Subject: MDC Section News April - 2024
MDC Section News April 2024
* MDC SECTION OPEN POSITIONS *
* MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET
* SECTION MANAGERS NOTES
* DIVISION NEWS
* UPCOMING HAMFESTS & CONVENTIONS
* EXAMS, ACTIVITIES, OPPORTUNITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
* SKYWARN REPORT
* MDC SECTION EMERGENCY COORDINATORS REPORT
* MDC SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT
* TMARC Report
*************************
*MDC SECTION OPEN POSITIONS
The following positions are available on the MDC Section Staff:
Emergency coordinator in the following Counties:
Baltimore
Kent
Queen Anne
Somerset
Talbot
Technical Specialist for MD Hospital Program
Local Government Liaison
Public Information Officer
Technical Specialist - Website Developer
More positions will be available soon.
For more information, please send an email
to me at ab3wg@arrl.org
* MDC SECTION-WIDE ECHOLINK NET
This months MDC Section wide EchoLink net will be held on Friday
April 19th 2024 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. EchoLink Link Repeaters for Net If
you would like to join in on RF the following repeaters are linked.
- KA2JAI-R to Millersville repeater 146.805- PL107.2
- WB3GXW-R, 147.225(+), PL156.7 Hz, Calverton, MD
- W3FDK-R, 146.73(-), PL141.3 Hz, Frederick, MD
- K3CAL-R, 146.985(-), PL156.7, Sunderland, MD
- K3ERA-R, 145.230(-), PL110.9, District Heights, MD
- W3SMD-L, 147.51, Simplex, St Mary's County, MD
- WA3DZD-R Maryland FM Association
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. You may download the free software from:
http://echolink.org/register_data.jsp or your App Store online. Thanks
John Creel WB3GXW for making the WASH_DC EchoLink server and his
WB3GXW-R repeater available for the EchoLink nets.
*****************************
** SECTION MANAGERS NOTES
Our long time Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Montgomery WB3KAS will
be transitioning to the role of Technical Coordinator for the Maryland
Hospital Program. I want to thank Jim for his many years of service to
the MDC Section as SEC. Filling the role of SEC will be Adam Karsin
KG4WWH. Adam brings to the role an extensive emcomm background and
knowledge base. I look forward to working with both Adam and Jim in
their new roles.
We were approached by various media outlets as well as other sections
for information regarding the bridge collapse. In the future, any and
all requests for information regarding incidents should be directed to
our Public Information Coordinator Sid Caesar NH7C (sid@nh7c.com).
The old Website ARRl-MDC.NET will now re-direct you automatically to the
new website ARRL-MDC.ORG. Thanks to Vice Dir. Marty KB3MXM for this
update.
Continuing to work on ARRL appointments database. Fifteen more entries
deleted including one silent key. This work should be finished by end of
June.
Let's continue working and learning together.
Tu es 73,
Chris Van Winkle AB3WG
Maryland / DC Section Manager, ARRL
240-755-4257
AB3WG@ARRL.ORG
********************************
* DIVISION NEWS
Please visit the Atlantic Division website
atldiv.org
********************************
* UPCOMING HAMFESTS & CONVENTIONS
05/04/2024 - The Great Hagerstown Hamfest
Location: Maugansville, MD
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Antietam Radio Association
Website: https://antietamradio.org
05/26/2024 - MFMA Memorial Weekend Hamfest
Location: West Friendship, MD
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Maryland F.M. Association, Inc
Website: http://marylandfm.org
06/16/2024 - BARC Fathers Day Hamfest and Swapmeet
Location: Upperco, MD
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Baltimore Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://w3ft.com
*************************
* EXAMS ACTIVITIES OPPORTUNITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
Please send me your upcoming ARC events, suggestions.
and comments.
You may view upcoming Hamfests here:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar
I will plan to attend your ARRL Maryland-DC Section events.
