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ARRL Maryland-DC Section (MDC)

Section Manager
James E. Cross, WI3N
16013 Dorset Rd
Laurel, MD 20707-5314
301-725-6829
wi3n@arrl.org
Section Links
  • Hamfests
  • Affiliated Clubs
  • Ham Radio Classes

  • Other sections

  • Atlantic Division
  • Assistant Section Manager
    E. Allen Brown, KZ3AB
    8645 Tower Dr
    Laurel, MD 20723-1244
    (301) 490-3188
    kz3ab@arrl.net

    William J Hoge Iii, W3JJH
    20 Ridge Rd
    Westminster, MD 21157-4450
    (301) 286-5595, (410) 857-2893
    w3jjh@arrl.net

    Joseph A Nollmeyer, W3YVQ
    2403 Chetwood Cir
    Timonium, MD 21093-2528
    (410) 252-9073
    alyvq@abs.net

    Affiliated Club Coordinator
    Mona S Singleton, NY7P
    PO Box 273
    Point Of Rocks, MD 21777-0273
    (301) 874-8408
    ny7p@arrl.net

    Official Observer Coordinator
    James A Erickson, K3LFO
    3933 London Bridge Rd
    Sykesville, MD 21784-9516
    (410) 549-1041
    k3lfo@arrl.net

    Section Emergency Coordinator
    Douglas P Lindsey Jr, KB3HER
    10209 Sea Pines Dr
    Bowie, MD 20721-3125
    (301) 925-3229, (301) 336-3873
    dgroup@verizon.net

    State Government Liaison
    David J Prestel, W8AJR
    10160 Tanfield Ct
    Ellicott City, MD 21042-5808
    (410) 552-2652, (443) 812-4403
    w8ajr@arrl.net

    Section Traffic Manager
    Joseph A Nollmeyer, W3YVQ
    2403 Chetwood Cir
    Timonium, MD 21093-2528
    (410) 252-9073
    alyvq@abs.net

    Technical Coordinator
    Robert E Bruninga, WB4APR
    115 Old Farm Ct
    Glen Burnie, MD 21060-7425
    (410) 267-4380, (410) 553-6021
    wb4apr@arrl.net

    Section News

    ALERT: Sun, May 11, 2008; 7:07 PM ET

    ASTRONAUT RON (WA4SIR) PARISE - SK

    Space Shuttle Astronaut Ron (WA4SIR) Parise passed away on Friday, May 9th, two weeks before his 57th birthday.

    Ron made his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, loved amateur radio and was a member of the Goddard [Space Flight Center] Amateur Radio Club (GARC).

    Friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, May 16th.

    Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Resurrection Church, 3315 Greencastle Road, Burtonsville, MD on Saturday, May 17 at 10 am

    Interment will be at Burtonsville Union Cemetery.

    Monthly Summaries

    News last updated: Sun, April 20, 2008 at 4:08 PM ET

    Welcome to the Maryland-DC Section News Page

    *****************
    MDC Section News
    Vol. 3 No. 4
    April, 2008
    ***********************

    IN THIS EDITION:

    + ECHOLINK NET TONITE
    + ATLANTIC DIVISION WEBINAR
    + HAMFESTS
    + ARMED FORCES DAY
    + ARRL EXPO 2008 AT DAYTON HAMVENTION
    + FIELD DAY
    + THE GREAT SOUTHERN MARYLAND PICNIC
    + MDC QSO PARTY
    + SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER NET REPORT
    + T-MARC AT WORK
    + FINALLY

    ==> ECHOLINK NET TONITE

    Join us tonite on the monthly Section-wide Echolink Net. It will be at 8:00 pm on the WASH_DC node 6154 server hosted by John Creel, WB3GXW. There are also a number of local repeaters and links available so that you can check in via RF. It's a place to exchange ideas, let everyone know upcoming events, something that you or your club did that worked very well, or anything of interest to our amateur radio community.

    ==> ATLANTIC DIVISION WEBINAR

    Tomorrow, Sat April 19 from 11:00 am -- 12:00 pm, will be the second Atlantic Division Webinar. Meet with ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, Dennis Dura K2DCD, who will present information about the ARRL's EmComm program and what he's been working on. This webinar/teleconference is for club members, ARES members, Section Managers, Section Cabinet Staff and those interested in emergency communications.

    If you go to the following site, <www.atldiv.org/training>, you can register for the event. You'll be sent a confirmation e-mail with a phone number, access code and Webinar ID.

    ==> HAMFESTS

    Antietam Radio Association - The Great Hagerstown Hamfest hosted by the will be held on Sunday, May 4, at the Washington County Agricultural Center on MD Rt. 65 South Sharpsburg Pike, Near Hagerstown, Md. For more information on times, and events such as the auction, please click on: <www.w3cwc.org/HamFests.html>.

    Maryland FM Association -- Memorial Day Hamfest will be held Sunday May 25 at the Howard County Fair Grounds on Rt 144 near I-70. For more information please click: <www.marylandfm.org>.

