[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARCSHORTS JUNE 2022 - Alexandria Radio Club Newsletter

Tue Jun 7 11:57:36 EDT 2022

ARC-SHORTS

June 2022

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 ZOOM meeting will be Friday JUNE 10th at 7PM.  A ZOOM meeting
invite will be sent out soon.  The program will be FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR
FIELD DAY.

Last Meeting

Date:               May 13, 2022

Time:               1910 hours

Location:        Hybrid Meeting: Via Zoom & In-Person at APD Community Room,
Wheeler Lane

Presentation

*	Topic: RTTY Contesting
*	Presenter: Randy Foltz, K7TQ, Idaho

Reports

Secretary:  Carol KN4LL

*	Briefed Apr 08, 2022 meeting minutes

Treasurer:  Don KI4D

*	Current Balance = $10,455.38

Membership: Richard KW4UJ

*	96 paid; 9 Lifetime; Total of 105 members

Projects: Richard KW4UJ/Rick N4ASX/Don KI4D

*	ARES/RACES:  Updating trailer for Field Day; Rick is meeting via Via
Zoom with new Hospital Emergency Manager on 5/18/22 
*	History Project:  Don and Rick traveled to Charlottesville and met
with Jim Wilson, who with his father were club founders 

Repeaters: Ian N8IK/Rich KA4GFY/Joe KT3I

*	Will install GMRS Repeater at analog site; stored in trailer in the
meantime
*	AREDN Project - nothing new to report

Education/Training:  Rich KA4GFY

*	Technician & General License Exams were completed on May 3rd

Trailer:  Rich KA4GFY

*	Cleanup party to be scheduled

Webmaster:  Ian N8IK

*	Nothing new to report

Old Business  

Storage Trailer search:  Don KI4D

*	NC Trailer is now priced at $4500; purchase is on hold to search for
a better deal

Discord Server:  Jason WA6MPR

*	Nothing new to report

Field Day 2022: Rick N4ASX

*	Location:  Armistead Boothe Park , 520 Cameron Station Blvd,
Alexandria, VA 2230
*	30 FD Pins purchased
*	5 Stations with 2-hour shifts planned
*	24-hour access to park is set with the city
*	Need to send city a reminder re power, lights & sprinklers

New Business

*	None

Net Control

*	19 May:  WA6MPR
*	26 May: KAGFY
*	02 Jun: N4ASX
*	09 Jun: WD4ADF

Announcements

*	Hamvention in Dayton OH - several members attending
*	Next month's meeting will be a hybrid in-person/online

ADJOURNMENT:  2040 hours

Attendance (28)

Name

Call Sign

Position

Randy Foltz

K7TQ

Guest Presenter

Sean

K4KBK

Vice President

Gary

KC5QCN

Rich

KA4GFY

Training Coordinator

Don

KI4D

Treasurer

Carol

KN4LLL

Secretary

Khaled

KA8KIA

Mark

KM4GML

Richard

KW4UJ

President

Rick

N4ASX

ARES Coordinator

Jason

WA6MPR

Dennis

KQ4AJP

James

W4YOE

Jay

KR3W

Bryan

WD4ADF

Louis

KO4QVB

Patrick

KF4MTV

ARES

I had a ZOOM meeting with Mr. Lorenzo Reed, the new emergency manager for
INOVA Alexandria on May 22, 2022.  It was a short half hour meeting and we
will follow up monthly on the plans for the hospital move in 2025.  

We will need to make a list of ALL of the equipment that needs to be moved
to the new location.

Issues:

1 - Antenna locations for the VHF/UHF radios (2), the ARDEN node, and the
repeater antennas for the DMR and D-Star repeaters.  The locations will need
to be located so as not to interfere with the helipad and other antennas.
Additionally, the coax from the radios to the antennas needs to be as short
as we can make them.  I pointed out that it's cheaper to build them in
rather then add them after the building is complete.

2 - An operating position for two operators and a way to pass traffic for
the emergency office.

Chief Ray Whatley has asked that we exercise our equipment at the EOC on
Field Day.  We DO have an HF station (radio) at the EOC but we may have to
put up a temporary antenna on the roof outside the EOC room.  I think we can
rig a vertical antenna on that roof, but coax may be an issue.  I plan to
use the club's OTHER license as a GOTA station at EOC, so I would need
volunteers who are new to amateur radio to exercise and set up the station.

Trailer

I will be working on the trailer in the lead up to Field Day to repair the
floor and the cabinets and if time allows, install the 900 MHz radio and
antenna as well as the DMR radio.  The roof will also be worked on if time
and weather allow.  

Training,

If you take FEMA classes (IS0100, 200, 700 and 800) please send me a copy of
your certificates and an updated copy of your task book.

Level 1 only requires IS0100 so you can operate in the EOC or Shelters.  

Level II requires is the SENIOR level and requires 100,200,700 and 800 and
ARRL ARES EC001.

Level III is required for leadership positions (AEC, EC, DEC etc.)

FIELD DAY

We have secured Armistead Booth Park for Field Day this year (25/26 June).
This is a great way to learn about HF radio, CW, Phone, Digital modes, It is
also a simulation of an emergency operation where we use NON COMMERCIAL
power, temporary antennas for a 24 hour period.

