THE ARLINGTON BEACON

		March 2002
		President: Jack Reed WA4FXX Vice President: Dennis Bodson W4PWF Secretary: Mike Skelly KA8OPJ Treasurer: Tom Protz N4BYF Activities Chairman: Mike Callaham NW3V Editor: Mike Callaham NW3V

March Program: Poor Man's SSTV Demo and FD Planning

At the March meeting, Activities Chair Mike, NW3V, will demonstrate a low-budget approach to Slow Scan Television using a Tigertronics BP-2M MultiMode Modem and a 486 PC running DOS and the (free) JVFAX 7.1 software.

This setup has no camera for transmitting live images, but it can transmit images in 340x256 TrueVision Targa (.tga) file format, and the PC is loaded with a crippleware image format conversion program (Image Alchemy) for converting then-popular file formats (such as GIF) to TGA. The setup can also receive, display (b/w), and store (color) SSTV images from a receiver, transceiver, or other audio input--such as a tape recorder (which I might have to use, because 0100Z Wednesdays is not a popular SSTV hour.) Sample images captured (14.230 MHz) with this gear at NW3V in June 2000 are inline below.

Old Timers might remember seeing these in the June, 2000 Beacon. NW3V prepared to demonstrate SSTV at FD2000, in order to earn bonus points, but after learning Class E stations couldn't earn bonus points, we lost interest.

We'll also discuss options, ranging from SSTV to HF AX.25, for transmitting and receiving live images and image files, for use in emergency communications and for fun. Speaking of fun, we'll also start planning for Field Day 2002.

So, don't miss this one! We'll see you at W4WVP Tuesday at 1930L!
-- Mike, nw3v
Activities Chair

Minutes of the February 19, 2002 meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club

President Jack WA4FXX called the meeting to order at 1950L at the Arlington Chapterhouse of the American Red Cross. Also attending were Jim K9AUC, Tom N4BYF, Richard WB3HYZ, John WD4MIS, George KR4MU, Mike KA8OPJ, Mike NW3V, and three guests: Paul KG4PXF (a relatively new licensee off to a great start), Harold KD5GVJ (formerly Sec-Treas of one of our sister clubs at a Red Cross chapter in Louisiana), and Paul N4NBC (experienced in ARES, Skywarn, urban S&R, and TV production at FEMA).

The minutes of the January meeting, as published on the webpage, and the Treasurer's report, were approved.

WA4FXX reported that ARRL was refining language for an FCC filing, and the current VA Section Manager was reelected. Jack is taking the ARRL technical course on antenna modeling. After starting with basics, it's "moving along" at a challenging pace. (Jack knew "a little" about antennas before this.)

There was no report from FAR or ARES. WA4FXX will attend a disaster communications committee meeting on 2/20, involving logistics-related committees and sub-cttes. for the DC area chapters. Exercises are planned for Sat 4/20 and Wed 5/18.

KR4MU reported that the chapter generator drank 139 gallons of diesel after several days of warning beeps. George should be glad he didn't have to burp that baby over his shoulder afterward!

There was some preliminary planning for FD02 (6/22-23).

A motion by N4BYF, seconded by KR4MU, to reimburse WA4FXX for postage to mail copies of Red Cross manuals to absentees; the copies were generously provided by K9AUC.

The business meeting adjourned at 2050L, and was followed by a training video on Nextel cellphones, in case we or it are used to orient emergency responders to their use in a future disaster.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike KA8OPJ, Secretary

Amateur Radio Items Sought for Display at Library

Sedge Moss has reserved the use of one of the display cases at the Columbia Pike Library (816 S. Walter Reed Dr.) for the months of April and May, 2002, for a display related to amateur radio, especially historical aspects. Sedge will display his Hallicrafters S-38 receiver, a transmitter and receiver loaned by Joe Apple, a key, and some other items. He is soliciting suggestions for, and two-month loan of, other items. He is especially interested in items of historical interest that are "not too large." If you'd like to lend an item for display, please contact:

 Sedge Moss
 3200 S. 14th St.
 Arlington, VA 22204
 703-951-7905

by phone or mail. Sedge is working with Mrs. Jean Wiggins of the Columbia Pike Library on the exhibit.

Sedge also suggested that I send him a current printed copy of _The Arlington Beacon_ for the display, and he said he still had copies of the AARC handout (from the church fair) to place at the exhibit as a take-home item. Regarding the _Beacon_, I suggested I might send him a copy of the January 2000 _Beacon_ (showing where we were for the Y2K vigil) or the October 2001 _Beacon_ (with a list of 9-11 volunteers).

--Mike, NW3V

Mark Your Calendars for April 20 and May 8

The February 7, 2002, edition of The Volunteer Word, the email letter of the Arlington Chapter of the American Red Cross stated, in part, that all Chapter Disaster Services volunteers should save the dates of Saturday, April 20 (Red Cross Metro-Chapter Drill) and Wednesday, May 8 (Pentagon Chemical Drill).
--Jim, K9AUC

Links to Bulletins

This is just a sampler. For other ARRL bulletins, visit http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, listen to W1AW, or check a packet bulletin board system.
 

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The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203