Test Dates in Essex:
May 18th
Sept.21st
Nov.16th
More info - Pat Stone AC3F@arrl.net
NET CONTROL OPERATORS NEEDED:
Contact Baltimore Traffic Net Manager, Don N3FQC N3FQC@ARRL.net
Baltimore Traffic Net
146.670 tone 107.2 Daily 6:30 PM and find more information at
Baltimore Traffic Net
Are you on HF? Check in to the Maryland Emergency Phone Net, 3820 +/-
LSB Daily 6:00 PM
MDC Section Nets:
MEPN - 3820 / 1920 & 7243 kHz LSB
MDD - 3557 CW
MSN - 3563 CW
BTN - 146.67 FM tone-107.2
FCC AMATEUR RADIO EXAMS:
VEC website or Laurel VEC for details.
https://larc-vec.org/home.php
Laurel VEC License Exam Search: https://larc-vec.org
******************************
* SKYWARN REPORT AI0K
Well, severe weather season has started, and along with it, multiple
flood warnings, a few severe thunderstorm warnings and even a tornado
warning in the Culpeper area. This could end up being a busy season.
The 2024 hurricane season is predicted to be potentially one of the most
active on record. The tropical Atlantic is already warmer than average
and with, a La Nina forming over the Pacific, the Atlantic is predicted
to get even warmer. Colorado State University's tropical meteorology
project is predicting 23 named storms, of which 11 will become
hurricanes and five will reach category 3 or stronger. While this
threat would be greatest to Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, a
strong hurricane could affect any part of our County Warning Area.
Please be prepared and watch the weather. We've been busy on our end,
also. Besides having a SKYWARN table at the Fredrick, MD, Vienna, VA
and Ruckersville, VA hamfests, we will have tables at the Marilyn
Mobileer's hamfest in Odenton on April 21st and Hagerstown hamfest in
Maugansville, MD on May 4th..Please introduce yourself if you're at one
of these hamfests.
The NWS is again holding more SKYWARN classes. I've been assisting by
teaching a section about Amateur Radio involvement in SKYWARN. Not only
is this informative to the hams in the class, it spreads the word about
ham radio to non-hams. More classes are scheduled, including Basics
classes in Landover, MD on April 18, College Park, MD (UMD campus) on
April 20th and Cumberland, MD on May 17th. These classes are free and
open to everyone but registration is required. Register at
https://www.weather.gov/washington/skywarn.
I also presented the Amateur portion of the Basic class to the Baltimore
Amateur Radio Club (BARC) via Zoom on April 3rd. This program is
available to other clubs, also. Please contact me if you are interests.
That's all for this month. Please stay alert, and most of all, stay
safe.
Jerry, AI0K
SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinator
National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington
*******************************************
*SECTION EMER COORDINATORS REPORT KG4WWH
Total number of ARES members: 222
Member total change from last report: N/D
Number of DECs/ECs reporting this month: 13
Total number of DECs/ECs in section: 19
Number of ARES net sessions held: 30
Number of ARES net sessions held with NTS liaison: 1
Number of participants in nets: 227
Number Person-Hrs
-------------------------------------------------------
Exercises this month: 7 28.00
Training events this month: 19 289.00
Public service events this month: 0 0.00
Community service events this month: 0 0.00
Emergency events this month: 0 0.00
SKYWARN events this month: 1 10.00
Meetings this month: 12 199.00
Unclassified events this month: 0 0.00
Call signs of DECs/ECs reporting:
----------------------------------
K2EJ, K4LIZ, KB2SKP, KB3EOF, KB3KOW, KB3SPH, KB3TVF, KC3SVG, KN3U, N3AE,
N3AWP, NI2W, WX3F
Activity Details:
ALLEGANY COUNTY-------------------------------------------------
Slow in the month of March, have a training planned for the month of
April, tending to some loose ends and repeater work.
