The meeting was called to order by President Bryan Stephens, KG4UPR, at 8:40 am, Saturday, November 17, 2012, at the Leesburg Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 605 West Market Street, Leesburg, VA. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

New Members - Visitors:: All interested in Amateur Radio are welcome to attend our meetings, activities and on-the-air radio nets. Please feel free to contact any of our members for more information or visit our Announcements at K4LRG.ORG. You may wish to join via this eMail message our Yahoo eMail QST de K4LRG eReflector and stay abreast of amateur radio happenings in Northern Virginia. There were no visitors attending our November meeting.

Elected Officers Present:

President, Bryan Stephens, KG4UPR
Vice President, Henry Weidman, K2BFY
Treasurer, Denny Boehler, KF4TJI
Secretary, Norm Styer, AI2C

Attendees:

Carol Boehler, KF4TJJ
Denny Boehler, KF4TJI
Eric Carlson, AJ4LN
Dennis Diaz, KE4VIG
Nancy Dluehosh, N1NCY
Paul Dluehosh, N4PD
Bill Fenn, N4TS
Frank Gentges, K0BRA
Margaret Gentges, AI4UX
Luther Guise, K5NOB
Chris Hushak,WA1ZXX
Deanna Hushak, N4XLI
Gene May, WB8WKU
Dick Maylott, W2YE
Rick Miller, AI1V
Don Nicolson, KC1AT
Chris Patton, W3CUM
Jay Pisula, W3CZJ
Charles Preston, K4LJH
Dave Putman, KE4S
Gary Quinn, NC4S
Bill Robbins, KJ4VTH
Merc Skaggs, N4TGA
Jeff Slusher, KE5APC
Bryan Stephens, KG4UPR
Jim Stovers, K4FW
Norm Styer, AI2C
John Unger, W4AU
Henry Weidman, K2BFY
David Wendland, KE4OKY
John Westerman, WB5ODJ

General Announcements

O First Night Leesburg: There is no news about whether this event will be held. All members stand by for further information. (Secretary's Note: Later in November, it was announced that First Night Leesburg for December 31, 2012 was cancelled.)

O Holiday Dinner: Carol Boehler - KF4TJJ discussed details for our annual Holiday Dinner. This year it will be held starting at 6 PM, Saturday, December 8, 2012, at the Hamilton Safety Center. Each family or member bring a dish for 6 to 8 servings. There will be a White Elephant Gift Exchange with separate gifts for radio and non-radio items. A gift should be of about $15.00 value. A motion was made and passed to have the Group pay for the estimated hall rental of $375.00; so attendance is almost free and all should plan to attend.

O W3EMH Estate: Frank Gentges - K0BRA announced that selected items from the Bill Frisbie - W3EMH Estate would be donated to the Loudoun Hospital. Other smaller items are being offered for sale and Frank has many of these with him. They may be seen and purchased after meeting at Frank's car. The proceeds on these items go to the LARG.

O Loudoun EOC Training: Gary Quinn - NC4S announced the latest schedule of EOC - WEBEOC Training is now available and members need this training to man our emergency station in the EOC.

O Other Emergency Service Training: Chris Patton - W3CUM asked that members consider attending Skywarn Training. He also suggested members check out www.511Virginia.org as a good site maintain by VDOT of Virginia road and traffic conditions; this site features live video streaming vehicle traffic on many major highways throughout Virginia.

October 2012 Meeting Minutes were approved as submitted by Norm Styer - AI2C.

November 17, 2012 Treasurer's Report was approved as posted to history.k4lrg.org by Denny Boehler - KF4TJI.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Public Service Committee. Gary Quinn - NC4S had nothing else to report; see his remarks above about WEBEOC training.

Field Day Committee. Many remarked how well we performed and took first place for the 5A Class in the United States and Canada.

Balloon Committee. Gary Quinn - NC4S reported that all LARG balloon equipment has been transferred from Tom Dawson - WB3AKD to Dave Wendland - KE4OKY. Denny Boehler - KF4TJI reported he would try to do something soon on a Fox Hunt - maybe in February or March.

Contest Committee. John Unger - W4AU discussed a number of interesting contest items:

- ARRL SS starts today at 2100Z; you work 24 of the 30 hour operating period. It's has an interesting exchange: SN - Letter Power - Check - Your Call Sign - Your Section. Get on Sunday and be "fresh meat."

- CW World Wide DX Contest at end of November. It's 48-hours; exchange is Signal Report and Zone: 59905.

- ARRL 10-Meter Contest starts 0000Z,Saturday (Z), December 8, 2012 (Z) for 48-hours. You can work Phone, CW or both. The exchange is Signal Report and ARRL Section: 599VA.

- ARRL 160-Meter Contest in mid-December is a great domestic contest for 160-Meters. The World calls US and we work everyone. Starts on Friday night local eastern time.

