Reston Century 2000 Bike Ride Across Loudoun County
Sunday, August 27, 2000

LARG Radio Operations Plan
Loudoun Amateur Radio Group, Loudoun County, Virginia


LARG OPLAN 2000-3
Dated: 08/24/2000 9:08:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From: N3GMW - Mark Gillam

Mission: To provide radio communications support to the Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Loudoun ARC is providing support to  the Reston Bike Club.

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 6:30 A.M., Sunday, August 27, 2000. Operational test will be conducted following installation of all equipment.

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

3. Traffic is expected to be administrative supply requests and also health and safety messages. Some statistical information may be passed to determine when to shut down a site.

Schedule:

Site Installation

 6:30 A.M. - 7:00 A.M Sunday, August 27, 2000
Site Operation 7:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M Sunday, August 27, 2000
Post-Tour Festival 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M Sunday, August 27, 2000
ARC Post Mortem 12:00 P.M Friday, September 15, 2000

ARC Liaison: Jay Greeley, 703-744-7553 or Email at [email protected]

Locations:  The following locations will be manned.

1. Reston Town Center
2. Ashburn Fire Station
3. Arcola
4. Hamilton Park
5. Hillsboro Elementary School
6. Shadow for ARC Event Chairman

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 care should taken on its position to avoid exhaust fumes near riders and other volunteers.

Site Support: Tables will be provided by ARC.

Station Equipment. All Stations should have 2 meter capability for primary communications. Some sort of gain antenna would help to ensure a good link. Secondary mode will be 40 meter SSB, suggested frequency of 7.275MHz. A simple 40M dipole installed approx. 12 to 15 feet off the ground is recommended.

Last mode is use of 440 Bluemont Repeater. Permission as of this writing has not been granted.

Reston Town Center will need 440MHz mobile and 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.

Reston Cross Band Operation:

Due to the proximity of tall buildings to the Command Center Location, we will use a cross band repeater. The ground station at Reston will use 446.5MHz frequency to communicate to a mobile rig parked on top of the near by parking garage. It will be in a 440 to 2m cross band repeat mode. It will retransmit the ground stations on the frequency of 147.48 MHz. Also Dual Band HT's can be used in proximity to the Reston Command Center.

Net Control: The Reston Town Center will be the Net Control Station and the ARC command Center. Most traffic will flow into Reston. All stations should have a log book and paper pads to keep track of messages.

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.

Maps: 104 Mile, 62 Mile and 31 Mile Route maps are posted to the LARG Web Site. Red Cross support personnel will also have route maps.

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

On Site Refreshments: LARG operators can use the facilities and refreshments provided to the ride participants. 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:

Location

Operators - Call Signs
Reston

Norm Styer
AI2C

Bob Oliphant
KF4VBM

Mary Oliphant
KF4UUY
Reston Relay

Art Laurent
KD4CSO
ARC Event Chairman
Shadow

Mark Gillam
N3GMW
Ashburn

Larry Hughes
KG4CGR

Chester Kmak
WA9LAZ
Arcola

Tom Garasic
NA4MA

Angie Garasic
KG4AVR
Hamilton

Bill Buchholz
K8SYH

Joel Glass
K4JAG

Charlie Preston
K4LJH
Hillsboro

Tom Dawson
WB3AKD
Floater
Eastern Loudoun

JD Donovan
KG4HYH

Additions and Changes: Additions and changes should be brought to the attention of Mark Gillam N3GMW. Telephone (540) 822-5690 or Email: [email protected].

American Red Cross Liaison: Jay Greeley, 703-744-7553
                                                  Email at [email protected]

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Liaison:

Mark Gillam, N3GMW, telephone (540) 822-5690 or Email: [email protected]
Ray Houff, K4AJA, telephone (540) 338-7297 or Email: [email protected]
Norm Styer, AI2C, telephone (540) 338-2584 or Email: [email protected]

LARG Website: http://history.k4lrg.org
LARG Reflector Site: http://www.egroups.com/group/l_a_r_g/fullinfo.html

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