THE ARLINGTON BEACON

		February 2003 UPDATE
		President: Jack Reed WA4FXX Vice President: Dennis Bodson W4PWF Secretary: Mike Skelly KA8OPJ Treasurer: John Maher WD4MIS Activities Chairman: Mike Callaham NW3V Editor: Mike Callaham NW3V

[CANCELLED] February Program: Roundtable; DARPA Project Babylon

The February meeting was cancelled due to snow.

--Mike, NW3V

March Program: Off-Site at the ECC

The March meeting will be at the usual time--7:30 pm on the third Tuesday night--but NOT at the usual place. Instead, we'll meet at the Arlington County Emergency Communications Center (ECC), 1400 North Uhle Street, Fifth Floor, Arlington, VA 22201. We'll have a brief business meeting and then a tour of the ECC. Did you ever wonder what happens when someone dials 911? Come see the ECC in action, and learn how police cruisers and fire trucks are dispatched. Some of us operated at the ECC for Y2K and 09-11, and we may have occasion to operate there again, so come get oriented. Family members should be interested in this, too. Our usual hostess, Lisa Thompson, can't be there on this date but is making arrangements.

April Program: EmComm: Go Carts and ACC Photo Ids

The April meeting will be back at the usual place--the Arlington County Chapter (ACC) of the American Red Cross. The theme is Emergency Communications. Jim Hastings, K9AUC, will help us familiarize ourselves with the existence and contents of the Go Carts--the shopping carts filled with radio communications gear--in the ACC shed. Mary Kane or another ACC official will be available to take photos and issue ACC photo IDs. (If you haven't taken the Red Cross Volunteer Orientation course, and would like to, please contact Sally Cooney, ACC Volunteer Coordinator, at 703-527-3010 x735 or scooney@arlingtonredcross.org.)

The Arlington ARC Roster online at http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.html has been updated. Do we have your info correct? If not, please contact Mike, NW3V, or John, WD4MIS.

Minutes of the January 21, 2003 Meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club

President Jack WA4FXX called the meeting to order at 1940L at the Arlington Chapterhouse of the American Red Cross. Also attending were Walt KT4EL, Slim KG4LOO, John WD4MIS, Mike KA8OPJ, Mike KE4PKM, Rob K1PW, Dennis W4PWF, Mike KG4RKL, James KD7SSM, Gary KC7TNU, Keith KG4UIR, and Mike NW3V. Alan KO4ALA checked-in on the 145.47 MHz repeater.

The minutes of the December meeting, as published on the webpage, were approved and the treasurer's report was read. Annual dues ($7.50) are due; remit to WD4MIS.

Emergency Communications: WA4FXX and others gave information to Lisa Thompson/Radio Goddess, for installation of 2m SSB antennas at the Arlington ECC, currently on Uhle St. The vertical antennas there are still in good condition. Jack tries to join the 144.25 USB net at 1900L on the last Wednesday, and invites others. NW3V proposed having another AARC monthly meeting at the ECC; he or KO4ALA will arrange that. WA4FXX has been taking the ARRL Emergency Communications course, and recommends it to us. In addition to self-study booklet and Internet elements, a mentor is paired with each student to review exercises. New registrations are limited by availability of mentors. The course provoked Jack to think of call-up tree and UHF.

Old business: KT4EL brought some items from the N4BYF estate, auctioned at the end of the meeting. WA4FXX asked KG4UIR about availability of shelf/storage space; Keith said there was space available in the garage.

New business: WA4FXX proposed amending the by-laws to have annual elections at the November meeting, with terms from December through November. KT4EL seconded. The reason is that November attendance is usually better, unhindered by weather, etc. Passed unanimously.

W4PWF reported on ARRL and FAR, especially the need for support of AutoCall. Circulation is now ~1100. Dennis played an ARRL video, narrated by Walter (Cronkite) KB2GSD, to be used for non-broadcast introduction of public service officials to amateur radio.

KC7TNU and KD7SSM invited all to the CAP open house 1/29. Some of their CAP recruits are also interested in amateur radio.

Respectfully submitted,
Mike KA8OPJ, Secretary

Links to Bulletins

ARLS007: Columbia recovery effort over for Texas hams
ARLB015: Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 introduced
ARLS006: ISS crew grieves Columbia loss, moves forward
ARLB014: New Field Day entry class
ARLX001: FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau gets new chief

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.

Emergency Communications Capability Survey

To: Members of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club
From: Mike Skelly, KA8OPJ, Secretary
Re: Call-up Tree

On the morning of 9/11/01, most of us heard the news and immediately tuned to 145.47. KR4MU coincidentally was at the chapterhouse and began spreading the word that we were needed, well before the landlines, cellular phones, and pagers clogged. Most emergencies won't happen in daylight and good weather, with all of our resources operational and ready. Smaller emergencies may not get much attention. Larger emergencies could devastate our news, phone, and repeater networks. Some of us live and work outside the ranges of the repeater or VHF simplex backup. Even George sleeps.

From time to time, we check and update the information on our call-up list. This time, we're putting the information into a fan-out tree, so that we can get the word out more rapidly to our responders. The information in the tree may be shared with the club membership or Red Cross Disaster Services staff, unless you clearly indicate otherwise. We've requested information on resources, for our long-term planning, and to remind you. If you're unable to respond to an emergency callup, we continue to welcome your participation in social activities of the club: Good fellowship is one of our cements.

Please complete as much of the form as applicable, and return it to mfskelly@erols.com or Mike Skelly; 914 Ridge Dr., McLean, VA 22101.

Thanks sincerely,
73/Mike KA8OPJ

Arlington Amateur Radio Club Call-up Tree

Name: ______________________________
Call: ___________
License class: ____________
Current Red Cross photo ID number? __________
                  Expiration date? __________
Current ARES ID? _______
Today's date: __________
Home phone: ____________
Work phone: ____________ May we call you at work? ____
Cell phone: ____________
Pager: _________________ Other instructions?

Availability (yes/no/restrictions)
Work days? _____________
Work days, major disasters only? _____
Weekends? ______________
Nights, major disasters only? _____
Comments:

Equipment
                      Home station    Mobile  Portable*
2m HT                 _______         ______  ______
2m 10W+               _______         ______  ______
2m SSB                _______         ______  ______
2m packet             _______         ______  ______
HF (list bands/modes) _______         ______  ______
70 cm (440 MHz)       _______         ______  ______
Other

Power:
Backup AC             _______         ______  ______
Battery >10 AH        _______         ------  ______
alkaline cells        _______         ______  ______
cigar lighter adapter -------         ______  ______


Portable: Can you hand-carry the equipment or move it 
to another vehicle/building to operate with 30 minutes?

Accessing Web Pages by Email

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