I think the best way to do this is to have 5 stations (75/80, 40, 20, 15 and
10 meters).  Each station can operate on any of the approved modes.  The
park has a nice pavilion, rest rooms and now that the playground has been
moved, we have room for antennas.  

I have Rich KA4GFY as our 75/80-meter lead, I need leads for the other four
bands.  

Ian and Harry will not be available so there is room for new leaders.  We
will work on a schedule, and you can sign up for any two hour period and if
a period is not spoken for on Field Day it will be open to any operator.

Because our club trustee is an EXTRA class, all club operators have those
privileges with supervision, but we have sufficient extra class members to
cover and teach.

We will be using N3FJP software for logging and a logging computer will be a
part of each station.  All logs will be kept on FLASH DRIVES labeled for
each band.  This is so that if someone goes home the log can be passed to
another operator.  Team leads will be responsible for providing computers.

Food this year will be club provides the main course and attendees will
provide a side dish or desert.  I need a coordinator for the three meals
(Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast.  I also open to
alternative ideas.

I will be out of town for three weeks in late March to mid-April, but
available via zoom if we want to hold planning sessions.

We also need to look at the bonus points and we will work on who gets those.

Set up starts at 10AM Saturday June 25th .  Operation from 2PM on Saturday
to 2PM Sunday and clean up 2PM to 4PM Sunday.

No matter what your past experience is this is a big event for all of us.
Come out and participate.

PLEASE send me an e-mail telling me the following:

Name, Call Sign, License Class, What Times you can attend Field Day and what
band, mode you would like to operate.  To  <mailto:N4ASX at COX.NET>
N4ASX at COX.NET 

73 Rick N4ASX

HAM RADIO ACTIVITIES - by Rich KA4GFY

Hamfests -

Hamfests are making a comeback.  The Father's Day Hamfest at Arcadia,
sponsored by the Baltimore Amateur Radio Club on June 17.  The hamfest is
located at the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Grounds, located at 16020 Carnival
Avenue in Upperco, MD.  Talk-in on BARC's 146.670 MHz repeater (PL 107.2
Hz).  Here is the link:  <https://w3ft.com/hamfest/>
https://w3ft.com/hamfest/

The Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club's Berryville Hamfest is on August 7
at the Clarke County Fairgrounds.   It's right off Rte 7 in Berryville.  The
Ruritans chicken and beef barbeque is well worth the trip.  Talk-in on the
SVARC 146.820 MHz repeater (PL 146.2 Hz).  Here is the link:
<https://berryvillehamfest.com/> https://berryvillehamfest.com/

Training -

We just completed our latest licensing class on May 3 with the exam for our
class members and a few guests.  Eleven people took exams and 10 walked out
with either a new license or an upgraded license.  There were 4 new Techs
and 6 new Generals.

Here are the new licensees and upgrades:

Jeremy Skog                                     KO4VFO
General

Robert Crumley                                KO4ZIK
General

Samuel Yund                                   KN0RDO
Technician

Dennis Kelly                                     KQ4AJP
Technician

Louis Mingo                                      KO4QVB
General

Jan Mas                                             KB2LRX
General

Matthew Johnson                            KQ4AGS
General

Brian Jones                                       KN4AEQ
Technician

Brandon McLung                             KQ4AES
Technician

Carol Myers                                       KN4LLL
General

When you hear them on the air, be sure to welcome them to ham radio.

We have another class scheduled for the Fall and we are already receiving
inquiries about the next class. A few members from the recent Tech class
have stated they will be back for the General class.     

Contests - 

*         June 11 through 13 - ARRL June VHF Contest.  Exchange is
4-character grid square.  All bands 50 MHz and above. 

*         June 18 and 19 - West Virginia QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and
state.

*         July 1 - RAC Canada Day Contest.  Exchange is RST and serial
number.

*         July 9 and 10 - IARU HF World Championship.  Exchange is RST and
ITU zone.  We are in ITU zone 8.

*         July 16 and 17 - North American QSO Party, RTTY.  Exchange is name
and state.    

June 17 is June Kids Day.  It's the opportunity for your kids, grandkids,
neighbors' kids, scouts, etc to be introduced to ham radio.  They can talk
to other kids and learn the magic of radio.  If you hear them on, be sure to
work them.

Armistead Boothe Park in Alexandria is THE place to be in Alexandria on June
25 and 26.  It's ARRL Field Day.  Amateur radio's open house.  This is our
opportunity to introduce the public to amateur radio.  

It's not really a contest, but an emergency preparedness exercise with a
contest flair to it.  The idea is to operate in less than ideal conditions
such as after a natural disaster wipes out normal lines of communication.
Power is provided from generators, batteries, solar, wind and other sources,
but not commercial power.  It's ham radio from A to Z.  

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 2-meter repeater to Reflector
062C for Virginia and Maryland communications, and the 70cm Reflector 030C,
for long-range communications and the 23cm voice repeater to Reflector 025B,
the Northern Virginia local reflector or 001C, the world-wide 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 are
new to DMR, DMRVA has codeplugs for some of the more common DMR radios on
their website.  Their website is   <http://www.dmrva.org/>
http://www.dmrva.org/   DMRVA 

The Alexandria Radio Club has one of the only 23 cm analog repeaters in the
area.  Give it a try on your IC-9700.    

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.  The Wednesday night net is starting to pick up some
momentum.  We link the repeater to Reflector 62B at net time 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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