February 2007
Spark LogoARRL Logo 
The SPARKGAP

Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub

MEETING

Date and time: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Salvation Army Building, 1033 Big Bethel Road.
Subject:  "7 Dxpeditions/30 Years" by W4PRO.  He has been doing Dxpeditions since 1973 and will be sharing his thoughts, experiences and lessons.  It should be a very interesting and entertaining talk.

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

First, I appreciate the many nice comments I received.  I need to especially thank Dan Edwards, AG4YU, for reformatting my feeble attempt into a beautiful HTML document. With Dan's advice and guidance I relearned many HTML skills. (Dan is webmaster of the ARES VA web site . The SPARKGAP will have a link on that site that appears under District News / District 7.) 

Second, this is your newsletter, therefore I need articles and comments. As promised last month, this issue is only being sent to SPARK members, District 7 EC's and those others that have specifically requested copies. Feel free to forward this newsletter. Because of my computer problem last month I may have lost some specific requests to be included on the mailing list. If you want to be included on (or excluded from or are recieving miltiple copies) the mailing list, drop me a note. (SPARK members can not be excluded.)

73,

Stu, N4STU
[Note: click on the BLUE callsign to send email to the editor]

The next edition will be mailed about February 28th.  Articles and comments due by February 24th.

CALENDAR contact me for specific information and to add future events
February
March
EMERGENCY RADIO SERVICES
Check the ARES VA web site at:   http://www.aresva.org/aresva.html
First let me introduce myself.  I am Edward Shuman, WD0FYV, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) District 7 Emergency Coordinator or DEC.  I have been active in Ham radio since 1979 when I got my license while stationed at Lowery Air Force Base, Denver Colorado.  For me, public service has always been a top reason for getting and using my ham license.

For purposes of ARES, the state is broken up into 15 districts. Our district, D7, encompasses the cities of Hampton and Newport News, Williamsburg-James City County, York County, and Gloucester/Mathews County.  In each area there is an Emergency Coordinator (EC) who works closely with the City or County Emergency Management Office to provide emergency communications via Amateur Radio in times of need.  My job as DEC is to provide a point of contact for resource requests or allocations on both the local and state level.  I work with the other DEC’s thru the state Section Emergency Coordinator to ensure that in time of need Amateur Radio will be there wherever we are needed to provide emergency communications.

We here in D7 have been blessed in that through the hard work of many dedicated individuals, we have been able to equip a mobile communication trailer, know as the “White Trailer” for use wherever it’s needed.  The trailer is currently configured to provide communications on HF, VHF, and UHF using both voice and digital modes.  The trailer is self contained with batteries, a generator, and solar cells to power the on board radios and computers.  The trailer is considered a work-in-progress because we are always looking for ways to better the trailer, either in equipment or modes of operation.  If you see the trailer at a public service event, and we plan on having it at many this year, please stop by and take a look.

The next article will be from Chris, KC4F, Hampton EC.

NEW WEB FORUM FOR EMCOMM

 [from The ARRL ARES E-Letter of January 17, 2007]

A new Web forum has been formed at <http://www.emcommforum.org>. This forum is for members of all EMCOMM groups who use any communication system. The idea is to provide a new place to foster the sharing of ideas and cooperation among the many different volunteer groups.

Any group who would like their own private section of the forum, free of charge, simply needs to have their EC or other leader make a request; the section would be viewable by members of that group only (unless otherwise requested). This is a great communication tool for groups that would like to increase their Web presence and communication without the trouble of building and hosting their own forum. -- Brian Cook, KI4HLW, Vice President, Vero Beach (Florida) Amateur Radio Club (W4OT) <http://www.vbarc.net>; ARRL Public Information Officer, Indian River County <http://www.hello-radio.org>          [ed.: Is this something for D7?]
PUBLIC SERVICE EVENTS

Please send me information about upcoming events and post-event articles.

NEWPORT NEWS SHIPBUILDING EMPLOYEES' CREDIT UNION

Once again Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union has asked for our help with parking for their annual meeting. The meeting will be held at the Hampton Coliseum on Tuesday February 20th.

Our parking commitment will be from 1745-1930 hours.

As in previous years, I expect supper will be provided to those who arrive by 1700 hours.  Details are being worked out with Credit Union management.

The Credit Union provides a contribution to D7AC for our help.

Please advise me if you will be able to help with this event.

Thanks and 73,
Harold, KE4LUJ

PACKET

Watch for future information.

NOTES
SPECIAL EVENTS STATION

March 10-11, 2007

Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM, Sunday 12 NOON - 5 PM EST

K4M Special Events Station to commemorate the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia and the Opening of the USS Monitor Center at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia .  

This event is sponsored by the museum, and members of various Amateur Radio clubs from the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Williamsburg, Smithfield and Franklin County .

Main frequencies worked will be SSB 28.362, CW 21.362, CW 14.062, and PSK31 14.070.  Other frequencies will be used including portions of the 2m, 20M, 40M and 75/80M bands that will be announced later.   This event is unique in that all clubs from all nearby locations were invited to participate and the response has been tremendous. 

