[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Radio Club Meeting Notice and news letter - ARC SHORTS September 2015

[Rick Bunn]

ARC-SHORTS

 

September 2015

 

 

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 September 11th at our normal location, 3600 Wheeler Ave,
just off of Duke Street about half a block west of Quaker Lane.   The
program is COMPUTER LOGGING PROGRAMS

 

Rich, KA4GFY and Ian, N8IK will demonstrate two of the most popular Computer
Logging Programs and we invite anyone else who uses a different logging
program to join in and share your impressions on computer logging programs

 

 

AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.

 

Our August meeting program was all about GO BOXES.  Rick N4ASX  had his
basic Go Box for the Marine Corps Marathon,  Ian had his Go box with
integrated radio, power and antenna connections.  Don, KI4D had his go box
which is designed to be flexible depending on the mission.  The best advice
was to have a check list for your equipment and to include things like
chairs, office stuff, lights,  and anything else you might think you will
need.  Some pointed out that you can make up a spreadsheet and check off
what you need.

 

President’s Corner –

 

Just noticed on QRZ.com an announcement that Charles Hellman W2RP, who is
105 years of age, was presented a 90 year Licensed Certificate (Award Serial
#1).  He is the oldest living amateur in the U.S. and possibly, the world.
He was licensed as a 15 year old.  Congratulations to Charles.

What a wonderful hobby we have that encompasses people from their sub-teens
all the way to those over the century mark!  And all find something to
enjoy.

We have a cross section of members in the Alexandria Radio Club that covers
a wide range of ages.  It is a delight to hear the spectrum of interests
each has on our weekly nets and in the monthly club meetings. Perhaps our
next graduates from the training class will add an even larger range to the
mix.  

During a visit to Ham Radio Outlet in Woodbridge this week, I mentioned that
we had gone from 18 members in January 2015 to a current total of 65.  Steve
and Joe (from HRO) were astounded and very happy to hear that news.  Many of
you share the credit for this growth – those who organize and teach classes,
those who find prospective students, those who keep our monthly programs and
activities interesting to all ages, and those who worked long and hard to
remind amateurs to join our club.  Thanks to each of you and keep up the
good work.  

73 Larry

KK4CBL_._   _._   
._   _._.   _...   ._..

For the Newbies and those who have forgotten

Most of the old timers (those over 40) will tell you that REAL ham radio is
on the HF bands and compared to the local 2 meter repeater, HF is a brave
new world.  When you’re up on HF you have no channels per se, but you do
need to be more mindful of the separation of signals.  DSP radios can copy a
station with a strong adjacent signal only 2 KHz away, but before you go for
that station, consider that the other stations may not have radios that can
block your signal out 2 KHz away.  Try to go 3 KHz up or down so that you
don’t interfere.  They may not hear the DX or the station your trying to
work.  

The HF bands cover a great range of propagation .  For communications in the
state you can try 75 / 80 meters, 40 meters can cover half the country and
in the evenings you may find yourself working great distances.  These two
lower band so however require larger antennas.  There is no way around the
idea that larger antennas work more efficiently.  Many of us live where a
full size dipole would get the wrong kind of attention from our HOA board or
other folks.  Some of our members have used mobile antennas and had some
success.  Usually this includes careful attention to a ground counterpoise,
which acts as the other half of the antenna.  

Most of the DX (international) work is done on 10/15 and 20 Meters.  These
antennas can be full size and hidden or shortened a little with loading
coils and be quite effective.  A 20 meter dipole is 17.25 feet on a side. Or
34.5 feet end to end.  If you’re running under 100 watts you can use very
fine steel wire or fairly thin copper wire.  

With dipoles you should have your antenna up at a ¼ wavelength off of
ground,  again the higher bands require less height to radiate horizontally.

So,  Jump into HF,  lots of great older HF radios are out there for less
than $400 that will give you a great receiver, 100 watts of output and a
digital readout.  SO, If 2 meters gets a bit old, try HF.  The club has old
hands who can help you get it figured out.

73 Rick

N4ASX 

 

Hamfests –

If you don’t mind an excuse to get to the beach, check out the Virginia
Beach Hamfest on September 12.  Its located at the Virginia Beach Convention
Center at 1000 19th Street.  You can get to it by taking I-264 toward VA
Beach.  As you get closer to the oceanfront, you will see it on the right.
The hamfest is the VA Section Convention.       

Don’t forget the Columbia ARA CARAfest at the Howard County Fairgrounds  on
October 4.  It’s a short drive from our area.

Training - 

We are on track to start our next class on October 6 and ending December 8.
If you know someone who wants to get into amateur radio, send them our way.


Contests -

September 12 to September 14 – ARRL September VHF Contest.  Exchange is your
grid square.  Most of us are in FM18.  New this year, a VHF FM category.
Just be sure to stay away from the calling frequencies of 52.525, 146.520,
222.500 and 446.000.

September 12 and 13 – Arkansas QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

September 13 – North American CW Sprint. The exchange is the other station’s
call, your call, a serial number, your name and your state.  It’s not as bad
as it sounds, once you get into the swing of things, it goes quickly.  Since
this is a sprint, it only runs from 000Z to 0400Z.

September 19 an 20 – South Carolina QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

September 19 and 20 – New Jersey  QSO Party. Exchange is RST and State.

September 19 and 20 -Washington State Salmon Run.   Exchange is RST and
State.

September 26 and 27 – Maine QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and State.

September 26 and 27 – Texas QSO Party. Exchange is RST and State.

October 3 and 4 – California  QSO Party.  Exchange is a serial number and
state.

Club Repeaters - 

The Alexandria Radio Club owns more repeaters than other club 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.

Ham it up and get on the air.

73, 

Rich, KA4GFY

Future Programs

 

September – Computer Logging and radio control Programs – Rich KA4GFY, and
Ian N9IK.

October – Digital / Mobile HF

November – Club Elections

DECEMBER  - Holiday party and club awards 

 

If you have an idea for a program, please let Rick know and he will try to
find someone to provide the program.

 

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.

 

A few years ago,  a bunch of us went to the Air and Space Museum at Dullas,
is there an interest in another trip (Yes, I know it’s not radio).  We can
also plan for a trip the antique radio and EW museums.

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