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MDC Section News
Vol. 12, No. 07
July 14, 2014
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* MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET FRIDAY JULY 21st
* LAUREL ARC MENTORING PROGRAM
* UPCOMING HAMFESTS
* JUNE, 2017 T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT AND NOTICE
* MDC SECTION ARES® REPORT
* SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT
* FINAL COMMENTS FROM YOUR SECTION MANAGER

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

This month's MDC section-wide EchoLink net will be held on Friday, July 21st at 8:00 PM on the EchoLink *WASH_DC* Node 6154.

The EchoLink net is always held on the third Friday evening of every month at 8:00 PM local time.

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

- KA2JAI-R operates through the KB3CMA repeater 442.300(+), CTCSS 107.2 Hz, in Annapolis, MD
- WB3GXW-R, 147.225(+), CTCSS 156.7 Hz, located in Calverton, MD
- N3HF-L, 443.45(+), CTCSS 151.4 Hz, located near Ocean City, MD
- N3HF-R, 443.45(+), CTCSS 156.7 Hz, located near Silver Spring, MD
- W3ICF-R, 146.73(-), CTCSS 141.3 Hz, located near Frederick, MD
- K3CAL-R, 146.985(-), CTCSS 156.7, located near Sunderland, MD
- W3SMR, 147.150 MHz (+), CTCSS 114.8 Hz, Brandywine, MD
- N3RO-L, 145.545, Simplex, Frederick Co, MD
- W3SMD-L, 147.51, Simplex, N. St Mary's County, MD
- K3GMR-R 146.61(-), No CTCSS, Cheverly, MD

Everyone is encouraged to join in and give any updates on what is going on 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: 'Click Here > EchoLink ' 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.


==> LAUREL ARC MENTORING PROGRAM

The Laurel Amateur Radio Club is trying something new!

The Laurel VE team has their free exam session on the third Saturday at the Woman's Club of Laurel, 384 Main Street, Laurel, MD 20707. The exam session generally runs from 0900 to 1130 or the end.

Now, from about 1130 or at the end of the test session until no later than 2 PM they will have folks available to answer questions from new licensee's and from anyone in the Amateur Radio community who would like to drop in.

Are you trying to figure out how to program your new hand held radio? They have on hand the CHIRP program and cables to help program frequencies into your radio.

This month at their session on Saturday July 15, they will have some hands on demonstrations of digital modes.

It is open to anyone with any questions about Amateur Radio.

Put the third Saturday and the address on your calendar and stop by if you would like to discuss modes, operating, programming radios, antennas, or anything ham related.

If you have any questions about the new program, please check out the club website at: https://www.larcmd.org/conc/index.php/mentoring .


==> UPCOMING HAMFESTS

This is a list of hamfests in the Maryland-DC Section area.

I am including hamfests in nearby Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware as well as conventions in Orlando, Florida and Dayton, Ohio as courtesy to our neighboring Section Managers.

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

We hope to see you all there.