A specially designed QSL certificate will be offered.

The CW station frequencies that were chosen all end in “62”, a way to commemorate the use of Morse Code during the battle.  At nearby Fortress Monroe,  a 13-year old telegraph operator named John O’Brien, sent the warning that the CSS Virginia was on her way to Hampton Roads, thus signaling the beginning of the a series of battles which took place March 8-9, 1862.  The most significant was the Battle of the Ironclads, between the CSS Virginia, also known as the Merrimack, and the USS Monitor.   Included in the scheduled events is a telegraph demonstration using period keys and sounders. 

The Mariners' Museum, an internationally renowned institution of maritime history, is the designated National Repository for USS Monitor artifacts and the site of the new USS Monitor Center.  Special exhibits feature a full scale replica of the USS Monitor and artifacts including the ship’s turret, cannons, lantern and personal items used by the crewmembers.  The Monitor Center is designed to offer a personal look at life aboard the Civil War vessel, the underwater discovery and exploration of the ironclad, and recovery of the artifacts.  

Contact for further information:

Cindi Verser, AI4OO
757-591-7760
Click HERE to send email.

FEBRUARY 23, 2007

On that date, among other changes, all Technician Class licensees are granted the HF operating privileges authorized to Novice Class and Technician Plus Class licensees.  [Stu, N4STU]

FEBRUARY 24, 2007 - TEST SESSION

The Western Tidewater Radio Assocation - VE Team will have a test session at the Smithfield Library on 24 Febuary 2007. Details and pre-registration are on the club web site at http://www.wt4ra.org. Walk-in is usually OK, but pre-registration is recommended for this session in the event of a full house. (ed.: Doors opean at 9:00 am, exam starts at 9:30 am.) We will be handling paper upgrades too.
[Provided by: Fred Weaver KG4BKI (WRRL-136), Virginia Correspondent, SERA, ERO/EC, City of Franklin]

HEALTH and WELFARE

Please send me information and comments.

AREA REPEATERS, VOICE

[information from SERA Repeater Journal, except 146.940]

Please send me corrections, additions and deletions

freq
offset / tone
call sign
location
53.250 ( – / 100.0) KT4QW Newport News
53.890 ( – ) WA4OHX Hampton
145.230 ( – / 100.0) W4MT Newport News
145.370 ( – ) W4HZL Gloucester
145.410 ( – / 127.3) KF4ADM Williamsburg
145.490 ( – / 100.0) KE4UP Hampton
146.670 ( – / 173.8) KG4NJA NASA - not back in service yet
146.730 ( – / 100.0) W4QR Hampton
146.760 ( – / 118.8) KB4ZIN Williamsburg
146.940 ( – ) ?KI4LAO? Hampton - experimental, QRP
147.105 ( + ) KB4ZIN Williamsburg
147.165 ( + ) W4CM Newport News
147.225 ( + / 136.5) KA4VXR Hampton
224.540 ( – / 100.0) WB4PVT Hampton
224.620 ( – ) W4GSF Gloucester
442.900 ( + / 100.0) W4MT Newport News
443.650 ( + ) KG4NJA Hampton
443.750 ( + / 100.0) WA4OHX Hampton
444.100 ( + ) KB4ZIN Williamsburg
444.550 ( + / 167.9) W4QR Hampton
AREA NETS - not guaranteed, frequencies in MHz

Please send me corrections, additions and deletions

Monday 6:30 p.m. (first & third Mondays of month) – ODEN, 3.947
  8:00 p.m. - York County / Poquoson, 146.670
Tuesday 8:00 p.m. - LPEN, 147.165
  8:15 p.m. - LPEN Packet, 145.730
Wednesday 7:30 p.m. - Williamsburg/James City County, 146.730
Thursday 7:30 p.m. - HPT Training, 145.490
  8:00 p.m. - MPARC, 145.370
SPARK OFFICERS
Charlie Stokes, WB4PVT President
John Franke, WA4WDL Vice-President
Cindi Verser, AI4OO Secretary
Jim Wright, WA4IVM Treasurer
John Howe, KE4UP Repeater Chairman
ABBREVIATIONS

BoD - Board of Directors
DEC – District Emergency Coordinator (ARES)
EC – Emergency Coordinator (ARES) (of a locality)
HPT - Hampton Public-Service Team
LPEN - Lower Peninsula Emergency Net
MPARC - Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, (Gloucester/Mathews County)
NNACT - Newport News Amateur Communications Team
PARC - Peninsula Amateur Radio Club
PEARS - Peninsula Electronic Amateur Radio Society
SPARK - Southern Peninsula Amateur Radio Klub

NOTE: We have removed all direct email links from this newsletter in order to reduce the spam that folks have been receiving. However, you can still send email to people listed on this newsletter by clicking on their BLUE call sign. This link will take you to the www.aresva.org email processing web page.

Ideas? Comments? Suggestions? Contributions? --- please send some email to The SPARKGAP Editor.
Stu, N4STU

Page last edited on January 31, 2007

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