    ==> ARMED FORCES DAY

    Armed Forces Day Special Event Station, AF3RH (Armed Forces 3 Retirement Home) will honor the service and sacrifices of all military veterans from the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.

    A special Certificate is planned for Amateurs who make a confirmed contact with AF3RH during the celebration. We have a Special Event listing on the ARRL webpage and will post additional information to our <QRZ.COM> listing about April 1st.

    We'll operate for 24 hours from May 16th, 8 P.M. (May 17th, 0001Z) until May 17th, at 8 P.M. (2400Z).

    Guest Operators Needed!

    We'd like to keep the station actively on-the-air for the entire 24 hours, so are inviting interested Amateurs to become Guest Operators. If you're interested, please send me an email at <af3rh@yahoo.com>.

    ==> ARRL EXPO 2008 AT DAYTON HAMVENTION

    ARRL EXPO is a showcase of exhibits and activities to enhance your amateur radio experience. Open to members and nonmembers, the ARRL EXPO is jam-packed with official ARRL program representatives, activities (including activities for youth) and forums.

    You may visit the ARRL bookstore for popular publications and products, join or renew your ARRL membership and pick up official ARRL merchandise.

    The ARRL EXPO 2008 will be held in Hara Arena's large exhibit area located in the Ballarena Hall (near the 400-numbered booths) during the Dayton Hamvention, Thursday May 16th through Sunday May 18th in Dayton, Ohio.

    Take a peek at the Dayton Countdown Ticker.

    For more information about the ARRL EXPO at Dayton, click on: <www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2008/dayton.html>.

    ==> FIELD DAY

    As your planning progresses on your Field Day event, don't for get to invite your local, state and national legislators and to send your local paper, radio or TV station a press release. Let's raise our visibility to the legislators and public.

    Here's the Field Day Countdown Ticker.

    ==> THE GREAT SOUTHERN MARYLAND PICNIC

    Mark Saturday, September 20th on your calendar. A large number of clubs and ARES® groups in Southern Maryland are planning quite an extravaganza.

    A super picnic with great food, demonstrations and opportunities to learn some skills are only the tip of the iceberg for this fun packed day. And don't forget that there will be fun things for the spouse and kids.

    More information (time and location) will be announced later.

    Thanks to Ken (KB3IIE) Greenhouse, PIO, for being the sparkplug on this event.

    ==> MDC QSO PARTY

    It's not too late to begin your plans to participate in the MDC QSO Party to put our section on the air. If you or your club would like to help the Antietam Radio Association by sponsoring an award, please contact Al (KZ3AB) Brown at <kz3ab@arrl.net>.

      -----------

    2008 Maryland-DC QSO Party Announcement

    Contest Date/Times:

    - August 9 1600 UTC through August 10 0400 UTC and
    - August 10 1600 through 2359 UTC.

    Exchange:

    QTH: - MDC Stations send your Maryland County/Baltimore City or DC.
    - Outside MDC send your State, Country, or Canadian Province.

    Category: - Club, Mobile, QRP, Standard (Multi-op stations are considered to be clubs).

    QSO Points: 10 points per club station, 5 points per mobile station, 4 points per QRP station 3 points for each CW/digital station and 1 point for all other QSOs.

    Multipliers:

    - For stations outside MDC - 1 per MD county/DC/Baltimore City (25 possible).
    - For MDC Stations ONLY - the basic 25 + each of the other 49 states + each new DX country.

    Scoring:

    - Add up your QSO Points and multiply by the sum of the multipliers.
    - Multipliers may be claimed only once. Multipliers do not repeat from band to band.

    - Decisions about the acceptance of any log and summary sheet are at the discretion of the contest judges.

    Log Submission and Cut off Date:

    - All entries must be received by September 15, 2008.
    - Send Logs, Scoring summary and SASE to Antietam Radio Association, P.O. Box 52, Hagerstown, MD 21741-0052 or e-mailed in plain (ASCII) text, MSWord or MSExcel format to: <MDC.LOGS@VERIZON.NET>.
    - A contest summary *must* be included!

    Rules: - For official rules, click on <www.w3cwc.org/funcontest.htm>.

    The ARA wishes to acknowledge the generous financial support from: Mid-Atlantic DX and Repeater Association (MADXRA), Montgomery Amateur Radio Club (MARC), John (N3TDN) Smith, the Cheese Hollow Amateur Radio Society (CHARS), Carroll County ARC, and Bill (K3UMV) and Joyce (K3UMW)Drager.

    ==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER NET REPORT

    MDC NTS NETS:

    MEPN 0802 W3YVQ QND/29 QNI/316 QTC/125 MINS/1358
    BTN 0802 K3CSX QND/29 QNI/316 QTC/118 MINS/669
    MDD 0802 AA3SB QND/58 QNI/265 QTC/141 MINS/571
    MSN 0802 W8CPG QND/29 QNI/171 QTC/98 MINS/736

    PSHR: KK3F 140, W3YVQ 130, K3CSX 120, WB4FDT 100, AA3SB 100, W3CB 93, K3IN 90, N3ZOC 90, KB3LFG 76;

    TFC: KK3F 1613 (BPL), AA3SB 208, W3YVQ 196, KB3LNM 151, WB4FDT 114, N3ZOC 106, K3CSX 74, K3IN 59, W3CB 34, KB3LFG 28, KC3Y 3.

