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ALERT: Fri, January 29, 2010; 6:01 PM ET SKYWARN TRAINING CLASSES
Basics I Feb. 13 11:00 AM Thanks to: Steve Beckman, N3SB and Kurt Fritsch, WA3TOY for the above information. |
News last updated: Wed, January 20, 2010 at 8:20 PM ET
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Welcome to the Maryland-DC Section News Page |
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*********************** MDC Section News Vol. 5 No. 1 January 13, 2010 *********************** |
IN THIS EDITION:
* ALERT ON HAITI EARTHQUAKES
* SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY JAN 15 AT 8:00 PM
* UPCOMING HAMFESTS
* 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING
* MDC SECTION WEB PAGE HITS IN 2009
* REMINDER - IS YOUR CLUB LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER?
* PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITY REPORTS (PSARs)
* ANOTHER REMINDER - AN IDEA FOR FIELD DAY 2010
* PRINCE GEORGE'S ARES® HOSPITAL DRILL
* DECEMBER AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE® REPORT
* SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT
* FINALLY
==> ALERT ON HAITI EARTHQUAKES On Tuesday (January 12) there was a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, which has since been followed by serious aftershocks. Communications in and out of Haiti have been disrupted. No word has been received as of yet from any of the national HH Amateur Radio operators. The DailyDX notes that HH2/HB9AMO, Pierre, is OK and was located about 140 km north of Port-au-Prince in Cap Haitien at the time. The IARU Region II Area C Emergency Coordinator, Arnie Coro, CO2KK, is coordinating the multi-national response by hams. There are organized nets on 7045 and 3720 kHz and amateurs are asked to monitor but also keep the frequencies clear of non-essential traffic. Amateur Radio operators should also be aware that emergency traffic pertaining to the Haitian earthquake is expected on the SATERN frequencies of 14265, 7265 and 3977 [kHz] according to SATERN's leader, Major Pat McPherson. The Salvation Army has a website up for H&W traffic and other news at www.satern.org. Amateur Radio operators are circled around Haiti in Cuba, Florida, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other locations listening for any calls, but so far no HH stations had checked in.
Please keep clear of the following frequencies: The situation is still chaotic and more information will be posted as soon as possible. Information is being validated and shared between many amateur groups and news sources as it unfolds. |
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==> SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY JAN 15 AT 8:00 PM
This month's section-wide Echolink net will be held on Friday, January 15th at 8:00 PM EST on the WASH_DC server node 6154. We thank John Creel, WB3GXW, for the use of the server. This is a net for the good of the ARRL MDC Section and everyone is encouraged and welcome to check in. There's always something interesting going on in a club or ARES® group. This is a great place to let everyone know about it and serves as a test for a way to communicate during an emergency. A number of repeaters and linked systems are on so that the net is accessible via RF. After the net you can stick around for "Amateur Radio Newsline" at 9:00 PM on the WB3GXW repeater and the WASH_DC node 6154 Echolink server. |
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==> UPCOMING HAMFESTS
January 27, 2010 RYRYRYRYRY
January 31, 2010 RYRYRYRYRY
Saturday and Sunday, March 27 & 28, 2010 RYRYRYRYRY
Saturday, May 1, 2010 |
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==>100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING
I was just reminded that 2010 is the 100th anniversary of Scouting and there is a web site announcing the anniversary. For more anniversary info, click on: scouting.org/100years/100years Most hams are not going to knock on the council doors and say here I am to help but, they might go to their local school or their church and volunteer to assist a Scout Pack or Troop. What a great way to expose Ham Radio to the next generation and also a back door to the scout families with a potential Amateur Radio Candidate. Most volunteers in Scouting are the parents and a number of the volunteers are former scouts who want to give back to scouting because they had good memories of their scouting years. Anyone interested in working in the District or Council level can start by being active in a local Unit and then volunteer for the District or Council. For more general scouting info, click on: www.scouting.org For those families that have daughters, Venture Scouting is for both boys and girls. Venture Scouting is similar to what use to be called Explorer Scouts. Venturing provides positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help members pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills. Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age. Baltimore Amateur Radio Club is a sponsor for a Venture Crew. Anyone interested in this program should contact their local Council to see what is available in their area or how to start their own Unit. For more general scouting info, click on: www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing.aspx I am not sure how we could go about this but, if it were possible, have a state or area net for active and former Scouts that are hams to meet on the air. This could be a national HF net just for the Scouting Anniversary. There may be a net that is organized now and you may know of one. If so, let me know. 73 and a very Happy New Year.
