OVH VE Exam

Al, KB4BHB, assists during the exam session

On March 14, 2020,  OVH held a VE session.   We had a host of people from Maryland and Arlington because several other VE sessions had been cancelled.    We had 17 candidates and they earned 10 new technician , 1 new general and 3 new extra licenses.  One fellow went from no license to Extra.  Three candidates did not earn a new license.   The VEs assisting were John, KG4NXT; Al, KB4BHB; Chick, KC1PIA;  Luther, WA3FMO;  Steve, N4OGR; Steve, KB4OF; Mark , WA4KFZ;  George, K4GVT; Byron, AK4XR;  and Ray , KM4EKR.

New 224 OVH Repeater

New 224 Repeater

New 224 Repeater
New 224 Repeater

Our technical committee has installed a new repeater at NOVEC. This is a replacement of the oldest OVH repeater and will give us lots more connectivity for the 224.66 machine. It is now linking to the 146.97 repeater during the Thursday night net instead of the 442.200 repeater. Ken, KE2N, gave us a presentation at the February OVH meeting.
Click here for a more details on the new 224 repeater.

OVH does Frostfest 2020

Theresa, KG4TVM, and Don, WA2SWX, at the OVH Frostfest Table

OVH had a table at Frostfest 2020. We handed out Manassas hamfest flyers and there were only 4 left at the end of Frostfest. Theresa, KG4NXT, and Don, WA2SWX, also gave each vendor a flyer. Theresa chatted up the vendors to try to get them to our hamfest. John, KG4NXT, sat on his butt and handed out flyers and answered questions at the OVH table. Other OVH members seen at Frostfest were Stu, W4PR, Ray, KMK4EKR, Sandy, KM4JUS, Ken, KD4VA , Kevin KX4KU and Mark, WA4KFZ.

OVH article in Prince William Living

The online magazine Prince William Living ran an article entitled  “Ole Virginia Hams: Supporting Our Community Through Amateur Radio” on November 30, 2019.   The article contained many favorable references to the Ole Virginia Hams and ARES.  Many of the quotes were provided by Jeff Fuller,  WB6UIE,  who worked with the magazine on the article.    The article can be found at https://princewilliamliving.com/ole-virginia-hams-supporting-our-community-through-amateur-radio/  

OVH Member scores HIGH on June VHF Contest

Gil with 80 M mobile for VAQP

Our own Gil Thompson, KM4OZH, came in second as a Limited Rover in our Roanoke division.   The Roanoke division consists of the states of Virginia, West Virginia,  North Carolina and South Carolina.   In addition, Gil came in fifth in the Southeast Region which consists of Delta, Roanoke and Southeast Divisions of the ARRL.   You can find him listed as KM4OZH/R on page 80 of the December 2019 QST. A Limited Rover is limited to the lowest four bands  – 6M, 2M ,  220 and 440.   In addition,  a Limited Rover has the same power limits as the single operator low power category: 200 watts on 6M and 2M and 100 watts on 220 and 440. Gil also operated in the September VHF contest and expects to place high in that … Read more >>

JOTA – Jamboree on the Air

Cat, KM4PBD, supervises morse code practice

On October 19,  OVH supported the JOTA event at Camp Snyder in Haymarket.   Modes included: DStar, 2 meter FM,  FT8,   HF SSB and  QRP SSB on a loop.   Scouts contacted Germany, France, Portugal and Belgium as well as many stations in the U.S.   We also had an oscilloscope on display and morse code keys with sound for the scouts. Duane, KK4BZ,  was on horseback in the battle field and worked many of our scouts on 2 meters.   We do not get a lot of horseback mobiles ! Scout Leader  Rob, W4FSK,  is a member of our club and was our sponsor at Camp Snyder.   We got a scout lunch of hot dogs and baked beans.   Participants included  Rob, W4FSK;  Al,  KB4BHB; Don, WA2SWX;  Duane,  KK4BZ;  Theresa , KG4TVM;  Cat , … Read more >>

Informal Club Shoot

OVH shooters

On October 14, 2019,  a number of club members went target shooting together at the Fairfax Rod and Gun Club.  Since this club is only open to members and guests,  two OVH members who are also gun club members sponsored the rest of us as guests.  Thanks very much George, K4GVT and Phil, AC4PL.   The event was thought up and organized by Cat, KM4PBD. The gun club has several ranges.  We were at one that had a 220 yard rifle range as well as a pistol range and a .22 range.    The 220 range had reactive steel plate targets that fell over as we shot them.   The pistol range also had reactive steel circles that could be reset at the pull of a rope. George, K4GVT, brought his tracking … Read more >>