************************
   MDC Section News
   Vol. 16, No. 05
   Friday, May 15, 2020
************************
 * MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY MAY 15TH
 * YOUR SECTION MANAGER MOMENT
 * UPCOMING HAMFESTS & CONVENTIONS - NONE 
 * EVENTS, EXAMS, ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
 * T-MARC AMATEUR RADIO SPECTRUM COORDINATION REPORT
 * MDC SECTION ARRL ARES REPORTS
 * MDC SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT

 - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 ==> MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY MAY 15TH

This month's MDC section-wide EchoLink® net will be held on Friday, May 15, 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 June 19th.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
   EchoLink® Link Repeaters for Net
   If you would like to join in on RF, the following repeaters are linked for EchoLink® nets:
  - KA2JAI-R to Millersville repeater 146.805- PL107.2
  - 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
  Repeater owners are encouraged to join our MDC Section EchoLink® Net group and link your repeater - TU!
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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
The END of Section-wide " Stay@Home" looms on the horizon - but not yet
The 2nd MDC Section Day EchoLink Net will be held on Saturday at 12 Noon, May 31st on WB3GXW-R & *WASH_DC* and linked repeaters.  Let share your ideas and challenges.  A FD2020 Rules review will be a possible topic.  Your FD2020 "Course of Action" (COA) will greatly depend on local Stay@Home guidance

Three possible COAs
1. Status Quo – normal Field Day activities
2. Social Distancing – No public facing site
3. Remote Field Day – Continue with Stay@Home

Next, determine your FD2020 Station Class based on any limiting factors. After that, much of the ARRL FD Rules will begin to fall into place.
4.2. (Class A) - Battery) Club / non-club portable: Club
4.3. (Class B) - One or two person portable:
4.4. (Class B) - Battery) One or two person portable:
4.5. (Class C) - Mobile:
4.6. (Class D) - Home stations:
4.7. (Class E) - Home stations - Emergency power:
4.8. (Class F) - Emergency Operations Centers (EOC):
* Class D stations may only count contacts made with Class A, B, C, E and F Field Day stations.

Recent ARRL Guidance -
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/planning-your-arrl-field-day-2020-operation

Overall Field Day –
http://www.arrl.org/field-day
- Rules & Resources - http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2020/1_61-2020%20Rules.pdf
- Planning Your ARRL Field Day 2020 Operation - 14 May 2020
- Creative Approaches to Field Day 2020 - 21 April 2020
- Field Day 2020 - A Time To Adapt - 27 March 2020
- http://www.arrl.org/planning-your-arrl-field-day-2020-operation

For our MDC Section Members receiving the MDC NEWS via e-mail, your reminded to review last month's MDC Section Manager's Operational Resources & Guidance. Here the list of topics:
1. Crisis Communications
2. Disaster Response Plans
3. Field Crew Safety Concerns
4. Response Readiness
5. Cybersecurity & Privacy
6. Work together
7 Have One Line of Communication

Announce your methods of notifying your ARC members and find ways to include your served agency leadership (video or phone conference). 
The MDC Section will use:
 - https://twitter.com/MDCARRL
 - https://www.facebook.com/ARRLMDC/
 - http://www.arrl.org/sections/view/maryland-dc - MDC Section New
 - American Radio Relay League (ARRL), MDC Section New via Listserv
 - Announcement through your Amateur Radio Clubs [ARC]
 - Monthly MDC Section EchoLink Net, 3rd Friday 8PM *WASH_DC*

Concern adjacent State Emergency Management ARES members - find what is happening via TWITTER
 - MD - https://twitter.com/MDMEMA
 - VA - https://twitter.com/vdem
 - DC - https://twitter.com/DC_HSEMA
 - WV - https://twitter.com/WVDHSEM
 - PA - https://twitter.com/ReadyPA
 - DE - https://twitter.com/DelawareEMA

Please use best judgment until our Maryland State Government Officials reduce the levels of restriction; all MDC Section Staff are required to maintain diligence throughout this event and not attend in-person any Ham Radio event(s).

Tnx es 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. 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 website with Hamfests, 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.
Although in-person Amateur Radio testing is suspended and no on-line testing offered for the MDC Section, ARRL and the VECs are discovering new ways to meet the challenges.  Please continue to follow progress via ARRL National website ARRL.org and your local VEC groups.

  - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Get involved and learn more about Nation Traffic System and Nets
CONTROL OPERATORS NEEDED
Contact Baltimore Traffic Net Manager, Chris AB3WG AB3WG@ARRL.net
145.330 Daily 6:30 PM and find more information at https://www.baltimoretraffic.net/
Occasionally a 2m VHF SIMPLEX after BTN.  Listen on 146.580 and CQ for others stations.
Are you doing HF, then contact Maryland Emergency Phone Net, Fr Al W3YVQ, w3yvq atsign arrl dot net
3820 +/- LSB Daily 6:00 PM
MEPN - 3820 / 1920 & 7243 kHz LSB
 MDD - 3557 CW
 MSN - 3563 CW
 BTN - 146.33 FM / 146.67 B/U
  - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
NEXT NET - WEDNESDAY, MAY 20th.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WeatherNet on EchoLink Node W3ICF or 146.730
Every Thursday @ 19:30 - 20:30 Local Time (ET)
Also, check-out the Frederick Amateur Radio CODE-PLUG downloads
http://frederickarc.org/codeplugs/
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Check-in with Net Control Operator (NCS) on the Orioles Net via the 145.330, repeater near Shawsville, MD - Daily at 9AM
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It is required all MDC ARES members enroll in ARES CONNECT
ARES Connect at https://arrl.volunteerhub.com/
Sign up today or login then update your Account Profile
Contact your Maryland Section Emergency Coordinator or ASEC or Section Manager for help.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gulf and Atlantic Hurricane Season begins soon (June 1st) & Pacific already started

NHC – National Hurricane Center and SPC – Storm Prediction Center are monitoring development of a disturbance near Key West, FL USA and forecasted to bring heavy rainfall and wind gusts to tropical-storm-force across portions of the Florida Keys, southeast Florida and the Bahamas through Saturday, May 16th and into early next week. See https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ for more details and EchoLink / VoIP Hurricane Net – VoIP Hurricane Net: WX_TALK. Search your favorite Internet Search Engine <Hurricane Frequencies List> to find many more opportunities to monitor "Real-time" HF Comms.

QTV Maritime Nets during Tropical Storms - -

Maritime Mobile Service Network & WRCC, Waterway Net - https://mmsn.org on HF 14.325 / 7.268.00 MHz conclusion around 8:30 AM ET. Due to COVID-19: World-wide Marine Port Restrictions - see map - https://wilhelmsen.com/ships-agency/campaigns/coronavirus/coronavirus-map/

Tropical Weather from broad low-pressure area expected to develop in couple of days near or just north of the Bahamas.
https://nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo.php?basin=atlc&fdays=2…

The Hurricane Watch Net
Not active at this time
See Net procedures
https://hwn.org
14325 kHz USB day & 7268 kHz LSB night

 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MDC SECTION HAMFEST: Search
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search
ARRL: Cancellation Calendar
http://www.arrl.org/canceledHamfests.php
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Stuck inside at your QTH -
Good time to learn Morse Code [CW] or improve proficiency. Maryland Slow Net MSN, a CW traffic & training net w/ operating speed approx. ten words per minute. A Section NTS Net, daily @ 7:30 PM ET on 3563 kHz. http://bdb.com/~msn/
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FCC AMATEUR RADIO EXAMS:
Some online testing is happening - look on the ARRL VEC website or Laurel VEC for details.
https://www.laurelvec.com/
 - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 ==> T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT
April 2020
Applications in Process:
  N3YMS -- Received application for UHF narrow-band pair in Chestertown, MD. Sent notice to neighboring coordination groups. Sent Construction for 441.6625+. Received on air confirmation. Sent Final Coordination.
  N9KET -- Application for UHF narrow-band pair in Tysons Corner, VA. still under review.

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

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 ==> MDC SECTION ARES® REPORT

2020 March Maryland-DC MDC SEC Narrative Report
Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report         
======================
2020 January MDC SEC Narrative Report

Monthly Section Emergency Coordinator Report to ARRL Headquarters
ARRL Section: Maryland-DC          April            Year: 2020

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
370 Total number of ARES members
+5 Change since last month
10 Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month
29 Number of ARES nets active
11 Number with NTS liaison

Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: KA2JAI, N3AE, KB3TVF, KB3KOW, WA3EOQ, W3YR, N3AWP, WB3KAS, N2OMC, NI2W

25 drills, tests and training sessions this month with 247 person hours
0 (nil) Number of public service events this month
0 (nil) Number of emergency operations this month
1 Skywarn operations this month with 3 person hours
26 Total number of ARES operations this month with total of 250 person hours

EmComm Events and Comments from around the Section

de Section Emergency Coordinator WB3KAS:

Reporting

Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Hear Ye. . .Whew!

