[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] ARC SHORTS March 2022

Tue Mar 8 12:16:39 EST 2022

ARC-SHORTS

March 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 March 11th at 7PM.  A ZOOM meeting
invite will be sent out soon.  The program will be 

Last Meeting

Our last (virtual) meeting program was presented by Gordon, NQ4K and covered
the details of the annual Virginia QSO Party.

The 2022 Virginia QSO Party will be held during the weekend of 19-20 March
2021. Saturday, 19 March, 1400 UTC - Sunday, 20 March, 0400 UTC and
Sunday, 20 March, 1200 UTC - 2400 UTC. 

Participate as much or as little as you can on any band and mode BUT submit
a log.

G.W Parade

We had a GREAT turn out for this year's G.W Birthday Parade.  

Participants:

Rich KA4GFY - Trailer

Rick N4ASX - Trailer and coordinator

Ian N8IK - Reviewing stand lead

Jay NW3V - Reviewing stand adult supervision

Richard - KW4UJ - Trailer and Marshal support

Mark KM4GML - Marshal support

Carol KN4LLL - Liaison to parade manager

Sean K4KBK - Marshal support

Don KI4D - Marshal support lead

Joe KT3I - AREDN and Digital guru. Trailer

Louis KO4QVB - Marshal support

Jeremy KO4VFO - Marshal support

Carol KN4LLL - Parade Liaison

Gersohn KO4IUK - Marshal support

Sully W3CX - Marshal support

Derek Kelly WB4DAM - Welcome back

Larry K4LDW - Co-Lead Marshal support

Wilson KM4KLK - Marshal support

The G.W. Parade is one of those events that gives the community (Alexandria)
a very positive view of amateur radio.  All of you did an outstanding and
professional job.

NWS / Statewide Tornado Drill March 8th

Thanks to members who remembered that NWS had set up a drill on the 8th,  we
had 8 members who listened to the NWS announcement on the NWC channel 3.
Sean K4KBK, sent me an e-mail and we did a net check in with the following
participants.

Larry K4LDW

Rick N4ASX

Sean K4KBK

Ed W4EDF

Cory N4YBY

Rick KA4GFY

Don KI4D

I sent out an e-mail earlier when we found out about the drill via our
friends in Fairfax.  It had three questions and I ask that all members send
me inputs on those questions

73 Rick

N4ASX

N4ASX at cox.net

Presidents Corner

Alexandria Radio Club is inviting you to a scheduled monthly via Zoom.

*This months MEETING PRESENTATION, Attic Loading Coil Antenna, John Portune
(W6NBC) *

Topic: Alexandria Radio Club Monthly Meeting

Time: Mar 11, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89876336513?pwd=dUhkWXp0d2U3c1FienJmakNmNGw4UT09>
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89876336513?pwd=dUhkWXp0d2U3c1FienJmakNmNGw4UT09

Meeting ID: 898 7633 6513

Passcode: 181761

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,89876336513#,,,,*181761# US (Chicago)

+19292056099,,89876336513#,,,,*181761# US (New York)

Dial by your location

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 898 7633 6513

Passcode: 181761

Find your local number:  <https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnttghG1I>
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbnttghG1I

______________________________________________________________

ARES

Thank you to all of the folks who supported the G.W. Parade.  This was our
training for ARES activities.  A few lessons learned.

1.	Always have a backup for any communications channel or mode (a
laptop failed at the reviewing stand, so Packet and AREDN was no longer an
option.  The traffic was passed on VOICE.  And it worked well.
2.	Make sure you have what you need.  This is up to the lead of the
event for the most part, but batteries, antennas and your equipment is all
up to you.
3.	If you don't understand the brief or the setup, ASK.  Some leaders
may forget items ore miss an important element.  
4.	Follow the Comm plan.

We had a great turn out and made a great impression on the parade mangers.  

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.

73 Rick N4ASX

HAM RADIO ACTIVITIES - 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.

The Orlando Hamcation did go off as scheduled last month and the Dayton
Amateur Radio Association says Hamvention WILL happen this year.  Let's hope
nothing changes.  

Other hamfests in the not too far away category appear to be live this year.
The Charlotte Hamfest is scheduled for March 11 and 12.  The Raleigh, NC
RARSFest on April 16 and the Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo on
April 23.   Closer in,  the Olde Virginia Hams hamfest returns to the
Manassas Park Community Center on June 4.  

On the local hamfest front, the Vienna Wireless Society's Winterfest is
March 27 at the Annandale Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.
It's also the Virginia Section ARRL convention.  The Alexandria Radio Club
has 3 tables reserved so you can sell your excess equipment to make room for
new equipment.  Not sure why you would do that, you can never have too many
radios. 

Speaking of Hamvention, I have 4 rooms reserved from May 18 through May 22.
We travel out on Wednesday so we can take in one of the museums in the area
on Thursday, such as the US Air Force Museum, the Packard Museum, or the
Mound Museum.  At least 1 room is spoken for.  If you would like to go, let
me know by April 15 so I can order tickets.  If you have never been, its
worth the trip to go at least once.  I suspect the crowd will be large this
year because Hamvention was cancelled in 2020 and 2021.  

Training -

Our latest licensing class began on Tuesday, March 1 with 21 students signed
up between the technician and General classes.  Like the previous classes,
they are online via Zoom.  The exam on May 3, 2022 will be either in person
at a location to be determined or online.   

Contests - 

*         March 12 and 13 - Oklahoma QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         March 12 and 13 - Idaho QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         March 12 and 13 - North American Sprint, RTTY.  Exchange is other
station's call, your call, serial number, name, and state.

*         March 13 and 14 - Wisconsin QSO Party - Exchange is state.

*         March 19 and 20 - Virginia QSO Party.  Exchange is serial number
and county.  Be sure to indicate Alexandria Radio when you send in your
score. 

*         March 26 and 27 - CQ Worldwide WPX Contest - SSB.  Exchange is RST
and Serial number.

*         April 2 and 3 - Louisiana QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         April 2 and 3 - Mississippi QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         April 2 and 3 - Missouri QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         April 2 and 3 - Florida State Parks on the Air. Exchange is RST
and state.

*         April 9 and 10 - Nebraska QSO Party.  Exchange is state.

*         April 9 and 10 - New Mexico QSO Party.  Exchange is name and
state.

*         April 9 and 10 - Texas State Parks on the Ir.  Exchange is RST and
state.

*         April 9 and 10 - Georgia QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         April 9 and 10 - North Dakota QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and
state.

*         April 10 - ARRL Rookie Roundup - SSB.  Exchange is name, year
first licensed and state.

*         April 16 and 17 - Michigan QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.

*         April 16 and 17 - Ontario QSO Party.  Exchange is RST and state.  

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 have a 23 cm radio, give the 23 cm DSTAR repeater a try.  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/   DMRVA 

Speaking of 23 cm, we do have 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.  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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