************************
  MDC Section News
  Vol. 16, No. 01
  Friday, January 17, 2020
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 * MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY JANUARY 17TH
  * YOUR SECTION MANAGER MOMENT
  * UPCOMING HAMFESTS & CONVENTIONS
  * RADIO EVENTS, LICENSE EXAMS, ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES & SPECIAL RADIO EVENTS
  * T-MARC AMATEUR RADION SPECTRUM COORDINATION REPORT
  * MDC SECTION ARRL ARES REPORTS
  * MDC SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT

 ==> MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY DECEMBER 20TH

This month's MDC section-wide EchoLink® net will be held on Friday, January 17, 2020 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. Next MDC Section monthly EchoLink® Net is scheduled for February 21st.

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  EchoLink® Link Repeaters for Net
  If you would like to join in on RF, the following repeaters are linked for EchoLink® nets:
 - KA2JAI-R thru KB3CMA repeater 442.300(+), PL107.2 Hz, in Annapolis, MD
 - WB3GXW-R, 147.225(+), PL156.7 Hz, Calverton, MD
 - W3ICF-R, 146.73(-), PL141.3 Hz, Frederick, MD
 - K3CAL-R, 146.985(-), PL156.7, Sunderland, MD
 - W3SMD-L, 147.51, Simplex, St Mary's County, MD
 - KB3JQQ-L Pikesville, MD – local proximity within 2m Line-of-Sight
 - N3RO-L, 145.545, Simplex, Frederick Co, MD

 Repeater owners are encouraged to join our MDC Section EchoLink® Net group and link your repeater - TU!

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 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.

  ==> SECTION MANAGER MOMENT

Have you seen the new "On the Air" Radio Communications Magazine?
http://www.arrl.org/on-the-air-magazine

Section Manager plans to work VHF weekend contest and will be visiting Winter Field Day sites ?

73,
  Marty, KB3MXM
  Maryland / DC Section Manager, ARRL

  ==> RADIO EVENTS, LICENSE EXAMS, ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES & SPECIAL RADIO EVENTS

Each month our MDC SM adds On-Air Events for 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 - include our ARC Events, too. 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, Field Day and Convention Calendar. I, as the MDC Section Manager, Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, and/or a designated ARRL representative(s) plan to attend your ARRL Maryland-DC Section events. We hope to see you there and bring a fellow Ham and friend. Starting in May 2019, the following Web-links will replace the Section New list of MDCs HAMFEST, EXAMS, & CLASSES announcements: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar.

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An Extra Class Licensing Course will be conducted at the National Electronics Museum, starting Thursday, January 23, 2019, 6:30 to 9:30 pm, running for 12 weeks.  No charge for attendance.   Attendees should obtain a copy of the ARRL Extra Class License Manual, Eleventh Edition.  The museum is located at 1745 West Nursery Road Linthicum, MD 21090.  Those interested should contact Rol Anders, K3RA, 410-796-4792, roland.anders@comcast.net.

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NET CONTROL OPERATORS NEEDED
  Contact Baltimore Traffic Net Manager, Chris AB3WG AB3WG@ARRL.net
  145.330 Daily 6:30 PM
  Contact Maryland Emergency Phone Net, Fr Al W3YVQ W3YVQ at ARRL dot Net
  3820 +/- LSB Daily 6:00 PM

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ARESMAT Zoom Meeting - Coordinated by Steven KC3DSO, MDC ASEC to continue collaboration with our adjacent Sections.  ARESMAT Amateur Radio Mutual-Aid

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MDC SCTION - Amateur Radio Winter Field Day -
Winter Field Day is a 24-hour long event, from Saturday, January 25th, 2019, 2pm EST (1900 UTC) to Sunday, January 26th, 2019, 2pm EST (1900 UTC). All bands may be used, except 12, 17, 30 and 60 meters which prohibit contesting. All modes are available. 

MDC Section Winter Field Day groups:

Prince George's County, Maryland ARES/RACES (https://www.pgares.org/) and Anne Arundel County Amateur Radio (https://www.w3vpr.org/node/362).  More info about Winter Field Day at https://www.winterfieldday.com/

Columbia Amateur Radio Association will be setting up a Winter Field Day station at the Cedar Lane Park - East in Howard County, at 10745 Route 108, Columbia, MD 20142

Charles County Amateur Radio Club along with Fort Washington ARC Winter Field Day at Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Education Center (NCEEC), 5300 Turkey Tayac Place, Nanjemoy, MD 20662 (Charles County). 