CALVERT--------------------------------------------------------
We skipped our March in-person meeting and held a digital training net
instead. Once again, various issues popped up when trying to use
Winlink Packet or VARA FM. The typical problem seems to be with PTT
functionality or with Windows 10/11 updates changing sound card
settings. But all who participated in the net were successful using
MT63-2000L which seems to be a more stable environment with fewer things
to go wrong. There were no Skywarn activation's for southern Maryland
during the reporting period. Our plans for April include a meeting to
brush up on spring/summer storm spotting and to review our hurricane
season staffing plan. Repeaters are 146.985 - ,PL 156.7 in Sunderland,
MD and 444.950 + ,PL156.7 in Lusby MD. These repeaters are now linked,
providing excellent coverage throughout the county and into adjacent
counties. The W3PQS 6M repeater, 53.170 out, 52.170 in, PL 100 has its
transmitter antenna on the roof of the Calvert Health Medical Center in
Prince Frederick with a receive sites at N3AE, N3PPH and W3PQS. This
repeater also supports ARES/RACES in Calvert County. Our monthly
meetings are held at 7pm on the third Wednesday of the month at the
Harriet E. Brown community center, 901 Dares Beach Rd, Prince Frederick,
MD 20678. Our web site is https://auxcomm.k3cal.org/
CAROLINE COUNTY, MD-----------------------------------------
There were three nets. The EARS 2m FM net meets each Tuesday at
8pmm(local) on the club
147.045 MHz repeater (PL Tone 156.7) except
the 3rd Tuesday of each month which is our in-person club meeting. One
in-person/zoom meeting which is our regular club business and training
meeting. One RACES/ARES exercise meeting on the second Tuesday of each
month at the Caroline County EOC at 1930 hours.
CARROLL COUNTY------------------------------------------
Training on the nets this month was using FLMSG to initiate the transfer
and application of Custom Forms. The Carroll EmComm Training net meets
Thursday evening on 145.410 MHz (114.8 Hz) at 7:00 PM for training in
message handling and digital operations using the FLDIGI suite and
Winlink RMS.
CHARLES------------------------------------------------------------
Worked with VarAC software to provide demo to one other person.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-------------------------------------------
Nets are weekly on Mondays at 2000L on the 449.975(-5 MHz PL107.2Hz)
N3ERA DC repeater. W3HAC VE Team is now running in-person exam sessions
bimonthly at the HacDC Maker Space in DC. Our last session was March
16th and the next session is planned for May. Pre-registration is
required at https://hamstudy.org/sessions/W3HAC/all
The K3MRC repeater is still offline, so we're continuing to run our nets
on the N3ERA DC repeater.
Nets are weekly on Mondays at 2000L on the 449.975(-5 MHz PL107.2Hz)
N3ERA DC repeater.
W3HAC club meetings are virtual or hybrid on the 2nd Wednesday of the
month at 2000L
(meet.jit.si/HacDC_Ham_Radio_Club_Meeting).
For more information visit aresdc.org or reach out to K4LIZ@arrl.net.
FREDERICK COUNTY-----------------------------------------------
In addition to the ARES nets this month there were three Winlink
exercises with a request for fast FM downloads via RMS of a General
Message form and reply. Also we exercised 6 meter repeater capability
with members as well as FLDigi capability sending forms and pictures
after two net meetings. The use of my digital signature was also
exercised via Winlink to authenticate official messages successfully. I
like this new format. Thanks for the implementation! 73, Sandy KB3EOF,
EC Frederick County MD
HARFORD COUNTY------------------------------------------------
Hospital work: There are no updates for March.
February update: The University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake in Bel Air
is fully operational. The new hospital will open in Aberdeen on
February 6, 2024. Havre de Grace is to be shut down. The new emergency
manager for UM has been identified, however, the progression of
installation is delayed due to no response yet. We will remove the
repeater from Havre de Grace.
Winlink gateway update: The K2EJ-10 Winlink test gateway is currently
operational at 145.030 MHz. Testing with HF is ongoing.
Peach Bottom Exercise April 16 and 17
Email schedule from Linda: For the EOC exercise demonstration here on
the 16th, we will start around/before 4:00 pm and end around 10:00 pm
(at the latest). For the Out of Sequence Shelter and Reception Center
evaluation, setup begins at 5:00 pm at Harford Tech High School and
Harford Community Colleges APGFCU Center. Well again have dinner
for staff at both locations.
