[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARC SHORTS NOVEMBER 2021
n4asx at cox.net
n4asx at cox.net
Mon Nov 8 13:34:27 EST 2021
ARC-SHORTS
NOVEMBER 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 on ZOOM on NOVEMBER 12th, this is our annual
business meeting. We need to elect officers and directors for next year,
and do all the club's annual business. In addition, this is a great time
for the members to tell the new leadership what they want the club to do.
This is a MEMBERSHIP only meeting, If you have not paid your dues then you
should take care of that prior to the ZOOM meeting so your votes count.
The current leadership has a list of nominations, but any member can make a
nomination for any position.
Last Meeting
ARC Meeting Minutes_10082021
October 08, 2021
Tim Duffy, K3LR of DX Engineering briefed us Antennas.
* They convert RF power to its feed point into electromagnetic
radiation.
* Intercepts energy from a passing electromagnetic radiation, which
then appears as RF voltage across the antenna's feed point.
* Any conductor, that can intercept an RF field can be an antenna.
Some important Antenna Parameters are:
Directivity or Gain
* Is the ratio of the power radiated by an antenna in its direction of
maximum radiation to the power radiated by a reference antenna in the same
direction.
* Is measured in dBi (dB reference to an isotropic antenna) or dBd (dB
reference to a half wavelength dipole)
Presidents Corner
Regular in-person club meeting events are still 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.
This is notice that the ARC Board of Directors will conduct the scheduled
Annual Membership Business meeting via Zoom at 7:00 p.m. on November 12th,
2021. Exclusive Zoom link invitations to the meeting will be sent only to
Club members that are current with dues, in accordance with ARC Bylaws by
November 5th, 2021. If you are a member current with dues and have not
received an invitation to the meeting by November 5th, please contact the
ARC Treasurer at treasurer at w4hfh.org for immediate resolution.
The Club Business meeting agenda will include:
- Report of club highlights during 2021.
- Annual Budget for 2022. A presentation, discussion, and
membership vote will be conducted on the 2022 Annual Budget. A copy of the
2022 Budget will be forwarded to members with the Zoom invitation.
- Bylaws Review. A discussion of items from members regarding
the Bylaws review will be conducted. A copy of the existing Bylaws will be
forwarded with the Zoom invitation to the business meeting.
- Strategic Planning Document Proposal. Comments will be
solicited on a proposal to establish a Strategic Planning working group.
See attached ARRL Strategic Planning Document
- Election of ARC board directors members. At the request of
the ARC Board of Directors, a slate of nominees for ARC 2022 Board of
Directors has been prepared by the ARC Nominating Committee and are listed
below. This is a list of those who have already volunteered and are
qualified for the offices listed. However, any member of the Club in good
standing may nominate themselves, or be nominated by another Club member any
time prior to November 5th. Nominations may be sent to president at w4hfh.org
who will forward them to the Nominating Committee chairman. Time will be
provided, prior to the start of the voting process for the candidates to
make a short statements regarding their qualifications, if more than one
candidate exists for an office. If you have questions about the duties of
Board members, contact any of the serving Board members regarding their
duties. The Nomination Committee has submitted the following slate of
candidates for the ARC Board officers for 2022:
o President: Richard Morani
o Vice President: Sean Gallagher
o Secretary: Carol Myers
o Treasurer: Don Lewis
o Board Member: Ian Keith (Club Continuity)
o Board Member: Pamela Larson (At Large Board Member, duties as
assigned)
o Board Member: Ed Bradshaw (At Large Board Member, duties as
assigned)
o Chairman, Membership Committee: Jack Parker
- Other business as proposed by the Board, or raised by the
members at the meeting.