Northeast Maryland Amateur Radio Contest - Winter Field from their QTHs

Anne Arundel Winter Field Day 2020 scheduled with Rick Steer AB3XJ as team leader for this event with Jim Wallace N3ADF Assist at AAARC Club-house. Goddard Amateur Radio Club, Winter Field Day will be at Club-house and indoor.

Check with your local Amateur Radio Club or Emergency Communication Group for Winter Field Day

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Popular Contests: 
January 18-19 VHF Contest (Above 50 MHz) http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf, /june-vhf, and /september-vhf.  See the CONTEST CALENDAR at https://www.contestcalendar.com/contestcal.html by WA7BNM

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HFHN - HF Hospital Coalition Net Wednesday following the third Sunday every month on 7:00 – 7:30 PM LSB - 3820 kHz +/- for QRM. This Net is open to all ARES and RACES operators able to hear the Net. This is a controlled net, follow instructions from Net Control. This net is primarily to establish HF EmComm between the Maryland EOC's & Hospitals.

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Columbia ARC
 Fourth Wednesday of each month (except December) at 7:30 PM Location: Applied Physics Lab, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723

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ARES Connect at https://arrl.volunteerhub.com/
 Sign up today or login and update your Account Profile
 Contact your Maryland Section Emergency Coordinator or SEC, too.

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ShortWave Listening (SWL) -

Shortwave Radiogram
Program Number 135
17-19 January 2020
MFSK modes for Text and Images, as noted:
Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
Saturday 0330-0400 GMT on  9265 kHz from WINB PA
Saturday 1330-1400 GMT on 15770 kHz from WRMI FL
Sunday   0800-0830 GMT on  5850 kHz from WRMI FL       
Sunday   0800-0830 GMT on  7730 kHz from WRMI FL
Sunday   2330-2400 GMT on  7780 kHz from WRMI FL
Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

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MDC SECTION HAMFEST: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search

Post Holiday Hamfest
January 26th at Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Odenton, MD 21113
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/marylandmobileers/hamfests-1/hamfest-2
Sponsor: Maryland Mobileers Amateur Radio Club
Talk-In: 146.805- PL107.2
Contact: Bruce AB3AC

FrostFest, ARRL Virginia State Convention 2020
February 1st at Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, VA 23218
Website: http://frostfest.com
Sponsor: Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society
Talk-In: 146.880 PL74.4
Contact: Robert KI4MCW

Quartzfest
January 1st at Roadrunner BLM Short Term Camping Area, Quartzsite, AZ 85346
Website: http://quartzfest.org
Quartzfest Planning Committee
Talk-In: 146.55 simplex
Contact: Kristyn KR1SS
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RADIO COMMUNICATION MEETING:

SATELLITE 2020 Conference & Exhibition
 Website: www.2020.satshow.com
 Conference: Monday - Thursday, March 9 to 12, 2020
 Exhibition: March 10-12, 2020
 Registration Required: Exhibit Hall Pass, FREE (end Dec12th)
 Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
 Use WMATA Metro - Green/Yellow - Convention Center

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FCC AMATEUR RADIO EXAMS:
 
 Get Upgraded with The Laurel VEC -
 Find Schedule & Dates
 https://www.laurelvec.com/

Plan for you next FCC License Upgrade:
  2019-2023 General Class Question Pool
  2018-2022 Technician Class Question Pool
  2016-2020 Extra Class Question Pool

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 KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MDC SECTION EVENTS: 
  Daily posts via MDC Section:
  Twitter @MDCARRL https://twitter.com/MDCARRL
  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ARRLMDC/

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 ==> T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT

December 2019
Applications in Process:
KB3VJO -- Received on air confirmation for move of 147.3150+ to Frostburg, MD. Sent Final Coordination.
Calvert ARC – Sent Construction Coordination for 145.3900- at Lexington Park, MD
N3QEM – Received request to modify location of 443.0625+ from Arlington to Tysons Corner, Va. Sent Notice to neighboring coordinators. Sent Construction Coordination.
Southern MD ARC – Received application for UHF link at Barstow, MD Sent Construction Coordination.
K3ORB – Re-issued 444.0125+ Ocean Pines, Md. (N3HF SK)
K3ORB – Reissued 443.4500+ Ocean City, Md. (N3HF SK)
Chesapeake Radio Amateur Broadcasting – Received application for narrow-band pair in Crisfield, Md. Sent notice to neighboring coordination groups.
Vienna Wireless Society – Received application for move of 146.6850- to Tysons Corner, Va. Sent notice to neighboring coordination groups.
 
Coordinations Cancelled: 145.1500- K4GTF(SK) Mineral, Va.
 
