[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARC SHORTS JUNE 2020
n4asx at cox.net
n4asx at cox.net
Thu Jun 11 19:21:39 EDT 2020
ARC-SHORTS
June 2020
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.
: DMR IS UP AND RUNNING 442.4125 +5Mhz Color Code 1.
PLEASE USE OUR REPEATERS.
Presidents Input
On May 28th, we were very delighted to learn about the new ARRL temporary
waiver for Field Day 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the
waiver, we were very concerned that ARC could not function as a "club"
during Field Day 2020 because of COVID-19 state and local public gathering
restrictions and closed public facilities. ARC had sought an ARRL waiver of
the 1000 feet diameter rule, but that was not granted. The 1000 feet rule
requires all Field Day radio equipment to be within a circle with a diameter
of 1000 feet. Never-the-less, the new temporary waiver made it possible for
ARC to operate as a "club" during Field Day, with some differences from the
past. The waiver has two important provisions: 1.) allowing QSO points for
class "D" to class "D" station contacts and 2.) summing of individual scores
into an aggregate "club" score. Field Day rules defines a class "D" station
as a home station on commercial power.
ARC Field Day 2020 Planning Group meetings were held via Zoom on May 20th
and on June 10th. A final plan of action for Field Day 2020 was under
discussion during the June 10th meeting. On June 10 we learned that
Northern Virginia will be entering phase II of reopening which allows
gathering of up to 50 people while practicing social distancing; however, it
is still unclear when public potty facilities will become available.
Availability of nearby potty facilities became a top concern during planning
of Field Day 2020. As of June 10th, 14 club members have volunteered to
operate Field Day stations. The Field Day 2020 final plan will be presented
to club membership on June 12th.
Roy Wright, K4AXQ, has been appointed as club PIO. In this capacity Roy
will be the point of contact for public information related to ARC. He will
interface with other amateur radio PIOs and others for ARC.
We have confirmation that our July meeting will feature an AMSAT
presentation via Zoom by Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, Executive Vice President of
AMSAT. Founded in 1969, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. (AMSAT) is an
all-volunteer organization that has been devoted to "keeping amateur radio
in space" over the past 50 years. Details on AMSAT Field Day 2020 rules may
be found at: <https://www.amsat.org/field-day/>
https://www.amsat.org/field-day/.
Scheduled Activities and Presentations for 2020 updated as of May 30, 2020
* January 10th - MEETING, 2020 Plans & Programs, Membership Dues
* February 1st - FROSTFEST, Richmond, VA
* February 14th - MEETING, VA QSO Party, Gordon Miller ( NQ4K)
* February 17th - George Washington Day Parade Participation
* March 10th - License Classes begin (Ends May 5)
* March 7th - St Patrick's Day Parade
* March 13th - (CANCELLED) MEETING, AREDN, Joe Porcelli (KT3I)
* March 21-22nd - VA QSO Party Weekend
* March 29th (CANCELLED) WINTERFEST, Annandale, VA
* April 8th - (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY) FIELD DAY 2020 planning
committee kickoff (John Marshall Library)
* April 10th - ZOOM MEETING, Alexandria CERT, Dr. Marjorie Windelberg
* May 8th - ZOOM MEETING, WINLINK, Greg Butler (KW6GB)
* May 15-17th - (CANCELLED) HAMVENTION, Dayton, OH
* June 12th - (ZOOM MEETING, FIELD DAY 2020 final briefing
* June 27-28th - FIELD DAY (NON-PUBLIC) 2020 Weekend
* July 10th - (TBA) MEETING, AMSAT, Paul Stroetzer (N8HM)
* August 14th - (TBD) MEETING, Marine Corps Marathon Briefing
* September 11th - MEETING, TBA
* October 9th -- MEETING, Ham Radio Outlet, Steve Gilmore (W4SHG)
* October 25th - MARINE CORPS MARATHON
* November 13th - Meeting, Year in Review, Elections
* December 11th - Meeting, Christmas party
Please stay safe and keep up with your social distancing.
73 Don, KI4D
Last Meeting
Meeting Notes May 8, 2020
Greg Butler KW6GB provided our club an introduction to WINLINK and the
benefits to the ham radio community. "Winlink is a worldwide radio email
service that uses radio pathways where the internet is not present and is
capable of operating completely without the internet-- automatically--using
smart-network radio relays.
