************************
MDC Section News
Vol. 14, No. 12
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
************************

* MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY DECEMBER 21st

* UPCOMING HAMFESTS & CONVENTIONS
* RADIO EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
* T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT
* MDC SECTION ARES® REPORT
* SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT
* FINAL COMMENTS FROM YOUR SECTION MANAGER

==> MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY DECEMBER 21st

This month's MDC section-wide EchoLink net will be held on Friday, December 18, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET on the EchoLink *WASH_DC* Node 6154. The MDC Section EchoLink net is always held on the third Friday evening of every month at 8:00 PM eastern local time.

If you would like to join in on RF, the following repeaters and IRLPs have linked in for EchoLink nets:

- KA2JAI-R operates through the KB3CMA repeater 442.300(+), PL 107.2 Hz, in Annapolis, MD
- WB3GXW-R, 147.225(+), PL 156.7 Hz, located in Calverton, MD
- N3HF-L, 443.45(+), PL 151.4 Hz, located near Ocean City, MD
- N3HF-R, 443.45(+), PL 156.7 Hz, located near Silver Spring, MD
- W3ICF-R, 146.73(-), PL 141.3 Hz, located near Frederick, MD
- K3CAL-R, 146.985(-), PL 156.7, located near Sunderland, MD
- N3RO-L, 145.545, Simplex, Frederick Co, MD
- W3SMD-L, 147.51, Simplex, St Mary's County, MD
- K3GMR-R 146.61 (-), No PL, Cheverly, MD
- KB3JQQ-L Pikesville, MD
Repeater owners are encouraged to join our MDC Section EchoLink Net group and link your repeater, soon!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Find EchoLink App and Nodes in your area at EchoLink.org and FIND EchoLink Linked repeaters online at https://repeaterbook.com/repeaters/feature_search.php?type=EchoLink&state_id=24&band=14

Everyone is encouraged to join in and give any updates on what is happening in your part of the ARRL Maryland-DC Section. If you do not have EchoLink on your Computer, Tablet or Smartphone, you may download the free software from: http://echolink.org/register_data.jsp or your App Store online.

As always, we thank John Creel, WB3GXW, for making the *WASH_DC* EchoLink server and his WB3GXW-R repeater available for the EchoLink nets.

==> UPCOMING HAMFESTS & SPECIAL RADIO EVENTS


This is a list of Hamfests in the Maryland-DC Section and nearby Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware [... and nearby] as a courtesy to our neighboring Section Managers.

Also listed are radio events for communication enthusiasts.

For this month our MDC SM adds On-Air Events. For our section members interested in other types of RF communication, events and activities related to the RF spectrum. Please send your upcoming ARC events, suggestions and comments. Please include our ARC Events. You may view upcoming Hamfests which are being held in the MDC Section and nearby in Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and northern Virginia area by clicking on either: MDC SECTION Hamfests or the ARRL's Hamfest and Convention Calendar at Convention Calendar

I, as the MDC Section Manager, Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, and/or a designated ARRL representative(s) will plan to attend all Hamfests in the ARRL Maryland-DC Section.

We hope to see you there and bring a fellow Ham and friends.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - The 6th RadioWinterFest!
Date: Sunday, January 20, 2019
Location: Location: National Electronics Museum, 1745 W Nursery Rd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090
Sponsor: ARC of the National Electronic Museum
Website: http://www.k3nem.org/
Talk-in: 146.7600(-) PL107.2, WA3DZD Jessup, MD
Near the BWI Airport, just south of Baltimore
Sponsor: Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club
Website: https://www.nationalelectronicsmuseum.org/
Public Contact: _______________
Phone: ###-###-#### | Email: email@.com
See more @ http://www.k3nem.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Maryland Mobileers Post Holiday Hamfest
Date: Sunday, January 27, 2019
Location: Odenton Fire Hall, 1425 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD 21113
Sponsor: Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/marylandmobileers/hamfests-1/hamfest-2
Talk-In: 146.805(-) PL 107.2, W3CU in Millersville, MD
Public Contact: Bruce McPherson, AB3AC
Phone:410-456-2500 | Email: bmcpherson73@verizon.net
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Roanoke Division Convention (Frostfest)
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2019
Location: Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23218
Sponsor: Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society (RATS)
Website: http://frostfest.com
Talk-In: 146.880(+) PL 74.4, W4RAT Richmond, VA
Public Contact: Robert Marshall, KI4MCW
Phone: 804-620-7287 | Email: ki4mcw@frostfest.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Virginia Section Convention (Charleston Hamfest & Computer Show)
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Location: Charleston Civic Center, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston, WV 25301 Sponsor: Charleston Hamfest Committee
Website: http://www.w8gk.org
Talk-In: 145.350(-) PL 91.5, W8GK Charleston, WV
Public Contact: Rick Cummings, WV8RC
Phone: 304-610-6404 | Email: rickwv8rc@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WINTERFEST
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2019
Location: Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus, Richard J. Ernst Cultural Center, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
Sponsor: Vienna Wireless Society
Website: http://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest
Talk-In: 146.910(-) PL 77.0, WD5DBC Tyson's Corner, VA
Public Contact: Harry Mamaux, K3NF
Phone: 703-395-6721 | Email: k3nf@cox.net

