| President: | Jack Reed | WA4FXX |
| Vice President: | Dennis Bodson | W4PWF |
| Secretary: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| Treasurer: | Mike Ingles | KG4RKL |
| Activities Chairman: | Alan Bosch | KO4ALA |
| Editor: | Mike Callaham | NW3V |
| May 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Meetings: | Usually Third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 P.M., Red Cross, 4333 Arlington Blvd. (US 50), Arlington,VA. Nonmembers are invited to attend. |
| Net: | Tuesday (except meeting nights) at 7:30 P.M., 144.87/145.47 MHz FM |
| WWW: | http://www.w4wvp.org/ |
| Roster: | http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.censored.txt |
| Affiliate: | ARRL, FAR |
| Information: | Jack Reed, WA4FXX, wa4fxx@amsat.org (e-mail), (703) 685-7933 (phone). |
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The May 18 meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club will be devoted to planning for Field Day 2004 activities. This year, like last year, we plan to operate in class F: Emergency Operations Centers (EOC). (See ARRL rules.) Last year, we ranked 1 in class 9F, using this gear. There's a link to some photos on our home page.
If you'd like to order an ARRL Field Day 2004 tee shirt, bring $12.95 (cash, or check payable to the Arlington Amateur Radio Club) and be prepared to divulge yor size (S, M, L, XL, or 2XL; 3XL is sold out) to Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, who will be ready to send the order to the ARRL. There's a $12 S/H fee for group orders; I'll move that the Club pay for that.
There will also be old business and new business to take care of. Among other things, President Jack, WA4FXX, has asked for nominations of computers in the shack to be liquidated, and Jim, K9AUC, is still seeking worthy scrapbook material. Don't miss this meeting! I hope to see you there.
--Mike, NW3V
By arrangement of Deputy Chief of Police Stephen L. Holl, Office of Emergency Management, the Arlington County Police Department's Mobile Command Center (MCC) visited the Arlington Red Cross building on April 20, so that ARES Members could familarize themselves with the equipment from 1915-2030L (and so that Citizens Corps Members could do so before that, from 1800-1915L). ARES members helped select the ham radio equipment installed on the vehicle. Captain Tom Panther, Sgt. Charlie Neal, and Ofc. Jim Buchhofer of the ACPD were on hand to explain the vehicle's features and how it is used for special events and how it could be used for major incidents.
On April 20, 2004, Members and visitors arrived early to inspect the Arlington County Police Department's Mobile Command Center (MCC), which visited the Arlington County Chapter so that ARES and Citizens Corps Members could familarize themselves with the equipment. Captain Tom Panther, Sgt. Charlie Neal, and Ofc. Jim Buchhofer of the ACPD were on hand to explain the vehicle's features and how it could be used for special events and major incidents. The visit was arranged by Deputy Chief of Police Stephen L. Holl, Office of Emergency Management, who sought recommendations for equipping the MCC when he visited W4WVP during Field Day 2003. [See photos above.]
President Jack, WA4FXX, called the meeting to order at 2013L. Also attending were Members Dennis, W4PWF, Mike, NW3V, Mike, KG4RKL, Alan, KO4ALA, Ian, KI4DTP, Jim, K9AUC, George, KR4MU, Paul, KA4KUU, Paul, KG4PXF, Jack, KB3KKY, Jazz, KG4YIQ, Richard, WB3HYZ, and Keith, KG4UIR, and visitors Adam, KG4VNC, and Mark Speros (unlicensed).
President Jack, WA4FXX, asked Members and visitors to introduce themselves. After introductions, Jack asked whether there were additions or corrections to the Minutes of the March meeting published on the web. There were none. It was moved, seconded, and passed to approve the Minutes as published. Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, presented his financial report.