ICS 205 Review: Our document includes those frequencies submitted by
MDEM and our local jurisdiction contact list.
A Go Kit Review Session was scheduled for Saturday, March 23 at 9:00 AM
A roster of participating members will be compiled, and an adjusted
phone tree will be written if a formal alert is required.
A Peach Bottom Operations Checklist was distributed.
An updated phone notification tree was distributed.
Nets are held every second and fourth Tuesday at 7 pm on 146.775 PL
146.2. A FLDigi exercise follows the Second net.
Meetings are held every first Thursday at 7 pm at the Harford County
Department of Emergency Services building at 2220 Ady Rd, Forest Hill,
MD 21050.
Dixon, K3WNS continues to hold his electronics class every other
Wednesday at the EOC. There will be no classes in April.
The Harford County ARES/RACES website is
https://harfordcountymd-ares-races.org/ and contains all the latest
information about the group.
Some ARES/RACES members meet with the local club NEMARC every first
Friday at 8:30 am for breakfast at Bob Evans in Bel Air, MD, across
MD-24 from the Festival at Bel Air.
HOWARD COUNTY------------------------------------------------
In March, Howard County ARES-RACES convened five routine weekly nets and
five digital practice sessions. Our monthly training activity was a
full day Digital Workshop that covered setting up FLdigi and Winlink
(VHF Packet and VARA FM) capabilities.
March 2024 Net, Training and Event Metrics
- Routine Weekly Nets (5): Participants: 8-10; Typical Duration: 20-25
minutes
MONTGOMERY------------------------------------------------
We have two upcoming activities in April: our 2nd Quarter Hospital Drill
on 4/9, and participating in a Red Cross Regional Comm Exercise on 4/27.
Montgomery County ARES meets each Tuesday at 8 PM, usually on the
Montgomery Amateur Radio Club repeater, 146.955- (156.7). On the first
Tuesday of the month, MC ARES and ACS members meet via Zoom in lieu of
the net. Please visit our shared website, MCACS.net, for more
information about our activities.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY----------------------------------
Four weekly (Tuesdays) VHF training nets in March 2024. One High
Frequency Hospital Net (HFHN) held on 3/20/2024. PRGE ARES Web Page:
http://www.pgares.org
PRGE ARES Internet Forum: https://groups.google.com/g/pgares
Nets: Regularly scheduled weekly training VHF nets on the K3ERA
Repeater, 145.23MHz pl 110.9 on Tuesdays at 1930 ET (Echolink node
N3XL-R).
If you would like to be a member of PRGE ARES, send an email request to
Milford-N3WYG, tacjac@verizon.net, to receive a membership application.
The monthly HF Hospital Net is held the Wednesday following the third
Monday of the month on 3820 kHz at 1900 ET.
Meetings: Monthly meeting held the 3rd Monday of the month at the Fire
Services Building, 6820 Webster St, Landover Hills, MD at 1900 or on
Zoom, WX dependent.
Monthly ARES Staff meetings, 1st Tuesday via Zoom.
SAINT MARY'S COUNTY, MARYLAND-------------------------
This month our team participated in our weekly nets and we continue
Testing our gear and checking propagation throughout the county. We are
expanding our knowledge and use of APRS and looking at off-grid
messaging capabilities. We have also begun planning events for the
upcoming year to include exercises with our county representatives. The
STMA ARES Team continues to conduct weekly Nets on 147.390 (+) T123.0 at
1900L on the first, second, and forth Monday of each month. On the 3rd
Monday we hold an in-person meeting at 1900L at the PAX River Air
Museum.