Winlink provides its users email with attachments, position reporting,
weather and information bulletins, and is well-known for its role in
interoperable emergency and disaster relief communications."
Committee Reports:
N4ASX provided us an update on ARES/RACES
KW4UJ provided us an update on the ARC membership our numbers are up. He
reminds those that have not paid the 2020 annual membership dues are
requested to please do so. Your options are thru the web site using PayPal
or send him a check directly. Please contact him if you wish to pay by check
and he will provide you an address to send it to. Your dues are due annually
depending on the month that you joined. Don KI4D provided an update on the
history of ARC trailer. He continues to encourage us all that we should
document the history of ARC before we become a silent key.
KA4GFY provided an update Repeaters status as well as recommendations for
possible replacements
N8IK provided an update on AREDN
KA4GEY provided an update on Training/Education, how well the current class
be tested? KA4GFY provided an update on the work that's needs to be done to
the trailer roof refurbishment K4AXQ/N8IK provided an update on the
continues updates provided to the W4HFH web site June 12th - (TBD) MEETING,
FIELD DAY 2020 final brief you go back a few issues you will find an article
on Packet and WINLINK. If you have an ARPS radio, you have packet radio and
be extension WINLINK capability.
No business issues were voted on. We await a real meeting to do that.
FIELD DAY
First, Thanks to our President and Field Day Chair, who worked with a bunch
of higher ups in the ARRL. He got them to listen to the issues with
COVID-19 and lack of public facilities and after he spent many hours seeking
out ARRL directors and talking to the ARRL president on the phone he got
them to change the rules. There may have been others who also asked for
rule changes, but Don put in a great effort and timing says the Victory was
his and by extension the clubs and all those who could not otherwise
participate.
Please, when you see Don, thank him for his efforts. In my past 42 years
with this club, I have seen a great deal of Presidents come and go. Many
just run the meeting. Some ask others to take on the work, but Don has been
one of the few that are active and provide leadership.
Field Day is NOT A CONTEST. It is an exercise. SO, why then do we count
points and submit scores? Think of it as the measure of how effective your
emergency HF operations are. This is a great event to see how well your
station runs and where you can make contacts. Imagine you have just been a
Katrina like event. Commercial power is out, but somehow you still have
your station (only for this year) and you need to get traffic out of the
area. How well could you do that?
This year we get to operate as CLASS D, so you can talk to anyone in the
exercise and make points. Don't forget to send in your Cabrillo report to
ARRL and there is a line in the report for your CLUB. ALEXANDRIA RADIO
CLUB. Do it as long as you can from 1 hour to 24 hours.
73 Rick
N4ASX
Below is from our Field Day Chair and President Don, KI4D
On May 27, 2020 the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) Programs and Services
Committee (PSC) adopted two temporary rule waivers for Field Day 2020.
These waivers provide for:
1) For Field Day 2020 only, Class D stations may work all other
Field Day stations, including other Class D stations, for points.
2) In addition, for 2020 only, an aggregate club score will be
published, which will be the sum of all individual entries indicating a
specific club (similar to the aggregate score totals used in ARRL affiliated
club competitions).
The main impact of these rule changes allow ARRL clubs to compete for "club
credit" in Field Day 2020; whereas under previous rules, clubs could not
compete as a club because of COVID-19 state and local gathering restrictions
along with ARRL Field Day 2020 rules requiring club events to be public
events conducted within a 1000 feet diameter space.
The Alexandria Radio Club ARC is taking advantage of the ARRL temporary
waivers by approaching Field Day 2020 differently from prior years. In
doing so, there are significant differences this year for individual field
day station operators. Individual Field Day station operators must have
their own equipment and space to operate or have assistance with that in
some form. It is possible for equipment loans from the club, or individual
club members for those who have equipment gaps. For those who cannot erect
antennas at their residence, it is possible to operate "portable" in a
public space (a park) or in a private space (a church parking lot or other
available location). It is also possible to operate "mobile." The second
major impact is that all Field Day station operators must become directly
knowledgeable of Field Day rules. In past years, Only Band Captains and
Rich Adamy, the Club call custodian for W4HFH, had to be 100% knowledgeable
of Field Day rules. The third major impact is that all Field Day station
operators must file a summary of their own Field Day 2020 participation with
the ARRL. Normally, the club would file the Field Day report.
