[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Radio Club January 2017 ARC SHORTS

[Rick Bunn]

ARC-SHORTS

January 2017


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 January meeting is January 13th at 7PM at the Police Dispatch Center at
3600 Wheeler Ave.  Just off of Duke St on the south side half a block west
of Quaker Lane.  Dinner at Atlantis Restaurant at about 5:30 prior to the
meeting.  This month’s program will be provided by Don, KI4D on antenna
poles.  We will have a practical packet program in February.

WASHINGTON”S BIRTHDAY PARADE

On Monday, February 20, 2017...George Washington's Day.
The annual George Washington Birthday Parade is held annually on the third
Monday in February. It winds through a one-mile route along the historic
streets of Old Town on President's Day. It is the oldest and largest, thanks
to thousands of participants. More programs scheduled throughout the
birthday weekend make it the cornerstone of a month of celebratory events
<http://washingtonbirthday.com/events-1> .
WE need volunteers to help with the parade this year.  We will set up the
club trailer at the start of the parade and need about 6 operators using
handhelds to work with the organizers to make sure we get any changes to the
parade order of march to the trailer just as the parade starts.  It’s a
short parade so the guys in the trailer will send the changes by either
D-Star of Packet to the Reviewing stand.  Those who work with the parade
marshals are welcome to go up the parade route and meet up at the reviewing
stand.  We meet at the Fire Training Center at 10AM,  Move to the start
point or the reviewing stand No LATER THAN 11 AM ,  Police close the roads
for the parade at 11AM.  Parade starts at 1PM and ends about 2 or 2:30. We
than find a warm place to have a late lunch.
Send Rick, N4ASX at arrl.net <mailto:N4ASX at arrl.net>  an e-mail if you can
volunteer.  If we have two members with APRS handhelds we can provide the
reviewing stand with position info for the start and finish of the parade.
N4ASX has one that he can loan out.
73 Rick
N4ASX


PRESIDENT’S COLUME 
Except for the current bitter cold, hope everybody is getting settled into
the new year. We’ll have quite a few important topics to cover during this
Friday’s meeting: budgeting/dues, repeater issues, upcoming activities, and
I’m sure more will spring up. If you have anything to add, please show up
and offer your contributions. Hope to see you Friday. 

73 DE KI4BXU
-- 
Erik Misavage, KI4BXU
<ki4bxu at mac.com <mailto:ki4bxu at mac.com> >


POLITICAL ISSUES (Provided by Don KI4D)

Jan 8 2017

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING ALL AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS IN VIRGINIA

OK----here we go again. Virginia legislators are scheduled to convene again
in the next several days.  There is a Senate Bill # 860 which again is
trying to prevent the operation including texting and other operations
affecting two way radio while operating a motor vehicle. The bill as you can
read below----shows an exception for citizens band radio and other special
equipment and situations-------HOWEVER IT DOES NOT EXEMPT AMATEUR RADIO
OPERATION.

It is important you contact your local Virginia Legislator and request the
they MODIFY the wording in Senate Bill #860 -----TO INCLUDE AMATEUR RADIO
------IN ADDITION TO CITIZENS BAND RADIO ---AS AN EXCEPTION IN ITEM B-5, AS
NOTED IN THIS EXISTING BILL.2017 SESSION