ARRL Roanoke Division Director Dennis, W4PWF, said that there was an FCC NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] out, 158 pages long, with views on about 20 petitions. One of these is a petition by Kenwood to allow use of 2m control links, as used in its Sky Command System. The FCC is inclined to approve this, and seeks comments. Another is the League's petition to allow repeater station identification by means of tone-modulated telegraphy (MCW). The FCC is inclined to deny this petition. The NPRM supports the League's proposal for refarming the Novice and Tech-Plus CW subbands. Regarding the League's petition to allow spread-spectrum modulation (SSM) on 222-225 MHz, the FCC seeks comments regarding whether it should allow SSM in the 6m and 2m bands as well as the 1.25 m band. In summary, Dennis said that the League only asked for four petitions, and that of these, the Commission acted on three.
Foundation for Amateur Radio Representative Alan, KO4ALA, was not present when Jack asked for the FAR report. Alan arrived later, and gave his report: He said that the next issue of Auto-Call would be the August issue, and that the deadline for Club reports, etc., would be 1 July. He said that FAR would revive the FARFest at the Maryland Fairgrounds, which would be split in half, the other half being used for a concurrent rodeo. "They're looking for Clubs to adopt functions 11-12 September." He also suggested that FAR Clubs could rent a barn for about $400, and set up tables for recruiting. He asked if there was interest.
There was discusion about the visiting ACPD Mobile Command Center. Jack, WA4FXX, noted that there was a whip with a 300W SGC tuner on top, and that the whip could be disconnected and a long wire connected for HF operation with the IC-706MkIIg. He said the UHF/VHF rig was a D700, two dual-band radios in one box. One can use it for cross-band repeating and lock it up. The HF/VHF rig, the IC-706MkIIg, has a remote head at the operating position, but the key jack is in back of the rig, which is inconvenient. Paul, KG4PXF, said that he believed that one could key the rig with the mic up and down buttons. He said that he had an IC-706, but a different model.
Jim, K9AUC, said "we've surveyed W4WVP latitude and longitude to about 16 feet and posted it in the shack, along with the Maidenhead grid coordinates: FM18ku."
Jack, WA4FXX, said that Jim Quinn, KD7SSM, asked us to do a radio demonstration for Civil Air Patrol Cadets on the 28th at 7 pm. "I've reserved this room. Anyone is welcome."
Jack also said, "at the next meeting, I'd like to have your ideas on what computers we need to keep. Or email me." There followed some discussion on this topic.
Jim, K9AUC, had written some events on the white board. These included (1) Radio Night at the Arlington County Chapter, May 11, 7:10 pm (as well as a Disaster Committee meeting); (2) Field Day, June 25-26; and the Marine Corps Marathon on October 31. (NW3V observed that that would be Halloween.)
Regarding publicity for Field Day, Jack said that Keith, KG4UIR, has done some additional research on GMRS licensees to whom we could send postcards. Keith said, "I did--I pulled them down off ULS en masse. It might cost about $100. There followed some discussion about whether we would get enough attendees for it to be worth it. Keith said, "we need to use the seven key words that work in advertising: 'free,' 'sex,' etc."
Keith said "I'll try to have a [Red Cross] Field Exercise on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon we'll have a tabletop exercise. Sunday morning we'll have beakfast with the Red Cross."
Keith added, "The Gallant Fox II exercise at the Pentagon on Saturday will be a small one. May 19th will be a bigger one."
Jack said that at the next meeting we can inventory rigs and antennas.
Jack asked Jim, K9AUC, about the progress of the scrapbook. Jim showed the scrapbook. KO4ALA asked, "can someone grab frames from a video?" KI4DTP said, "I can." NW3V volunteered that he had a Snappy frame grabber with Windows 3.1 software. Someone else noted that almost any modern PC could be used.
Jack adjourned the meeting, at an hour not recorded by the Secretary.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Callaham, NW3V
AARC Secretary
ARS007: Ham radio-carrying rocket hopes to reach space
ARB016: ARRL supports FCC's cognitive radio technology proposals
ARB015: Minor FCC amateur rule changes effective June 1
ARB014: Illinois amateurs support tornado relief, recovery efforts
ARS006: Three Radio Amateurs on their Way to the ISS
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
The Arlington ARC Roster is online at http://www.w4wvp.org/roster.censored.txt. Do we have your info correct? If not, please contact the Treasurer (Mike, KG4RKL) or webmaster (Mike, NW3V).
The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203
