Author: John Westerman

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LARG HF Digital Watering Hole net report.

Tonight a the prescribed time and frequency I called CQ to see who might want to join the LARG digital net using OLIVIA 8/500.

I was quickly rewarded by a call from Bryan (KG4UPR) in Delaware using his mobile rig on 40 meters followed by a call back from Bill (KJ4VTH) in Fairfax. Both of their SNRs were 25 dB at my QTH.

It’s been a while since I called the digital net and it was fun to have these guys on the other end of my call. Thanks for participating tonight, Bryan and Bill!

A reminder on the digital net:

We meet every Sunday evening from 19:30 to 20:00 local time. Winter (Standard Time: Nov-Mar) 3.58275 MHz. In the summer (Daylight Savings Time: Mar-Nov) we meet at 7.07325 MHz and that is where we were tonight.

NOTE: Net Control listens the 2-meter net frequency used by the Sunday 8:30 PM FM Radio net. Lately that has been 145.31. If you are having any difficulty call us on the repeater and we’ll do our best to help you get on the air for the net.

Everyone is welcome to join us and we hope to see you on the digital net.

For more information please visit this web page.

73!

John
W5ODJ

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LARG Sunday Night 2-Meter Net Report

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2 meter net tonight.

Those that checked in were:

  • N4PDY, MIKE
  • WB2UNA, JOHN
  • K2BFY, HENRY
  • K9CQB, DAMON
  • KN4FAF, JIM
  • KE4S, DAVE
  • AB3KC, COLLINS
  • K4AIU, DOUG
  • KQ4CI, EVAN
  • K4JB, JIM
  • K3WD, BILL
  • KD4HAX, JOE
  • W5ODJ, JOHN

Most everyone had good signals into the repeater tonight. Some of us have some work to do. 🙂

A number of topics were discussed including the appreciation of the virtual meeting on Saturday for the club presentations. Many of us made a point on how effective that meeting was. Of course, COVID was discussed some but mostly how everyone was getting along in this current lock down environment. Most of us were spending time with our families, baking bread and other family related activities. Many doing antenna work. And there was a QSO party this weekend which some of us participated.

I trust most everyone found their equipment in good working order. The radio I was using is new which introduces another 50 buttons to me so there is a function I am looking for. Gotta read the manual.

Have a good week!

73,

John
W5ODJ

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LARG Thursday Night HF Net Report

We had good attendance and many new voices on the net tonight. For the 75-meter net we were on 3.675 Mhz while also listening to 3.838Mhz for General class checkins.

Those checking in were:

  • KG4UPR/M, Bryan (Delaware)
  • K0ZR, Jeff
  • K3WD, BIll
  • KS1G, Steve
  • AB3KC, Collins *
  • W2YE, Dick
  • N4PD, Paul *
  • KQ4CI, Evan *
  • KI2H, Harry *
  • KJ4NXG, Bob
  • W5ODJ, John * (NCS)

There were a variety of subject but most notable was the sheltering in place most of us are doing these days. Everyone’s signal was good and strong ranging from S9 to 40 over. The band was in great shape.

We meet every Thursday evening from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend with us. Once the 75-meter portion is over we move to 10 meters at 28.405 Mhz. Those with a * by their name also attended the 10 meter net.

73,

John

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2m Net Report; February 23, 2020

We seated the most famous Sunday Night Net held by the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group on 2-Meters FM at 20:30 local time. Tonight was on the WA4TXE/R on 146.700 MHz (no pl).

Check-ins were as follows:

  • W5ODJ, John (NCS)
  • KG4TIH, Paulson
  • KU4FT, Chris
  • K0ZR, Jeff
  • KD4HAX, Joe
  • W4PMP, Chris
  • KO4ANI, Mike
  • N4PD, Paul
  • K4JB, Jim
  • K4MNA, Mitch
  • N4PDY, Mike

Reminder: The Extra class is on Mondays (tomorrow).

Everyone have a great week!

73,

John
W5ODJ

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Sunday night digital net report.

As you likely know, we meet every Sunday evening from 19:30 to 20:00 local time for a brief digital net. Anyone is welcome. For all the details on this net you can find it here.

There were two checkins tonight:

  • John, W5ODJ (NCS)
  • Paulson, KG4TIH

We had a nice, hour long, conversation and tested two different bands. It was nice to catch up with Paulson over a digital QSO.

73!

John
W5ODJ

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2 Meter net report

We held the 2 meter net tonight (February 16, 2020). There were 6 check-ins:

  • W5ODJ, NCS
  • N4PDY
  • KD4NYX
  • KD4HAX
  • WA4TXE
  • KK4TNO

Mike let us know there are going to be 11 students in this next Extra class training. He let us know that N1RM is mostly organizing this training and that it has gone very well.

Remember that tomorrow is when we meet at Wegmans for lunch. If you are free you might consider joining us.

Thank so all who took the time to test their radio gear. Everyone have a great week.