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Delaware State Convention (Delmarva Radio & Electronics EXPO)
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Location: Cheer Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown, DE 19947
Sponsor: Sussex Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://radioelectronicsexpo.com
Talk-In: 147.090(+) PL 156.7, WS3ARA Millsboro, DE
Public Contact: Herbert Quick, KF3BT
Phone: 302-629-4949 | Email: herb@hamiltongraphics.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
York Hamfest
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2018
Location: Elicker's Grove Park, 511 Roth Church Road, Spring Grove, PA 17362
Sponsor: York Hamfest Foundation
Website: http://www.yorkhamfest.org
Talk-In: 147.330(+) PL 123.0, W3MUM PennMar, PA
Public Contact: Duane Sterner, KB3QLQ
Phone: 717-332-1385 | Email: duane.sterner@yahoo.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

==> RADIO EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES


Look for these radio, educational and science events:
ARRL Event Website: http://www.arrl.org/special_events/search/page:3/model:Event

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Daily posts via MDC Section Twitter @MDCARRL https://twitter.com/MDCARRL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Yaesu USA - "Holiday Greeting Special Sale" Instant Coupons, Check out the fantastic savings available on Select Yaesu products! Instant Coupons effective November 8th, 2018 thru January 31st, 2019. Please note, the instant coupon is deducted at the time of purchase by our authorized dealers.
For inquiries, please email yaesurebates@yaesu.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Icom Inc. - Announces partnership with Iridium Communications, Inc. to Develop a New Push-To-Talk Radio Communication Solution over Satellite
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DX Expeditions Around The World - Online Calendar
https://www.ng3k.com/Misc/adxo.html
Amateur Radio DX Expeditions
Traveling to exotic world locations - unique for Ham Radio - these 'Teams' provide a chance to work new and exciting Callsigns and Radio Stations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Get Ready for January 2019 Contest Calendar - http://www.arrl.org/contests
Downloadable online PDF version of ARRL Contest Corral at:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20Corral/2019/January20Corral.pdf …
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Radio frequencies below MUF Tables
Optimal Working Frequencies (MHz) from:
http://hfradio.org/fot_1.html - US WEST COAST
http://hfradio.org/fot_2.html - US MIDWEST
http://hfradio.org/fot_3.html - US WEST COAST
Dec. 2018 using smoothed sunspot # (SSN) & 10.7-cm Radio Flux (SFU)
Created by NW7US
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The 2019 Frost Fest - Feb 2nd - Mid-Atlantic's
biggest Hamfest in Richmond. AARC sponsoring a Bus trip.
Grab a seat on the bus before you lose your seat - Register at this link:
https://www.w3vpr.org/node/500
Depart promptly at 6 AM Sat. returning at 6 PM to park-and-ride.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ASTRONOMY -
Comet 46P/Wirtanen reaches its brightest, at around mag 3.9. It will lie at a distance of1.05 AU from the Sun, and at a distance of 0.07 AU from the Earth. Seen from the MDC Section - the comet is visible in the evening sky after 6 PM, above Eastern horizon, to 10 PM above Southern horizon, until 03 AM at Western horizon. Comet 46P/Wirtanen is seen to the left of Pleiades (~10°), East of the star Zeta ζ Perseus (~5°). It is a very faint comet (~ 4th Mag.) with a faint light-green coma. It is visible using 10x50 binocular, too