SENATE BILL NO. 860
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled December 7, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to hands-free operation of handheld personal communications devices in motor
vehicles; exceptions; penalty.
----------
Patrons-- Surovell; Delegate: Kory
----------
Referred to Committee on Transportation
----------
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as
follows:
§ 46.2-1078.1. Use of handheld personal communications devices in certain
motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty.
A. It is unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the
highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal
communications device to: unless the handheld personal communications device
is specifically designed and configured to allow voice and hands-free
operation and the device is being used in that manner 1. Manually enter
multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with
another person; or 2. Read any email or text message transmitted to the
device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not
apply to any name or number stored within the device nor to any caller
identification information.
B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
1. The operator of any emergency vehicle while he is engaged in the
performance of his official duties; 2. An operator who is lawfully parked or
stopped; 3. The use of factory-installed or aftermarket global positioning
systems (GPS) or wireless communications devices used to transmit or receive
data as part of a digital dispatch system; or 4. The use of a handheld
personal communications device for purposes of navigation or generating
audio transmission, provided that such device is physically mounted to a
vehicle; 5. The use of a citizens band radio; or 6. Any person using a
handheld personal communications device to report an emergency.
C. A violation of this section is shall be punishable as follows:
1. As a traffic infraction punishable, for a first offense, by a fine of
$125 and, for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of $250; or 2. If
such offense occurs concurrently with an additional traffic offense set
forth in Title 18.2 or 46.2, or a valid local ordinance governing traffic,
or proximately results in an accident, it shall be punishable as reckless
driving as set forth in § 46.2-868.
D. For the purposes of this section, "emergency vehicle" means:
1. Any law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a
federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer while engaged in the
performance of official duties; 2. Any regional detention center vehicle
operated by or under the direction of a correctional officer responding to
an emergency call or operating in an emergency situation; 3. Any vehicle
used to fight fire, including publicly owned state forest warden vehicles,
when traveling in response to a fire alarm or emergency call; 4. Any
emergency medical services vehicle designed or used for the principal
purpose of supplying resuscitation or emergency medical services relief
where human life is endangered; 5. Any Department of Emergency Management
vehicle or Office of Emergency Medical Services vehicle, when responding to
an emergency call or operating in an emergency situation; 6. Any Department
of Corrections vehicle designated by the Director of the Department of
Corrections, when (i) responding to an emergency call at a correctional
facility, (ii) participating in a drug-related investigation, (iii) pursuing
escapees from a correctional facility, or
(iv) responding to a request for assistance from a law-enforcement officer;
and 7. Any vehicle authorized to be equipped with alternating, blinking, or
flashing red or red and white secondary warning lights pursuant to §
46.2-1029.2.
D. E. Distracted driving shall be included as a part of the driver's license
knowledge examination.

Please respond to this needed change in this bill by contacting local
legislator ASAP since this is an active matter that AFFECTS EACH AND EVERY
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR IN VIRGINIA.  

Dr Joe Palsa
Virginia Section Manager


ELMERS CORNER

Hamfest season is upon us.  If you’re a new ham, then hamfests are a great
way to find good deals on both new and used gear.  BUT, Cavoite Emptor – let
the buyer beware.  When I get started in the hobby in the 1970s, if a ham at
a hamfest said the radio worked, it worked.  Now not so true.  These days we
do have hams who will palm off a piece of gear that has failed or needs
repair and tell you “it worked the last time I used it”.  Another line that
should send up warning bells is “It’s from an estate of a friend and I’m
doing the family a favor”.  By itself, this has NOTHING to do as to whether
it works or not.  Most hamfest organizers have a table to allow you to fire
it up and check to see that the radio works.  TEST IT!   I have a fondness
for the old Kenwood TR-7950 radios, They were made in early 1980s, only
cover 2 meters, and do not come with tone encoding unless you have the
optional 3 tone board, no tone decoding, and only 21 memories.  BUT, they
have excellent receivers and put out 45 watts. I’ve purchased two where the
seller told me that the only problem was the memory battery, but when I got
them home, one had a dead microprocessor and the other had a burned out
final amp.  You can buy the tone board for $80, but for the price of a 7950
plus the tone board (which both sellers said was installed), you very close
to the cost of a new quality dual band mobile.  

So, how do you NOT GET TAKEN FOR A RIDE?  Go to the hamfest with some of the
more experienced club members / Elmers.   Some radios are golden and worth
buying used and some were not a good deal when they were new.  

We have a list of hamfests and the club usually has a group going to them so
you can join the carpool and get the help you may need.  

73 Rick
N4ASX

MEETING MINUTES.

We had a good time at the December party but we did not have any awards as
no-one offered any suggestions.  There were many members who have
contributed greatly to our success as a club in 2016 that should be
recognized.  I will not get all of them here, but I would like to thank some
of them.

First our club officers, they keep the club moving forward and have done a
great job.
Rich, KA4GFY, continues to be our chief instructor, Lead volunteer examiner,
and club trustee.
Ian, N8IK, Is always there to provide help to other members and sets a great
example of what is best in amateur radio.
Don, KI4D – Our connection to Dr. Fong for one of our better programs, our
CERT lead and fellow VE and instructor.
Mark, KM4GML is one of our newer members but twice this last year came up
with really great programs.  



