| 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 |
| October 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 October 19 meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club will feature a demonstration of the Kenwood TM-D700A dual-band 2m/70cm transceiver--the same model installed in the ACPD Mobile Connand Center--by Richard Spencer, KG4DFW. ARES Arlington County Emergency Coordinator Alan, KO4ALA, and ARES Arlington County Assistant Emergency Coordinator and AARC President Jack, WA4FXX, encourage us all to become familiar with this rig, which we may be called upon to operate in the future. Please make every effort to attend and see this important and interesting demonstration!
-- Mike, NW3V
Webelos Scouts of Den 1, Pack 637, visited W4WVP to participate in Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2004. They were escorted by Den Leader Paul, KA4KUU, and several parents. They were greeted by Mike, NW3V, and Keith, KG4UIR, who had set out information on Amateur Radio and JOTA. Mike had also set out two code practice oscillators for diversion during the gathering period. Some of the Scouts could send their names in Morse code.
Mike gave an introduction to ham radio, while Keith monitored the 40m and 20m JOTA calling frequencies. During his spiel, Mike used his HT to ask for a signal report on 145.47. Adam, KG4VNC, happened to be monitoring, and gave Mike a "five by nine" signal report. Mike asked Adam to speak to the Scouts, and they had a nice QSO -- until Mike's battery died!
When they were ready to operate, they monitored 40m then 20m but couldn't get a signal in edgewise. Finally they heard two stationns on 14.290 agree to QSY to 14.248, and followed them down. After they signed, Mike called and made contact with one of the stations, KD6JHV, operated in West Haven, Utah, by licensee Noel Gauntlett. Troop 625 was visiting KD6JHV, and two Scouts there talked to two Scouts in Den 1, while others listened, before Noel said they had to break. By then it was 1600L, the scheduled ending time for Den 1.
Paul has ordered participation cards and pocket patches for the Scouts who participated. Paul also took some digital photos, a montage of some appears above and on the W4WVP web site.
--Mike, NW3V
President Jack, WA4FXX, called the meeting to order at 1940 local. Attending, besides Jack, were Secretary Mike, NW3V, Activities Chair Alan, KO4ALA, Members Paul, KA4KUU, Paul, KG4PXF, Rich, KI4FWE, Chuck, KI4DHW, George, KR4MU, Ian, KI4DTD, Jack, KB3KKY, visitor (later, Member) Adam, KG4VNC, and visitors Howard, WD5DBC, and Cynthia Kellam (CERT).
A motion to accept the Minutes of the May and August meetings as published on the web was moved, seconded, and passed. Treasurer Mike, KG4RKL, although absent, sent a report, which was read, that there had been no transactions this month.
FAR Representative Alan, KO4ALA, reported that the Auto-Call deadline for Club reports had been pushed back two weeks. He also reported that he, Mike, NW3V, and Kim, KD9XB, volunteered at FARfest by selling tickets at the gate, and that John, AF4PD, and other Vienna Wireless Society Members did likewise.
Jack, WA4FXX, asked whether NW3V or KI4DTP had comments. Mike, NW3V said, "I had a good time. I bought a magnetic levitation demo kit from a fellow named Leary. They're also available on the web at scitoys.com." Ian, KI4DTP, said, "Someone was selling fiberglass antenna poles." Jack requested, "Please send me the name or URL."
Jack asked whether there was other EmComm business. Alan, KO4ALA, said that we won't be needed for the drill on September 25.
Alan revived an old business item: "We need to get County IDs." George, KR4MU, retorted, "You said that three months ago."
Alan displayed suction cup manipulating grippers sold by Harbor Freight (Smoketown Road, Potomac Mills) for six dollars. He added, "also there's a radial kit from Eagle 1 Communications, who were at FARfest. Tram allegedly makes it. They used to make high-class CB gear, but I couldn't find it on Google."
Jack said that a vote on KI4VNC's application for membership was in order. He asked whether there was any discussion, and there was none. It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept KI4VNC's application. [Welcome, Adam! -- Ed.]
Jack then reported on the Arlington Police/Fire/Sheriff 9-11 Memorial 5K Race. "Chuck and I played at the 9-11 run," he said. Chuck, KI4DHW, added, "There was free beer, pizza, and burgers. At the end they gave away whole pizzas."
Jack asked for a report on the Arlington County Fair. Chuck, KI4DHW, described his experience there. Jack said Mike, KG4RKL, handed out, and provided to the Arlington County Chapter table, AARC handouts with a map showing the Chapter. When visitors asked the Chapter volunteers for directions to the Chapter, the volunteers would just hand them an AARC handout, which was the only map handout at hand. In this way, the AARC got some good publicity.