Ursids Meteor Shower peaks Dec. 21-22 and active from December 17th to December 23rd , 2019
Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks Jan. 3-4 and active from January 1st to January 10th , 2019
Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks Apr 21-22 and active fromJanuary 1stto January 10th , 2019

SPACE -
Arianespace Soyuz deliveres spy satellite for French military called CSO-1. Watch at http://www.arianespace.com/
SpaceX launch NexGen GPS Sat for U.S.A.F. frm Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Watch at https://www.spacex.com/webcast
Blue Origin's 10th uncrewed suborbital New Shepard capsule with reusable vehicle from West Texas test flight. Watch at https://www.blueorigin.com/
United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV Heavy carries classified Satellite NROL-71 for the U.S. NRO from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. Watch at https://www.ulalaunch.com/
NASA's asteroid-sampling OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will enter orbit of space-rock Bennu since Dec. 31.
NASA's New Horizons probe will zoom past the small, distant 1 billion miles (1.6 billion kilometers) object Ultima Thule

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HOLLY NET -
Re-activation of the weekday "Holly Net' in memory of Miss Holly Bevan, N3MB, (sk).
The Anne Arundel Radio Club and W3VPR repeater have re-started the net on October 8, 2018
NCS Radio Operators needed during the work-week - The Holly Net, 147.105+ / 147.075+, PL 107.2 Weekdays at 0600

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Apollo 8 - 50th Anniversary Special Event - Final Event for year-long NASA On-The-Air 2018 [https://nasaontheair.wordpress.com/]
December 21th to 27th - no operating schedules or frequencies via various club stations.
Several NASA Amateur Radio clubs - Recently / Likely WA3NAN on 20M/14,271± MHZ & 40M /7.230± MHz SSB
Please check the NASA On The Air Twitter, Facebook and self-spot on the DX cluster to locate when and where the clubs are on the air.
Contact Rob Suggs, KB5EZ, at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center for more information.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Stew Perry Topband Distance Challenge 160-meter contest.
Big Stew – December 29th / 30th - 1500Z, Dec 29 to 1500Z, Dec 30
Rules: https://www.kkn.net/stew/stew.rules.txt
Send in your Cabrillo to tbdc@kkn.net

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Battleship IOWA Honors IOWA Statehood - San Pedro, CA
Battleship IOWA Amateur Radio Association's NI6BB / IOWA statehood 1846.
December 29, 2018 from 1700 to 2400 UTC
SSB / CW on open HF bands on frequencies ending with "43."
FT-8 may be active on the usual frequencies.
Website: http://biara.org/ for QSL for more information.
Contact: W6HB -- Doug, Email: w6hb@biara.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Battle of Trenton and Battle of Princeton
December 26 thru 30, 2018 from 1400 to 2200 UTC and December 31 to Jan. 4, 2018 to 2019
Station: W2T at Trenton, NJ with Delaware Valley Radio Association
Station: W2P at Princeton, NJ with Delaware Valley Radio Association
W2T (Battle of Trenton) and W2P Battle of Princeton) to get a certificate of Commission in the Continental Army Signal Corps.
See website for details. http://www.w2zq.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inaugural “Green Keys Night” TTY/RTTY
Promoting restoration & operations of Teletype Corporation vintage mechanical teleprinters
“The use of mechanical teleprinters is preferred, or simply get on the air with the oldest equipment you can scrape together,”
January 1, 2019 (UTC), concurrent with Straight Key Night (SKN).
Participants are encouraged to get on the air and enjoy making casual contacts on RTTY. Call “CQ GKN.”
More information via ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/inaugural-green-keys-night-set-for-january-1
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/canadian-national-parks-on-the-air-event-set-to-start-on-january-1

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Canadian National Parks on the Air event (CNPOTA)
Starts January 1, 2019 and continue until year’s end.
A volunteer group of a half-dozen hams in Nova Scotia, working with a zero budget, came up with the notion of attempting to replicate the success of the National Parks on the Air
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has announced its support for CNPOTA, in cooperation with Parks Canada. All radio amateurs are invited to activate any of Park Canada’s 48 national parks and 171 national historic sites, while “chasers” attempt to land a contact.
Activity for activators and chasers will be tracked on a dedicated website and a real-time leader board, and operators may compete for online awards and certificates. For updates on the program’s progress, visit the CNPOTA website.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The 20th Annual Ham Radio University
2019 ARRL NYC/ Long Island Section Convention
Saturday, January 5 from 7:30 AM
LIU/Post Hillwood Commons Student Center, 720 Northern Boulevard.
Contact Tom Carrubba, KA2D, info@hamradiouniversity.org.