Herman Niedzielski [Herman, K2AVA, is the MDC Assistant Section Manager for Scouting. His e-mail address is K2AVA@ARRL.net.] |
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==> MDC SECTION WEB PAGE HITS IN 2009
My Assistant Section Manager and webmaster Al Brown, KZ3AB, reported that the number of hits on the MDC Section web page, www.arrl-mdc.net, increased by about 6% last year and about 14% over the last two years. In 2009, the web page had 8,064 hits, 7,574 hits in 2008 and 7,066 hits in 2007. This is encouraging news that lets me know you actually read this stuff. HiHi Thank you for taking the time to keep yourselves aware of what's happening in the section and submitting your articles for everyone to read. |
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==> REMINDER - IS YOUR CLUB LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER?
We have an updated list of guest speakers who are willing to make presentations at amateur radio club meetings and/or other events. Speaker's topics do not necessarily need to be amateur radio related. If your amateur radio club, or other organization, is interested in securing a speaker for your event, you may click on: www.arrl-mdc.net and scroll down to "Is your club looking for..." and click on "click here." Or you may click on: www.arrl-mdc.net/speakerlist.htm to see who you may ask to a future meeting. This list will be updated frequently, so check it often. The newest volunteer is John Ohm, W8IS / AAM3MD. His subject of expertise is "MARS, what it is, and its role in supporting the em comm community, the military and other governmental organizations." John is willing to travel between Frederick and Baltimore. His address: 2232 Cherokee Drive, Westminster, MD 21157-7800 and his e-mail address is: W8IS@arrl.net. If you would like to volunteer to speak in front of an audience of amateur radio operators, and/or other organizations interested in related topics, 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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==> PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITY REPORTS (PSARs)
It is very important to remember to fill out your club's or ARES groups Public Service Activity Report (PSAR) and submit it to ARRL headquarters with a copy to me at WI3N@ARRL.ORG and our Section Emergency Coordinator, Steve Beckman, N3SB, at N3SB@ARRL.NET. The PSAR reports are vital because they provide hard statistics that we can give to our legislators in order to help change laws in support of amateur radio. They are also used by the ARRL in their efforts to obtain grant money. The PSAR may be completed online at: www.arrl.org/FandES/fi eld/forms/fsd-157-online-form.php. |
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==> ANOTHER REMINDER - AN IDEA FOR FIELD DAY 2010
As many of you know, I've had the privilege of visiting 14-16 Field Day operations each year with either ASM Al Brown, KZ3AB, or this year with SEC Steve Beckman, N3SB. It's been fantastic seeing the various operating locations and the very interesting antenna configurations. To see the great job that the St. Mary's County Amateur Radio Association has done please check their website by clicking: www.qsl.net/smcara. Select the "Become a "Ham" tab on the left, then scroll down to the second video window about emergency preparedness. DOUBLE CLICK the flash video player start button to initiate the movie. The video has a sound track so be sure to turn up your volume a little. I've thought how great it would be if everyone could see everyone else's operation so I'm throwing out the challenge to all the Field Day participants, whether clubs or single ops in a park or your back yard, to electronically record (video tape, digital file, etc.) setting up and operating with some voice explanation. I envision making a DVD of everyone's five minute video clips with audio explaining your installation. The DVD would be sent out to the clubs so that maybe during a club program you could see what other groups are doing. If there is anyone in our ham community with the capability and interest to edit the videos and transfer them to a DVD, please let me know. I think short clips would be YouTube appropriate, also. It should be interesting. Anyone up for the challenge? |
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==> PRINCE GEORGE'S ARES® HOSPITAL DRILL
Thanks to Wanda Montgomery, KA3AHI, for providing the following information on a recent hospital drill in Prince George's County. In the ARRL MDC Section we have about 6+% of the amateur radio population becoming trained to assist with emergency communications. I hope that after reading this we've sparked some interest for you to learn some new skills in emergency communications. You will be providing a great service to your family, friends and neighbors in the event of a disaster. To learn more about what is involved, please visit the MDC Section website: www.arrl-mdc.net and under the "Quick Clicks Bar" click the link to "MDC ECs and ROs" and send an email to the EC and/or RO in your county. If you don't have one listed, send an email to me. Background: Prince George's County ARES conducts training nets on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesdays of the month. In addition to the regular training net, a Quarterly Hospital Drill is conducted the first Tuesday of the calendar quarter. This report captures the results for the first Drill of 2010. Mission: The core purpose of this drill was to challenge the Airmail operators with a scenario that would provide a practice session to simulate a request for information from a served agency during a real incident. Observations: Overall, the Drill mission was a complete success. The Drill centered around following instructions sent to and by a "pseudo served agency." Airmail operators were able to execute the required attached instructions sent to them from the Net. It required the hospital Airmail operators to ping a local node, retrieve traffic, open the attached file, created a text file with the requested information and send it, as an attachment, to the required recipients listed in the attached. Scenario: An emergency had taken place in Prince George's County. The county EOC had been activated. Word came down from the County Emergency Manager that information was needed to address resource management. Allan, KH6ILR, District of Columbia, acted as the "pseudo served agency" contacted the EOC requesting essential information from the various hospitals. The following was requested by the served agency:
a. Name of served agency (hospital) and location. Operators were instructed to name the file in a certain manner to distinguish them from among the served agencies answering the call. Airmail operators taking part in the Drill:
KA8YPY, PG ARES EC, located at the EOC running Telnet The Las Vegas location received a total of 28 messages, of which four were in response to the instructions of the Drill. The remaining 24 messages were in response to instructions and clarifications. The fact that operators asked questions to satisfy the intent of the Drill, showed initiatives in learning a new tool to support their served agency. Training Net check-ins: Seventeen check-ins supported the Drill on two-meters and eight check-ins support the Drill on 440. These operators were available to provided answers and general support to the hospital radio operators as required. |
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==> DECEMBER AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE REPORT
Total number of ARES members: 649
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 6 Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: N3SEO, K3UEZ, KB3ENU, KB3LJB, KB3KKY, and N3SB.
