| President: | Jack Reed | WA4FXX |
| Vice President: | Dennis Bodson | W4PWF |
| Secretary: | Adam Hahn | KG4VNC |
| Treasurer: | Mike Ingles | KG4RKL |
| Activities Chairman: | Alan Bosch | KO4ALA |
| Editor: | Adam Hahn | KG4VNC |
| January 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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 January 17 meeting of the Arlington Amateur Radio Club will be held at the usual time (1930L) and place (4333 Arlington Blvd). Jim/K9AUC will have one of the Red Cross Go Kits available so people can get familiar with the equipment that these have.
Hope everyone can attend!
73,
--Adam, KG4VNC, AARC Secretary
Alan/KO4ALA reports: I mentioned the Batteries Plus store out at Lee Highway and Jermantown Road at a meeting awhile ago. Turns out to be a good place to work with. I just had two HT packs re-packed there, one Yaesu FNB 4 nimh w. 12v @ 1000 mAh and an Icom BP7 nicad w. 12 v @ 600 mAh -- both for $50. The owner is Steve Sevanik and the store phone = 273-0220.
Treasurer Mike/KG4RKL reports: Club dues are due in January of each year, dues are $7. 50 per year. If one pays by check, please put your call on the memo part of the check. Those pay by cash, please let me jot down your call so I don't record your paymant on someone elses record. Club has a limited number of AARC patches left, going for $ 2 each. Would look good on your hat or jacket. If there is enough interest, more can be ordered.
Chuck/KI4DTP reports: For amateurs who are interested in WinLink2k. I came across some interesting information today. It seems that Charlie Crizer, KF4MNE has started a local Yahoo group which addresses wl2k. Yahoo has a problem when searching for it, but below is a direct link to the group.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wl2kDCMetro/This is a link to an existing WinLink2k Yahoo group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wl2kemcomm/
Also I have included a link that I found concerning Charlie Crizer CEO. http://www.crizerbrothers.com/ I knew that Charlie was active with the Red Cross in Fairfax, but was not aware what business he was in.
Paul/KG4PXF, Jim/K9AUC, and Adam/KG4VNC would like someone who is handy with a soldering iron to demonstrate how to connect a connector to coax and show other soldering basics.
Dan/N8YSZ reports: Here's a page with a bunch of general info on the powerpoles: http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/app.htmThis is the tool that I personally use for crimping: http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Shop_Tools-All-Klein_Crimping_Tool_1005
I use that for PowerPoles and for most all the other crimp-on connectors around my shack.
Adam/KG4VNC could use 9 pairs of powerpole connectors if we're placing a club order for powerpoles (2 batteries and one power supply to have 2 connectors each, one connector in the car, and 2 radios).
At 1942L Jack/WA4FXX called the meeting to order. In addition to WA4FXX the following members were present: Adam/KG4VNC, Mike/KA8OPJ, Roy/AI4GO, Dan/N8YSZ, Alan/KO4ALA, Dennis/W4PWF, George/KR4MU, Ian/KI4DTP, James/KB1JMV, Mike/NW3V, Jim/K9AUC
WA4FXX welcomed all to the annual holiday party
W4PWF moved to accept the minutes as published on the web, the motion was seconded and approved.
Treasurer Mike/KG4RKL was not present so no treasurer's report was provided.
W4PWF reported that two directors (Greg/W7OZ (SK) and Bob/K7UG (SK)) had gone silent. The ARRL web site has added Google hardware (a search appliance), it's now much easier to use/search.
KR4MU reported that Red Cross RTT Newsletter devoted to ARRL efforts to provide Katrina support
KO4ALA- not a lot going on due to holidays.
The last NCAC institute had NIMS training for IMS test. WA4FXX, KO4ALA, KR4MU were there.
KO4ALA was astonished at how sensible the NCMS ICS info was- he noted that this is becoming something that people will need as FEMA/DHS starts putting requirements on county radio volunteers. They're under pressure to get background checks on volunteers as well. Fairfax county is putting together 2 session in March and April, with 30 slots in each, and spaces are still available- for Arlington residents as well.
KR4MU asked is READI was running out of money, and KO4ALA reported that yes, it will run out of money at the end of the year.
KR4MU reported that Dave Jordan/WA3GIN is holding a RACES net Wednesday night net at 2200L on 146.625- PL107.2.
WA4FXX reports that he will invite Bob Griffith, the County Director of Emergency Management and WA3GIN to talk about County plans and RACES for the January meeting.