Other:
Area Repeater Coordination Council:
Received 2 proposed coordinations for 2M
Received 1 proposed coordination for 220
Received 6 proposed coordinations for 440
 
South Eastern Repeater Assoc.:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 2M
Received 1 proposed coordination for 440

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

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 ==> MDC SECTION ARES® REPORT

2019 December MDC SEC Narrative Report

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
ARRL Section: Maryland-DC          December            Year: 2019

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 388 up 4
Change since last month:   +4
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 9
Number of ARES nets active: 21
Number with NTS liaison: 10

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KA2JAI, N3AE, KB3LJB, KB3KOW, W3YR, N3AWP, WB3KAS, N2OMC, NI2W

Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 19 Person with hours: 144
Number of public service events this month: 0 nil Person hours: 0
Number of emergency operations this month: 0 nil Person hours: 0
Number of Skywarn operations this month: 0 nil Person hours: 0
Total number of ARES operations this month: 20 Total Person with hours: 144

EmComm Events and Comments from around the Section

de Section Emergency Coordinator WB3KAS:

Reporting

Eight of the 18 appointed ECs submitted their monthly ARES County reports this month. How can we improve the desire to provide what is requested by the League regarding you sphere of influence? 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. It is important that you follow this convention. This makes it extremely fast and easy for me to do my work.  We have a few who are not using the format requested, thus making more work for me; and now have one county that still needs to convert over to the fillable form. 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 Central) are now are now vacant and would like to have some one step forward and consider heading up the Western or Central DEC position.  If interested let me know and I will send you the DEC Position Description. There are eight counties that do not having an Emergency Coordinator.  They are ALLE, BACI, 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. In the future, selected County ECs will be dismissed due to inactive required monthly reporting and neglecting to respond to SEC emails.  It is important that we hear your commitment to supporting your community. We have two EC appointments waiting for League approval. We all announce them as we receive them.

SEC Presentations

If your Group is interested in getting started with Winlink 2000, or perhaps a refresher session, please let me know. WICO EC John, W3JCT, is planning to have a Winlink Class late Winter/early Spring. 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.  I have an Introduction Winlink 2000 Lecture and a Winlink Class where we get you set up to run Winlink Telnet and obtain a Winlink account - - - all for free!

MDC Section Reflectors - SEC Report
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.
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Meetings and Gatherings

A follow up on the effort of JHH (see below) to be involved in our Section Hospital Operations. A visit on Dec 27 to put a Winlink station on the air for testing showed excellent results, ready for the January Quarterly Drill. See report next month. A meeting was held with the Johns Hopkins Hospital Emergency Management Team. They are very VERY interested in setting a backup up communications team. They have a radio system that needs radio operators. If you live in Baltimore City or in any of the adjacent counties and wish to get involved, contact me for details.
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Future Events:

None planned.
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de ANAR County KA2JAI
Planning is in process for ARES meetings for 2020.  The agendas are ready and presenters identified for the first 4 months.  Topics include training requirements review, emergency net & Radiogram skills refresher with BTN Net Manager support, AEC Ron N3WOF working on increasing Winlink exercises and knowledge, and WebEOC training from the county.  The EC and other ARES members attended the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee and Training and Exercise meetings.  I started making EchoLink available more regularly for check ins to the weekly ARES net, which is a help to those too far from the repeater, and plan to make this available on every weekly net later in the year.  Purchases of equipment to support the construction of new go kits and other needs were approved.  Much of the equipment has been ordered and received.  Go kit construction will be done and the asset list updated upon receipt of the balance of the equipment.  Clean up of the EOC radio room was done in which some old and unused materials were removed, and storage space re-organized.  Thank you to Ken KG4USN for his initiative, time, and work on the go kit concept, purchases, and clean up.  The Section-wide EchoLink Net is made available on node 90911 KA2JAI-R & the Annapolis repeater 442.300+ PL107.2.  ARES meetings are 3rd Saturdays at 9 AM at the EOC in Glen Burnie. Weekly nets are Sun 8 PM on the 146.805- PL107.2 repeater in Millersville MD. For more ARES info email the EC at ka2jai@arrl.net.
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de CALV County N3AE
No general meeting was held in December.  Several members did meet to discuss logistics for relocating our repeater from its current location to the roof of the Calvert Health Hospital.  This is an experimental and possibly a temporary relocation to see if the quieter RF environment at the hospital improves repeater performance.  Our monthly meetings are on the third Tuesday at the Calvert County Services Building, Main Street, Prince Frederick.
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de KB3LJB CECI County
Exercises this past month, December 2019, the CECI ARES operators participated in the weekly Sunday evening ARES Nets held at 2000 (8:00 pm) on the CBRA 146.850 repeater in Port Deposit, MD.  At this time, we have only 4 Net Control Operators, one of which is not available 6 months of the year.  If you can reach the WA3SFJ 146.850 repeater and would like to try out as a Net Control Operator, send me an email (kb3ljb@arrl.net) and I’ll send you the script and blank log sheet.  If you have questions, send those to me as well. 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 up and working well. Our next VE test session will be on the morning of Saturday, February 7.  The VE test sessions are given at the Mason-Dixon American Legion Post 194 in Rising Sun, MD.  Check the listings on the ARRL web site or contact me at KB3LJB@ARRL.NET for details on upcoming test sessions.
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de KB3KOW CHAR County
Held meeting with Red Cross on Southern Maryland. Provided copy of MOU between ARC/ARRL with focus on drilling more with ARC in 2020. Worked with SEC on the potential for an 'autoresponder' that could be used by deployed amateurs to obtain missing documents or information for drills.

