| 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 2005 REVISED | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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/ |
| Affiliate: | ARRL, FAR |
| Information: | Jack Reed, WA4FXX, wa4fxx@amsat.org (e-mail), (703) 685-7933 (phone). |
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The October 18 meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club will be held at the usual time (1930L) and place (4333 Arlington Blvd). The featured program will be a presentation by CERT Member Chuck/KI4DHW and ARES Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Arlington County, Alan/KO4ALA, titled An Introduction to Disaster Preparedness. They'll use CERT materials for the presentation.
But...wait! There's more! October is the month to nominate candidates for the five AARC Officer positions, for the election in November. (In the interest of full disclosure, I'll note that candidates can also be nominated at the November meeting.) If you're tired of that lonely steam whistle, as incumbents are railroaded back into office, this is your chance to propose an alternative. (I must confess, I have the greatest respect for the current incumbents, except for the Secretary, who doesn't get the Minutes or the _Beacon_ on the web as soon as one might. You deserve better. And I'll nominate a successor.)
So, don't miss this meeting! Hope to CU there.
73,
--Mike, NW3V, AARC Secretary
Dan/N8YSZ volunteered with the League to serve in Katrina-afflicted areas, and was dispatched first to Montgomery, AL, to help the Red Cross, and later to Hattiesburg, MS. His account is in the Minutes of the September AARC Meeting, below. George/KR4MU, volunteered with the Red Cross and was dispatched to Montgomery, AL. He returned after the September AARC Meeting; he checked in to the Arlington County Net on October 11 to announce his return and summarize his experience. Closer to home, Chuck, KI4DHW, acting locally while thinking nationally, visited the shelter for Katrina evacuees at the DC Armory, and urged others to do so. He reported on conditions there at the September AARC Meeting. Some of his remarks are in the Minutes, below.
Dan/N8YSZ, photographed at W4WVP during Field Day 2005 by Alan/KO4ALA.
George/KR4MU, photographed at W4WVP during Field Day 2005 by Dan/N8YSZ.
Chuck/KI4DHW, photographed at W4WVP during Field Day 2005 by Dan/N8YSZ.
President Jack/WA4FXX called the meeting to order at 1931L. Attending, besides FXX, were Members Mike/NW3V, Adam/KG4VNC, Dan/N8YSZ, Alan/KO4ALA, Paul/KA4KUU, Roy/AI4GO, Chuck/KI4DHW, Lew/WB6YGX, Ian/KI4DTP, George/KR4MU, Dennis/W4PWF, Mike/KA8OPJ, and visitor (later Member) Bob/WB4KLJ and visitors Colin "to be K8DAT," and Rich/WA3SXX.
It was moved, seconded, and passed to accept the Minutes of the August meeting as published on the web.
Jack/WA4FX asked about ARRL matters. Dennis/W4PWF responded, "All quiescent."
Our representative to the Foundation for Amateur Radio, Alan/K04ALA, reported, "FARfest made $68.00. Attendance was down for unfathomable reasons. Auto-Call is suspending publication as of this coming edition. It may, or may not, rearise. They're considering going electronic." Dennis/W4PWF added, "I'd heard worse than that...."
Jack/WA4FX asked visitors and Members to introduce themselves, and they did.
Jack/WA4FXX said, "The last comm we'd got from KR4MU [who had deployed to Montgomery, AL, as a Red Cross Volunteer] was that he'd start back on the 24th."
Alan/KO4ALA said, "There's a SET [Simulated Emergency Test] coming up on October 1. I will call KC1AD to see if we can play.
"On October 22nd there will be an NCAC Institute at the Lee Center in Alexandria.
"On October 30 is the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon. Someone signed up 30,000 runners. I sent around a call [email?] today: they guy needs volunteers--raise hands?" [None were observed.]
"On September 30 there's the MS [Multiple Sclerosis] Bike-a-thon.
"If you want a County ID, send me email with your name, address, Social Security ID number,...." Mike/NW3V, interjected, "Seriously?" and added that email was notoriously insecure.
Jack/WA4FXX asked Dan/N8YSZ, who had just returned from deployment as an ARRL volunteer to Katrina-afflicted areas, "N8YSZ, how was Montgomery?" Dan replied, "I volunteered to ARRL and filled out the form....W4GHZ carpooled with me. We went to Montgomery, AL, to help the Red Cross there. KR4MU was there. They dispatched us to Hattiesburg, MS. We hadn't seen a lot of damage until one hour out of Hattiesburg: there were trees down. Gas stations were open. There was a curfew. We didn't have maps, or phone numbers. The next day we found the Red Cross. They had a tower, and a G5RV on the ground (not up yet). They were running on a generator. They had cell phones, so we weren't extremely needed. I was dispatched to the EOC [Emergency operations Center] of another county. The EOC already had hams who had set up a comms trailer with two or three positions. They (national) sent hams home, because they didn't want extra noise. I went back to Hattiesburg. The generator ran out of gas. At some point it became clear that we were using resources (shelter, gas) and were not needed much. We went to Laurel, MS. There were lots of volunteers trying really hard. Resources were not matched with demand. It was getting better every day.
"At some point I felt I was using more resources than I was contributing, so I came home. Later, I got a communication from Glenn--they were out in an ERV, distributing food."
Jack/WA4FXX asked Chuck/KI4DHW to report on his experiences at DC Armory. Chuck replied, noting some some things that might have worked better regarding communications [lack of electromagnetic compatibility] and logistics at the DC Armory, where Katrina evacuees were being sheltered. He said more than is recorded here.