KG4VNC reports that w4wvp-ares@w4wvp.org mailing list is not online yet [editors note- this list is now available, email was sent to club members]
KO4ALA- if you're going to get Arlington badges then you should do it soon.
No new members known.
WA4FXX reports that dues of $7.50 for 2006 membership are due. "An even $10 will be appreciated!" After some discussion it was determined that due to the grace period members may pay at the January meeting.
WA4FXX reports that he got approval from the Red Cross chapter house to use the meeting room for the club meetings in 2006 and the shortly upcoming contests. In addition to the third Tuesday of each month, the following date is currently approved: 1/8 (ARRL RTTY Round Up).
The club can participate in the RTTY Round Up with the new computer and W4PWF's donated NOMIC.
KR4MU reports that he drilled two holes for antennas in the wall of the radio room (one for the new 440 antenna and one for field day/transient use).
KG4VNC asked WA4FXX if the club can visit NN3SI, WA4FXX said that this was ok with some notice, and it was easier during a contest. NN3SI is located on the 1st floor of the NMAH in the Information Age exhibit, farthest back.
W4PWF reports that the new computer is paid for and his donated NOMIC (West Mountain TNC) has been shown to work for receive with the new computer- transmit will be fixed next.
WA4FXX asked if there was a floppy drive in the machine and N8YSZ says that he can add one from his collection.
K8OPJ reports that the parts for the 440 station are coming in- band pass filter has arrived (He showed the band pass filter to all) It provides 50 dB of isolation vs. the 462 band. We should be ready for tower work in January. OPJ mentioned the 'principle of inclemency', which states that a system or antenna works better in direct proportion to the difficulty of the installation, so we should schedule the antenna installation for an ice storm.
AI4GO states that his antenna must wait until spring. WA4FXX asks about use cases for the antenna, AI4GO reports most interest in 40m receive but would like to be able to transmit occasionally. KO4ALA reports that an end-fed antenna would be better than a dipole for the space at AI4GO's QTH, and that the Vienna winterfest is coming up so maybe something such as an MFJ tuner could be found to drive an end-fed antenna. YSZ reports he has the plugs for connecting a long wire to a tuner. KG4VNC and KB1JMV volunteer to help string an indoor long wire antenna.
WA4FXX restates that he'll invite Ofice of Emergency Management for the January meeting. Additionally, it would be a good time to break out the Red Cross go kits to make sure everything's in place. K9AUC/KI4DTP should arrange to have the go kits ready to look over.
WA4FXX talks about discussion of powerpole connections/crimpers on the member email list. N8YSZ brought examples of powerpole cables/connectors. However, he neglected to bring the BMW motorcycle associated with one of the cables. WA4FXX asked how much connectors cost, he reported $65.50/100 pairs at powerworks or $75/100 pairs at West Mountain (30A connectors).
N8YSZ sent the following links to the list after the meeting:
General powerpole information: http://home.comcast.net/~buck0/app.htm
Crimping tool that he uses: http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Shop_Tools-All-Klein_Crimping_Tool_1005
WA4FXX- due to Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-5 all counties, states need to have all volunteers pass NIMS course. W4WVP will need to keep track of the certifications of members for this.
KO4ALA- Jack Guenther will put together a review of ARES courses. W4PWF has ordered new versions of the ARRL EMCOMM docs.
WA4FXX reports that the club repeater directory has been found in the shack.
KI4DTP- DAT training starts a semester in early January. Contact Sohrab Rezvan @ 703-527-3010 to sign up.
WA4FXX reports that MD Mobileers '06 post-holiday ham fest is on 1/20 at Odenton FD, 1425 Annapolis Rd. Talk in on 146.805.
KO4ALA reports that Vienna Wireless' Winterfest will be February 26 at Nova CC
KO4ALA presents K9AUC with a great red antenna kit for his work on the go-kits.
W4PWF says "thanks to all for your work, and happy holidays"
The meeting was adjourned at 2040L, at which point the club holiday party commenced.
Respectfully submitted,
03-Jan-2006 ARLB001 W1AW 2006 Winter Operating Schedule
05-Jan-2006 ARLD001 DX news
03-Jan-2006 ARLK001 Keplerian data
03-Jan-2006 ARLK002 Keplerian data
06-Jan-2006 ARLP001 Propogation de K7RA
This is just a sample. For other recent bulletins, check out http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/, or listen to W1AW.
The Arlington Amateur Radio Club
4333 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22203