Radio Event

Pinkie’s Corner

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Hello everyone! Pinkie here! It’s been a long time since I wrote to my fellow “hams”. I have missed  everyone! Our activities have been limited this year as we all weather the COVID crisis. I sensed that Jeff was experiencing a little  too much cabin fever being cooped in his basement workshop (right), so I sent him outside with Peaches to watch for Santa! Peaches finally complained that she was freezing, and so they came inside! (Peaches was so disappointed that she didn’t see Santa!) Hmm … I needed a project to keep Jeff from going claustrophobic in the Bat Cave. Aha! Where’s that vacuum cleaner that needed fixing? Uh oh … I should  have been warned  when I saw his fascination with the news about the guy in the … Read more >>

Scouts On The Air

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Ken KN4DD sets up a 2 meter contact for a scout

On Saturday, October 17, OVH ran Jamboree-on-the-Air (or JOTA) at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, VA.  One of our members , ROB (W4FSK) was our liaison with the scout camp and was also in charge of the camp that day.  We had a troop of boys, a second one of girls and a third troop of Muslim boys. Rob estimates the OVH volunteers worked with about 50 scouts and their leaders, just at Camp Snyder. The scouts that made contacts were given signed contact cards that they can then use for partial credit for several merit badges. John (KG4NXT) brought his IC-7610 so we could have a digital station and both Al, (KB4BHB) and “The Other Ken” (KN4DD) brought their 2 meter mobile stations. The digital station ran FT8 and worked … Read more >>

Pinkie’s Corner

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Hello everyone!  It’s that time of year again!  Time to enjoy all the holiday festivities, and also to reflect on all the events of the past year. The club had an outstanding Hamfest in June!  It was one of the best.  We had a new location and everything worked out great! The weather was good for the Christmas parade.  It was a bit cold and windy, but it wasn’t snowing! I got to “ham it up” and wave my little arms off!  A good time was had by all! Our holiday party was a smashing success thanks to Theresa’s hard work and phenomenal planning skills! She’s wonderful at pulling these events together! She created and awarded trophies and certificates to John, Jeff, Don, Wayne, Gil, Byron and Cat for their … Read more >>

JOTA – Jamboree on the Air

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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 >>

UPCOMING HALF MARATHON

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Byron (AK4XR) and Duane (KK4BZ) at Deep Cut turnaround

On Sunday, September 29,   the OVH will again be running communications for the 4th Annual Prince William Half Marathon.    Last year,  the race had 1400 runners and an additional 500 runners for an included 5K race.    The OVH had 18 members participating.     The event can be done either with a 2 meter handheld or with a mobile.   Loaners are available.   Please save the date and volunteer to Wayne Phillips , N7QLK at (571) 237-0520 or at w99phi@gmail.com.

JOTA – Jamboree on the air

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Camp Synder JOTA tent 1

On Saturday Oct 20,  OVH members assisted with JOTA at Camp Snyder in Haymarket. On site members were Al, KB4BHB, Wayne, N7QLK, Megan Phillips (no call yet),  Don, WA2SWX,  Ron, N4RDZ (visiting from Seattle),  Theresa, KG4TVM, Bruce, KN4GDX and John , KG4NXT.  We also had club members contact our JOTA site and talk to our scouts on the air including David, KG4GIY, Charlie , W4YGI (using our repeater’s internet link from Lake Anna) ,  Ogre,  N4OGR, and Jan, KE4TMW. At our next regular meeting,  Rob, W4SFK , will present  a JOTA report in more detail. If   JOTA participant was missed, please contact  John , KG4NXT, and a correction will be made.

Pinkie’s Corner

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Pinkie Pig here!  The last few weeks have been rather hectic.  The hams have been assisting at various events around the area, and then there was Hamfest! We had a light turn-out at the May meeting.  Don M. gave a great presentation on UBITX, which went right over my little pink head. So, don’t ask me any questions!  (I thought it was a new breed of dog, but what do I know?   I’m only a pig!)  Peaches did not attend, as usual.  It was raining, and I think she’s afraid of rain!  Perhaps it was for the best because I heard some talk about “bacon”! We also read in another club member for my fan club! Hamfest was upon us before I could pry Peaches off the couch.  The day … Read more >>

W4OVH and Friends at 2018 Warrior Bike Ride

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Wow… it has been a very busy weekend over the 5-6 May Saturday and Sunday! First the outstanding Manassas Air Show and W4OVH attending to promote our Amateur Radio activities on Saturday, coordinated by Kevin Utzy and then the 2018 Inaugural Warrior Bike Ride on Sunday. The 2018 Warrior Bike Ride was hosted by the Serve Our Willing Warriors (SOWW) organization which does such outstanding work in providing a much-needed break for our recovering service members at military hospitals in the National Capital Region.  The average hospital stay is 300 days!  The exhausting, daily routine of surgeries, procedures, therapies, and doctor appointments takes a heavy toll on everyone involved. SOWW provides their Retreat, where our “Willing Warriors” can get away from the hospital environment with family, caretakers, and friends to relax, … Read more >>