Website: www.hamradiouniversity. org. VE exams

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Third Annual AM Rally
February 2 at 0000 UTC until 0700 UTC on February 4
AM on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters while highlighting the various types of AM equipment in use today.
Open to all radio amateurs running AM using any type of radio equipment
Warm-up your modern, vintage, tube, solid-state, software-defined, military, boat anchor, broadcast, homebrew, or commercial.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ARES Teams - Winlink Class - Jan 5th
New training method for students to Telnet so 'NO HARDWARE' an used a few dedicated two LIVE packet stations for hands-out tutorials. Those interested in Winlink might consider using their Kenwood D710 or the TH-D72.
- Morning session 0900 AM - Installing Software, config files
- Late morning - Presentations and Q&A
- Lunch is 'hands on' with Telnet.
Jim Montgomery WB3KAS wb3kas@arrl.net
PRGE ARES EC & MDC SEC
~ and ~
Mike Myers K3DO netnutmike@gmail.com
Frederick County MD ARRL EC

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
35th Annual Charleston Area Hamfest
2019 ARRL West Virginia Section Convention
Saturday, March 23 from 9 AM to 2 PM
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Drive.
Contact: Rick Cummings, WV8RC, (304) 610-6404. Email: rickwv8rc@gmail.com
Talk-in 145.35 (PL 91.5). VE exams, DXCC / WAS / VUCC and CQDX card checking.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Vienna Wireless Society Winterfest
Sunday, March 24 from 6 AM to 1 PM
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus-Richard J. Ernst Cultural Center, 8333 Little River Turnpike.
Contact: Doug, AK4AO, (703) 698-6158
Website: www.viennawireless.net.
Talk-in 146.910. VE exams, WAS / DXCC / VUCC card checking.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
35th Space Symposium, April 8 – 11, 2019
The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
https://www.spacesymposium.org/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
New AMSAT Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AMSATNA/about/
Shortwave Radiogram via WRMI w/transmission schedule http://swradiogram.net/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Maritime Mobile Service Network
12 PM to 10 PM ET on 14.300 MHz
All amateur radio operators are invited to participate simply by checking in.
If you have a phone patch at your station, please tell the net control station and he/she will certainly try to put you to work!
http://www.mmsn.org/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The weekly 'Shortwave Radiogram' is a digital MFSK program via domestic station WRMI in Okeechobee, FL.
Read more about this excellent opportunity to hone your digital skills, flex your knowledge and adjust your Radio/App configurations.
Friday 2030-2100 UTC 7780 kHz
Saturday 1400-1430 UTC 9400 kHz
Sunday 0800-0830 5850 and 7730 kHz
Sunday 2330-2400 7780 kHz
http://swradiogram.net/

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Looking for SWL listings - Glenn Hauser's World of Radio http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
What will keep WWV, WWVH, and WWVB from shut down?
- Program reductions in FY 2019 budget by $6.3 million supporting fundamental measurement dissemination, including the shutdown of NIST radio stations in Colorado and Hawaii - 2.5, 5, 10, 15 kHz

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
ARRL & Amateur Radio:
- ARRL Winter Operating Schedule: Updated November 5, 2018 - http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule
- Morse Code Practice, CW Bulletin, Digital Transmission Bulletin and Voice Bulletin.
- The W1AW EchoLink Conference Server - W1AWBDCT
- See the many benefits of joining the at ARRLhttps://www.arrl.org/join-arrl-renew-membership/
- Have you ordered your ARRL Handbook 2019 (Boxed Set), Limited Edition! Six-Volume Ultimate Boxed Set
- New AMSAT Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AMSATNA/about/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ARRL Audio News - ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week’s top news stories in the world of Amateur Radio, along with interviews and other features. Enjoy ARRL Audio News anywhere: on your smart phone or tablet, your local repeater, or stream it on the go!
https://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Amateur Radio Newsline Report - Amateur Radio Newsline™ is a free service to the amateur radio community. We produce a weekly audio news bulletin called a “QST” or “bulletin of interest to radio amateurs” that is delivered by a downloadable MP3 audio file from our website or through a podcast subscription.
https://www.arnewsline.org/
https://t.co/wwbYWSCoqd

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

==> T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT


T-MARC is The Mid-Atlantic Repeater Council and coordinates Amateur VHF and UHF repeater operations to keep interference problems to a minimum.

