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ALERT: Sun, June 21, 2009; 8:05 PM ET ==> UPDATES TO "BASIC TRAFFIC HANDLING" INSTRUCTIONS Our ARRL MDC Assistant Section Manager (ASM) and MDC Section Traffic Manager (STM) Al Nollmeyer, W3YVQ, has updated the "Basic [NTS] Traffic Handling" instructions for 'voice' and has added new "Basic [NTS] Traffic Handling" instructions for 'CW.' You may view and/or download these files at the MDC Section home page, <www.arrl-mdc.net>, and scroll down to "General Information." Kudos to Al, W3YVQ, for a terrific job.
==> MEDIA COVERAGE - ANY ONE? It's been quite a while since I've heard of any new media items to add to the MDC Section Web Page. The archives my be viewed at: <www.arrl-mdc.net/NewsArchives/archive.htm>. Field Day should provide your local media (radio, TV, print or Internet) an opportunity to cover this amateur radio event. Field Day is not only a contest for fun, but a test of emergency communications preparedness in case a natural or man-made disaster disrupts normal electric power and/or communications (land-line) services. Please send me a copy of any local amateur radio activity media coverage. Remember, as the ARRL MDC Section Manager, I serve at your pleasure and interest. Thank you es 73, Jim Cross WI3N ARRL Maryland-DC Section Manager <WI3N@ARRL.ORG> |
News last updated: Mon, June 15, 2009 at 6:43 PM ET
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Welcome to the Maryland-DC Section News Page |
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*********************** MDC Section News Vol. 4 No. 6 June 13, 2009 *********************** |
IN THIS EDITION:
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* SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET JUNE 19 * AFFILIATED CLUB UPDATES PAST DUE * CLUB QUESTIONAIRE * 2009 FIELD DAY * T-MARC ACTIVITY * NEW CLUB SPEAKERS LIST * HAMFESTS * MAY SECTION MANAGER ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED * MONTHLY SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR REPORT * SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT * FINALLY |
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==> SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET JUNE 19
The Echolink Net is open to anyone and is a place to exchange announcements and let others know what is going on in clubs, ARES® groups and amateur radio in general within the Maryland- DC Section. The monthly third Friday MDC Section Echolink Net will be held Friday, June 19th, at 8 pm local time on the WASH_DC node 6154 server hosted by John Creel, WB3GXW. If you would like to install the Echolink software on your computer or find out more about it, please click on: <www.echolink.org>. |
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==> AFFILIATED CLUB UPDATES PAST DUE
It has been pointed out to me that about a dozen ARRL affiliated clubs in the Maryland-DC Section need to update their information in the ARRL Affiliated Club database. Please click on: <www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml?section=MDC&selsect=Show+clubs+in+selected+ARRL+section> to check you club's status. |
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==> CLUB QUESTIONAIRE
In our continuing effort to help serve all the needs of you and your club, the ARRL has put together the following questions. Please fill this out once a year, at the time most convenient for you. By keeping a dated copy on file, you will know when to do the next one. To fill out the questionnaire, go to: <www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/club/quest.html>. |
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==> 2009 FIELD DAY
2009 Field Day will be held on the weekend of June 27-28, 2009. You may download a complete set of the rules at: <www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf>. Also, you can find a Field Day site near you by going to the ARRL Field Day Locator website: <www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php>. If your club plans to participate in Field Day, please be sure that you put the information in so that folks can find you. I will be traveling alone this year to various Field Day locations around the MDC Section. My usual companion, ASM Al Brown, KZ3AB, will be in the Bahamas hopes to be operating "KZ3AB/C6A" during Field Day. And don't forget to submit your Public Service Activity Report (PSAR) after Field Day. Field Day is a bona fide public service and training exercise. The PSAR template may be found at: <www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/fsd-157-online-form.php>. Also, please send a copy to me at <WI3N@ARRL.ORG>. PSARs are important because they give us some hard numbers in terms of people hours and equipment invested in the exercise. |
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==> HAMFESTS