Urgent (well almost) need for ARES Radio Operators to support the May 30 ARES/ARC CommEx.  No deployments; op from home QTH! 0800-1200 and some for the afternoon session. Contact your county EC for details.  They have the scenario and have sat through the Zoom Session to answered any questions they may have had.

Ten of the 18 appointed ECs submitted their monthly ARES County reports this month. 
Outstanding folks! Much appreciated those who took the time.

How can we improve the desire to provide what is requested by the League regarding your 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 send it to me.  Put this file name in the subject line please. It's a sure way I will not miss your monthly input.

Then put the file name in the subject line, so all I have to do is search YYYY-MM-<4-ltr cnty code> EC Report.pdf

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 vacant and would like to have someone 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 have an Emergency Coordinator.  They are ALLE, BACI, BACO, DORC, KENT, QACO, SOME and WORC. BACO has been recently added. If you are from any of these counties and fell you are up to the task, please get in touch with me.

As you can see 5 out of the 8 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.

Two more county EC's have step down, CARO and WICO EC's. EC applications have been sent to prospective nominees, awaiting response.

SEC Presentations

If your Group is interested in getting started with Winlink 2000, or perhaps a refresher session, please let me know.

Wanda, KA3AHI, and I continue to schedule visits 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.

Make use of this to keep your proficiency in top shape.

The new ARRL MDC Section 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 subscribe 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

The COVID19 crisis has put a damper on face-to-face meetings, but the email traffic has ramped up considerably. Consider Zoom sessions for your ARES meetings and shoot me a copy of the invitee.
======================
Future Events:

de MDC Section ASEC KC3DSO

The MDC Section-Wide Winlink Check-In as another training opportunity to keep current in using Winlink.  All Amateur Radio operators are welcome.

The inaugural 'roll out' was 10 MAR 20 with 19 check ins. The check in is held on the second Tuesday of each month. Upcoming dates are:

5/12/20, 6/9/20, 7/14/20, 8/11/20, 9/8/20, 10/13/20, 11/10/20, 12/8/20

For instructions: https://www.qsl.net/mdcasec/dev/mdcasec.html

73, Steven KC3DSO
 MDC Section ASEC
======================

de ANAR County KA2JAI

The ARES monthly meeting was conducted using Zoom and included an update from Anne Arundel County OEM, Digipeater Concepts by Ron N3WOF, and crossband repeat concepts by Gordon WJ3K and John K8JW. 

Tom W3NI and several other members participated in NVIS Day, in which operation with NVIS antennas was experimented with. 

Tom W3NI is organizing a new monthly AAC ARES SSB HF net to be held on 1st Tuesdays beginning in May at 1930 on 3820 +/-.  AAC ARES participated in the MEMA COMMEX, which included an ARES phone net and Winlink. 

Winlink practice continues with 4 opportunities each week and month: Weekly weekend check in using a different feature of Winlink each month, the COMMEX, weekly ARES announcements sent by Winlink, and the Section-wide Winlink Test. 

The Section wide EchoLink Net has moved with node 90911 KA2JAI-R to Millersville repeater 146.805- 107.2.  A new EchoLink node has been constructed by CERT on the 442.300+ 107.2 repeater in Annapolis. 

EC participated in teaching Radio Merit Badge to Boy Scouts.  EC and other members are attending Rol Anders K3RA's Operating Class using Zoom.  EC and others participated in the Field Day meeting conducted by the SM using EchoLink.  Apr public service events normally supported by the local hams were cancelled, as well as MMARC and AARC VE license exam sessions.  ARES meetings are 3rd Saturdays, with some exceptions, at 9 AM using Zoom until further notice instead of meeting at the EOC in Glen Burnie.  Check with the EC for actual dates.
Weekly nets are Sun 8 PM on the 146.805- 107.2 repeater in Millersville MD and EchoLink 90911 KA2JAI-R. Monthly HF SSB net first Tuesdays at 1930 on 3820 +/-.  For questions or more ARES info email the EC at ka2jai@arrl.net.
======================

de CHAR County KB3KOW

Conducted VARA HF and VARA FM testing with WB3KAS, KC3DSO, KA3POX and KB3SPH.

Assisted SEC with swapping out radios for the KAS-10 Node to support both FM VARA and VHF Packet.