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De HARF County W3YR
Exercise and training sessions include: one meeting, one Harford County ARES net, and one go-kit upgrade session. Current projects include: installation of a 2m radio FM analog radio and 440 packet radio at the Upper Chesapeake hospital, replacement of the Harford County 2m FM analog repeater, and the addition of a dual P25/DSTAR 440 repeater. The go-kit upgrade session included the loading of the latest Windows 10 version on nine laptops.  This is in preparation for RACES/ARES support to the Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant Federally Evaluated Exercise scheduled for April 2020.

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de HOWA County N2AWP
Conducted our routine set of weekly nets and conducted a SKYWARN Drill on 7 DEC, IAW SKYWARN Recognition Day.
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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, 145.230 PL110.9 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.  The new 440 repeater, K3ERA is now ready at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, MD. 447.325MHz 110.9 Nov 16 ARES Meeting:  ARES Connect Level 1 Training suspended for the time being and will resume in January.  Organizing make-up sessions for those missing some of the lectures. Discussed at length initial planning and ideas for incorporating Johns Hopkins Hospital into the Quarterly Hospital Drill. Reviewed a new concept to retain ICS-309 and 214 event data across shift operators on different computers - KC3DSONew PRGE ARES Website in development. Target date for release after the first of the year. PRGE ARES Christmas Gathering is now December 16 at the County Fire Services Building. Nov 27 met with MedStar SMHC hospital to receive notice of new grant monies available to upgrade current legacy equipment to include equipment to support off site operations in case of a large-scale hospital evacuation. Exciting times ahead. K3ERA 2m Repeater EchoLink is now on the air via KA3POX-L Node 896210.  As Mikey would say, "Try it, you'll like it."

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Final Report 1st Quarter Emergency Preparedness Drill January 2, 2020 Wanda KA3AHI would like to thank each and everyone that participated in the ARES 1st Quarter Emergency Preparedness Drill on January 2, 2020.  The Drill was very successful. Thanks to all who participated.  We appreciate the following visitor who joined us at JHH-MD; Bob Maloney. For FWMC, UM-LRH, MMMC and HCCH please distribute to your radio operator team, thanks.
 
Wanda Montgomery KA3AHI
AEC Prince George's ARES Hospital Program
ASM MDC Section Hospital Program

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de STMA County N2OMC
Will start an ARES net in Jan on the 147.390 repeater located in Leonardtown, MD. I will also have members signing up in in Jan. Still working to get a turnover from former EC Ray Brown with no luck as of yet. Held the SMCARA club net once a week this month, minus Christmas and New Year’s week hence the two events. As of now, still have not received notification from the ARRL on appoint. Nothing further.
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de KA3AHI MDC Section ASM for the Health Care EmComm Program: Thirteen check-ins for November HFHN Net. Not bad considering propagation issues. HF Hospital Nets are conducted on Wednesday night following the third Monday of the month on 3820kHz +/- at 1900L.  So, give us a hollar!  If you don't hear us look downstream 5-8 kHz. I'd like to hear more check-ins from our MDC Section. Next HF Hospital Net is Jan 22.  NCS is TBD at the moment.  Feb HFHN is scheduled for the 18. The Prince George’s County Maryland Amateur Radio Emergency Service’s main project has been, and still is, providing emergency backup communications to its six county hospitals.  Invited to support the Maryland Medical Region (Region V), brought into the fold five counties, Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s. Over the years, the ARES groups in these neighboring counties have shown an interest in participating in the current quarterly hospital drills sanctioned by Prince George’s County ARES.  A decision was made to “kick it up a notch” and name this a Maryland-DC Section event the end goal being to have Amateur Radio support in all Maryland hospitals.  With this in mind, the associate of ‘hams’ supporting this initiative are now known HEROs, Hospital Emergency Radio Operators of the Maryland - DC Section. . .complete with its own logo. A new era has begun.