The Corporation's Bylaws, and Bylaws may be viewed at:
<https://w4hfh.org/about/by-laws-of-the-alexandria-radio-club-inc%20/>
https://w4hfh.org/about/by-laws-of-the-alexandria-radio-club-inc /
The October 8th monthly featured Antennas by Tim Duffy (K3LR) CEO of DX
Engineering. Tim began by describing some antenna basics, including
important antenna parameters, and antennas field strengths. He went on to
cover, dipoles, Double Zepp antennas, verticals and loop antennas. Included
in Tim's discussion were an 8-element 10-meter Yagi and a 2-element 40-meter
Moxon under construction by his team at K3LR. Tim was named Chief Executive
Officer of DX Engineering effective January 1, 2020. Licensed in 1972, he is
very active on the HF bands. K3LR enjoys hosting multi multi DX radio
contest events. Tim likes to help bring new people into the hobby by
mentoring them in the fun of amateur radio. Tim is president of his local
ham club, the Mercer County Amateur Radio Club. He is active in RACES, ACS
and ARES. Tim is a member of the CQ Contest Hall of Fame and was on Team USA
for the World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) five times. Tim is the founder
and chairman of Contest University (CTU). He is chairman of the World-Wide
Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF). Tim is a graduate of the Pennsylvania
State University. Tim is the recipient of the 2015 Amateur of the Year Award
presented by the Dayton HamventionR Awards Committee and the 2016 YASME
Excellence Award.
We continue our interest in Tech-talks, the Alexandria Radio Club board made
a decision to schedule Tech-talks monthly on the 4th Friday of each month.
The last Tech-Talk on "Digital Modes" by Ed Bradshaw (W4EDF) was conducted
on October 29th. The next Tech-talk will be on November 19th; Ian Keith,
(N8IK) will discuss "FT-8 Advanced Techniques." 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 Aug 9, 2020
. 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
YOU ARE HERE!
. November 12th - MEMBERSHIP MEETING, Elections
. December 10th - MEETING, Christmas party
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
There is a great deal of discussion about the future of Amateur Radio
support in Emergency Services. ARES has been trying to adapt to the new
AUXCOMM / Homeland Security / FEMA constructs.
Our first approach was to ask that ARES volunteers complete FEMA IS-100,
which is required to support an EOC, be on site during an incident and when
you support a shelter. In addition IS-200, IS-700 and IS-800 are
recommended. The point of these courses is to know how Emergency Services
are managed at all levels. While these are important classes they do NOT
tell us how we provide communications in an emergency, it does however give
us a framework to adapt out efforts to support the organizational structure.
There are two interesting documents out by Homeland Security AUXFOG
(Auxiliary Communications Field Operations Guide) and NIFOG 2.0 (National
Interoperability Field Operations Guide). Both will be attached to this
newsletter.
Lots of interesting points. Some of the amateur frequencies may not be
OFFICAL and I'm sure it will change
Not to long ago an AUXCOMM class was held in the area and I was not able to
attend. IS100,200,700 and 800 are required to attend and it's a two-day
affair. What is it and what's it do to and for us?
It seems that other organizations view ARES and ARES operators as not very
cooperative. We are not familiar with the Emergency Management and we come
in telling the professionals that their multi-million-dollar communications
systems will fail and that we amateurs with our few hundred dollars in
technology are here to save the day. Like cowboys we are NOT part of the
organization. As a side note. I have NOT SEEN this in Alexandria in my 15
years as EC.
A few changes are evident. One is that when I started my volunteering with
ARES (1978) we were told that we come as a package. We bring our
communications capability and our expertise with our gear part of the
package. More recently, we have been told by ARRL, we should be more then
willing to use any communications system we are asked to use. Not a problem
if we are trained and licensed to operate on those systems. Another point
that is made is that we are either volunteers or not. Which means, it you
are asked to do something not communications, your expected to do that
function. BE VERY CAREFUL with this. If the EOC manager asks you to do
something not communications, then do it if you can, but while you're doing
this other function, you're as a link to the EOC via your network is missing
in action. Politely remind that person that your happy to help out but
that someone should be on the radio. In the past we had that happen with the
Red Cross in Alexandria. They had an annual WATERFRONT FESTIVAL and they
assumed that amateur radio operators were also RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS and
would ask amateur radio operators to help with supplies, gate functions, and
other functions. As you can imagine, we tried to explain that we were not
Red Cross volunteers and were there to provide communications for the Red
Cross and that if a radio operator was carrying boxes, he or she was NOT on
the radio network. We must remember what our primary mission is.
