ARC-SHORTS
May 2011
Club Repeaters: 53.13 (PL107.2), 147.315 (PL 107.2), (224.82(PL107.2), 444.6 (107.2) 927.6 (-25Mhz, 107.2 PL) and 1282.600 (PL 107.2)
DSTAR 145.38Mhz, 442.060, 1284.600
NEXT CLUB MEETING
Our next meeting is May 13th at Alexandria Hospital at 7PM. Our next program will be Dr. Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Please send your questions to our V.P. Ian, N8IK, so he can provide them to Dennis.
APRIL MEETING
The April meeting, Tim, KT4MV gave a great talk on transmitter hunting. He reviewed the various methods used to get a bearing on a station from directional antennas to the various methods used commercially including time of arrival and doppler systems. We hope to schedule a simple transmitter hunt exercise later in the year. Tim pointed out that you need to know precisely where you are before you can get an idea of where the target is. Further he pointed out that your target may be moving or using techniques that make tracking difficult. There are several kits and systems available and it would be interesting to see how the members approach this problem.
We reviewed our Field Day preparations. Rick, N4ASX is the Field Day chair. Field Day is our nation wide emergency preparedness test sponsored by ARRL and the goal is to operate without the support of permanently installed antennas or commercial power. Field Day is a nationwide event running from June 25 to 26th. This year we will be at the south end of Ben Brenman Park. There is a small pavilion and access is via two foot bridges. We may or may not be able to get our trailer back to the site. The event kicks off at 10AM with setup at the site. We will be 5A this year running two CW stations and three phone stations, but we get a FREE VHF/UHF station and if we can find someone with less then a year in the hobby or who is just getting active again, we will set up a “Get on the Air Station” The GOTA station runs under the new call sign but adds points to our effort. Field Day is also a contest, but the goal is to see how well we operate in the field. The club has one 2KW generator and three members will also bring out 2KW Honda generators, so we should have plenty of power. Station Captains have volunteered, but EVERY MEMBER OF THE CLUB should participate for part of the event. You do NOT have to stay for the entire event, but PLEASE plan to come out to help set up, enjoy the Saturday evening dinner (Club pays for the main course and all who attend are asked to bring something to share). It would be a good idea if you sent our Food Chairperson Karen Bunn (RRBunn@cox.net) a note with what you plan to provide so she can coordinate. Come out and operate. You do not have to be a contester to have a good time. The club has HF radios. If you have an idea for an antenna or want to check out your gear, you welcome to bring it out. If you do want to use your own HF radio, plan to bring an AC supply or your own 12 Volt power and plan to set up at one of the existing stations. We must stay within our 5A limits. While we do not set up a hard operating schedule, if there is a time period you want to operate in and a give band, please let me know and I will advise that Station Captain.
Marshall, our president and expedition manager provided a short program on the VA QSO part W4HFH expedition to Buchanan Co. They had a great time, a great place to operate and made a fantastic score for W4HFH in the QSO party. The photography was first rate and the history was also a plus.
73 Rick
N4ASX / RRBunn@cox.net
Licensing Class Started on April 5
Our latest licensing class started April 5 with eight students in the Technician class and five in the General class. This is one of the largest classes we have seen a long time. For the first time in several sessions, we have access to two rooms, allowing for the two separate classes.
This is also a shortened class. With only eight weeks from start to finish, the pace is fairly quick. So far, we haven’t lost anybody. The exam is scheduled for May 24, just before Memorial Day and just in time for some of the newly licensed and upgraded operators to participate in Field Day. If you are interested in taking attest with us on May 24, let me know ahead of time. Space is limited.
In the next edition of ARC Shorts, we should have the results with the new callsigns.
Many thanks to our very own Roy, K4AXQ, for procuring the space in his office for our use.
73,
Rich, KA4GFY
Upcoming Hamfests –
May 20 though 22 – Dayton Hamvention in Dayton, OH. Space is still available for someone willing to drive and buying their own tickets. There are two rooms left if somebody is interested in going. Let Rich know by the club meeting so he can cancel the unneeded rooms.
May 29 – Maryland FM Association Hamfest at the Howard County Fairgrounds
June 12 – Olde Virginia Hams Hamfest at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas. The club usually reserves a tailgate spot for members to sell equipment. We will probably have the club trailer out there as well.
Upcoming Contests and On Air Events –
May 7 – 7th area QSO Party
May 7 & 8 – Indiana QSO Party
May 7 – New England QSO Party
May 14 – Nevada Mustang Roundup
May 28 – CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)
May 14 & 15 – Annual Armed Forces Day Communications Test. This is the one time each year we get to communicate with military radio stations. Many military ops are hams themselves and are very good about sending QSLs. We listen for them on military frequencies outside the ham bands and they listen for us inside the ham bands. See www.netcom.army.mil/mars for the schedule.
From Eric, KG4DZA
JUNE 5th American Diabetes Association Tour De Cure Bike Run
Hi Everyone – It’s that time of year again!
I’m looking for volunteers for the 2011 ADA Tour de Cure, which will be a little earlier this year – Sunday, June 5th. You’re getting this email because you either helped out or expressed an interest in 2009 or 2010. Let me know if you don’t want to hear from me and I’ll remove you from the 2011 email list.
The ride will be similar to last year. I have setup a web page for the amateur radio volunteers:
URL: http://mysite.verizon.net/erparker/
Click on “2011 ADA Tour de Cure” and enter “Hams” for the email address and “ForDiabetes” for the password. I believe it is case-sensitive. I still have last year’s information on the web site. If you want a particular assignment, just let me know. Dan Groper, KC4OCG, already has Purcellville and Jim Patton, N3SAU, has already signed up as a motorcycle marshal. I will update the web site as I start to collect information on this year’s ride.
Thanks & 73’s,
Eric, KG4DZA
President’s Corner
As you’ve read elsewhere in this edition of ARC Shorts, preparations are shaping up nicely for our June 25-26 Field Day activities that will be held this year in Ben Brenman Park. Rick, N4ASX, is leading the effort for our Field Day activities, and is working with the various band captains to ensure we have the proper equipment, antennas and all the other miscellaneous items to make sure we have another great Field Day for 2011. Please feel free to contact Rick or any of the band captains if you want to work a particular station and let them know so that we can ensure everyone that wants to get on the air will have an opportunity to do so. We want to make sure that all ARC members have an opportunity to come out and participate on the bands, but we also want everyone to enjoy themselves, relax, and participate in the fun that amateur radio can bring. In addition, if you know someone who is not licensed but has expressed an interest in learning more about ham radio, please feel free to bring them out so that they can see what ham radio is all about. All of us our looking forward to this year’s Field Day activities, and we want you to mark June 25-26 on your calendar to enjoy the fun as well!”
73,
Marshall
KI4MWP
Social Events
We expect to be meeting at the Alexandria Hospital from now until our ”who knows” meeting, so the pre-meeting dinner is now at Atlantis in the Bradlee Shopping Center at 5:30 PM. This is also a chance to meet our guest speaker as we offer to buy dinner for them prior to the meeting.
Monday Night Half Price Burgers – There is a group that gets together at Shooter McGee’s (Duke and Paxton Streets) on Monday evenings at 6:30 PM. A good burger and soft drink runs about $9.00.