The Ole Virginia Hams is a non-profit Amateur Radio club organized for the educational and scientific study of electronics and communication, and to provide amateur radio communication services for the public.



Never Forget 9-11
The OVH is associated with the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL)


THE MANASSAS HAMFEST
"The Second Sunday in June"
Manassas, Virginia - Hamfest Calendar
14 June 2016
NOTE THE DATE ABOVE FOR THE NEXT MANASSAS HAMFEST

.

 Latest Announcements and Events:

             NEXT REGULAR OVH MEETING: Monday, August 17, 2015 at 19:30 
             at the Manassas City Public Works building, 8500 Public Works
             Drive, Manassas, Virginia. 
         
             The July 2015 OVH Newsletter has  been be posted; its PDF file
             can now be downloaded here under the "About the Club" tab.  

             The Berryville, Virginia hamfest is on Sunday, August 2nd. A
             Flyer for that hamfest is in the July 2015 OVH Newsletter.

             Clarence / K4CNM has organized and announced the next BBHN 
             meeting and workshop for Saturday, August 8, 2015 beginning
             at noon in Manassas. Full details about this free workshop  
             can be downloaded here. Try to attend! This will be an excellent 
             opportunity to learn (more) about BBHN from local experts!

             Notice to all users of OVH's D-STAR repeaters. Due to maintenance
             work on the water tank where the D-Star repeaters are located, the
             OVH's D-Star repeaters are  temporarily out of service, They will 
             remain out of service for several more months, likely until later 
             in the Summer.
             
             The existing User Name / Password information for the Members-Only 
             content on this web site will be changed shortly; the new login 
             info will be provided to members based upon the then current 
             OVH membership roster. Support your club and renew again or join!
             Membership Application and Renewal Forms for 2015 are posted and 
             downloadable on the OVH Membership Application page here. 

             Active OVH members - the Club Members page here has a hyperlink to 
             a "Members Only" web page for which a login is required. That page
             has up-to-date lists of all active members, with detailed contact 
             information for each, collated by FirstName, CallSign, and LastName, 
             making it very easy to find anyone. Log in information is provided 
             to all active members; it is changed each year after the normal time
             for renewal of membership. The "Members Only" web page also includes 
             links to other information of interest and concern to OVH members. 

