April 28th, 2006 - Iain McFadyen, KI4HLV, G4JMM, “Adventures in the Red Cross Emergency Communications Vehicle: from the Virginia QSO Party to the Great State of Texas.”
Notes Posted By Len Hook on May 1st, 2006
VWS Meeting, Friday, April 28, 2006, Vienna Elementary School
Featured Speaker: Iain McFadyen, KI4HLV, G4JMM
Ray Albers, K2HYD, President, presiding.
Attendees: 36
First-time Visitors: Welcome Bruce Ferratt, K4BOF, Fairfax, VA; and Rich Di Donna, NN3W, Vienna, VA.
Refreshments: Thanks to John Birch, KA4YMA. May 12 meeting, Dan Sullivan, KO1D.
Announcements.
Ray, K2HYD – VWS is offering various coax cables and assorted cables from the estate of Bernie Stuecker, K4XY, SK. Proceeds are for his XYL, Barbara.
Byron Black, W4SSY – offering various used equipment for free to the first takers.
Reports.
Len Hook, KG6ZR. Minutes of Apr. 14, 2006 meeting. Approved.
Pete Norloff, KG4OJT. QRPTTF on schedule beginning at 0800 at Freedom Hill Park.
VWS is accepting donations for the American Heart Assoc. on behalf of Bernie Stuecker, K4XY, SK.
Maria Norton, KG4JBJ, will be running in the April 30 Vienna “Fun Run” for the Vienna, VA PTA.
Jim Richey, AG4MA, procured 500 ARRL “Hello” handouts to be distributed at the Fun Run. Also, the excellent artwork of Darren Cubell, N4VVV, will appear on the runners’ T-shirts.
Bernie’s K4XY Callsign Now Memorialized at VWS .
Pete, KG4OJT, reports that VWS will receive Bernie Stuecker’s callsign, K4XY. Barbara Stuecker told VWS that her family members did not plan to keep the callsign, and they wanted VWS to have it. The paperwork for the transfer has begun and VWS plans to use K4XY for the 440 repeater and also for Field Day “GOTA” and other special events. The VWS K4HTA callsign, originally belonging to Past President Al Valliere, SK, will continue to be our flagship callsign.
Treasurer’s Report.
Pete, KG4OJT, gave a detailed treasurer’s report, showing that our proposed budget for 2006 and year-to-date expenditures match closely. He predicts an end-of-year deficit of only $177, owing to better than expected Winterfest 2006 revenues.
Ray Albers, K2HYD – reported progress on the repair of the 2-m repeater antenna. John, KA4YMA climbed the tower and took photos and made measurements. VWS is planning to repair the existing antenna and then re-install it, possibly with a longer mast. We may have assistance from Charles Crizer on installation and hard-line. More details to follow in the coming days and weeks.
VWS Nets.
2-m Monday Night Net. 8 PM. Pete, KG4OJT, Net Control. 146.685-
Digital Net, Tuesdays, 8 PM. Tom, N4ZPT, Net Control. 3578 MHz, USB 1000 Hz offset
10-m Pow-Wow Net, Thursdays, 8:30 PM, Mike AE4R, Net Control. 28.444 MHz USB. AM on 1st Thursday of the month.
Old Business.
Kerry Kingham, WA4BQM, is editing the next edition of Leading Edge. He is also soliciting manuscripts to be included in the next edition.
New Business.
Ray, K2HYD reports that Ben Gelb, KF4KJQ will be VWS Field Day Chairman for 2006. Ben is planning for VWS to operate as 4A, plus a VHF-UHF station. The GOTA station will include digital modes, and the station will be operated primarily by members of the Thomas Jefferson ARC.
Pete, KG4OJT reports that VWS will stage a fox hunt on Saturday, May 13, starting at approx 2 PM after the conclusion of the local QCWA meeting at lunch-time. Starting location TBA.
Alan, KO4ALA announced that the TJ club is planning an antenna-raising party in May. They plan to install a new rotor on the yagi’s 40-ft tower, plus a new wire antenna. All volunteers are welcome to join in.
Tonight’s Featured Speaker.
Iain McFadyen, KI4HLV, G4JMM, of the Vienna Wireless Society, and AMRAD.
Topic, “Adventures in the Red Cross Communications Vehicle: from the Virginia QSO Party to the Great State of Texas.”
Iain gave an informative and entertaining Powerpoint presentation on the operations of W4CIA/mobile in the recent Virginia QSO Party held on the weekend of Mar. 18-19, 2006. Iain, KI4HLV, concentrated on 440 MHz operations, while Mike Davis, KF4PPF, handled the 2-m operations. The equipment in the American Red Cross Emergency Comm Vehicle (Ford Excursion) included an ICOM IC-706 MkIIG, Kenwood TS-2000, Yaesu FT-7800 and yagis for 144 MHz (7 ele.) and 440 (22 ele.) mounted on a 52-foot telescoping mast. They were QRV at scenic Massanutten Mountain near Luray, overlooking the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Iain and Mike operated as a mobile station from the following Virginia counties: Clarke, Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, and Page, making 188 total FM QSOs in two states and 23 counties and cities.
Iain recently drove the Red Cross Comm Vehicle from Washington, DC to Texas to have it re-fitted and checked out at the National Red Cross Disaster Communication Warehouse, a 68,000 sq. foot facility located in Austin. This facility provides all the necessary Red Cross communications gear used each year in disaster relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina. All ten of the Red Cross’ Emergency Comm Vehicles were brought in for service. Iain ran a 350-mw APRS transponder that fed its signal to a 50-watt Kenwood TM D-700 digipeater (courtesy of N4ZPT) so that his progress could be tracked by friends and colleagues.
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