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 13
Number of public service events this month: 0
Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Total number of ARES operations this month: 13 Comments: Allegany County: NCS operators this month were WX3M and AB3FE at their home stations due to weather complications affecting logistics at W3YMW/EOC. All 16 stations checking in via VHF repeater were also checked in via VHF simplex, either direct or by one-station relay. All stations reported having emergency power. Of the 16 checkins, seven stations also checked in via 10 meters SSB. District of Columbia: Working with the Federal City React and ServeDC (CERT). Researching options to get email list of DC amateurs. Continued testing repeater coverage across downtown DC for possible ARES use. Continuing discussion with fellow DC hams regarding possible ARES repeaters. Beginning to work on preparations for the National Marathon event in March.
Signature: Steve Beckman |
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==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER REPORT
MDC NTS NETS:
MEPN 0912 W3YVQ QND/30 QNI/370 QTC/91 MINS/1169 PSHR: K3CSX 145, KK3F 145, W3YVQ 135, KB3LFG 113, WB4FDT 100, AA3SB 99, KB3LNM 90, K3IN 90, N3ZOC 90, W3CB 85, KB3MXM 80, KB3KKY 71; TFC: KK3F 1016, KB3MXM 128, W3YVQ 108, K3IN 107, WB4FDT 98, KB3LNM 85, AA3SB 76, K3CSX 70, N3ZOC 65, KB3LFG 16, W3CB 13, KC3Y 4.
============================================ On December 28, 2009, a station visiting Maryland from North Carolina on the way to a funeral checked into the MDD traffic net QRP CW. The operator listed a radiogram for a person in Middle River in Baltimore County with an unlisted or unpublished telephone number requesting that the addressee contact the operator from NC on a local cellular phone while in Bethesda, MD. The message was related to the death of a family member for whom the funeral was scheduled on December 29. As NTS operators, delivering traffic without a phone number obviously requires extra effort and special handling. On the Oriole's Net in the morning, K3DON/NCS, the message was listed as Priority traffic at which time John, K3TAY, stepped up and volunteered to take the message by personal vehicle to the address not far from his home and attempt delivery. Unfortunately, upon completing the mission, the person at the address turned out not to be the addressee and was not familiar with the family in question. The Operator from NC was contacted by cellular phone and advised of the problem, and regretfully speculated that the original addressee had not informed the family of a change in address. There was nothing more to do since there was no listing for the addressee by any name or address in the area. Even though we were unsuccessful in making delivery of this message to the desired addressee, the effort of John, K3TAY, to assist his fellow amateur in the attempt exemplifies the best spirit of cooperation and assistance in the Amateur Service. Well done, and thanks on behalf of all of us in the NTS.
Al W3YVQ, |
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==> FINALLY
A very Happy Ham Radio New Year to everyone! We, the ARRL MDC Section staff, hope you have a happy and prosperous 2010. As always, I am at your service.
73,
Jim (WI3N) Cross |
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The MDC Section News is published monthly, 12 times each
year, by James E Cross, III, WI3N, ARRL Maryland-DC
Section Manager, 16013 Dorset Rd, Laurel, MD 20707; tel
301-725-6829; e-mail WI3N@ARRL.ORG.
The MDC Section News offers a monthly e-mail digest of essential and general news of interest to amateur radio operators.
Visit the MDC Section web page, www.arrl-mdc.net, and the ARRL MDC Section News and Alerts web page, www.arrl.org/sections/MDC.html, for the latest MDC Section news, links and updates.
Material from the MDC Section News may be republished
or reproduced, in whole or in part in any form, without
additional permission. Credit must be given to the
MDC Section News or the original author of submission.
========================================================
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Responsibility for content of all posted material above rests
exclusively with the item author. ARRL staff assumes no responsibility
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