On April 18, 2026, W4OVH conducted our second exam session this year using the new ExamTools online system. Everything went smoothly and we added two new ham radio operators to our hobby! We also had our first opportunity to offer an exam to a 12-year-old and submit an “ARRL Youth Licensing Grant Program” application. This ARRL program reimburses the $35 FCC application fee, encouraging those under 18 years of age to become newly licensed hams. The 12-year-old earned his Technician class license. Four applicants were present at the exam session. Two new Technician Class licenses were earned and two hams qualified for an upgrade to General Class. Holding VE sessions in-person provides valuable face-to-face engagement with prospective members, allowing them to learn more about the club and its activities. All the applicants … Read more >>
Regretfully, Art/W1CRO has passed. His widow Hajia is selling his equipment which had accumulated over his lifetime.
There is a lot of stuff. The link for the pictures:
https://www.k4gvt.com/w1cro/index.html
The sale is on Saturday April 25 at 8:30 AM to noon at 12212 Woodlark Ct, Manassas.
President’s Letter – April 2026 Welcome to spring ! As it gets warmer, we get closer to our two big events of the OVH year: Hamfest and Field day. As you all know, Hamfest is our only fund raiser and we got bills to pay. For the first time, we are having Hamfest at Colgan High School which has loads of parking. We are having a combined Hamfest and Field day planning meeting on Monday April 27 at Hog Shack 10470 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA at 6 pm. Please come and help us with these events. We have been working on publicizing our hamfest by distributing flyers at the Middle Peninsula hamfest, the Vienna Hamfest and Thawfest Hamfest. Here is George K4GVT at our table at Junk in the Trunk: … Read more >>
OVH went to Winterfest which is also know as the Vienna hamfest. They again had it at the Oakton high school and all tables were sold out. Unlike other hamfests, this is a BYOC event where you have to bring your own chairs. OVH had a table and distributed flyers to our upcoming hamfest in June. George K4GVT distributed flyers in the tailgate area and also in the inside. Theresa KG4TVM also distributed flyers inside. There were a number of OVH members including Bill AF4LL, Jim KM4SXM, Gil KM4OZH, Bruce KG4DGX and Karl W4KRL. This is probably the last time we will see Bill since he has taken a job in Kentucky. He has helped a lot with contacts on field day. The food prices were impressive – $4 for … Read more >>
In his own words: We did it our first POTA activation on our own. Ev was great support staff, Ev gave me encouragement to continue when we couldn’t find the first POTA spot, Ev suggested we go to another, that worked out for us. 13 contacts, possible more but we had a time constraint. Thank you John and Theresa for your mentorship Click the picture for more pictures.
On February 28 2026, OVH had its first in-person, all-electronic VE exam using the ExamTools system. We provided tests to four applicants, and everyone went home a winner. We now have one new Technician Class operator and three new General Class operators in our region. Grading exams is a cinch since we no longer must use the blue templates and pencil-checking approach. The computer system does everything for us! This makes the process effortless (for the VE team) when an applicant wants to attempt the next exam element for the same $15 exam fee. Three applicants paid in cash and one paid using a PayPal Pool account. When the ARRL opens on Monday, I will upload the Zip file containing all the exam information and make payment for the candidate testing … Read more >>
On Feb 7, 2026, Theresa, KG4TVM, and John, KG4NXT, went to the Middle Peninsula Hamfest in Gloucester, Virginia. The weather was very cold and we had swirling snow that seriously obstructed our vision. We had a table and our primary purpose was to distribute OVH tailgate flyers, which we did. Ron, K3FR, attended too and had an IC-7100 with original box and manuals for sale. Ron got an offer but did not take it. We will be happy to take any other consignment items to Winterfest. We do not charge a consignment fee. Someone gave John a low power Dentron tuner. Scott KE4WMF is a VHF limited rover contestant like Gil KM4OZH. Scott parked his car with antenna farm in full bloom. He also gave a presentation on the evolution … Read more >>
Seasons greetings from KM4OZH. It’s time for parties with friends and family. Speaking of parties, Theresa and John hosted the OVH wingding at their home. An enjoyable evening, with plenty of great food and some surprise attendees. Many thanks Theresa ,well done. Best wishes for speedy recoveries to James KQ4CAX, Al KB4BHB and Ken KN4DD. Radiowise, this is a quiet month for me. In preparation for the January VHF contest I practiced and became more familiar with meteor scatter operation, Using the MSK144 mode I successfully made numerous contacts to the West and Midwest. Learning from seasoned VHF contesters, meteor scatter contacts can provide much needed distant Grid Square multipliers from late night operations. VHF contacts are scarce so another means of making contacts is welcome. … Read more >>