[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Alexandria Radio Club - ARC SHORTS December 2021
n4asx at cox.net
n4asx at cox.net
Wed Dec 8 20:18:00 EST 2021
ARC-SHORTS
DECEMBER 2021
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.
Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be held at GLORY DAYS on December 10th at 7PM. This
is our annual Christmas Party. Ian, N8IK is our Master of Ceremonies. At
this time we have 31 confirmations to attend with a MAX attendance at 40.
If you plan to attend please contact Ian and let him know. Food will be al
la cart, so you order from the menu. We will also present a few well
deserved awards.
Last Meeting
The November meeting was our annual business meeting. The budget was
approved and officers railroaded (I mean elected!) More details below.
Presidents Corner
Presidents Corner
We are still holding with regular in-person club meetings subject to
COVID-19 restrictions at our normal meeting location, the City of Alexandria
Police Headquarters building. Until we are notified that COVID restrictions
are lifted and that we may resume our regular meetings, we will continue
with virtual club meetings using Zoom.
The ARC Annual Membership Business meeting was held via Zoom on November
12th, 2021. Club Business primarily consisted of election of club officers
for 2022 and approval of the club 2022 budget. The slate of nominees from
the club nominating committee and the proposed budget were approved without
objections. The meeting also featured a proposal for development of a club
strategic plan which was given the go-ahead.
Club board members elected at the November meeting are:
President: Richard Morani
Vice President: Sean Gallagher
Secretary: Carol Myers
Treasurer: Don Lewis
Director #1 with two-year term beginning on odd numbered year (2021-2023):
Ed Ferguson (At Large Board Member, duties as assigned)
Director #2 with two-year term beginning on even numbered year (2022-2024):
Pamela Larson (At Large Board Member, duties as assigned) Director #2 is to
serve as an acting director until the term begins in 2022.
Director #3 with three-year term (2021-2024): Ian Keith (Club continuity)
The club also welcomed the new Membership Committee Chairman: Jack Parker
A Tech-talk was held on November 19th featuring Ian Keith, (N8IK) discussing
"FT-8 Advanced Techniques (DX)." Tech-talks topics resulted from a club
survey conducted this past spring with club members. All sessions are open
to all hams. These talks will be conducted monthly during the coming
months. The purpose of these sessions is to provide an opportunity for
in-depth conversations, including Q&A, on a variety of ham radio topics.
These sessions also follow up on ideas from club members desiring to build
on their knowledge of ham radio. Thusly, it is also hoped that these
sessions will build on club mentoring efforts for our newest hams and will
serve to promote their continuing interest in club activities. Finally, it
is hoped that these sessions will lead to more interest in operator license
upgrades enabled by increased knowledge of ham radio.
Most ARES Safety vests were delivered during Field Day weekend for those who
attended. The remaining vests are being held pending delivery. Club polo
shirts have also arrived and were made available at delivery points, the
remaining shirts are pending delivery. If you have purchased a shirt,
please let me know your availability for pickup.
The list of upcoming club activities and presentations planned for 2021 is
listed below. The Club also welcomes any ideas from club members for
programs and activities in 2021. Please send your ideas to
<mailto:president at w4hfh.org> president at w4hfh.org.
Scheduled Activities and Presentations for 2021 updated as of Dec, 2021
. January 8th - ZOOM MEETING, Pentagon Radio Club MARS
Operations by Gary Sessums (KC5QCN), 2021 Plans & Programs, Voting Meeting
. February 6th - (CANCELLED) FROSTFEST, Richmond, VA
. February 12th - ZOOM MEETING, VA QSO Party, Gordon
Miller (NQ4K)
. February 15th - (CANCELLED) George Washington Day
Parade Participation
. March (Date) - License Classes begin, Ends May (Date)
. March 6th - (CANCELLED) St Patrick's Day Parade
. March 12th - ZOOM MEETING, How to Learn and Have Fun
with Morse Code by Long Island CW Club, Howard (WB2UZE) and Jim (W6JIM)
. March 20-21th - VA QSO Party Weekend
. April 7th - ZOOM MEETING, FIELD DAY 2021 planning
committee kickoff
. April 9th - ZOOM MEETING, West Mountain Radio, Mark
Siegesmund (W9WMR)
. April 24th (VIRTUAL) WINTERFEST, Annandale, VA
. May 14th - ZOOM MEETING, Antenna Tuners: When do you
need one, and how do they work? Barry Feierman (K3EUI)
. May 21-23rd - (CANCELLED) HAMVENTION, Dayton,
. June 11th - ZOOM MEETING, FIELD DAY 2020 final
briefing
. June 26-27th - FIELD DAY 2021 Weekend
. July 9th - ZOOM MEETING, AREDN, Joe Porcelli (KT3I)
. August 1st - Berryville HAMFEST, Berryville, VA
. August 13th - ZOOM MEETING, ARC ARES, Rick Bunn
(N4ASX)
. September 10th - ZOOM MEETING, Marine Corps Marathon
(MCM) 2021 - Howard Cunningham
. October 8th - ZOOM MEETING, DX Engineering, Tim Duffy
(K3LR)
. October 31st - (CANCELED) MARINE CORPS MARATHON
. November 12th - MEMBERSHIP MEETING, Elections
. December 10th - MEETING, Christmas party
. January 14th ZOOM MEETING, Solar Cycle 25 and HF
Propagation, Carl Luetzelschwab, (K9LA)
. February 11th ZOOM MEETING, Attic Loading Coil
Antenna, John Portune, (W6NBC)
Proposed Tech Roundtable Topics for 2021 (Panel of experienced club members
and others discussing their experiences with Q&A.)
