Reston Century 2002 Bike Ride Across Loudoun County
Sunday, August 25, 2002

Amateur Radio Support To
The Loudoun County Chapter, American Red Cross


LARG Radio Operations Plan

Tour de Loudoun
Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
Loudoun County, Virginia

REVISED 1:25 PM Saturday, August 17, 2002

LARG OPLAN 2002-1 Amateur Radio Support To The Loudoun Chapter, American Red Cross
Dated: July 12, 2002

From: KG4RKI - Julie Belindo

Mission: To provide radio communications support to the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC). Loudoun County Chapter, ARC is providing support to  the Reston Bike Club to this event on Sunday, August 25, 2002.. A portion of the Century Bike Ride proceeds benefit the American Red Cross and a portion of the proceeds are used by the Reston Bike Club to purchase bicycles for the disadvantaged children. 

Weather: The bike event will be held rain or shine. See Washington DC Area Radar Loop. Safety of the operators and their equipment must be respected and inclement weather can restrict or curtail LARG participation.

Concept Of Operation:

1. Radios and antennas equipment will be set up at the sites starting at about 6:00 A.M., Sunday, August 25, 2002. Operational test will be conducted following installation of all equipment. The LARG will attempt to establish two shifts to support the operation through 1800 hours, Sunday afternoon..

2. Event Registration begins at 6:30 A.M. Riders can start riding between 6:30 and 10:00 A.M.

3. Traffic over the nets is expected to be administrative supply requests, health and safety messages, and counts of riders passing through a rest stop.

Schedule:

ARC Planning Meeting

7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Monday, July 8, 2002 ARC Office, Leesburg

ARC Planning Meeting

7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Monday, July 22, 2002 ARC Office, Leesburg

ARC  Orientation

7:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 31, 2002 ARC Office, Leesburg

LARG  Meeting

As May Be Required

LARG Monthly Meeting

8:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. Saturday, August 17, 2002 at Leesburg Safety Center

Site Installations

5:30 A.M. - 6:30 A.M. Sunday, August 25, 2002
Site Operations 6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Sunday, August 25, 2002
Post-Ride Party 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Sunday, August 25, 2002 at Reston Town Ctr Pavilion
ARC Post Op Debrief

TBD

TBD

ARC Contacts:
Suzanne Withers, Chair, HR Lead, 703-728-6285, [email protected]
Jenny Igoe, Communications/PR Lead, 703-478-9881, [email protected]
Traci Winfree, Operations/Logistics Lead, 703-433-2488, [email protected] 
Yvette Castro-Green, Staff Liaison, 703-777-7171, [email protected]  

Reston Bike Club Contacts:
Chris Bell, Event Chair, Club President, 703-733-0755, [email protected]
John Shea, SAG Support, Past Chair, [email protected]

Boy Scouts of America Contacts:
Paul Christensen

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Contacts:
Julie Belindo, Coordinator, KG4RKI, 703-306-6392, [email protected]
Mark Gillam, Coordinator, N3GMW, 540-822-5690, [email protected]

Locations: The following locations will be manned.

1. Reston Town Center
2. Ashburn Fire Station
3. Hamilton Park
4. Hillsboro Elementary School
5. ARC Vehicle #1
6. ARC Vehicle #2
7. Route Riders

Electrical Power. All stations will be power from 12-volt DC batteries. There is no on site commercial power. If vehicle is used for battery power then care should  be taken on its position to avoid exhaust fumes near riders and other volunteers.

Site Support: Operators should provide sun shading if not available at site.

Station Equipment. All Stations should have 2 meter capability for primary communications on 147.480 MHz. Some sort of gain antenna would help to ensure a good link. Secondary mode will be 80/40 meter SSB with suggested frequencies of 3918 KHz and 7275 KHz plus or minus a few KHzs to avoid any other activity. One HF antenna method ia a simple 40M dipole installed at least 15 to 20 feet off the ground in a cleared area is recommended. This can then be extended with clip on leads to change to 80M.

The Reston Town Center Operation, ARC Vehicle #1 and ARC Vehicle #2, will need 2-Meter-440MHz Cross Band Equipment and 440 MHz HT's.

Safety: Care should be taken on position of antennas to eliminate and risk of adverse RF exposure. Watch for tripping hazards on coax runs. If HF operation is used power should be limited to 50w to reduce RF exposure. Avoid erecting antennas near overhead electrical power lines.

Reston Cross Band Operation:  Due to the proximity of tall buildings to the Command Center Location, we will use a cross band repeater equipment provided by Dennis Boehler, KF4TJI. The ground station at Reston will use a frequency 445.925 MHz to communicate to a mobile rig parked on top of the near by parking garage. The Parking Garage Station will be in a 440 to 2m cross band repeat mode. It will retransmit the Reston ground station signals on a frequency of 147.48 MHz. Also 440 HT's may be used in proximity to the Reston Command Center.