WASHINGTON COUNTY-----------------------------------
Nothing to report
WINLINK REPORT - N3XL
Well done for all those who checked in to the March 2024 MDC Section
WINLINK CHECK-IN exercise! This month there were 35 successful check-ins
with the following breakdown: 6 Packet, 10 VARA HF, 5 Telnet, 12 VARA
FM, Ardop, and 0 Radio-only. The following Maryland counties were
represented: PRINCE GEORGE'S, MONTGOMERY, ST. MARY'S, ANNE ARUNDEL,
CHARLES, CECIL, BALTIMORE, GARRETT, CARROLL, FREDERICK, and CALVERT. We
also had check-ins from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, and
Florida.
In the March MDC EMCOMM CHALLENGE, participants gained familiarity with
the Winlink and Fldigi/FLMSG Radiogram Forms and practiced peer-to-peer
(P2P) messaging using Winlink, VarAC, Fldigi, and the WX3F Winlink
EMCOMM Post Office.
HOMERUNS completing all tasks: AC3EW, KA2JAI, KB3SPH, KD2QAR, KG4K,
N3COB, N3RQV, N3XL
Task 1 Winlink messaging: N1DEC, N3WOF, KN3U, NW3K, W3OBX, WX3F
Task 2 VarAC messaging: KC3SDA, KN3U, N1DEC, N3WOF, NW3K
Task 3 Fldigi messaging: KA2JAI, KB3KOW, N3RDR, WX3F
Task P Preparations: KC3DSO, KC3SDA, KF3AK, W3OBX, KN3U, WB2DCF, N3HU,
N3RDR, N3WOF, N1DEC, KF3AK, KC3WUT, NW3K, WB2DCF, WX3F
73,
Bill N3XL, MDCWINLINK-1
Hamshack Hotline 11002
Cell 240-475-5159
"Learn by doing."
*****************************************
* MDC SECTION TRAFFIC MANAGER'S REPORT W3YVQ
MDC NETS 2403:
MEPN/C2, MARYLAND EMERGENCY PHONE NET, 3820/2200Z-DY
Liaisons: 3RN2/WVA/DTN/MDD/BTN/DTS/WL2K/EL, LSB
MEPN 2403 W3YVQ QND/31 QNI/382 QTC/37 MINS/769
BTN/C4, BALTIMORE TRAFFIC NET, 146.67/107.2/1830L-DY
Liaisons: MEPN/MDD/DTS/WL2K, 6.805/107.2 bu1, 6.67S bu2
BTN 2403 N3FQC QND/31 QNI/329 QTC/26 MINS/519
MDD/C4, MARYLAND/DC/DELAWARE NET, 3557/1900L-2200L-DY
Liaisons: 3RN4/DTN/MEPN/BTN/MSN/DTS/WL2K, CW
MDD 2403 QND/53 QNI/167 QTC/63 MINS/432
MSN, MARYLAND SLOW NET, 3563/1930L-DY TRAINING,
Liaisons: MDD, CW
MSN 2403 N3AEA QND/18 QNI/67 QTC/7 MINS/279
PSHR 2403: W3YVQ 135, NI2W 118, AA3SB 100, WB3FTQ 90, KB3MXK 71;
TFC 2403: AA3SB 81, W3YVQ 48, WB3FTQ 40, NI2W 28,
KB3MXK 11.
==========
HF PROPAGATION FEB 2024
MEPN NVIS propagation was satisfactory in March with signals improving
as sunset approached. Solar cycle 25 continued with increased activity
in March with 50 M-class flares and 2 X-class flares. Blackout
conditions resulted at the sub-solar point during the larger events but
rapid recovery allowed improved propagation (except for several polar
region events that lasted days). The relatively high back-ground C-level
flux decreased to mid-B levels during periods of reduced spots. Signals
early and late on both MDD/4 and 3RN/4 were good throughout the month.
The afternoon MUF for 3,000KM at 2100Z was often above 30MHz. We are
enjoying spring conditions. Check for openings on the upper HF bands
daily. It wont be long before the summer QRN begins to build during
the heat of the day. Enjoy cycle 25 while it lasts! The peak may be in
2024 or 2025. Get those antennas up. Listen for DX. If a band seems
dead, call CQ.