             New OVH members or members with new email addresses: be sure to 
             register your email address for the "closed" OVH email reflector 
             system. How to do that is explained on the "OVH Nets" page here.
Summary Information for new Visitors
  • Attention: new Visitors to this web site looking for printable summary info.
  • Click here to download PDF file with summary information about the OVH
    • The 2015 OVH/ARRL Field Day Event:
    Sat/Sun June 27-28, 2015
  • The OVH version of ARRL Field Day is always one of the most "fun" OVH club events each year.
  • Save the dates: Saturday / Sunday, June 27 / 28, 2015 and plan to stop by at least part of the time!
  • The venue for this event this year is returning to the Nokesville Park near Nokesville, Virginia.
  • For those not familiar, checkout the ARRL's web site for updated, basic information about Field Day.
  • There are tens of thousands of Field Day participants all over the USA and Canada each year!
  • The Field Day participants seek to make radio contacts with as many other participants as possible.
  • The OVH expects to be operating two stations, W4OVH and a GOTA station throughout Field Day.
  • Look at OVH Newsletters (available under the "About the Club" tab) for July in past years for past FD info.
    • WSPR presentation at 4/2015 Meeting
  • John / KG4NXT gave a presentation about his use of the Rasberry Pi for WSPR communications.
  • WSPR is a very low power digital mode usable on the HF bands, invented by Joe / K1JT.
  • One implementation uses the Rasberry Pi's clock output to generate the low power RF signal.
  • The Rasberry Pi is small computer chip system which is easily custom programmed.
  • Click to download Handout #1 & Handout #2 from John's presentation at the 4/20/2015 meeting.
  • Contact John / KG4NXT directly at kg4nxt@arrl.net for more information about his WSPR system.
    • Training Course for General License &
    VEC Exam Session - all FCC Ham Licenses!
    Tues. Eves 2/24 thru 3/31 in Manassas
  • This course will assist present holders of the Technican Class FCC license to upgrade to General.
  • The General Class FCC license provides HF band privileges not available to Technican Licensees.
  • The Classes will meet 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm on each of four Tuesday Evenings in Manassas.
  • Classes will be held on 2/24/2015, 3/3/2015, 3/10/2015, and 3/24/2015 in Manassas, Virginia.
  • Classes will be held at the Manassas City Public Works building, 8500 Public Works Drive, Manassas.
  • Last OVH course given: everyone who attended and took the VEC exam received his/her license!
  • A VEC Exam Session for the Class attendees is scheduled for 3/31/2015 at 7:00 pm, same place.
  • The VEC Session will be open to walk-ins, space available or reserved for all FCC ham radio exams.
  • Check in in advance with Mark / WA4KFZ or John / KG4NXT if you wish to take a walk-in VEC exam.
  • Click here for a PDF brochure for this "free" General Class FCC license course and the VEC exam.
  • Contact Mark / WA4KFZ at email wa4kfz@cox.net for more information and details.
    • Activities of the PWC-BBHN Committee
  • The Prince William County - Broad Band Ham Net (PWC-BBHN) Committee is now active.
  • The Committee is exploring establishing a broad band ham network for Prince William County.
  • A PDF file of the minutes of its meeting on January 13, 2015 may be downloaded here.
  • Additional meetings and activites are currently scheduled for 3/28/2015 and 4/4/2015.
  • The 3/28/2015 meeting will be a workshop at the Potomac Library Community Room in Woodbridge.
  • The workshop will deal with hardware / software aspects of adapting wireless routers for BBHN use.
  • Contact Clarence / K4CNM at email: cmeese@comcast.net for additional info and updates.
    • Special Event Callsign - N4H - to be
    used by the GOTA station at the 2014
    OVH / ARRL Field Day Event & at the
    Prince William County Fair in August
  • The callsign N4H will be used by the GOTA station at the 2014 OVH / ARRL Field Day in June.
  • That callsign will also be used by the station at the 2014 Prince William County Fair in August.
  • A special QSL card will be issued for all contacts with N4H during either of these events!
  • This special event callsign was used during the 40th Manassas Hamfest held on June 8th.
    Successful 40th Manassas Hamfest
    was held on June 8th, 2014
  • A very successful 40th OVH Manassas Hamfest was held on Sunday, June 8th!
  • Attendance was up from recent years as was the number FleaMarket Tailgaters.
  • The commercial vendors all reported good sales activity and lots of interest.
  • Each Forum / Special Event Seminar was well attended - more will be held next year.
  • The Youth Lounge activity attracted more youngsters than last year, lot of learning fun.
  • The VEC Exam program is very popular - many new Ham Licenses / Upgrades obtained.
  • Many attendees thanked the OVH, saying the Manassas Hamfest is one of best around!
  • Planning is already underway for an even better 41st Manassas Hamfest on June 15, 2015.
    • Training Course for Technician License &
    VEC Exam Session - all FCC Ham Licenses!
  • This course will assist individuals in obtaining their first amateur radio FCC Licenses.
  • The course is scheduled on four Tuesday evenings in February and March from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
  • The specific days for the class: February 4, February 18, February 25 and March 18, 2014.
  • Classes will be held at the Red Cross Operations Center, 9930 Liberia Avenue, Manassas, Virginia.
  • If you are interested in getting your license, contact Mark, WA4KFZ at wa4kfz@cox.net for more info.
  • VEC Exam Session (all FCC Amateur Radio Licenses) is scheduled for the evening of March 25th.
  • VEC Session is open to walk-ins, space available - but check in advance with Mark or John / KG4NXT.
  • Click here to download a PDF brochure with more info about this Technician license course!
  • Last course: everyone who attended and took the VEC exam received at least a Technician license!
    • Slides from Mark / WA4FKZ's AMRAD Meeting
    Presentation About Printed Circuit Boards!
  • Mark / WA4KFZ gave a presentation on Printed Circuit Boards at the Sept. 19, 2013 AMRAD meeting.
  • His slides contain useful and helpful information for those interested in printed circuit board fabrication.
  • You can download a PDF copy of Mark's AMRAD presentation on Printed Circuit Boards here.
    • HF Digital Mode - JT65A - presentation
    by Terry / WA5NTI on 7/15/2013
  • JT-65A is a minimalist digital mode used on the HF bands, very popular & lots of operators.
  • Terry / WA5NTI gave an excellent presentation about JT65A at the 7/15/2013 OVH meeting.
  • A copy of Terry's one page handout at the meeting can be downloaded here.
  • Click here to download the full set of Terry's PowerPoint slides (4.2 Mb) for the presentation.
    DSTAR Forum Presentation given at the
    39th Manassas Hamfest!
  • Mark / WA4KFZ prepared an excellent tutorial on DSTAR basics using Powerpoint
  • Mark presented this tutorial at the DSTAR Forum at the 39th Manassas Hamfest on June 9, 2013
  • If you weren't able to attend the Forum, you can download a PDF of Mark's presentation here.
    HSMM Presentation by Bill Fenn / N4TS at
    the 2/18/2013 OVH Meeting!
  • Bill Fenn / N4TS from AMRAD gave a short presentation about HSMM at the 2/19/2013 OVH Meeting
  • HSMM is a high speed mesh network system which can be implemented with off the shelf routers
  • Custom HSMM software (open source) is also required to implement such a system.
  • Ham radio operators have been experimenting with HSMM systems for about 10 years.
  • Download here a PDF file (1.5Mb) of N4TS's Powerpoint slides for his 2/18/2013 presentation.
  • Download here a PDF file (4.4Mb) of an earlier talk (by K7GJT) with links to many HSMM resources.
    • Low Cost Software Defined Radio Presentation
    by Mark/WA4KFZ at 11/19/2012 OVH Meeting!
  • Download here a PDF file of Mark's Powerpoint slides for his presentation.
  • Contact Mark, WA4KFZ at wa4kfz@cox.net with questions or for more information.

