Category: Uncategorized

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

The annual election of officers of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group, Inc. is coming at our January meeting. All members present may vote, so please be prepared to pay your dues prior to the start of the meeting if you have not already done so, and you must be present in order to vote. Remember, too, that the dues for the 2020 calendar year are (generally) $25.00.

As our Constitution and Bylaws require, the Board of Directors of LARG met in November to identify and recommend a slate of Officer candidates for the election coming at our January meeting. Following our established practice, we will open nominations from the floor to permit write-in candidates in addition to the nominations offered by the Board. We will use written ballots, to be distributed at the meeting. As in the past, immediately upon completion of balloting and counting, we will announce the results.

It is my pleasure to announce the candidates nominated by the Directors.
President – Doug Coulter, K4AIU
Vice-President – Mike White, N4PDY
Treasurer – Steve Edwards, KN4HOZ*
Secretary = Jim Babcock, N4FAF*
* incumbent

We have accomplished many good things during the concluding year. I look forward to many more in 2020. To all of our members, families, and friends I bid you a joyous holiday season and prosperous New Year.

For the Board of Directors,
Dave Putman, KE4S
Chairman

80m – 3675 KHz on 13 DEC 2019 Open 0100Z
Listening 3810 KHz for General class ops to check-in

QNI:
KoZR Jeff
WoMPM John
K8SYH Bill
N4PD Paul
K3WD Bill
KE4S Dave, net control

Closed 0121Z

10m – on 28.405 MHz
No net tonight
KE4S Dave, ncs

Net convened on 3544.5 KHz at scheduled time. We were down from the normal frequency to avoid traffic on 3545. Only two of us tonight – Bill K3WD and Dave KE4S. Had a nice chat about our equipment before closing at 8:20PM. Please join us next Tuesday at 8:00PM. 73 de Dave KE4S

Sorry I was unable to join in tonight. I’m out of town again. Looking forward to seeing you as well as others at our upcoming party event this Saturday night. K0ZR

The Nov 16th meeting files and ARISS presentation have been uploaded to the members area for those unable to attend yesterday.

Called the net schedule at 8:00PM with KT9N, W5ODJ, and KE4S in the conversation. Good signals from all, and I was happy to report I have put my SteppIR back in service after 6 months of making repairs and upgrades. Now I need to start work on my 160/80 meter inverted L – it still is giving problems, but at least I can get on the air on 80 with a G5RV. Chris reported some heavy QRM in northern Leesburg, but John and I had good copy on him. Thanks for checking in – others are welcome to join us each Tuesday evening, and we operate at the speed of the slowest participant. 73 de Dave KE4S

The Newsletter for November is now in the Members Only area. The newsletter can be found here.

Called the net at 8:00PM with K3WD checking in. His signal was barely readable, so with no further checkins, I closed the net. Please join us next week on our normal schedule. 73 de Dave KE4S