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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)

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 Holiday Gifts - ARRL Amateur Radio 2020 Calendar
 January 2020 - January 2021
 13-Month Calendar
 Item No.: 1236 for Price: $10.35
 http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Calendar-2020
 Includes:
• ARRL and other major contest dates
• National event dates: ARRL Field Day, Jamboree On The Air, and more
• Phases of the moon
• Major meteor showers
• Major religious and secular holidays
• 2020 Monthly Planner
• Bonus Month (January 2021)
• Guide to ARRL Member Services

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 ==> SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT

MDC 1912 STM REPORTS
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MDC NTS NETS:
MEPN 1912 W3YVQ QND/31 QNI/374 QTC/19 MINS/613
BTN 1912 AB3WG QND/31 QNI/309 QTC/50 MINS/524
MDD 1912 AA3SB QND/61 QNI/226 QTC/63 MINS/443
MSN 1912 N3AEA QND/29 QNI/112 QTC/31 MINS/497
PSHR: W3YVQ 135, K3IN 110, AA3SB 100, WB3FTQ 100, AB3WG 82, NI2W 39;
TFC: K3IN 157, AA3SB 54, W3YVQ 48, WB3FTQ 36, AB3WG 28, NI2W 2

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HF PROPAGATION
MEPN TIME CHANGE: On NOV 3rd the net moved one hour earlier to the winter schedule: Pre-net 1630L, formal call 1700L. This will continue at least until EDST.

MEPN: The net NVIS propagation was functional in December, 2019, with good signals most evenings. Due to the low solar activity, the afternoon propagation suffered with less effective NVIS propagation between 1630L and 1700L, often with the residual E layer from the daytime sun angle partially obscuring the F1-F2 layers overhead. The MEPN DTS stations continue to provide liaison with the national digital messaging services including DTN and Winlink.

MDD: December NVIS propagation for local MDC stations on MDD early was fair to good on nights when the MUF was above net frequency (fxi). When the MUF dropped below 3.557MHz, the NVIS prop failed totally unless some residual E-layer provided some help. If the MUF remained that low without E-layer help, both early and late MDD and the 3RN nets failed. The MUF sometimes recovered for the Region nets and MDD late, but DEC is likely to see more failed nets, both early and late, without help from the sun. Last winter we saw MUFs down to 2 MHz some nights. It will be an interesting winter. John, WB3GXW-L, continues to make that Echolink resource available for MDD use on nights when propagation fails. 160m may need to be used as winter progresses. Check out your antennas. Outbound traffic to 3RN may be handled by DTS representatives as needed for posting on the Digital Traffic Net (DTN) when prop permits. DTN stations operate 24/7 so traffic will flow across the country as prop permits, day or night.

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CW OPERATORS NEEDED
Additional CW operators are needed for liaison from MEPN and BTN to MDD and to the higher nets, and Net Control Stations are also needed on MDD and 3RN/C4. The evening NTS and RRI nets in Cycle 4 nation-wide are conducted on CW.

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MEPN/BTN/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). The conference bridge is available for MEPN, MDD, BTN, MSN, and 3RN stations during periods of failed propagation.

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MSN CW TRAINING
The MSN net continues to operate and serve nightly at 1930L on 3563 kHz. Ron, N3AEA, is stepping up to fill the Net Manager´s role. Thanks, Ron. Show your support by checking in even if you do not take training. MSN needs NCS stations and liaison stations to early and late MDD. Ron could use your help.

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BTN LOCAL NTS TRAFFIC AND TRAINING NET
The BTN continues to meet on 145.33/R (no tone) daily at 6:30PM local time. The BTN was established to provide a welcoming place for newcomers to the Amateur Service, and their first exposure to directed traffic nets and message handling. The NM, AB3WG, has initiated plans for broader cooperation between BTN and MSN to foster more awareness between operators using the respective modes. Instructive message swapping and liaison duties are in effect. A new cooperative effort has been launched between ANAR ARES(r) and the BTN as well.

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Thanks to all the Section traffic net NCS stations, RRI/DTN 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), RRI, and NTS operations.

A very happy and healthy New Year to all.

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

/EX

  FP67EW7V