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LARG Sunday Night 2-Meter Net Report

The most famous 2 meter net was held on Sunday January 19, 2020 at 20:30 local time. John Westerman presided the NCS operation. Those that attended were:

  • WB2UNA
  • N4PDY
  • K2BFY
  • K4FWD
  • K0ZR
  • KK4TNO
  • W4PNP
  • KN4PIZ
  • W5ODJ

Thank you all for joining the net and testing your gear to insure proper operation. Thanks to Dulles Radio for the use of their repeater tonight. I hope to see you on one of the other nets coming up this week.

73,

John
W5ODJ

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LARG Sunday Night 2-Meter Net Report

We conducted the most famous Sunday Night Net held by the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group on 2-Meters FM at the Dulles Radio repeater on 145.310/R with a 77hz PL.

Those that checked in:

  • W5ODJ (NCS)
  • K2BFY
  • W4PNP
  • N4FAF
  • K0ZR
  • KK4TNO
  • KJ4NXG
  • KN4PIZ
  • AB4TF

A reminder of two things:

  • The regular monthly meeting is coming up this Saturday, January 18. For more information on when when and where click this link.
  • There is an Extra class that is starting on Feb 3. Jeff, K0ZR, and others in the Education Committee could use help teaching, tutoring, etc. Reach out to the Education folks at this link.

Thanks to everyone who joined and participated in this most famous 2 meter net tonight!

73,

John
W5ODJ

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First digital contact: April 22, 2008.

As I do at the end of every year I go through all of the files on my computer and do a “digital cleanse” by deleting things I do not need. I ran across this QSO of my first digital contact way back 11 years ago in 2008.

It reminded me to send out the message that we all have to start somewhere/sometime and just how much of a rookie I was back then! Heres the text of the QSO (during a contest so I was likely very annoying to her).

WA4EEZ CQ CQ CQ Skirmish de WA4EEZ WA4EEZ CWA4EEZ

WA4EEZ DE WB50DJ WB5ODJ PSE k

WB50DJ LESLIE WA4 LESLIE WA4 WB50DJ

HI LESLIE HANDLE HERE IS JOHN MY FIRST PSK QSO OVER

WB50DJ de WA4EEZ…John, I am so happy to be ur first PSK QSO….You will enjoy this mode and meet lots of new friends…I am in a PSK contest, and the exchange is the name, and the prefix…so you can send me your prefix–like WB5–…
BTU John, de WA4EEZ kn

LESLIE … THANKS FOR TAKING MY TRANSMISSION. I AM A COMPUTER GUY BUT THIS IS ALL VERY NEW TO ME. I WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO YOUR CONTEST. WA5EEZ DE WB5ODJ OVER

WB50DJ de WA4EEZ…ok John, well I am most definitely not a computer gal, but sure enjoy these digital modes….BTW ur sig is 599 599 and clean…very nice.
73 es thanks for this contact, and may you have many, many more!! 73 and good hamming to you WB5ODJ de WA4EEZ..oh my name is Leslie.. bk

wa4eez de wb5odj … handle is John. QTH is Northern Virginia (lovettsville). Antenna is new SteppIR at 80 feet. driven by a ICOM 756pro3. beam pointed to FL at the moment. UR signal is also 599 599 599 over.

WB50DJ de WA4EEZ…My kinfolk are from Giles County up there in VA….Thanks again John, and will see you again, I am sure…73 de WA4EEZ sk

73 73 73 and good night. thanks a million for the qso. WB5ODJ clear kkkk

This was before I had my Extra license and changed my call sign to drop the B in my call. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago but apparently I had just constructed my first tower and installed my then new SteppIR. Soon storms would come and break the SteppIR, rotator and my new tower and I would have to reconstruct them. And then again when I built my second tower to move the SteppIR over there so I could maintain it better.

One thing is for certain in radio, nature wins and things are always changing.

Happy new year to you all!

73,

John
W5ODJ

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LARG Sunday Night 2-Meter Net Report

The most famous Sunday Night Net was held by the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group on 2-Meters FM on the WA4TXE/R on 146.700 MHz at 8:30 pm local time.

We had 13 people check in to the net tonight:

  • K9CQB, Damon
  • WB2UNA, John
  • W4PMP, Chris
  • N4PDY, Mike
  • KD4HAX, Joe
  • KD4NYX, Wendy
  • AB3KC, Collins
  • KK4TNO, Chas
  • KM4RSX, Archellious
  • W3OW, Bruce
  • N1NCY, Nancy
  • N4PD, Paul
  • W5ODJ, John (NCS)

A few things mentioned to highlight:

Apart from the weird problem we experience with the audio on the repeater the net was successful. Everyone who checked in had good signals into the repeater even if we couldn’t hear the audio at times. This is the reason we have these nets (to check to make sure things work properly).

This was the last 2-meter net of 2019. Thanks to everyone for checking in! I was happy to be the last minute net control station for the net. Have a happy new year celebration whatever that will be for you and be safe out there! We’ll see you all in 2020 somewhere.

73,

John
W5ODJ

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