T-MARC areas of responsibility include the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

If you have any questions about coordinating a repeater, you may send an email to the Board at tmarc@tmarc.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
UHF Band Plan: The President called for comments from the floor regarding the proposed changes to the UHF Band Plan. The proposal as well as the comments received via email had been previously sent to all members along with the monthly coordination report. Hearing no comments from the floor, the President called for the vote on a motion to accept the proposed new UHF Band Plan. NW3B moved to accept as published and was seconded by K3DO. The vote was called and passed unanimously without objection.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

November 2018 Coordination

N9KET – Received application for narrow-band UHF pair at Tysons Corner, VA. Searching for a viable pair.
N3HIA – Received on air confirmation of 224.4800- at Baltimore, MD. Sent Final Coordination.
K3DO – Received on air confirmation of 441.9625+ at Frederick, MD. Sent Final Coordination.
WB3JUV – Received on air confirmation of 447.0250- at Smyrna, DE. Sent Final Coordination.

On Air Status Requests sent to:
145.1500(-), WB4MJF, Arlington, VA
147.2100(+), W4CIA, Herndon, VA
UHF Link, WA3GIN, LaPlata, MD
UHF Link, KA4DCS, Haymarket, VA
442.9500(+), Calvert ARC, Lexington Park, MD
447.3250(+), K3ERA, Lanham, MD
447.7750(-), NERA, Haymarket, VA

Other:
South Eastern Repeater Assoc.:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 2M
Received 2 proposed coordination for 440

Western Pa. Repeater Council:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 440

T-MARC
The Mid-Atlantic Repeater Council
http://www.tmarc.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Your VHF/UHF radio tuned to a local repeater – and you push your PTT switch –
Do you realize just how much work went into making that simple act work? Various coordinating entities work to harmonize the most efficient and effective use of the spectrum and there are legions of dedicated volunteers to respond whenever the call comes to maintain these repeaters. Hats off to all the radio clubs and folks that bear responsibility and these expenses, as they are by no means trivial. So next time you push your PTT say a little “Thank You” in your mind in recognition of all the hard work that it takes to maintain the system that makes it so easy for us all to communicate.
TU Ken for your welcoming comments.


==> 2018 November MDC SEC Narrative Report


EmComm Events and Comments from around the Section

de Section Emergency Coordinator WB3KAS:

Reporting

Seven of the 18 appointed ECs submitted their monthly ARES County reports this month, or 39%. That's less than half of the appointed ECs are submitting reports; how about the rest of you???

Use the fillable pdf ARES-002 (1/17) monthly report form to send me your county activities every month. Download it at:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/2017%20Forms/Monthly_DEC-EC_Report.pdf

Save the file in the form as follows: YYYY-MM<4-ltr cnty code> EC Report.pdf and sent it to me. This makes it extremely fast and easy to do my work.

The time I spend reformatting reports and the file names to match is more time than I have budget for to get a decent looking a report up the food chain. Not in the proper format, I will ignore it and move on to the next one.

It's extremely important that your constituents hear what is going on relative to EmComm in their community. If nothing more, tell us what meetings you hold, when, where and what repeaters you can be found on. I'd like to hear from the rest of you. At a minimum, tell us the details of where you hold the ARES meetings; nets you hold, VHF/UHF or HF; any weekend breakfasts or other social gathering.

Two MDC DEC positions (Western, and Eastern) are now filled and would like to have some one step forward and consider heading up the Central DEC position. Make sure you put them on email copy for all that your county correspondence.

There are seven counties that do not having an Emergency Coordinator. They are ALLE, CARO, DORC, KENT, QACO, SOME and WORC. As you can see 6 out of the 7 are on the Eastern Shore and is a grave concern from a Wx perspective. They dodged a bullet this time with Florence, but what about the next one?
I say this every month because this is gravely important this time of year. If you live in any of these counties, please consider getting involved with emergency communications and sign up to assist the hospitals in your area. Contact me for more information at wb3kas at arrl.net.