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67th Annual Berryville Hamfest & Computer/Electronics Show
Date: Sunday, August 6, 2017
Location: Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds, 890 West Main Street, Berryville, VA 22611
Website: http://www.shenvalarc.org/hamfest
Sponsor: Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club
Public Contact: Thomas Brownlee, AF2D, 744 Gafia Lodge Road, Middletown, VA 22645
Phone: 540-869-7065, E-mail: af2d@arrl.net
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Virginia Section Convention (Virginia Beach Hamfest)
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2017
Location: Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Website: http://vbhamfest.com
Sponsor: Tidewater Radio Conventions
Talk-In: 146.970(+) (CTCSS: 141.3 Hz) W4KXV
Public Contact: Carl Clements, W4CAC, 4500 Wake Forest Road, Portsmouth, VA 23703
Phone: 757-235-4813, E-mail: w4cac@cox.net
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CARA Fest
Date: Sunday, October 1, 2017
Location: Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, MD 21794
Website: http://www.carafest.org
Sponsor: Columbia Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 147.390+ (CTCSS: 156.7)
Public Contact: David Parkison, KB3VDY, 1257 Stevens Avenue, Arbutus, MD 21227
Phone: 410-977-1249, Email: info@carafest.org
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Second Annual American Legion PGCERA SantaFest
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2017
Location: American Legion Youth Camp, 9201 Surratts Road, Cheltenham, MD 20623
Website: http://pgares.org/santafest/index.html
Sponsor: American Legion and Prince Georges County Emergency Repeater Association
Talk-In: 145.230 (CTCSS: 110.9 Hz)
Public Contact: Charles Hallock, AA3WS, 16203 Manning Road, West Accokeek, MD 20607
Phone: 301-535-1666, E-mail: selbynet@hotmail.com
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New Jersey State Convention
Date: Sunday, September 10, 2017
Location: Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds, 235 Bridgeton Pike (Route 77), Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Website: http://w2mmd.org
Sponsor: Gloucester County ARC - W2MMD
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 147.180(+) (CTCSS 131.8), 40m 7.245 kHz & 20m 14.340 kHz +/- 5 kHz
Public Contact: Sheldon Parker , K2MEN, 643 Betty Rose Avenue Gibbstown, NJ 08027
Phone: 856-423-1767, Email: k2men@comcast.net
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Delaware State Convention (Delmarva Amateur Radio & Electronics EXPO)
Date: Saturday, April 21, 2018
Location: Cheer Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown, DE 19947
Website: http://www.radioelectronicsexpo.com
Sponsor: Sussex Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 147.090 (CTCSS: 156.7 Hz), WS3ARA, Fusion
Public Contact: Herb Quick, KF3BT, PO Box 1431, Seaford, DE 19973
Phone: 302-629-4949, E-mail: herb@hamiltongraphics.com
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Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club Firecracker Hamfest
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Location: Harrisburg Area Community College, 3599 Industrial Road, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Website: http://www.w3uu.org
Sponsor: Harrisburg Radio Amateurs' Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.76 (CTCSS 100.0 Hz), W3UU
Public Contact: Tim Lehman, KB3OZA, PO Box 453, Hummelstown, PA 17036
Phone: 717 461-3398, Email: kb3oza@arrl.net

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You may view upcoming Hamfests which are being held in the MDC Section and nearby in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia and northern Virginia area by clicking on either: http://www.arrl-mdc.net/hamfest.htm or the ARRL's Hamfest and Convention Calendar at: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar .


==> MAY, 2017 T-MARC COORDINATION REPORT AND NOTICE

T-MARC is The Mid-Atlantic Repeater Council.

T-MARC coordinates Amateur repeater operations to help keep VHF and UHF interference problems to a minimum.

T-MARC's areas of responsibility include the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.

You may view the T-MARC home page at: http://tmarc.org/ .

Notice: There will be no T-MARC meeting at the Berryville Hamfest on August 6th.

Jun-17 Applications in Process:

KA3LAO
-- Sent Notice of Proposed Coordination to neighboring coordination groups for UHF narrow-band pair.
-- Sent Construction Coordination for 442.4625+.

Calvert ARC
-– Received application for coordination for 220 pair in Lexington Park, MD
-- Sent Notice of Proposed Coordination to neighboring coordination groups.
-- Sent Construction Coordination for 224.6400-

Calvert ARC
-– Received application for coordination for 440 pair in Lexington Park, MD
-- Sent Notice of Proposed Coordination to neighboring coordination groups.
-- Sent Construction Coordination for 442.9500+

K3GTB
-- Received application for coordination for 440 pair in Dover, DE
-- Proposed system would be low profile (low HAAT, low ERP).
-- Suggested use of SNP 447.8750-.

KG4Y
-- Received application to modify coordination for 444.5500+ in Winchester, VA

Alexandria Radio Club
-– Received application for narrow band 440 pair in Alexandria, VA

Baltimore Digital Group
-– Received on air confirmation of 449.6250- at Baltimore, MD
-- Sent Final Coordination.

St. Mary's County ARA
-– Received on air confirmation of 443.3000+ at Leonardtown, MD
-- Sent Final Coordination.

St. Mary's County ARA
-– Received on air confirmation of 147.3900+ at Leonardtown, MD
-- Sent Final Coordination.