The Antietam Radio Association Hamfest held in Sharpsburg, near Hagerstown, Md, on Sunday, May 3rd was a successful event. Attendance was over 350; not bad for a "little" hamfest. To see a list of prize winners, click on: <www.w3cwc.org/HamFests.html>. --- My ASM Al Brown, KZ3AB, and I attended Hamvention® and the ARRL 2009 Convention in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, the weather was unsettled. It was sunny and warm on Friday, May 15th; scattered thunderstorms on Saturday; and clear and cool on Sunday. The attendance at the Hamvention seemed to us to be a bit higher this year. Let's hope so. In 2007 the attendance was 19,138; in 2008, it was 17,235. We hope the attendance exceeded 18,000 for 2009. The Laurel Amateur Radio Club VEC provided the testing on Friday and Saturday. --- We also attended the Memorial Day Hamfest sponsored by the Maryland FM Association at the Howard County Fairgrounds on May 24th. There was a huge tailgating area and one building was filled with vendors. We estimate the attendance to be 750+. --- Upcoming hamfests: To view a list of upcoming hamfests in the Maryland-DC Section, click on: <www.arrl-mdc.net/hamfest.htm>. Here's a summary: -- Sunday, July 19, 2009 - BRATS Hamfest and Comptuer Fest sponsored by the Baltimore Radio Amateur TV Society at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2040 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Md. Talk-In: 147.03/R, 224.96/R, 448.325/R For more information, contact: Les McClure, W3GXT, PO Box 5915, Baltimore, MD 21282 Phone: 410-461-1212, e-mail: <hamfest@bratsatv.org>. -- Sunday, August 16, 2009 - Carroll County Tailgate Fest sponsored by the Carroll County Amateur Radio Club at the Carroll County Agricultural Center, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, Md. For more information, contact: Steve Beckman, N3SB, 2145 Bethel Road, Finksburg, MD 21048 Phone: 410-876-1482, Fax: 410-583-4149, e-mail: <n3sb@qis.net>. -- Sunday, October 4, 2009 - CARAFest sponsored by the Columbia Amateur Radio Association at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2040 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Md. For more information, contact: Dave Prestel, W8AJR, 10160 Tanfield Court, Ellicott City, MD 21042 Phone: 410-552-2652, Fax: 410-981-5146, e-mail: <info@carafest.org>. -- Sunday, October 25, 2009 - Mason-Dixon Hamfest sponsored by the Carroll County Amateur Radio Club at the Carroll County Agricultural Center, 700 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, Md. For more information, contact: Steve Beckman, N3SB, 2145 Bethel Road, Finksburg, MD 21048 Phone: 410-876-1482, Fax: 410-583-4149, e-mail: <n3sb@qis.net>. |
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==> T-MARC ACTIVITY
T-MARC, The Mid Atlantic Repeater Council remains active. The T-MARC home page URL is: <tmarc.org>. Check it often. T-MARC Announcements: - To view a list of recent changes in the web and other activities click on: <www.tmarc.org/tm-news.html>. - The next general membership meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 4th at the CARA hamfest at the Howard County Maryland Fairgrounds, 2040 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Md. See: <www.carafest.org>. The exact time and meeting place at the hamfest will be announced later. - The Frequency List page has been modified to sort lists by state and frequency only. Band/state lists have been eliminated to limit the number that had to be posted on the website. See: <tmarc.org/index_files/page0002.html>. Your feedback is appreciated. Please email me at: <N3ST@arrl.net>. - To keep our records up-to-date, we have been requesting updated contact information and status of repeater operation from all sponsors. Click on: <tmarc.org/Members/MailListClubs.html> and/or <tmarc.org/Members/MailListIndiv.html> to see if you and/or your club or repeater is on the list. - Repeater Sponsor Information Needed If you or your club is on the list, don't worry. We are only attempting to gather correct contact information and to verify the status of repeaters. If you are *not* on the list, or if the information needs to be updated, please e-mail us your current contact information, status of your repeaters, and all the frequencies your systems are using. Our e-mail address is: <t-marc@columbiaara.org>. |
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==> NEW CLUB SPEAKERS LIST
I would like to compile a list of volunteers to be guest speakers at amateur radio club meetings and other events. Speaker's topics do not necessarily need to be amateur radio related. As a list is compiled, a link will be posted on my Section Manager's home page, <www.arrl-mdc.net>, very soon. If you would like to volunteer to speak in front of an audience of hams, please send me your name, call sign, subject of your talk, how far you are willing to travel and how interested clubs may contact you. My e-mail address is: <WI3N@ARRL.ORG>. |
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==> MAY SECTION MANAGER ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
The following incumbent ARRL Section Manager did not face opposition and was declared elected for their next terms of office beginning on July 1: ... Jim Cross, WI3N (Maryland-DC). Click on: <www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/05/21/10829/?nc=1> for details. |
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==> MONTHLY SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATOR REPORT
ARRL Section: Maryland-DC Month: May Year: 2009 AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 659
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 10 Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: N3SEO, K3UEZ, W3JCT, KB3LJB, WR3F, KB3FIO, KB3ENU, KB3FMJ, WB0EGR, N3SB.