SEC Presentations

Wanda, KA3AHI, and I continue to schedule visit to as many ARES and club groups as possible. We have two presentations I think would be worth your while to hear. One on Section Interoperability and the other is the Section Health Care EmComm Program. If you have interest in this, and have room on your meeting agenda for us, please contact me. Winlink 2000 Advance Class - see PRGE EC section later in this report.

MDC Section Reflectors

We introduced a new MDC Section reflector, ARRL MDC Section Winlink Training Group for P2P and Hybrid networks, or MDCQRV for short. Please make use of this tool to sharpen skills and fine tune your configuration files. Located at: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MDCQRV/info.

The new ARRLMDCSection Yahoo Reflector is now available. If you are not a member. . .you should be!! I encourage you to use this to stay informed or keep in touch with the rest of your fellow ARES members. With the wide distribution of this newsletter coming out only once a month, this Yahoo Site will keep you up to date with late breaking news, including a possible disaster call up. There is very little traffic to clog your in box.

I don't know if all the DECs and ECs are subscribing to the Yahoo Reflector. If you are not, please do. This is going to be the quickest way possible to inform MDC Section ARES of current incidents and impending disasters. Please do it now.

You can join at: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ARRLMDCSECTION/info.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meetings and Gatherings

None

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Future Events:

Jim, WB3KAS attended a FRED County ARES/RACES Open House and recruitment gathering at the FRED County EOC on November 15
December 7: I will be guest speaker at the Greenbelt American Legion Post 136. Subject is Amateur Radio supporting National Security. A Winlink Demo is planned.
Marty KB3MXM attend Dec. 4th the MDHS SCF Quarterly Partners Meeting & MEMA Table-Top Exercise (TTX) for ESF#6 Mass Sheltering at Camp Fretterd, Reisterstown, MD
MDC Section Manager, KB3MXM and MDC SEC, WA3KAS, placed MDC Section ARES in a quasi-state of readiness from Dec. 2nd thru 5th for President George H.W. Bush Funeral services in Washington D.C. Selected counties may be affected and impacted
MDC Section Staff participated in served agency Maryland's 2019 Threat and Hazard Identification Risk Assessment (THIRA) & State THIRA Preparedness Data Collection

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Section Reports Received:

de CECI County KB3LJB

November 2018 ARES activities in Cecil County consisted mostly of participation in the weekly Sunday evening ARES Nets held at 2000 (8:00 pm) on the CBRA 146.850 repeater in Port Deposit, MD. CBRA monthly meetings are held at Mason-Dixon American Legion Post 194 in Rising Sun on the third Tuesday each month at 7:00 pm. All are welcome to attend. The WA3SFJ-R EchoLink Node 585690 is back up and working well, thanks to Mark, N3MRK. On December 7, I will be attending the American Legion Department of Maryland Fall National Security Forum in Beltsville, MD. The main topics for this year's meeting are Vietnam and Ham Radio. For the Ham Radio topic, we will be setting up equipment in an emergency communications scenario and be establishing communications on HF, VHF, and UHF. And, as Chairman of the Department of Maryland Homeland Security Committee, this should be a great meeting and demonstration that I can take back to the rest of the Department of Maryland.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
de HARF County W3YR

The Harford County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and ARES/RACES Recruiting/Social Event scheduled for 15 November was postponed due to snow. It will be rescheduled in early 2019. Harford County Amateur Radio Operators will be invited to a tour of the EOC, snacks, and RACES/ARES information briefings. Invitations will be sent via email to amateur radio operators responding to the 15 November event and sent to local amateur radio clubs. Exercise and training session are comprised of one monthly meeting, one monthly Harford County ARES net, and one monthly MEMA RACES net. Current projects include radio installation at the two Harford County hospitals, upgrade of Go-Kits provided by the MD Department of Health, and Remote Rig installation at the EOC tower shelter and RACES room.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
de HOWA County N3AWP

Newly appointed HOWA EC waiting on appointment approval from ARRL. We are working EC transition and have only just received information and guidance re: monthly reports.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
de PRGE County WB3KAS:

PRGE ARES Web Page: http://www.pgares.org
PRGE ARES Internet Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PG-AresRaces/