Stations may also use Echolink on the WB3GXW-L conference-server, if
necessary. MEPN representatives check for Echolink check-ins starting at
net call daily via the WB3GXW-L link node (or *WASH_DC*
conference-server backup). The conference-server is available for MEPN,
MDD, BTN, MSN, and 3RN stations during periods of failed propagation.
Sincere thanks to John, WB3GXW, and John, WA3MNN, for continuing to
provide and maintain the WB3GXW-L conference-server we use daily.
DIGITAL MODES
ICS form email-formatted content (upper and lower case letters, figures,
and standard email punctuation symbols), exported from FLmsg(tm) to a
text file, may be attached to a Winlink Radio-email for transport to any
legal client; and that file also may be copied and pasted into a legacy
Radiogram as the text between the Breaks. This creates a Hybrid
Radiogram which may be posted on the RRI/DTN for transport to any legal
Radiogram addressee. The RRI/DTN accepts the email-formatted text in the
Text-block which may be recovered by the addressee for delivery to a
client via digital means. RRI/DTN and WL2K reps regularly attend the
MEPN, BTN, and MDD nets. Emergency communicators, including
ARES(r)/NTS/RACES and ARESMAT, will be using these modern digital modes
to support served agencies and the public. Join up now - before the
emergency happens.
MANNING
We continue to be in need of county liaisons on our nets to accept
incoming welcoming Radiogram messages for newcomers for delivery by
local hams who can help them get started. MEPN is looking for additional
NCS stations and liaisons to MDD. MDD is in need of additional CW
operators for daily NCSs and liaisons to the higher nets. Newcomers are
welcome - we will train you on the job. The daily Maryland Slow Net
(MSN, 3563, 1930L dy) can help you learn net and message skills on CW.
The CW mode is used by both the NTS and RRI nets in the evening cycle.
It is still a highly efficient and effective mode of messaging even
after a century - and every message group is spelled out for you.
- - - - - - - - - -
Thanks to all the Sections traffic-net NCS operators, RRI/DTN and
WL2K stations, liaisons, and traffic handlers for the continuing effort
to keep the nets running and traffic moving.
73, W3YVQ, MDC ASM, STM
w3yvq atsign arrl dot net
******************************************
* TMARC Report
Jan. 2024
Applications in Process:
WA3KOK Received application for 900 pair in Falls Church, Va.
Repeater Inquiries sent to:
Inquiries are sent to sponsors for various reasons: Suspected to be off
the air, clarification of technical parameters (CTCSS, Mode, ERP,
Lat/Long, Antenna AGL, etc.)
Systems are listed here even if a response was received from the sponsor
or not.
Coordinations Cancelled:
Cancelled coordinations can be a result from sponsor relinquishing pair,
repeaters being off the air for extended period of time (where ample
time is given to sponsor to get a system operational), death of sponsor,
system never constructed, etc.
Other:
South Eastern Repeater Assoc.:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 440
Feb. 2024
Applications in Process:
WA3KOK Received application for 900 pair in Falls Church, Va. Sent
notice to
neighboring coordination groups.
Repeater Inquiries sent to:
Inquiries are sent to sponsors for various reasons: Suspected to be off
the air, clarification of technical parameters (CTCSS, Mode, ERP,
Lat/Long, Antenna AGL, etc.)
Systems are listed here even if a response was received from the sponsor
or not.
Coordinations Cancelled:
145.3500- Calvert ARC Prince Frederick, Md.
147.3750- K3UMV (SK) Hagerstown, Md.
224.0600- WA4HIS (SK) Arlington, Va.
444.1500+ WA4HIS (SK) Arlington, Va.
UHF Link SPARC Prince Frederick, Md.
Cancelled coordinations can be a result from sponsor relinquishing pair,
repeaters being off the air for extended period of time (where ample
time is given to sponsor to get a system operational), death of sponsor,
system never constructed, etc.
Other:
South Eastern Repeater Assoc.:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 440
Western Pa. Repeater Council:
Received 1 proposed coordination for 2M
Received 1 proposed coordination for 440
MDC SECTION WEB SITE 