Mini LiFePO4’s

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My 4.5 Ah mini LiFePO4 and fused cable. (The battery came with Power Pole output connector.)

If you’ve joined us in supporting Tri It Now and larger events, you’ve probably realized that the medium power setting on your HT (typically around 2 Watts)isn’t quite enough to provide reliable comms over the entire course. This is especially true if you’re using the short ducky antenna which came with it. How to improve coverage? Going with a larger antenna and/or adding a “tiger tail” counterpoise is one solution. Bill, K5AE has an excellent video on the topic at tiger tail tail video Or, you can up the power to 5 watts. This usually means buying a larger battery for your HT if you want a useful amount of talk time. If you’ve tried that option, here’s hoping you’ve had better luck than I did. Most of my my … Read more >>

OVH Member Ranks High in ARRL Grid Chase

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Grid Chase Leader Board

Ham radio divides the world into Maidenhead grids defined by latitude and Longitude.  For example,  Manassas is in grid square FM18.  If you look up your own callsign in QRZ, you can find your grid square in the detail tab. ARRL is running a contest to see who can contact and confirm the most grid squares.   This is done by confirming contacts via Logbook of the world.   If you have confirmed contacts in LOTW this year, you will be ranked. OVH Member Jeff Fladling, KM4FTK, has been actively working this contest and now is ranked 10th in Virginia !    He has 776 unique grids confirmed and 3338 QSOS.  Congratulations Jeff !!! The easiest way to accumulate grid squares is the new FT8 mode.    If any one wants assistance … Read more >>

Antenna Down – No Problem

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NQ4T new antenna

Jay Moore, NQ4T,  has his antenna blown down in the windstorms of last spring and was unable to participate in the 13 colonies contest.  Since then, he has put up a doublet and is back on the air with  a vengeance.   With 100 watts from an IC-7300, he has worked Oman on FT8 and Moscow on phone.  Here is the link for a recording of his Moscow QSO. http://w4ovh.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/rz3ah.mp3 This is a picture of his new antenna.   

VP’s Corner

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MOLLE vest fully equipped

To those of you who, although new to both our hobby and the club, have already volunteered for ARES, TriItNow, and several other public service events, a hearty Welcome Aboard! By now you’re no doubt familiar with the yellow mesh ARES vests. They’re great for making you nice and visible to race participants and traffic while you’re out there with your HT. But .. where are the pockets? Where will you put your gear should you deploy in support of a real emergency? Here’s one solution. It’s a rugged vest with MOLLE loops from Canadian company Duty Apparel. Their compatible MOLLE pouches are ideal for your HT, water, and other gear from your ARES go kit (right). The rear panel needed for ARES ID (top right) is easily added either … Read more >>

13 Colonies Special Event

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13 Colonies Certificate for KB4BHB

The 13 Colonies special event is a contest for hams to contact special event stations in each of the 13 colonies.   Appropriately, the contest ran from July 1 to July 7 , which includes Independence Day.    Each state has a special 1 by 1 call.  For example,  Virginia was K2B.  The idea is to contact all 13 stations for a ‘sweep’.   The contest is on all bands  and all modes.  This was the 10th year the contest has run. For the Olde Virginia Hams,  the first known sweep was by Gil KM4OZH, who finished his in two days.   Other OVH members participating were Al, KB4BHB,   Wayne , N7QLK,  John,  KG4NXT, and David, KK4ZUU.   If  any one was missed,  contact KG4NXT  and we will correct the web article.   We should … Read more >>

VP’s Corner

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Congratulations to the OVH team for another successful Field Day. In true ham spirit, you braved thunderstorms and torrential rains along with high winds which sent your tent tumbling. And, as if that weren’t enough, you added a fox hunt to the activities and managed to fit in a briefing for a couple of ARRL VIPs. Well done! Of course Field Day is more than just a chance to enjoy some outdoor contesting. It’s good training for our role in supporting disaster communications. Some of us still get kidding from friends and family when we tell them about this role. After all, everybody has a cell phone now, so nobody needs ham radio. But just how resilient is all that modern hardware? Well … here’s some fodder from recent events … Read more >>

Ole Virginia Hams Overcome Rainy Field Day

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Cat's triumphant return with the fox

As field day approached,  all eyes were on the weather forecasts  and the forecasts were not good.    On Friday, the rain let up about 1 pm but started again when we gathered at the park to slingshot lines for the antennas.   We proceeded and got all the lines shot with the loss of only two weights,   The rain actually helped a bit here because the  school kids at the site stayed under the pavilion which made it safe for some of the near shots. As we gathered Saturday morning for setup,  the rain held off for a time.   We had another challenge since Bill South, N4SV, had always setup and configured the logging computers and no one else had.   Byron, AK4XR, took the task on and had them all … Read more >>

FIELD DAY – JUNE 23-24 2018

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W4OVH Members We will again have Field Day at Nokesville Community Park on June 23 and 24 2018 at the Nokesville Community Park.  All of the details including a map to the Nokesville Community Park Pavillion is on our calendar event at – http://w4ovh.net/event/arrl-field-day-2/ Setup starts 9:00 am on Saturday, June 23th Potluck dinner on June 24th at 5:00 pm – bring something and enjoy a great dinner Fox hunt follows Potluck dinner – bring your HT – some yagis will be available or bring your own Various events :  Shoot lines for antennas – at park on Friday June 22 at 3 pm.   Call KG4NXT at 703-789-6449 if you are coming. Field Day setup  – at park on Saturday June 23 at 9 am.   We could use your help. Operations … Read more >>