Participated in the monthly Winlink check-in.
==================

de GARR County WA3EOQ

An introduction to Amateur Radio presentation to Home Schoolers was cancelled due to COVID-19.  Several Garrett County stations participated in a Preston County, WV simplex net exercise. (6a)

Working with Garrett College to arrange an introduction to Amateur Radio presentation for STEM students (and the general public) this Fall or when the college returns to normal from COVID-19

Physical GCARES meetings will continue to be suspended due to the coronavirus situation.

Net every Sunday evening at 8PM Local on 146.805, PL 123.  Linked to the TARGET System (Cacapon, WV on 146.745, etc.) and sometimes to a WAN system.  Checking into the MDD net most every evening.  Checked into the Washington County ARES 146.94 net on 30 April. Checked into the monthly Commex (Reisterstown) via the Hagerstown 147.09 repeater on 4/28.
==================

de HARF County W3YR

Exercise and training sessions include: One virtual meeting using the Harford County 146.775 repeater and four weekly nets.
==================

de HOWA County N2AWP

Convened four routine (weekly) ARES Nets and one on-the-air drill this month.  Actively support Columbia Amateur Radio Association Mid-Week Social Nets, which were started to create another means for area (Howard County and vicinity) amateur radio operators to socialize during COVID-19 pandemic.  Will likely continue the mid-week net post COVID-19 given interested to do so.  Actively supporting on-the-air Fldigi practice "jam" sessions following routine ARES weekly nets and after the CARA Mid-Week Social Net. 

Overall net participation is up given during the past two months given changes to net procedures that were intended to encourage more general participation and interaction.  Continue to support Howard County COAD efforts to muster volunteers to address COVID-19 needs within Howard County.
==================

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.

No March meeting; honoring the mandated social distancing. Possible Zoom Meeting for April.

A couple of new/updated PRGE Winlink Nodes and Gateways on line now:

Steven Keller, KC3DSO, in Lanham, MD is running three nodes. Two are AX25 packet nodes (1200 & 9600) and one Vara FM node. All nodes use tri band Omni’s at 35'. The 2m packet node runs on 145.750, 1200 bps, at 80 watts. The 70cm packet node runs on 440.750, 9600 bps, at 35 watts.

The Vara FM node is on 145.650, up to 12k bps at 50 watts.  Both the 70cm & Vara FM nodes use a Kenwood TM-D710A. Band A runs the internal TNC for 9600 over the air packet and Band B runs a Tigertronics Signalink audio card for Vara FM at up to 12kbps.  All three nodes use RMS Packet and RMS Relay for internet outages.

Ken La Capria, KA2POX , in Ft Washington, MD is currently operating a Winlink node on multiple frequencies and modes. Software running is RMS Packet, RMS Relay, and RMS Trimode. Packet operates on 145.750 from an Omni antenna at 260’ above sea level at 180 watts TX power. TNC is a KPC3+.

VARA FM operates on 145.650 from a 5-element rotatable Yagi at 200’ above sea level 50 watts TX power. The modem is a Tigertronics SignaLink USB.

The HF station is at 3589 kHz dial with power of 100 watts. Modes are Winmore, VARA and ARDOP. The modem is a Tigertronics SignaLink USB. The antenna is a trapped 80-meter dipole in NVIS configuration. Stations as far away as Denver CO have connected.

Jim, WB3KAS, upgraded his 2m RMS to include VARA.  New radio is Kenwood is a TM-V71A. Packet and VARA both on 145.75, Band B, but not at the same time. Power out is ~50w.
==================

de STMA County N2OMC

Held our bi-weekly ARES net at 2000E on 4/2/20 and 4/16/20 on the 147.390 (PL: 123.0) repeater located in Leonardtown, MD. Topics covered on the nets were Winlink and Skywarn. I've been working to find more information about the Southern MD Skywarn subnet and getting all ARES team members up on Winlink. Attended a Red Cross communications exercise planning meeting via Zoom on 4/29/20. St. Mary's ARES team will participate in the exercise with multiple operators using Winlink and voice on simplex and repeaters. Still planning on holding a Winlink workshop in St. Mary's County when things start to get back to normal. 
==================

de TALB County NN3G for W3GAC

We had our monthly RACES net on the second Tuesday of each month.
==================

de WASH County NI2W

Stats only.
==================

de KA3AHI HFHN Results:

Thirty-one check-ins for March HFHN Net. Wonderful; let's keep the number up!

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 May 20.  NCS is TBD at the moment. We encourage radio operators to please check in and support this Drill.  We always need a large number of check-ins to help hold the frequency. 

Net control operator has their work cut out for them to try and hold the frequency.

Other Drills and Exercises:

Last month I reported out on two upcoming exercises. Regrettably still no traffic received therefore cannot provide any updates.  It wouldn't surprise me that they will be postponed. Stay tuned.