    • Prince William County Fleet Watch/Neighborhood Watch information
    and the "McGruff Speaks / Watchdog Observer" newsletter, click HERE.

    Also Prince William County Commuter Lot Watch, info HERE

    OVH LOGO, What's your choice?
    Do you prefer The Pig?
    or our Historic Letterhead?
    Something different?
    Make you feelings known at the next OVH Meeting


    OVH Club History
  • See this great picture from the OVH of 1958
  • See if you recognize anyone,
    let us know if you do!

    • Click here to see OVH 1958 1/3 size picture
    Click here to see OVH 1958 full size picture


    OVH Newsletter "Ole Virginia Times" Now on the OVH WEB!
  • Click the "About the Club" link in the frame at the left.


    • Remembering Harry Vorhauer, W4PVA (sk)

    OVH Event Hats Now Available
    Perfect for Hamfest or Field Day
    Thanks to Kittiz Kreations Embroidery
  • Special pricing of $15 per hat
  • In Neon Green for stand-out consistency
  • Fine quality embroidery; no silk-screening
  • Kittiz Kreations supports the Manassas Hamfest


    • To order OVH Hats, with either the identifier "STAFF" or your callsign,
    send e-mail to Bill, N4SV at n4sv@arrl.net


    Example Hat
              Example Logo



    Here are other examples of Kittiz Kreations fine embrodiery work
  • Both OVH logos on file
  • Many other fine apparel products available from her catalog at www.accinfo.com




    • BPL CLEARINGHOUSE
    Broadband over Power Lines
    Facts, figures, photos and general info
    Links to BPL info, articles on BPL
    Sample letters you should consider
    sending to congress and city/BPL officials
    BPL CLEARINGHOUSE Enter here.


    VHF/UHF Operation New to You?
    Check these suggested operating practices.


    Interested in PSK-31?
    Take a look at Karl, W4KRL's
    informative presentation.
  • Created for the OVH license training class
  • Informative for the novice or experienced PSK-31 user
  • View his PowerPoint presentation here



    • Excellent 802.xx and WiFi Primer
    Thanks to David, KI4AZX, for finding it. Read it here


    The Missing Q Signals?
    Good for a chuckle :-)


    RVARC - Worked All Virginia Award
  • Rappahannock Valley Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring
    the Worked All Virginia award. Click Here


    Excellent article by Karl, W4KRL, on using a
    Sound Card Interface to do VHF Packet!
    Read this fine article here.


    802.11b
    An exciting example of this
    wireless technology in action.

  • See a Point-to-Point 802.11b link in the
    world's worst weather conditions on
    Mount Washington, New Hampshire!



    • Can you assist in the D.A.R.E. program?

  • D.A.R.E. is the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
  • It's goal is to keep kids from getting involved in illegal drugs.
  • Visit the D.A.R.E. web site for more info on D.A.R.E


    Great basic Packet information can be found at
                                      T.A.P.R
    (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) Virtual Library!  Check it out.


    ARRL National Traffic System RadioGram Forms
    Available here to download    Radiogram #1  Radiogram #2


    Check out all of the New PSK31 links in HAMLINKS
  • See info on hardware (RGIBlaster and Warbler and more)

  • and software (DigiPan and WINPSK and more) for PSK31 fun



    •   Want to build a J-Pole antenna?
     Check the following link provided by Art W1CRO:    1.


    F.A.R. Sponsors Many
    College Scholarships for HAMS!
  •   Click here for details.



    • Check the University of Arkansas Callsign Lookup database
    for that new upgrade!!
  • Updated every morning!  
    • Click here!


    Need to translate from one language to another? Try Google Translate.


    Please email constructive suggestions or criticisms to the site webmaster.


    Click for Manassas, Virginia Forecast





    © Ole Virginia Hams Amateur Radio Club, Inc. 2014 or earlier. All rights reserved.