Kent ARS
-– Received on air confirmation of 442.7375+ at Worton, MD
-- Sent Final Coordination

Other:
South Eastern Repeater Assoc
-- Received 2 proposed coordination for 440

Area Repeater Coordination Council
-- Received 1 proposed coordination for 440

Western PA Repeater Council
-- Received 1 proposed coordination for 440
-- Received 1 proposed coordination for 1296

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

[The above information was submitted by T-MARC, The Mid-Atlantic Repeater Council, http://tmarc.org/ , who is solely responsible for its content.]


==> MDC SECTION ARES® REPORT
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ARRL Section: Maryland-DC June 2017
___________________________________________________

AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICE
Total number of ARES members: 470
Change since last month: +10
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 7 of 18 or 38.8%
Number of ARES nets active: 16
Number with NTS liaison: 4
Calls of DECs/ECs reporting: NI2W, N3SEO, N3AE, W3YR, KB3LJB, KB3FWW, K3DO
Number of drills, tests and training sessions this month: 12
Person hours: 74.25
Number of public service events this month: 2
Person hours: 67
Number of emergency operations this month: 0
Person hours: 0
Total number of ARES operations this month: 14
Total Person hours: 141.25
/
Join ARES® - Fill out the ARES Registration form and submit it to your local Emergency Coordinator. http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARESRegistrationForm9-15.pdf
=====================================================

EmComm Events and Comments from around the Section de Central District Emergency Coordinator W3SCA reporting for WB3KAS:

Reporting Seven of the 18 appointed ECs submitted their monthly ARES® County reports this month, or 38.8% which is terrible! I sent multiple reminders but I am unsure why participation was so low? In times like this when our leader is unavailable, we need to be able to step in and support!

It's extremely important that your constituents hear what is going on relative to EmComm in their community. If nothing more it tells us what meetings you hold, when, where and on what repeaters you may be found. I'd like to hear from the rest of you.

MDC Section Central Region DEC Now Filled

Thank you for the warm welcome! I am enjoying getting to know everyone and I am slowly making my rounds to the EOCs and I met some of you at field-day as well. I also have contacted the MEMA rep and talked with him and will be meeting with him shortly to see how I can be of service. de Jay Nardone, W3SCA.

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 weather perspective. 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.

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.

The URL is: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MDCQRV/info .

The new ARRL MDC Section Yahoo Reflector is now available. If you are not a member. . .you should be!! We now have 89 members this month, one more than last month. . .a slow growth, but growing. I encourage you to use this to inform or keep in touch with the rest of your fellow members. With the wide distribution of the "MDC Section News" coming out only once a month, this Yahoo Site with 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. You can join at: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ARRLMDCSECTION/info .

Meetings

None this month.

Future Events: Nothing to report at this time....

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Section EC Reports Received:

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de ANAR County N3SEO
ARES® meetings usually the third Saturday at 0900 at the EOC. ARES® nets each Sunday night at 2000 hours on 146.805 Repeater.

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de CALV County N3AE
Our June Calvert County AUXCOM meeting was devoted to a discussion of amateur radio infrastructure improvements within the county.

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de FRED County K3DO
In the month of August, we have a large bike race and will be looking for radio operators for the SAG vehicles, Rest Stops, etc.

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de STMA County KB3FWW
We have two new repeaters on the air located in Leonardtown. Yaesu fusion 147.39+, CTCSS 123.0 and 443.3+, CTCSS 123.0 wires X available

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de KA3AHI MDC Section ASM for the Health Care EmComm Program: The HF Hospital Nets are conducted on 3820kHz +/- at 1930L. We try to hold the freq between 1915 to 1930L, so give us a holler! On April 19, we had 18 checked in, thanks to the special Section Notice put out by the Section Manager. As we move out of the winter months we will encounter static storm noise. Should be interesting. I'd like to hear more checkins from our MDC Section.

I am thinking of moving the time up to 1900L to get out from under a nearby net that causing havoc on our frequency. Look for the Section Notice coming out just prior to Net time for any changes.

Last month I reported of a possible May 23 Hospital Region V Exercise. Well, it is for real now! Still no word yet on the details. These counties are CALV, CHAR, MONT, PRGE and STMA. The respective County ECs and the Central DEC have been notified to report back to me by May 10 with the list of their radio operators. If you have been contacted to support the Exercise, please let me (Jim, wb3kas@arrl.net ) know ASAP. I am meeting with the planners to coordinate injects for those radio operators playing. Thank you.