Nets: Regularly scheduled monthly training VHF nets on the K3ERA Repeater, 145.23MHz PL 110.9 on Tuesdays at 1930L and EchoLink node KA3POX-L. The monthly HF Hospital Net is held the Wednesday following the third Monday of the month on 3820kHz at 1900L. NCS rotates …
Meetings: Monthly meeting held the 3rd Monday of the month at the Fire Services Building, 6820 Webster St, Landover Hills, MD at 1930.
440 Freq Coord through TMARC HAS BEEN APPROVED. 442.3250 MHz (+) Tone 110.9Hz. Fusion box returned from Yaesu for upgrade. Controller s/w program has been ordered ready for a programming session. Soon folks. . .soon!!
K3ERA 2m Repeater EchoLink is now on the air via KA3POX-L Node 896210. As Mikey would say, "Try it, you'll like it."
November 22: Gobble gobble!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
de KA3AHI MDC Section ASM for the Health Care EmComm Program:

No report this month
HF Hospital Net are conducted on 3820kHz +/- at 1900L. So, give us a hollar! If you hear us look down-stream 5 to 8 kHz.
I'd like to hear more check-ins from our MDC Section.
Next HF Hospital Net is Dec 19 and Jan 23. . .same time, same station! NCS assignment varies.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Signature: Jim Montgomery
Call sign: WB3KAS
Maryland-DC SEC
Email: wb3kas@arrl.net
Please send to ARRL HQ, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 by 10th of the month
FSD-96 (1-04)


==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT


MDC NTS NETS:
MEPN 1811 W3YVQ QND/30 QNI/401 QTC/49 MINS/789
BTN 1811 AB3WG QND/30 QNI/366 QTC/31 MINS/478
MDD 1811 AA3SB QND/48 QNI/233 QTC/65 MINS/442
MSN 1811 W8CPG QND/22 QNI/105 QTC/20 MINS/454
PSHR: NI2W 206, WB3FTQ 140, KK3F 140, W3YVQ 135, N3JET 130, W3CB 117, WB4FDT 110, K3IN 110, AA3SB 100, AB3WG 54, KB3LFG 20
TFC: KK3F 574, K3IN 146, WB4FDT 114, WB3FTQ 96, AA3SB 78, N3JET 65, W3YVQ 56, NI2W 26, W3CB 22, AB3WG 15, KB3LFG 1

===============
REMINDER OF MEPN TIME CHANGE
The MEPN moved to the winter schedule after the switch to Eastern Standard Time in early NOV. The MEPN pre-net now begins at 1630L with the formal net call at 1700L including the EchoLink rep. (The WVA and DE nets also move one hour earlier.)

The BTN and MDD net times remain the same.

HF PROPAGATION

MEPN: The winter schedule propagation was functional throughout NOV, 2018, with good signals until well after 1700L. Outbound traffic to MDD may be routed via the Digital Traffic Net if it is anticipated that MDD may not be able to conduct a net, a tricky prediction at best, but may be carried by the MDD liaison to an MDD EchoLink session as warranted.

MDD: NVIS propagation for local MDC stations on MDD early and late, and on 3RN/C4 nets, was nearly or totally non-existent for more than a dozen evenings in NOV. On some of those nights the propagation recovered enough by 2130L 3RN and/or 2200L late MDD for net sessions to be run. A number of nights the propagation was functional for all four nets. Check 1857 +/- on 160m as an alternative as notified by the NM or NCS. EchoLink on WB3GXW-L may also be used to coordinate the movement of traffic, particularly to Digital Traffic Net liaisons for posting that night or the following morning for daytime distribution nation-wide. Moving traffic by DTN PacTor is still an on-air activity for SAR reporting. Moving traffic via Winlink between stations or to DTN hubs in Batch File format is permitted and may be done via radio on HF or Packet, or via internet on one or both ends if necessary. Email may be used when no other paths are available. Only the radio paths qualify for SAR points.

These are solar minimum issues being experienced by nets all over the country. Work-arounds similar to ours are in force for many nets.

Sunspot activity continued to decline with many spotless days. This is expected to continue in DEC.

BTN LOCAL NTS TRAFFIC AND TRAINING NET
The BTN continues to meet on 145.33/R (no tone) daily at 6:30PM local time and continues to welcome new amateurs. The availability of an active directed traffic net of the NTS on VHF is exactly why the BTN was established, providing a welcoming place for newcomers to the Amateur Service. Thanks to all the BTN stations checking into the MEPN via EchoLink.