The following approach to Field Day 2020 has been reviewed and approved by
Alexandria Radio Club leadership (Club officers and Board), subject to
changes and greater detail:
* There will be no public event in 2020; all ARC Field Day
participants are encouraged to operate portable, mobile or from their home
station, with "Safety First." Please stay safe.
* There will be no Band Captains.
* Recommended Field Day Classes of Operation are: B (portable), C
(mobile), or D (home or home. of record). See attached rules, pages 3-8,
for full explanations.
* ARC Field Day participants are encouraged to earn individual Bonus
Points. See attached rules, pages 3-8, for full explanations.
* Participants are requested to notify the ARC Field Day Chairman of
their intentions to participate in Field Day. If there is a desire to
participate and there are gaps in equipment, etc., the club may be able to
help out.
* The ARC Field Day Charmain will act as a facilitator for mutual
support, assistance, and coordination.
* ARC will sponsor training/orientation for the N1MM logging program.
* ARC requests participants to submit their Field Day results to ARRL
and to the Field Day Chairman for consolidation of "Club" contacts and
scoring.
* A Field Day planning and coordination Zoom meeting will be conducted
for participants on June 10th. All participants should attend for the
latest information and to provide input for final plans.
* Completed plans for ARC Field Day 2020 will be presented at the club
monthly meeting on June 12th
* A Field Day 2020 final check and coordination meeting VIA Zoom is
scheduled on June 24th
As a member of the Field Day Planning Google Group, please send me an email
letting me know that you plan to operate a station for "club credit" during
Field Day 2020; this is important so that coordination and mutual support
can be established.
Finally, please send any suggestions, comments, or questions that you may
have to the Google Group or me. Working through the challenges of a
COVID-19 Field Day will require a team effort. Thanks for your
Cooperation.
Don Lewis
Field Day 2020 Coordinator
NEXT CLUB MEETING
Our next meeting will be on June 12th at 7PM and will be a ZOOM meeting due
to COVID 19 restrictions. The program will be a planning session for Field
Day. Field Day is a MAJOR event for us, and Don has been working hard to
make this happen with all our new restrictions.
We have a big club and our focus should be on amateur radio. Don't sit this
one out!
ARES
On May 30th there was a NATION WIDE ARES / American Red Cross Simulated
Emergency Test (SET). I asked for participation from Alexandria ARES and
had a few who took the time.
The following stations supported the Alexandria ARES effort for this drill
N4ASX - Rick - NCS and Part B (WINLINK) submissions for the net.
KA4GFY - Rich Adamy - Shelter 2
KI4D - Don Lewis - Alexandria Hospital Liaison
K5OTZ - Jack Hranicky - Alexandria EOC liaison
KM4DC - Don McCubbin - Red Cross Head Quarters Liaison
KN4YZY - Corey Law -Shelter 1
N4CWP - Harry Jones - Shelter 3
NG2E - John Haefner - Fairfax liaison via 146.91 repeater (Winlink)
submissions part B
KG4HZC - Dr Mac - Fairfax Shelter 2 - Winlink submissions part B
Per the plan, we started the net at 0900 local time and called for
check-ins. In addition to the Alexandria ARES group we had two stations
from Arlington and Fairfax. Apparently, Fairfax and Arlington ARES did not
participate.
Each station was asked to take 30 minutes to simulate deployment to
locations and setup and return with their first status report. NCS
requested each station was to provide 1 - Are you operational, Do you have
emergency power, red cross staff, shelter capacity, number of patients,
status supplies (food, water, first aid, etc.) For the hospital I asked for
capacity and status of the hospital to support victims.
About 11AM local, we closed down operations having set up the net and passed
traffic via 213 form - I could not figure out how to use the Red Cross 6409
form, which is a requisition form. SO, all 8 pieces of traffic were sent
via WINLINK to Greg KW6GB via his tactical call sign.
Part B traffic was sent via WINLINK about 2PM. I was not able to go through
K7BC-10 so went through N2LEE.