Hamfests –
The next hamfest in our area is the Maryland Mobileers Hamfest in Odenton,
MD on January 29.   I have found some really cool items there.  The location
is the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department station on Route 175.  It’s a short
drive North on I-95 or 295 (BW Parkway) and East on Route 175.  Talk-in will
be on the 146.805 MHz repeater (PL 107.2 Hz).
The following week, February 4, is the Richmond Frostfest.  It’s sponsored
by the Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society.  The location is the
Richmond International Raceway complex.  For those of us who have been
around awhile, it’s the old Virginia State Fairgrounds.  Talk-in on the
146.88 repeater (PL 94.8 Hz).  
In past years, we have met for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel on the South
side of Fredericksburg at about 7 AM and caravanned to the hamfest
afterwards.  It’ an easy drive and well-marked, and carpools are already
forming.
It’s not too early to start thinking about this year’s Hamvention.  As you
probably already know, it has moved from its home of 50+ years to a new
location in Xenia, OH.  Everybody will be getting used to the new layout.
The Hamvention website has a tour of the site and ARRL posted a video tour
provided by DX Engineering from a drone.  It looks like a fairly large
place.
I have 4 rooms at the Holiday Inn Fairborn, same place we were at 2 years
ago.  If you are a QRP enthusiast, this hotel hosts the Four Days in May QRP
event.  The plan is to leave on Wednesday, May 17 in order to visit the US
Air Force Museum on Thursday.  The 4th building was opened last June.  If
you have even a passing interest in aviation, this is a great place.   
  
Training - 

Our next class is scheduled to start March 7 and end May 9.  If you know of
someone who has always wanted to get into ham radio but hasn’t been able to
do it on their own, here is their opportunity.  

As always, the exam is always the last class.  We don’t believe in making
our students hunt down an exam session after the class.  

The best part is the cost is still $50.  How often can you say a price
hasn’t changed for several years?   

Contests -

January 14 and 15 – North American QSO Party, CW.  Exchange is your name and
state.

January 21 through 23 – ARRL January VHF Contest.  All VHF/UHF bands above
50 MHz.  All modes.  Exchange is your grid square.  Most of us are in FM18.

January 21 and 22 – North American QSO Party, SSB.  Exchange is name and
state.

January 28 – Montana QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

January 28 and 29 – Winter Field Day.  Exchange is the number of
transmitters, whether you are operating from home, indoors, or outdoors and
your state.

February 4 and 5 – Vermont QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

February 4 – Minnesota QSO Party.  Exchange is your name and state.

February 4 and 5 – North American Sprit, CW.  Exchange is other station’s
callsign, your callsign, serial number, and your state.

Repeaters – 

The club repeaters are all up and running.  There was a power problem in the
room with the 2 meter, 70 cm, 33 cm and 23 cm repeaters, but that has been
resolved.

Make 2017 the year you try a new band.

As always, ham it up and get on the air.
73, 
Rich, KA4GFY


Future Programs

January 13th -  Don KI4D on new poles for portable antennas 
February 10th – Washington Birthday planning – Practical Packet and APRS
March 10th  -  City EMS 
April 14th  -  DMS and Other digital radios
May 12th  - CRYSTAL SET RADIO CONTEST (do your research now and set up your
team)
June 9th  - Field Day Planning
July 14th  - 
August 11th  - 
September 8th  - 
October 13th  - 
November 10th  -   
December 8th – Annual Christmas / Holiday Party
Possible programs: City EMS and Radio system, D-Star part II, Antenna
Modeling, Contesting HF/VHF,  AMSAT,  AMRAD, RF Interference (power
company), Logging programs,  Dayton follow up, Marine Corps Marathon.

Let me know what you want to hear about.  HELP !!!!  If you have an idea for
a program, please let Rick know and he will try to find someone to provide
the program.  If you kown someone you would like to have present a program,
let me know Rick, N4ASX
Social Events

Monday Night Burgers – There is a group that gets together at 6:15 PM on
Mondays at a local burger joint.   Mark up on the 147.315 repeater and join
them for the fun.  Mark up on the repeater about 6PM and join the group.
The location does change!  IF you have a good spot, you might make a
suggestion.

Many years ago, the club visited the National Air and Space Museum.  This
would be a weekend event. Other possible weekend trips include the radio and
electronics museum up near Baltimore.