MEPN/MDD/3RN ECHOLINK
MEPN representatives check for EchoLink check-ins starting at net call daily via the WB3GXW-L link node (or *WASH_DC* conference node backup if the -L node is not available). A number of BTN and MEPN members, as well as stations outside the area, have used EchoLink to check in when HF is not available to them. MDD operators are also welcome. Thanks to all. WB3GXW has kindly given permission for the MDD and 3RN operators to coordinate message handling on the WB3GXW-L conference bridge as needed during this solar minimum period.

MSN CW TRAINING
Remember that the MSN provides CW training daily for newcomers to the mode, or those wishing to refresh their skills, daily at 7:30 PM on 3563 kHz.
Each trainee works with an assigned instructor off the net frequency to receive radiograms containing training information. Instructors work with each student at their own desired speed and check-in schedule. All are encouraged to master the art of CW via this net or personal training in order to support and join the ranks of our MDD Section CW net. Robin, AA3SB, MDD NM, and the veteran staff, will be glad to help you advance to the evening CW full Cycle 4 of the NTS.
---

Thanks to all the Section traffic net NCS stations, DTN/RRI and WL2K stations, liaisons, and traffic handlers for the continuing effort to keep the nets running and traffic moving.

Thank you for your continued support of MDC integrated
ARES(r) and NTS operations.

73, W3YVQ, MDC ASM, STM
w3yvq atsign arrl dot net
w3yvq atsign winlink dot org from WL2K

/EX


==> FINAL COMMENTS FROM YOUR SECTION MANAGER


Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2019

Lets be thankful for the many Amateur Radio Operators serving their communities and those away from home serving Disaster Survivors.

Please thank our MDC Section members, and MDC Section Staff, our ARC Executives and club members, our deepest appreciation to our ARES® Leadership and members participating in public-service communications. Your ingenuity, experience and knowledge lead to success and satisfaction; recognized by our Served-agencies and civic leaders. Through persistence, training, practice and readiness our communities can support many worth-wild civic support.

Lets show our thanks to those whose guide us and the Elmers we honor. Please give thanks to our friends and family for supporting our radio communication endeavors and allowing us to help others.

We use our voices to help others, the future of Amateur Radio is in your hands.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Lets welcome our newly elected ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX.
Howard is still on the uphill side of the learning curve as he acquaints himself with ARRL Headquarters and the nearly 90 staffers who work there. The New Jersey native arrived at HQ on October 15 and has spent much of his time since meeting with department managers and others to get his bearings, with an eye toward building consensus and aligning people, programs, and services in the same direction.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Please continue your support and JOIN the ARES-Connect Roll Out - next important event is in January / February - ARES® Roll-out the Section ARES® Leaderships and Teams
The new volunteer management system for the Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARES® will allow MDC Section Staff and our ECs, DECs and SEC. ARES® participants sign-up for and log hours. More about this system in the coming weeks

Your MDC Section staff needs your help - Leaders are encouraged to begin your ARES® EC or MDC Section Staff future. Contact your SM, SEC or ASM to learn how. Please email your request to KB3MXM@arrl.net
======================

Social Media is driving disaster awareness - join the trend!
Our Twitter is @MDCARRL - https://twitter.com/MDCARRL


73,
Marty, KB3MXM
ARRL MDC Section Manager

========================================================
The "Maryland-DC Section News" is published monthly by the ARRL Maryland-DC Section Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, 4 Pegram Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21117-2116; landline 443-326-1783.

You may also send an email to: KB3MXM@ARRL.org

The "Maryland-DC Section News" offers a monthly digest of essential and general news of interest to all amateur radio operators.

Please visit the MDC Section web page at, http://www.arrl-mdc.net and the "ARRL MDC Section News and Alerts" web page, http://www.arrl.org/sections/view/maryland-dc, for the latest MDC Section news, links and updates.

You may also follow us on "Twitter" at: https://twitter.com/MDCARRL
We are watching "Pinterest" at http://www.pinterest.com/arrlmdc
Follow our "Tumblr" blog at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/arrlmdc
And please 'like' us on "Facebook" at: http://facebook.com/ARRL-Maryland-DC-Section-147302645336393/

Material from the "MDC Section News" may be republished or reproduced, in whole or in part in any form, without additional permission.

Please give credit to the "Maryland-DC Section News" or the original author of submission.

The American Radio Relay League, ARRL, is the National Association for Amateur Radio®.




KS381SJ2