KM4DC did accept status reports for net control from NG2E which were
forwarded to Greg.
It would be helpful if the Red Cross had a standard SHELTER STATUS report
form.
I had hoped that I would have up to 14 Alexandria ARES operators, but many
did not participate, which I will work on.
AFTER ACTION FOR May 30, 2020 SET
John Roberts, the State Emergency Coordinator held an After Action ZOOM
meeting on Wednesday June 10th.
Overall, he was happy with the performance of ARES. He pointed out that we
are still to improve upon; Discussions on participation, better liaison with
the Red Cross, More training in WINLINK, RED CROSS forms, and net
procedures. One suggestion was to continue to push for Red Cross volunteers
to become amateur radio operators. Rick, N4ASX, pointed out that asking
CERT, Red Cross, or other volunteers to become amateur radio operators is
not a good idea. They generally, do not continue to use their equipment, or
to continue to train in the art and science of radio and when there is a
real emergency, they are not able to be of practical use.
Discussion on the need for grant writing to provide equipment that can be
used by all ARES members (some ARES members may not want to allow others to
use their equipment). There was also the suggestion that served agencies
should install antennas, and other amateur radio equipment in Red Cross
shelters and other emergency support locations. We in Alexandria are in
good shape on this as the Nanny J. Lee Center serves as an alternate
Emergency Operations Center and has emergency power, The Hospital has an
antenna up for us and our digital repeaters and also has emergency power.
We have the trailer and it has two 2KW generator sets and many of our
members have go kits that have anything an assignment would need.
We can expect more drills in the coming year as the state tries to get us
all up to speed and work together both digitally and locally.
Thanks again to all who participated.
73 Rick
N4ASX
New requirements for ARES volunteers. First, to find out what's going on in
the state FACEBOOK is the place to get info (so I'm told), All ARES
volunteers will be expected to sign up with ARRL ARES CONNECT VA. I
understand that I will be able to keep records and post nets and events for
our group on this site. Please sign up <https://arrl.volunteerhub.com/>
https://arrl.volunteerhub.com/
When we get access to the hospital again, we will replace the DSL router for
D-STAR and DMR repeaters. Hope to also figure out how to remote the two
Dual Band radios from the machinery room to the office where the hospital
wants us to set up our equipment.
Trailer work is now in the planning stages and CORVID-19 willing, we can get
the trailer updated before Field Day.
73 Rick
N4ASX
It is with great sadness
Yesterday, Craig Church became a silent key succumbing to COVID-19 at
Arlington Hospital. He had gone to the hospital a few weeks ago and was
sent home. His condition got worse and he was readmitted and passed
yesterday.
Craig, K4GOR, is best know to the club for working with Tim KT4MV on
refurbishing and upgrading all our many repeaters. Craig also built the
Arlington Amateur Radio Club's 145.47 repeater and its multi-receiver voting
system mostly from scratch.
I met Craig in 1984 on the air when I moved from Alexandria to Arlington and
enjoyed a lot of hours talking with Craig and many others on the 145.47
repeater. Craig was active in ARES during that period as well as in the
Arlington club. Many things were accomplished because Craig made it happen.
Craig worked for the U.S. Patent Office and retired as a GS-15 not only as a
manager but also as one who took it on as a special challenge to train
younger patent examiners.
Craig will be missed, and it is a great loss to the club and amateur radio.
Craig is survived by his son David and daughter, his daughter's family and
his ex-wife.
We are too soon gone from this world and Craig will be remembered for his
contributions to both the Alexandria Radio Club and to the Arlington Amateur
Radio Club.
We will hold a moment of silence for Criag on our net Thursday.
73 Rick
N4ASX
Hamfests -
* If you have never attended Hamvention, use "2020" as the year.
* May 30 and 31 - CQ Worldwide WPX Contest, CW. Exchange is RST and
serial number.
* June 6 and 7 - Kentucky QSO Party. Exchange is RST and state.
The spread of COVID-19 (AKA Corona Virus) has put a major damper on
hamfests.
