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80m – 3675 KHz on 24 JAN 2019 Open 0100Z
Listening 3822 KHz for General class ops to check-in
QNI:
W2YE Dick
N4PD Paul
KoZR Jeff
W4PMP Chris
K9JRK Joe, Columbus OH
KE4S Dave, net control

We discussed some of the characteristics of our different 80 meter antennas. Chris has done some mods to his antenna, and has a much improved signal. Just as we were closing, Joe joined us from Columbus and we continued a conversation with him for several minutes.
Closed 0120Z

Dave KE4S

I started the 6-meter net last night on 50.130 MHz at 8pm. We had three check-ins: N4PD (Paul), W2YE (Dick) and myself. It was great to host this net once again and I plan to keep it going into the future. Make sure you stop by on Wednesday Nights and say “Hello!”

73,

Chris, W4PMP

80m – 3675 KHz on 17 JAN 2020 Open 0100Z
Listening 3819 KHz for General class ops to check-in
QNI:
W2YE Dick
N4PD Paul
K8SYH Bill
KE4S Dave, net control

A brief net tonight. We discussed weather plans for the club meeting this Saturday based on expected winter weather. A decision on postponing the club meeting will be made and announced on the WA4TXE (146.700) Leesburg repeater between 0700L and 0730L on the morning of the meeting. No 10 meter session tonight.
73 de Dave KE4S

Closed 0118Z

Our annual meeting is scheduled for this coming Saturday. There is a threat of bad weather; our policy is that if there is an inch of snow (approximately) we should cancel the meeting. This is to allow the church easier clearing of the parking lot.

At the time of this notice, our plan in the event of inclement weather is to hold our meeting on the following Saturday, Jan 25 at the usual time. We do not have a formal alerting system if the meeting is canceled. Since the forecast is “iffy” at this time, I suggest you keep a check on the town of Leesburg closings and an ear open on 146.700 to determine if we will be meeting.

With this warning in mind, I look forward to seeing everyone show up for our election of new officers, whenever that happens. Remember, the members present will constitute a quorum, so please plan on being counted.

Happy 2020 de Dave KE4S

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

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:

• Frostfest Hamfest in Richmond, Virginia is on Feb 1 (Saturday).
• You can pay your LARG dues for 2020 online now on the web site. To do that follow this link.
• There is a free concert at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church located at 605 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia 20176. The music was described as “classical” with many different instruments that will be played for the public.

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

Hey there.

After chatting with Rick N1RM over the holiday I decided to replace my old dipole with an off center fed dipole. I primarily wanted this because I wanted lower SWR with wider bandwidth so I can use more power on 80 meters. It turns out to be very beneficial for at least 4 bands that I normally use over a single wire!

Part of this project was to build my own balun because I didn’t want to buy one. Contrary to popular belief, I’m as cheap as every other ham I know. They cost about $100.

Normally with my projects I’d just put in the new antenna and move on but I decided to put proper design notes together and publish in a new section of our web site I called DIY in hopes it could also help others.

I pulled a bunch of information from various sources which I have published in this page on our web site.

Check my work. Build your own! If you want to publish your own DIY project let us know and we’ll get it out there.

73,

John
W5ODJ