada.

 

November 29 and 30 - CQ WW DX Contest, CW portion.  Exchange is RST and CQ
Zone.  We are in Zone 5.

 

December 5 through 7 - ARRL 160 meter contest.  Work as many stations on 160
as possible.  Exchange is a signal report your ARRL/RAC section.

 

December 6 - Skywarn Recognition Day.  While not a contest, the goal is to
work as many of the participating NWS stations as possible.  The exchange
will be the weather conditions at your location.  

 

Club Repeaters - 

 

The Alexandria Radio Club owns more repeaters than other clubs in the area.
We have repeaters on every ham radio band between 6 meters and 23 cm.  Here
is a great opportunity to try a new band.  With the exception of the 23 cm
repeater, all our repeaters are commercial grade equipment which should run
for many years with minimal work.  The 23 cm repeater is constructed from 2
Yaesu 23 cm mobile radios with a controller in between.  All the repeaters
provide good coverage in Alexandria and the surrounding area.

A big thanks to KI4D who spearheaded an effort to promote new activity on
our 1.25 meter and 33 cm repeaters with arranging for a group buy of Alinco
DJ-G29 handhelds from HRO.  Be sure to give these two repeaters a try.

 

73, 

Rich, KA4GFY

 

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 $11.00.