    ==========

    Note: The MEPN has returned to the normal starting time of 1800L (as of March 10, 2008) on 3820 or 3821 kHz for liaisons and regular business. An informal session will be conducted starting at 1730L or as soon as stations are able to get on.

    If propagation is very poor, MEPN may shift to 160m on 1920 kHz±. Traffic may be pushed to counties via WL2K, and the STM will take outbound traffic via WL2K as needed. Additional backup will make use of the ERP 2m net frequencies and/or Echolink on the WASH_DC conference bridge as announced on MEPN.

    MSN (3563 kHz 1930L, daily, W8CPG) is the slow speed CW traffic handling and net-operating training net.

    Daily liaisons from all jurisdictions are needed on our Section nets:
    MEPN (3820 kHz, 1800L, daily, W3YVQ),
    MDD (3557 kHz, 1900L/2200L, daily, AA3SB), and
    BTN (146.67/R, alt. 145.33/R, 1830L, daily, K3CSX).

    MANUAL NET OPERATIONS
    Each MDC ARES® jurisdiction is requested to provide a liaison to at least one of the three nets above on a daily basis for both traffic outlets and emergency communications preparedness.

    DIGITAL OPERATIONS
    If jurisdictions can not assign stations for daily contact via the nets above, they should advise the call sign of an interim selected target station to receive and originate messaging for the jurisdiction on a daily basis (via a winlink.org address, or Echolink via the WASH DC conference bridge, or an email address) between 1800L and 1930L daily. The EC (default), AEC, or any other designated station may perform this task.

    ---

    All jurisdictions are encouraged to develop and deploy manual net, Winlink (WL2K) and Echolink liaisons to ensure Section-wide emergency communications preparedness for infrastructure independent ICS/NIMS and welfare support. Please advise the STM of your assigned representatives for all of the modes above.
    The Section database will provide the means to advise all jurisdictions of the available target stations on winlink.org and other routes.

    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.

    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/Winlink/MDCWL2KOVwAM81/MDCWL2KOVwAM81.htm>.

    Please remember the deadline for net reports to any NM is 48 hours after the session run. Net, SAR and PSHR reports to the STM are due no later than the 6th of the following month. Thank you.

    ---

    >From the recently released ARRL NERPC report "Messaging Recommendations" (extracts):

    "1. The establishment of semi-automatic networks should be considered a priority for surviving and mutual assistance resources, but never to the exclusion of voice networks. Forward-based, self-contained mobile or portable equipment should include provisions for all modes of message transport possible, including voice, NTS-Digital, Winlink 2000, WiFi, and others that may be developed in the future. When possible, out-of-area gateway stations should be identified and scheduled to handle messaging in the most efficient method available to both ends of the circuit. If prior arrangements are not possible, the gateway stations in the affected area should immediately identify out-of-area capabilities, and set up the most efficient method of message transfer possible."

    "8. It must become and remain a perpetual priority for the ARRL and ARES to enhance training in basic message handling, particularly with respect to message accuracy through the major communication phases of transport and delivery."

    ---

    Thanks to all for your continued support of integrated ARES® and NTS/NTSD operations.

    73, Al W3YVQ,
    MDC STM
    <w3yvq@arrl.net>

     

    ==> T-MARC AT WORK

    The Middle Atlantic FM and Repeater Council (T-MARC) has been busy plowing through the backlog of requests for repeater frequency coordination for new construction and deleting outdated records of repeaters that are off-the-air from their database.

    You may see what's been done by clicking on "T-MARC NEWS" at: <tmarc.org/tm-news.html>.

    Also, please check T-MARC's member's list, <tmarc.org/memberlist.html>, to make sure your information is correct. Please send any corrections to: <t-marc@columbiaara.org>.

    The T-MARC home page URL is: <www.tmarc.org/>.

    ==> FINALLY

    If you would like me to come to your club or ARES® group for a presentation, please don't hesitate to let me know.

    I am always at your service.

    73,
    Jim Cross, WI3N
    SM MDC
    <WI3N@ARRL.org>

    ****************************************************
    The ARRL MDC Section News is published monthly, 12 times
    each year, by the American Radio Relay League's
    Maryland-DC Section Manager, Jim (WI3N) Cross,
    10613 Dorset Rd., Laurel, MD 20707; Landline: 301-725-6829.
    E-mail: <WI3N@ARRL.org>
    ****************************************************


    Responsibility for content of all posted material above rests exclusively with the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, and accuracy of items appearing on this page. All questions and comments should be directed to the item author.

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    Page last modified: 07:07 PM, 11 May 2008 ET
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