This is a collection of stories and photos of OVH members during the QSO party. We do not have all of the stories. If you would like your story to be added, please e-mail it to KG4NXT@ARRL.NET. First , our two oldest members operated together. Al, KB4BHB, and Chick, KC1PIA, operated from Al’s house using a 100 watt 2m amp and HF random wire. These guys were both born in 1933 and did a fine job. Next, John, KG4NXT, and Theresa operated from a state park cabin at Lake Anna. John managed to forget a jumper with pl-259 connectors on both ends. He did have a coax with one pl-259. He managed a field expedient for the other end – see photo below. John operated Digital on JS8 mode and submitted a digital log – no digital logs were submitted… Read more »
For our cancelled March meeting, Jim Stanley was scheduled to give us a briefing on the Virginia Defense Force. Jim is a Major in the VDF and is also KM4BID. We hope to be able to reschedule his presentation at some time in the future. In the meantime, Jim has sent us his briefing slides. Click here to view the VDF slides
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.
Ladies and Gentlemen, COVID-19 has been confirmed in Prince William County. County officals have canceled all events at county facilities until further notice. In light of this, and to protect everyone’s health; it has been decided that the March meeting has been cancelled. We will continue to plan on having the April meeting as normal and will make any changes as we know how this unfolds. Stay safe. 73 Jay NQ4T
This week we’re experiencing a few days of spring like weather and the ionosphere is teasing us with occasional HF openings into Europe and hopes for an increase in the sunspot number. Speaking of HF, this spring marks another anniversary in radio history. In spring of 1956, Air Force General Curtis LeMay led a flight of several aircraft half way around the world while maintaining continuous HF SSB communications with several Strategic Air Command (SAC) ground stations. Why? As commander of SAC’s newly minted nuclear bomber force, LeMay needed a way to guarantee continuous command and control of his forces. Smaller fuselage designs of faster jet bombers meant smaller crews and no room for a Morse operator. AM’s noise vulnerability and poor talk power weren’t going to hack it. What to do? SSB (single sideband) offers a big improvement in… Read more »
Rack of OVH equipment at Mt. Pone
Many of us never have seen our Mt. Pone repeater site which hosts our 2M FM, 440 Fusion, our internet link to comcast and our 5 gig internet connection to the other OVH site, NOVEC. Ken, KE2N, has some picture for us of the Mt. Pont equipment including antennas and the shack complete with labels. Click here for repeater pictures
New 224 Repeater
It seems our recruiting efforts have been paying off with several new members joining the club recently. When you see them at a meeting or club function, please take a minute to introduce yourself and welcome them to OVH. Club recognition has definitely helped our recruiting. So, as spring approaches with Hamfest and other activities, this would be a good time to order your club nametag and polo, if you don’t already have them. Nametags may be ordered from: http://www.thesignman.com/clubs/ovhcart.html I have club polos in stock which can be customized locally with your name and callsign. Email me your size. This month in radio history … A February 1902 Scientific American article on building a simple wireless station[1]is credited with bringing the first amateur radio to the U.S.[2] This year’s Virginia QSO Party,… Read more »