Net Control:  The Net Control Station - K4LRG will be located at Hamilton Park and operated by Tom Dawson - WB3AKD, and crew. All stations should have logbooks and NTS message forms should be used.

Time: All logs and messages will be kept in local eastern daylight saving time in a 2400 hour format. For example, use 1300 hours for 1:00 PM.

Map: A route map is now available - click here for map.  This map shows all three routes the shortest turning around at Ashburn, the middle route turning around at Hamilton and the big one going through Lovettsville. Red Cross support personnel will also have route maps. An UNOFFICIAL Map with Check Points is also available; hopefully this will be coordinated among all support agencies and be available for the operation..

Radio Interference: This on-the-air activity will be on a noninterference basis. Change operating frequencies to avoid harmful interference.

Primary Radio Frequencies: The Reston Relay/Repeater is essential. The frequencies are 445.925 MHz, 147.480 MHz, 7285 KHz, and 3918 KHz or as directed by NCS (See above for specific applications). Reston 2-meter and mobiles need to have the PAR intermod filter. 

On Site Refreshments: LARG operators can use the facilities and refreshments provided to the ride participants. It is recommended that you bring your own lunch. Attempts have been made to have two operators at each location to provide breaks. ARC has requested help in providing additional ice chests. Care should be taken to mark any personal property.

Summary Of Operational Personnel:

Shifts

Morning Shift

Afternoon Shift

Location

0600-1200 Op 1 0600-1200 Op 2 0600-1200 Op 3 1200-1800 Op 1 1200-1800 Op 2 1200-1800 Op 3

Reston Town Ctr
WF1L on HF

KG4RKI
Julie Belindo
WF1L
Bill McCourt
KG6EFT
Jim Scott
KG4RKI
Julie Belindo
WF1L
Bill McCourt
.
W2BHK
Joe Sheinman
. . W2BHK
Joe Sheinman
. .

KF4TJI
Reston Relay

KF4TJJ
Carol Boehler
KF4TJI
Denny Boehler

N/A

KF4TJJ
Carol Boehler
KF4TJI
Denny Boehler

N/A

ARC Vehicle #1
Jay Greeley
KG4KZZ
Dave Putman
Jay Greeley Jr John Greeley KG4KZZ
Dave Putman
Jay Greeley Jr John Greeley
. Eric Greeley . . Eric Greeley . .
ARC Vehicle #2
Suzanne Withers
. . . . . .

K8SYH
Ashburn

K8SYH
Bill Buchholz
BA
BA Buchholz
WA9LAZ
Chester Kmak
K8SYH
Bill Buchholz
BA
BA Buchholz
K4CJB
Buddy Brewer
. . . N4PD
Paul Dluehosh
KE4RTP
Nancy Dluehosh
.

K4LRG
NCS
Hamilton

WB3AKD
Tom Dawson
KE4FYL
Allon Stern
K4LJH
Charlie Preston
WB3AKD
Tom Dawson
KE4FYL
Allon Stern
K4LJH
Charlie Preston
KCoGNH
Willy Williams
KG4AVR
Angi Garasic
NA4MA
Tom Garasic
KCoGNH
Willy Williams
KG4AVR
Angi Garasic
NA4MA
Tom Garasic
K4AJA
Ray Houff
. . K4AJA
Ray Houff
. .

AI2C
Hillsboro

AI2C
Norm Styer
N2PBY
John Hawley
KF4VBM
Bob Oliphant
AI2C
Norm Styer
N2PBY
John Hawley
KF4VBM
Bob Oliphant
Student Mbr
Austin Styer
KC4UWS
Jim Terrell
W0MAZ
Jim Banks
Student Mbr
Austin Styer
KC4UWS
Jim Terrell
W0MAZ
Jim Banks
KF4TNX
Tom Martin
KF4ZPV
Maria Martin
. KF4TNX
Tom Martin
KF4ZPV
Maria Martin
.

Route Riders

KG4TIH
Paul McIntyre
N4HCP
Chuck Rexroad
KG4RRN
Bob Rice
KG4TIH
Paul McIntyre
N4HCP
Chuck Rexroad
KG4RRN
Bob Rice
N3GMW
Mark Gillam
N8FK
Brian Cochran
KB2CEV
Stephen Tedesco
N3GMW
Mark Gillam
N8FK
Brian Cochran
KB2CEV
Stephen Tedesco

Additions and Changes: Additions and changes should be brought to the attention of
Julie Belindo,703-306-6392 or [email protected] 

LARG Website: http://history.k4lrg.org/
LARG Reflector Site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/l_a_r_g

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