Ian/KI4DTP said, "One thing I'd like to add: I didn't get official email...." Chuck said, "What we needed was a Red Cross pass (badge) and to be on the access list. [P.S.: Chuck explained at the October 2005 meeting that more generally, volunteers should be credetialled. This was a Red Cross operation, so Red Cross credentials sufficed.] People didn't follow directions."
Jack/WA4FXX said, "I didn't see calls for mutual support from you [,KO4ALA ,] or NCAC...." There followed some discussion about this.
Jack/WA4FXX asked for comments from the "Computer Crew [Information Technology Subcommittee]." Adam/KG4VNC, responded: "The domain [w4wvp.org] is up, hosted by obscure.org, for free." Jack/WA4FXX asked Secretary Mike/NW3V, to "make a tickler [reminder], for about six months from now, to evaluate obscure service and consider making a donation."
Jack/WA4FXX asked for a status report from the Computer Committee. Dennis/W4PWF replied, "We're meeting tonight, after the meeting." Jack peeved, "So we won't have a computer for the RTTY contest?" Dennis said, "It's possible, if you pre-authorize us [to spend the money]." Ian/KI4DTP added, "In addition, we cleaned out the shack." Dennis elaborated, "Ian found that we could trade in old gear to CompUSA via cnet. They wouldn't pay us (only $5), but they did recycle monitors, etc."
Jack/WA4FXX called for old business. Bob/WB4KLJ noted that the County has a recycling fair for computers in October.
Jack/WA4FXX called for new business. Mike/KA8OPJ said, "There's a new and an old problem: 2m interference. I suggested 70 cm. (1) I offered to donate an IC-47A. (2) I suggested a narrow-band antenna, high up. (3) Low-loss transmission line; don't use 9913, use foam or air dielectric. (4) We need a filter; need 50 dB [isolation]. A Canadian company named DCI makes them. I'll put up for a nondirectional antenna, high-quality cable, and filter, and radio." Mike/NW3V asked, "What must we do?" Jack replied, "Get the antenna up." Jack continued, "I propose we tentatively accept, pending ACC [Arlington County Chapter] coordination." It was so moved, seconded, and passed without opposition.
Jack/WA4FXX said, "AI4GO needs an HF antenna, and maybe a tuner. I'll get an email out."
Jack/WA4FXX noted that there was a RTTY contest on Sunday, about noon. "We'll pass this time."
Mike/NW3V noted W4WVP would be hosting some Scouts for Jamboree-on-the-Air 2005 on Sunday at 1 pm.
Jack/WA4FXX said, "We want nominations [for club officers] next month."
At 2051L, Jack introduced Alan/KO4ALA, who introduced the featured speaker, Terry Bathen, of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
The featured program was a presentation by Terry Bathen of the Defense Intelligence Agency, titled United States Intelligence Community Overview. Mr. Bathen (pronounced BAYthen) handed out hardcopies of 18 slides saying a little about the United States Intelligence Community, its fifteen intelligence agencies, and recent major reform initiatives: The 9/11 Commission Report (2004); P.L. 108-458, Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004; and the 2005 Report of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the U.S. Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction. We were very fortunate to have this overview and update from an authoritative source.
After the program, Treasurer Mike/KG4RKL pesented his financial report: no change in club assets. Jack//WA4FXX noted there was a pending application for membership from Bob Bowis/WB4KLJ. It was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to accept Bob's application. [Welcome, Bob!]
Jack solicited and obtained a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and passed. Jack adjourned the meeting at 2123L.
After adjournment, Mike/KG4RKL demonstrated a photovoltaic battery charger he had made, to trickle-charge HT batteries.
Respectfully submitted,
Amended 2005-10-18 in accordance with the conditions to which approval of the Minutes were subject at the October 2005 AARC meeting.
--Mike, NW3V
AARC Secretary
On Sunday, October 16, W4WVP hosted three Webelos Cub Scouts and one Brownie Girl Scout at Jamboree on the Air 2005. Paul/KA9KUU, a Den Leader, his son Benjamin, a Webelos Scout, his daughter, Kelsey, a Brownie Scout, and Webelos Scouts Paul and Jon from KUU's Den (and their parents) visited W4WVP and were greeted by Jim/K9AUC, Jack/KB3KKY, and Mike/NW3V. While there, they talked to Roy/AI4GO on Mike's HT. Then they listened to JOTA action on 20m, then moved down to 40m to work W8ARC and W4MMR. Bob/W8ARC, is Cubmaster of Pack 33 near Wheeling, WV. Scouts J.R., Nick, Matthew, Travis, and Zack at W8ARC talked to Paul and Benjamin at W4WVP, and Brownie Sabrina at W8ARC talked to Brownie Kelsey at W4WVP. Then eight Scouts at W4MMR in Myrtle Beach, SC, talked to the Scouts at W4WVP. The Scouts also got to see a sampler of Jack/KB3KKY's exotic QSL cards. Before they left, Mike/NW3V said, "I hope you'll remember three things: how much fun you had, arrl.org, where you can learn more about ham radio, and w4wvp.org, where you can learn more about our club."
ARLB-023: Amateur Radio antenna "CC&R Bill" reintroduced in Congress
ARLB-022: Amateur Radio continues Hurricane Rita response
ARLB-021: Comment deadlines set in FCC "Morse code" proceeding
ARLB-020: Higher Amateur Radio vanity call sign application fee now in effect
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
FDLOG
tlf
Harv's Hamshack Hack
AFU-Knoppix
Debian-Ham
CERT
D-STAR System
Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP)
http://live.irlp.net:8000/listen.pls (IRLP Crossroads Reflector)
The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203