LARG Marathon Contest. Gary Quinn - NC4S encourage all to get on during the CQ WW CW DX Contest for a last chance to work some new ones for the 2012 LARG Marathon Contest. Awards will be presented at the LARG Annual Holiday Dinner on December 8, 2012.

LARG Legislative Affairs Committee. Rick Miller - AI1V reported on new FCC proposed rules making to (1) reduce "grace period" from 2-years to 6-months for expiring licenses for applying for a new call sign, (2) add several new emission types to digital modes, and (3) reduce required manning for VE Teams from 3 to 2 and other testing matters. The details of the proposal are at: http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db1002/FCC-12-121A1.pdf.

YL Committee. Nancy Dluehosh - N1NCY had nothing to report.

Program Committee. Henry Weidman - K2BFY reported that the Ammo Can Radio Program will be presented in February 2013.

LARG NET REPORTS. Attention all members, please note LARG is starting up another radio net in the 220 MHz Band. Henry - K2BFY reports the net will be tested first after the Sunday night 2-Meter Net. (Note: since November, the 220 MHz Radio Net has settled in on a weekly Monday Night Schedule at 8 PM Local on 223.500 MHz Simplex or on the K8GP or the K3MAD Repeaters on alternate nights. See net operating schedules on the QST de K4LRG Reflector.

Sunday Digital Net. Bryan (KG4UPR) reported a continuing low activity for the digital net.

Sunday Night FM Net. Bryan (KG4UPR) reported continuing good participation.

Tuesday Night CW Net. Stations signing in on CW: W4AU, N4PD, AI1V, K0ZR, K4LJH, W2YE and WB5ODJ.

Thursday Night HF SSB Net. Participation continues to be great. Thanks for all the super NCSs. Here is 4th Quarter 2012 3675 - 28405 Net Reports.

ARES Nets. It was reported that 146.700 MHz Repeater has Weather Alert features. Also, it is worth noting that at home you hope for AC power, running water and accounting and care of family members prior to and during an emergency. Also, don't count of Internet or Cell-Phone access. So, your ARES capabilities are important.

Chris Patton - W3CUM suggested you program alternate frequencies for emergency radio coverage offered by the 147.300 MHz Repeater when it may experience extended power outages:

The Bluemont Repeater, WA4TSC/R, on 147.300 MHz (PL 146.2 Hz) is the primary repeater for Skywarn and the Northern Virginia Traffic Net (NVTN) in Northern Virginia, and in parts of West Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

In case of electrical power failures this winter and the battery back-up on WA4TSC/R fails or is put on true stand-by to protect system, then be prepared to use alternate repeaters for Emergencies, Skywarn and the NVTN.

PLEASE MAKE A NOTE OF THE BACK UP REPEATERS:

K4QJZ / R on 145.21 MHz Input Down 600 kHz PL 141.3 Hz at Linden, VA

KV3B / R on 146.955 MHz Input Down 600 kHz at Rockville, MD

REPEATER REPORTS

W4DLS Repeater. Frank (K0BRA) advised that Rick - AI1V and himself are planning site visit to working on receiver performance. Rick - AI1V also advised to use your 77 Hz PL.

WA4TXE Repeater. Rick - AI1V reported need to work on new link transceiver. He's testing one in his lab.

"QST de K4LRG". Norm - AI2C distributed the list of currently bouncing eMail Reflector accounts on the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group's QST de K4LRG Yahoo Reflector. Members are encouraged to regularly exercise all their account address to prevent being placed on the "Bouncing Roster." To activate, just visit your On-Line Yahoo eMail Account and reset your accounts.

OLD BUSINESS

Make Space. Rick - AI1V reported working on presentations to the group. He looking for assistance with several short ham radio demonstrations. The show and tell would be scheduled after the holidays.

NEW BUSINESS

2013 LARG Calendar. Denny Boehler - KF4TJI is looking for photographs for the 2013 calendar.

K4LRG.ORG Internet Site. Paul Dluehosh - N4PD met with Norm - AI2C and suggested several changes to the navigation menu.

Elecraft KX3 Transceiver. Rick - AI1V displayed his new KX3 Transceiver. Details at: http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm

Rick - AI1V demos his Elecraft KX3 Transceiver as John - WB5ODJ, Mike - K2LEK,
John - W4AU and Bill - KJ4VTH look on.

PROGRAM. Bill Fenn - N4TS made an extremely interesting technical presentation on HSMM - MESH Netting. He suggested it would support emergency communications and offered that simple "kits" could be brought up on the air, self-connect and handle traffic among those in the net. You start with a 54G Router (Versions 1 through 4 older versions) or a "54 GL." Some details are at www.hsmm-mesh.org.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:51 am.

Respectfully Submitted, Norm Styer - AI2C

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A reminder to all about Holy Trinity's inclement weather policy: if Loudoun County Schools are closed (or would be if it were a school day), all activities at the church are cancelled - this includes outside groups. This policy allows for parking lot clearing so snow is not packed down; and it is also a safety issue.