I have some problem with the training requirements of AUXCOMM, but I am
working to meet those requirements as time allows. I would ask all ARES
volunteers to look at the AUXFOG and NIFOG. Should there be an EMERGENCY or
a DISASTER, we will be needed and we DO provide a valuable and needed
communications resource.
A last minute change to AUXCOMM - IS100, 200, 700 and 800 are now required
to work in an EOC.
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 early 2021. However, with people getting vaccinated, there are
more hamfests showing up on the calendar. Let's hope this continues.
The Mason-Dixon Hamfest will be held October 23 at the Army National Armory
in Westminster, MD. Hours are from 7 Am to 12 PM. Here is the link:
<https://k3pzn.net/mason-dixon-hamfest/>
https://k3pzn.net/mason-dixon-hamfest/
It looks like the Mason-Dixon Hamfest is end of hamfest season for us in
this area. However, 2022 is not far off. The Maryland Mobileers Amateur
Radio Club hold their hamfest in late January and the Richmond Frostfest in
early February.
Training -
With our last class in the books, time to start planning for the next one.
Our next class is scheduled to start October 5 and end December 7. That
leaves everybody enough time to get their new amateur radio equipment for
Christmas. If you know of someone who has always wanted to become a ham
radio operator, send them to our website to sign up for the class.
We have been hearing some of recent graduates on the air. Be sure to
welcome them to ham radio.
Contests -
* October 9 and 10 - Nevada QSO Party. RST and ARRL section.
* October 9 and 10 - Arizona QSO Party. Exchange is RST and state.
* October 9 and 10 - Pennsylvania QSO Party. Exchange is serial
number and ARRL section.
* October 9 and 10 - South Dakota QSO Party. Exchange is RST and
state.
* October 16 and 17 - New York QSO Party. Exchange is RST and
state.
* October 17 and 18 - Illinois QSO Party. Exchange is RST and
state.
* October 18 through 22 - ARRL School Club Roundup. Exchange is RST
and class (Individual, Club, School).
* October 24- North American Sprint, SSB. Exchange is other
station's call, your call, serial number, your name, your state.
* October 30 and 31 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB. Exchange is RS
and CQ Zone. We are in zone 5.
* November 6 through 8 - ARRL Sweepstakes - CW - Exchange is other
station's callsign serial number, class, your callsign, check (year you were
1st licensed), ARRL section.
* November 20 through 23 - ARRL Sweepstakes - SSB - Exchange is
other station's callsign serial number, class, your callsign, check (year
you were 1st licensed), ARRL section.
* November 27 and 28 - CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW. Exchange is RST
and CQ Zone. We are in zone 5.
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.
Repeaters -
The club repeaters are all up and running. The DSTAR repeaters are seeing a
lot of activity. We have been linking the 70 cm repeater to Reflector 001C,
the world-wide reflector and the 2 meter repeater to Reflector 030C, another
busy reflector. If you want to link to another reflector, be sure to unlink
the repeater first and then link to the reflector of your choice. All we
ask is you unlink the reflector you were listening on when you are finished
listening.
The DMR side is working normally with access to the DMR servers. If you use
the DMRVA codeplugs, they have updated codeplugs on their website with some
of the new DMR repeaters. The codeplugs include more than just the DMRVA
system repeaters. Their website is <http://www.dmrva.org/>
http://www.dmrva.org/
DMRVA has announced on their website they will be partnering with the
Hospital Emergency Amateur Radio Service (HEARS). HEARS operates linked
repeaters primarily located in Southwest Virginia, North and South Carolina.
New talkgroups will be added to the DMRVA system and at least one talkgroup
will be deleted. We will have the details as soon as we see them.
In case you missed it, N8IK sent out a "Handy Intro Guide to DMR." It does
a great job explaining some of the terms you hear about DMR.
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.
Ian, N8IK, has started a Wednesday night DSTAR net on the 145.380 MHz
repeater at 8 PM. We have linked the repeater to Reflector 62B so members
and former members outside the local area can join in. Some time ago, I
asked the folks who maintain the lists of DSTAR reflectors to create a
Virginia perma-link reflector. Many other states have them. Be sure to put
Reflector 62B in your DSTAR programming.
As always, ham it up and get on the air.
73, Rich, KA4GFY
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