73, Wanda
KA3AHI
======================

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 202004 STM REPORTS
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
QST MDC 2004 STN PSHR = >70 TOTAL
CALL PSHR
KK3F 140
W3YVQ 135
K3IN 110
NI2W 101
WB3FTQ 100
AA3SB 100
AB3WG 79
N3JET 72

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
QST MDC 2004 STN BPL:
KK3F 2004 SAR 19/1240/1220/20/2499
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MDC NETS 2004:

MEPN/C2, MARYLAND EMERGENCY PHONE NET, 3820/1800L-DY
Liaisons: 3RN2/MDD/DTN/BTN/WVA/NTSD/WL2K MEPN 2004 W3YVQ QND/30 QNI/580 QTC/23 MINS/670

BTN/C4, BALTIMORE TRAFFIC NET, 145.33/1830L-DY
Liaisons: MEPN/MDD/NTSD/WL2K
BTN 2004 AB3WG QND/30 QNI/507 QTC/18 MINS/575

MDD/C4, MARYLAND/DC/DELAWARE NET, 3557/1900L-2200L-DY
Liaisons: 3RN4/MEPN/BTN/DTN/NTSD/WL2K
MDD 2004 AA3SB QND/59 QNI/332 QTC/101 MINS/547

MSN, MARYLAND SLOW NET, 3563/1930L-DY TRAINING,
Liaisons: MDD
MSN 2004 N3AEA QND/30 QNI/142 QTC/13 MINS/564
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MDC 2004 PSHRS FILED (Zero entries omitted.):
CALL DATE PSHR
KK3F 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/40 3/30 4/30 TOTAL 140 W3YVQ 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/40 3/30 4/25 TOTAL 135 K3IN 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/40 3/30 TOTAL 110 NI2W 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/16 3/20 4/25 TOTAL 101 WB3FTQ 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/40 3/20 TOTAL 100 AA3SB 2004 PSHR 1/40 2/40 3/20 TOTAL 100 AB3WG 2004 PSHR 1/37 2/22 3/20 TOTAL 79 N3JET 2004 PSHR 1/34 2/18 3/20 TOTAL 72
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MDC 2004 SARS FILED:
CALL DATE SAR ORIG/RCVD/SENT/DLVD/TOTAL
KK3F 2004 SAR 19/1240/1220/20/2499
K3IN 2004 SAR 1/80/85/3/169
AA3SB 2004 SAR 2/45/20/5/72
W3YVQ 2004 SAR 0/17/33/0/50
WB3FTQ 2004 SAR 0/23/11/12/46
AB3WG 2004 SAR 0/17/4/1/22
N3JET 2004 SAR 0/8/6/4/18
NI2W 2004 SAR 2/5/5/4/16
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FOR THE MDC WEB SITE 2004

MDC NTS NETS:
MEPN 2004 W3YVQ QND/30 QNI/580 QTC/23 MINS/670
BTN 2004 AB3WG QND/30 QNI/507 QTC/18 MINS/575
MDD 2004 AA3SB QND/59 QNI/332 QTC/101 MINS/547
MSN 2004 N3AEA QND/30 QNI/142 QTC/13 MINS/564
PSHR: KK3F 140, W3YVQ 135, K3IN 110, NI2W 101, WB3FTQ 100, AA3SB 100, AB3WG 79, N3JET 72;
TFC: KK3F 2499, K3IN 169, AA3SB 72, W3YVQ 50,
WB3FTQ 46, AB3WG 22, N3JET 18, NI2W 16

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
HF PROPAGATION

The MEPN NVIS propagation was functional in April, 2020, with good signals most evenings. Due to the low solar activity, the afternoon propagation suffered with less effective NVIS propagation during the pre-net. This effect will worsen as long as sunset continues to move later. The MEPN DTS stations continue to provide liaison with the national digital messaging services including DTN and Winlink.

MDD: April NVIS propagation for local MDC stations on MDD early and late continued to improve with acceptable prop all month. Early sessions are in daylight, late in dark with MUFs around 4MHz or above. 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.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MSN CW TRAINING

The MSN net continues to operate and serve nightly at 1930L on 3563 kHz. Ron, N3AEA, has stepped 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.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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.
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thanks to all the Section´s 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.

Stay safe and be well during the presence of the Corona virus. You may congregate in any numbers on our nets without masks. Good time to polish up that CW and enjoy some contacts on HF.

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

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

/EX

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WJ9LFD38