Jack then asked about plans for JOTA. Mike, NW3V, said that he pitched JOTA at a Troop 638 meeting the night before, but no firm commitments resulted. Paul, KA4KUU, said that he sent an invitation to a Cub Scout mailing list.
Jack said that Richard Spence, KG4GFW, will bring and demonstrate s D700 transceiver. He added, "Next, I want a demo of an IC-706MkIIg." Jack, KB3KYY, asked whether Dennis [W4PWF] ever demonstrated his IC-706 [as was once planned]. Mike, NW3V, said that Dennis did not. KB3KYY said, "He and I should coordinate--we both have IC-706s." WA4FXX concluded, "We'll do IC-706 in November."
Jack, WA4FXX, noted the Arlington Prepares Fair will be 30 October, and said "Who'll volunteer? We need two." Mike, NW3V, said "I will--probable." Ian, KI4DTD, added, "Mee, too--probable."
Jack, WA4FXX, said the phone Sweepstakes contest would be Sunday, November 21, and asked whether there was interest. Adam, KG4VNC, said the CW Sweepstakes, earlier, also sounds interesting. Jack replied, "We don't have many CW ops...so let's thy the phone Sweepstakes 'test here."
Ian, KI4DTD, said that he had received an email from RACES regarding the MS three-day Challenge Walk, October 1-3, sponsored by the National MS Chapter.
George, KR4MU, read a letter from John, WD4MIS, regarding the Walk to D'Feet ALS on October 10. George proposed that the Club consider making a contribution.
George then described his grueling drive to Bradenton, Florida, then Port Charlotte, and return, working in mass care and then communications as a Red Cross volunteer. One of his jobs was installing 10Global Satellite phones donated by FEMA. One of his biggest frustrations was "working twelve to thirteen hours, then you get to sit in a gas line."
AARC Activities Chair Alan, KO4ALA, introduced Cynthia Kellams, Community Liaison for Arlington CERT, and our own Chuck Norton, KI4DHW, who described the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept and the Arlington CERT program. Cynthia said CERT formed in the 1980s in California in response to earthquakes, wild fires, and mud slides. CERTs were organized in the Tidewater region before they were organized in Northern Virginia. The Arlington CERT program was the first in Northern Virginiai; it was formed in response to the 9-11 attack. "There are now many CERTs, competing for funds," she said.
"We're pre-first responders," Cynthia said. "We're more a citizen group than a County group. The County provides only training and facilities to do it in. We take a six-to-eight week course on six nights and two Saturday mornings. In three years we've trained 205 people. We just started class 14. We have CERTS at over 40 of 60 community organizations. Currently there's a minimum age of eighteen, but eventually we'll train high-school students."
CERTs are intended to respond to emergencies in their own neighborhoods, but they have also been asked by the County and by FEMA to help out of area. For example, a day after the Red Cross sought 1,000 volunteers to help with hurricane disaster relief in Florida, FEMA offered positions paid $18 per hour to go to Atlanta for training then to Florida for relief work. Two Arlington CERT members joined the first wave; later three more volunteered and were appointed leaders of FEMA teams of 25, who handed out FEMA information.
Chuck said, "Credentialling will be critical in the future. CERT is one gateway."
Alan then introduced Fairfax County ARES Emergency Coordinator Howard Cunningham, WD5DBC, who solicited volunteers to help provide communications support for the Marine Corps Marathon on Halloween. "We need packet and APRS operators to sign up at www.ncacdc.com. I still have lots of openings. We need people to do talk-in from their home; they will be done early." But he warned, "Turkeys are people who sign up and don't show." He said the deadline for signing up is October 8.
Howard also advertised the NCAC Institute scheduled for October 23, which will include Skywarn I and Winter Weather classes as well as ARES training.
Howard also reminded us of the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) scheduled for October 2, but said he'd be out of town, and an Assistant EC would handle it. He noted the ARRL has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CERT. He said he wasn't sure that Arlington County ARES would play a role; maybe it would as a Mutual Assistance Team.
Jack, WA4FXX, asked whether there were any volunteers to assist (for example, with talk-ins) with the AMSAT Convention. There were none.
It was moved, seconded, and passed to donate fifty dollars to the ALS fund in support of John, WD4MIS.
Jack adjourned the meeting at 2144L.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Callaham, NW3V
AARC Secretary
ARLB-030: FCC Adopts New BPL Rules
ARLB-027: FCC Poised to Act on BPL Report and Order in mid-October
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
Ad Hoc HF Digital Committee Dissenting Recommendation Finally Revealed
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