1. Ham Activities for New Technician Class Hams
2. Handy talkies (HT) options, what kind, how much? Pros and
Cons
3. Building a Go-kit for ARES
4. QRP (Reduced transmit power out)
5. Portable ops (rigs, batteries, antennas, etc.)
6. Mobile installations
7. Starter Base Station Options
8. Stealthy Antennas for city dwellers
9. QSL Cards
10. Getting Started with ECHOLINK
11. Getting Started with Amateur Radio Satellite Communications
12. Parks on the Air for Beginners
13. Working with Repeaters
14. Using NVIS
15. Working with Digital modes
16. Radio Scanners for Beginners
17. Packet Radio
18. Raspberry Pi Applications
19. Virtual Ham Shack Tour
20. Ham Shack Hotline
21. Installation and Logging with N3FJP
22. Matching Antennas to Feedlines
23. Propagation and Sunspot Cycle 25
24. "Time" for new amateur radio operators
Please get vaccinated and stay safe with masks and social distancing.
73 Don, KI4D
ARES
Thanks to all who volunteered and and participated in events this past year.
We have 23 ARES volunteers and others who participate in public service
events. Our club is largely social, but members have many interests.
My plans for next year includes:
1 - Finding a replacement EC
2 - Finally publishing a revised Standard Operating Proceedure for
Alexandria ARES
3 - Tracking training
ACTIVITIES (Hamfests, Contests, Training, Repeaters) by Rich (KA4GFY)
Hamfests -
The spread of COVID-19 (AKA Corona Virus) has put a major damper on hamfests
for 2020 and much of 2021. However, with people getting vaccinated, there
are more hamfests showing up on the calendar. Let's hope this continues.
As of early December, two of the bigger hamfests of the year have announced
they will be live this coming year. Both the Orlando Hamcation in February
and Dayton Hamvention are planning on live events in 2022. Let's hope
nothing changes.
Training -
Our latest class concluded on December 7 with the exam. We do not have the
results at press time, but will have the results later in the week.
We do plan on another class in the Spring.
Contests -
* December 11 and 12 - ARRL 10 meter contest. Exchange is RST and
state.
* December 18 - RAC winter contest. Exchange is RST and serial
number.
* January 9 - ARRL RTTY Roundup. 1800Z to 2400Z. Exchange is RST
and state.
* January 15 and 16 - North American QSO Party, CW. 1800Z to 0600Z.
Exchange is name and state.
* January 22 and 23 - North American QSO Party, SSB. 1800Z to
0600Z. Exchange is name and state.
Straight Key Night takes place every January 1, form 0000Z to 2359Z. It's
not really a contest, but a chance to brush off the straight key and have a
few QSOs using only a straight key. Instead of sending the other station
their RST, send SKN to clue people in they are listening to a Straight Key
Night QSO.
The January edition of Kids Day also takes place on January 1, 2022. It
runs from 1800Z to 2359Z. Be sure to talk to the kids when you hear them on
the air. You never know, that QSO might spark an interest in ham radio.
Every Sunday evening at 8 PM local time, the K1USN Radio Club sponsors the
"Slow Speed "Contest." The exchange is similar to a QSO. See the rules
here: <http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html> http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html.
Every Tuesday at 0000 (8 PM EDT Monday for us) is the Worldwide Sideband
Activity Contest. Exchange is RS and age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth).
Here are the rules: <https://wwsac.com/rules.html>
https://wwsac.com/rules.html
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.
The Night Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the shack,
Not a sound was heard, not even an "aaaaacccccck".
The club members were nestled all snug in their shacks,
With visions of handheld charging in racks.
The catalogs were hung by the chimney with care,
With hopes the new radio would soon be there.
Out came the keyer, and out came the mic,
To work the DX so late that at night.
When up on the roof, there arose such a clatter,
I thought my tri-bander had come down with a splatter.
>From out of my chair I sprang with a flash,
To see what it would cost me, in cold hard cash.
The moon on the tower and the new fallen snow,
Gave a luster of daylight to the objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear?
But eight tiny (?) ARC members with pizza and beer.
And the jolly man with the key, so often evident,
I knew in an instant it must be our club president.
More rapid than Morse Code his QSOs they came,
And he whistled and shouted, and called them by name:
Now Harry! Now Chuck! Now Frank and Gordon!
On Rich! On Rick, On Cab and Dan!
They had a good plan and went straight to work,
Building a new station without even a quirk.
When they finished the job, and as they disappeared from sight,
And I heard them exclaim, "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!"
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