So far in our area, Winterfest, Fredfest and Hagerstown Hamfests have been
cancelled. The Raleigh and Durham, NC hamfests have been cancelled. The
Delmarva hamfest has been cancelled. The Memorial weekend hamfest was
cancelled. Added to that list is Olde VA Hams hamfest and the Father's Day
hamfest at Arcadia in June. The big disappointment to everyone is the
cancellation of Hamvention 2020. The first time in their 68-year history.
The Shenandoah Valley ARC is optimistic their hamfest in early August will
still be held. It's at the Clark County Ruritan's fairgrounds in
Berryville. Here is the link: <https://svarc.us/hamfest/>
https://svarc.us/hamfest/
With the ongoing COVID-19 situation, be sure to check the websites to make
sure the hamfest has not been cancelled.
Training -
Our class began on schedule March 10 with 18 students in attendance. There
were four who indicated they were interested in coming, but other
commitments got in the way.
By the second week, we were unable to hold class in the Police Department
facility. Zoom has been our teaching platform for the duration of the
class. Without access to the Police Department building, we are now
teaching General class material to our students to get them up to speed to
take the General class exam along with the technician when we do get access.
We have reserved the room in June after the restriction is lifted. If for
some reason we still can't into the building, we have a couple of
contingency plans in place to make sure the exam goes on. We won't know for
sure until early to mid-June where and when the exam will be. Most likely,
we will have to do exams in small groups to comply with social distancing
and group size guidelines. If you are interested in taking an exam, be sure
to check with me before the exam. We will not be able to accommodate
walk-ins. I'll post something on the reflector once we have the final
details.
Contests -
* June 6 and 7 - Kentucky QSO Party. Exchange is RST and state.
* June 13 through 15 - ARRL June VHF Contest. 50 MHz and above.
Exchange is grid square. Most of us are in FM18.
* June 20 and 21 - West Virginia QSO Party. Exchange is RST and
state.
* June 27 and 28 - ARRL Field Day. Exchange is your class and ARRL
section.
While its not a contest, don't forget Kid's Day on June 20. It's an
opportunity to introduce kids to the world of amateur radio.
Don't forget, be sure to send in your log within 7 days after the contest
ends for all ARRL sponsored contests. ARRL now uses a web application for
contest log submissions. Here is the link:
<http://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/>
http://contest-log-submission.arrl.org/ Be sure to convert your file to
Cabrillo format before submitting. Most logging programs support the
Cabrillo format.
REMEMBER to support the CLUB'S score for contests by providing Ian, N8IK
your info (Name, Call sign and Grid Square location) and submit your scores
for the contests you play in. If the contest asks for a club affiliation,
the Alexandria Radio Club is on the list of contest clubs. Contesting is
one way we show that we are using our frequency allocations.
Contests may not be your thing, but contests are a great way to show outside
interests we do use our valuable spectrum. By showing we use our spectrum,
other services will have a hard time proving that we don't use our spectrum
and it's up for re-allocation to someone else.
Contests can also be a great way to become introduced to HF communications.
While it can be intense, pick the contest and jump in. Most contests have a
limited exchange so it is usually easy to get what the other station needs.
State QSO parties are a great introduction to contesting. Most are low-key
and the exchange is limited.
Speaking of state QSO parties, there is now a state QSO party challenge.
You can start accumulating multipliers by submitting a log in any state or
provincial QSO party to 3830scores.com QSOParty Groups.io.forum and State
QSOParty.com.
Repeaters -
The club analog repeaters are all up and running. The receiver on the 70
cm DSTAR repeater appears to have a sensitivity issue. The transmitter is
working normally.
We have resumed (semi-regularly) the follow-on net on one of the other
repeaters after the Thursday net on the 2-meter analog repeater.
Once the access restriction is lifted at the hospital, we will be able to
replace the modem and look at the 70 cm repeater receiver to see what needs
to be done. Once the modem is replaced, our DSTAR and DMR repeaters will
have internet access.
You can use the DSTAR repeaters in local mode by not filling in the
"Repeater 2" position or link to another W4HFH DSTAR repeater by using
"W4HFH" in the first 5 positions and "A", "B", or "C" in the 8th position in
"Repeater 2."
The local mode for the DMR repeater is talk group 27500. Most code plugs
label the talk group as "Local."
As always, ham it up and get on the air.
73, Rich, KA4GFY
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