Location, location, location. As a Florida boy, I know that Hurricane Season officially starts on June 1st. However, here in the Mid-Atlantic region, it unofficially begins in a few weeks. Now would be a good time to check your emergency communications equipment, supplies, including batteries. It would also be a good time to verify the integrity of both your antenna(s) and the guy wires.
I’m reminded that 3 years ago George, K4GVT suffered a lightning strike around this time. It completely obliterated his antenna & damaged his radios & other electronics.
So I think it would also be good to review your safe grounding & isolation setups.
Back on July 24th, the OVH supported The Tri It Now – Summer Super Sprint at the Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center in Manassas.
https://www.triitnow.com/
Lead by Andy, KJ4MTP – code named Shadow, we were there by 6:45 AM & gone by 9:45. As is our custom, we operated on simplex at 147.525. We backstopped this with the W4OVH repeater at 146.970 – PL 100.0.
We would like to acknowledge our volunteers : Jeff, K9VEG; Erik, K4SOK; Ken, KN4DD; Al, KB4BHB; John, KG4NXT; Greg, KM4CCG & our new member James, KQ4CAX. I am happy to report we had no incidents.
Berryville Hamfest is Sunday, August 7th @ 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT
Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds
890 W. Main Street
Berryville VA 22611
For more details, visit the website: https://berryvillehamfest.com/
SOWW – The OVH is supporting The Warrior Bike Ride on September 10th, which is only about a month away. We will need about 28 volunteer spotters to man this 60 mile bike ride. I know this is a lot of volunteers, but this is a very worthwhile charity and we really need the help. This will be largely a mobile 50-watt radio event using both the W4OVH repeater and the Bluemont repeater. Some locations will be able to operate using hand-held radios, but that is only in very few locations. The event will be that Saturday morning from 0600 – 0800 starting (depending on your location through about 1400-1500 (2 – 3PM ending time). Lunch and volunteer shirts will be provided to all.
If you are interested, please contact Andy/KJ4MT via e-mail @ andy@gamponia.com
Additionally, you should also see Andy’s e-mail of: Wed, July 20, 2022 10:08 PM.
Here is the volunteer registration site for Ham Radio Operators: https://www.bikereg.com/55394
No triathlons or marathons this month, but will resume September 18th with the Tri It Now “The 14.06”
You don’t have to wait until our in-person meetings to see everyone again; you can come out Saturday, August 13th at 8:00 AM for our monthly breakfast. Pioneered by Byron, AK4XR, we get together every Saturday before our meetings at a table or two in the back of Yorkshire Restaurant for some good food and good conversation.
Yorkshire Restaurant
7537 Centreville Rd
Manassas, VA 20111
(703) 368-4905
Menu: https://www.yorkshirerestaurantmanassas.com/menu/
We hope to see you there.
Our next monthly meeting Tuesday, August 16th
W4OVH Monthly Meeting – masks optional
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Buckhall VFD Hall
7190 Yates Ford Road
Manassas VA 20111
George, K4GVT reminds us to “Save the Date” for the 76th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3rd @ 10 AM. We will need volunteer spotters, but if you can’t volunteer, please come out to watch the parade and support our OVH Parade Float. Please see George’s e-mail of: Tues, August 2, 2022 6:31 PM.
Also, a reminder to check in to the OVH’s Thursday night VHF/UHF repeater net at 8 PM. We are still wrestling with intermittent repeater problems, so please be patient.
The details for that are on the OVH’s web site: https://w4ovh.net
This is a great way to stay in touch.
I am grateful to the many people working to get the problem at Mt. Pone corrected. As you know, we have been wrestling with this can of worms for awhile now.
We see the emails regarding the issues and the discussions between those involved and know they are working hard on these problems.
But for now, a big thank you all from the club for your continued pursuit of a solution to our trouble.
Questions, comments or war stories can be directed to my e-mail: KN4DD@arrl.net
73, Ken / KN4DD