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 15
Number of public service events this month: 8
Number of emergency operations this month: 1
Total number of ARES operations this month: 24 Comments: SEC Notes: Thanks George, KB3LJB, for inviting me to speak with your ARES team on Wednesday May 20 to demonstrate MT-63 and EasyPal digital Communications modes. Met with Al Fitzsimons, W3YRS, at MEMA on Tuesday May 26 to demonstrate MT-63, Olivia, and EasyPal. Thanks Andy Leeds, WO3L, and Tony Krauth, KF3AK, for assisting with the demo. Kent County: May 23rd, KARS had a booth at the Chestertown Tea Party with HF station on 40 meters using CW. Also, we had ham radio and emergency communications handouts available for public information. Propagation was poor, however, [and] we made 5 contacts and had many visitors interested in ham radio. KARS also supplied the Tea Party Committee with communications via our UHF repeater per their request. Fifteen (15) KARS members were involved with this public service. All went well. Garrett County: Last month member Mark Moynahan (K3EE) provided an excellent presentation on antenna fundamentals and design principles in preparation of our Field Day antenna build event. The Garrett County ARES net is held weekly on Sunday evenings at 8:00 PM, on the Outback Repeater System (primary repeaters 146.805 and 145.33 dup PL 123). All traffic is FM voice. Our monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 PM Cecil County: The Cecil County ARES Net is conducted every Sunday evening at 2000 local time on the Chesapeake Bay Radio Association (CBRA) 146.850 FM repeater (negative offset). Access tone is 107.2 but is required only between 2100 and 0900 which means it is not required during the net. Our backup is the CBRA 449.825 FM repeater (negative offset). Access tone is 167.9 and is required 24 hours. The net is open to all hams within range of the repeater. ARES membership is encouraged but not required. Frederick County: Frederick ARES provided communications support for the Mountain Club of Maryland's Hike Across Maryland on May 2nd with 17 communicators manning 10 checkpoints along the Appalachian Trail. Joe Durnal, NE3R, (Fred. Co. AEC) hiked the last 20 miles of the 40 mile event with a portable APRS rig to provide valuable position reporting of the last group of hikers. Wicomico County: Drill: Joint Wicomico County Race/ARES COMMEX Drill 5/12/09 at Wicomico County EOC. Public Service: May 13 - Wicomico Presbyterian Church Power Point Presentation [on] ARES Emergency Preparedness. Emergency Operations May 8 - ARES and Lower Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross had a joint planning and emergency preparedness meeting. Local Net: Delmarva Amateur Radio Enhancement Net every Monday night at 9:00 p.m. The DAR Net is sponsored by the Delmarva Amateur Radio Club which is now an ARRL Affiliated group operating a repeater on 146.820 MHz PL 156.7 Hz. Coming Events: June 6 American Lung Association Bike Event ARES Radio support . June 27 [and June] 28 ARRL Field Day. Location Furnace Town, near Snow Hill, Md. . July 18 ARES/RACES training session located at the Peninsula Regional Medical Center Operations Room which includes a fixed Amateur Radio Position. Howard County: Public Service events included The Columbia BikeAbout (5/2), The Junior Diabetes Walk (5/2), Diabetes Tour de Cure (5/9), and the Columbia Triathlon (5/17). Carroll County: Carroll County ARES supported the Carroll Office of Emergency Management with a drill in Westminster on Sunday, May 30. Carroll [County ARES] continues to experiment with MT-63, and conducts a digital net on the local K3PZN 2m repeater at least once a month after the ARES net is closed.
Signature: Steve Beckman |
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==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT
MDC NTS NETS:
MEPN 0905 W3YVQ QND/31 QNI/340 QTC/71 MINS/843 PSHR: KK3F 160, W3YVQ 135, KB3MXM 114, KB3LNM 110, W3CB 105, AA3SB 100, K3IN 90, N3ZOC 90, KB3LFG 37 TFC: KK3F 2011, W3YVQ 139, N3ZOC 100, AA3SB 73, K3IN 64, KB3LNM 60, KB3MXM 34, W3CB 33, KC3Y 22, KA3KID 9, KB3LFG 1
============================================ The MEPN, MDD and BTN NTS nets plan to add joint meetings on Echolink to assign and dispatch traffic via WL2K beginning in April. All operators are asked to install and check out their Echolink and AirMail and/or Paclink applications where possible if not done so already. Days, times and Echolink bridge will be announced on the nets. The MEPN has returned to the customary starting time of 1800L on 3821 kHz (±) for liaisons and regular business.
ECs: If you have not already done so, please forward to
W3YVQ the call sign of a station on WL2K who can check
daily for mail containing NTS traffic for your jurisdiction. NTS/NTSD radiogram messaging is handled via authorized Section stations and liaisons per specified routing. Single and multiple welfare and agency radiograms may be sent via Batch Files to the designated NTSD representatives on winlink.org (contact the STM). All radiograms sent via email or WL2K must contain a request to confirm receipt of the message(s), using an HXC in the subject line, prompting a reply message from the recipient of the email to confirm receipt. See the Batch File format in the WL2K/AirMail tutorial in General Information on the SM's web page.
See the NTS NETS, MDC ERP Summary, individual net tabs,
and the WL2K tutorials (general information topics) at the
Section Manager's web page. Note the changes to the CMS in
the Winlink 2000 telnet server addresses:
<www.arrl-mdc.net>.
73, W3YVQ, MDC STM |
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==> FINALLY
If you would like to read this newsletter in color and a different format, please click: < arrl.org/sections/MDC.html> at the ARRL website. I would like to ask all of you to forward the ARRL MDC Section News to every amateur radio operator that you know every month and ask them to click on my home page: <www.arrl-mdc.net>. I would also like for you to let every amateur radio operator in the MDC Section know that I personally feel that one of my obligations to you is to listen to and possibly help to resolve any concerns you have with respect to amateur radio whether you are an ARRL member or not. Remember, I am at your service. 73,
Jim Cross WI3N
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