The Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Of Northern Virginia & Its Radio Station K4LRG

Conditions | Web Resources | Fast-Nav
| 9-11 2001 | Isabel 2003 |
| Dulles EDD 2004 | PR Dulles EDD 2004 | Hamilton Emergency Fair 2004 | Code Orange 2005 | VERTEX 2007 | Dulles EDD 2007 |
| FNL 2000 | FNL 2001 | FNL 2002 | FNL 2003 | FNL 2004 | FNL 2005 | FNL 2006 | FNL 2007 |
| Reston Century Ride | Hike For Hope 2004 | March Of Dimes Walk 2006 | Poker Run 2000 | Leesburg Repeater |
| Country Side Fair 2003 | Potomac Station Safety 2005 | Purcellville Library 2006 | Rust Library Display 2005 |
| User Operational Capabilities Requirements 2002 |

Comm Support To The Riders Of The Reston Century 2008
  

The LOGO of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service - An organization of the American Radio Relay League.
John Unger - W4AU at the Hamilton Rest Stop Station. Station was equipped with 2-Meters FM Voice and APRS with UIView Tracking Program. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.
 The LOGO of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group of Northern Virginia.


Another Loudoun Amateur Radio Emergency Service & Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Communications Operation
Reported and photographed by Jeff Slusher - KE5APC, Jay Ives - KI4TXP, Z Tyrik - KU1T, and Norm Styer - AI2C
For photographic credit, place cuscur over a photograph.

The 2008 Century Ride

Steve - KG1S stops by the Hamilton Rest Stop on his way around the full route. Steve was equpped with FM 2-Meter Voice and APRS radios. We tracked him while in western Loudoun. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia. Once again this year, the Reston Bicycle Club took to the trails and roads of Loudoun County for their 26th annual Reston Century on Sunday, August 24, 2008. This is always a big event with as many as one-thousand riders traveling across Loudoun County. The Loudoun Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group (LARG) provided on-site and on-route communications support for this operation. Gary Quinn - NC4S, an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Loudoun ARES organized the communications support and direct the communications operations of Loudoun ARES/LARG from his home station near Waterford, Virginia.

Some twenty LARG members supported this operation from the Reston Town Center, the Ashburn Fire House Rest Stop, the Hamilton Rest Stop, the Net Control Station, and on route by SAG and Bicycle Route Riders. The operation went much as planned. Assignments of duties were incorporated into the Operations Plan. Additional instructions and coordination took place on Wednesday, August 20, 2008, on the N4FSC/R Dulles Amateur Radio Group Repeater. Communications stations were operated at the Reston Town Center Start-Finish Point and the two rest stops at Ashburn, and Hamilton. Loudoun Amateur Radio Operators also accompanied Reston Bicycle Club SAG Vehicles with mobile radio equipment. And, several LARG members rode the route on their bicycles or personal vehicles for additional communications support. Many mobile communications stations were equipped with Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) equipment that was monitored and tracked at NCS and several Rest Stop Stations. This was the ninth year for amateurs of Loudoun to furnish communications for the Reston Century.  Things went very smoothly and much like past operations. It was nice riding with you all. Best Regards, Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, Virginia.

The Reston Town Center Story By Jeff Slusher - KE5APC

Rick Miller - AI1V and Jeff Slusher - KE5APC man the Reston Town Center. Photograph by Jeff Slusher - KE5APC de Leesburg, VA.

Reston Captain Rick Miller, AI1V and Jeff Slusher, KE5APC

Reston Captain Rick Miller, AI1V and Jeff Slusher, KE5APC passed traffic to event organizers during the event. The Reston station operated primarily on UHF Hand-Held UHF Transceivers through a cross band repeater located at the home QTH of AI1V with directional antenna pointed West. See Rick's report below. The arrangement provided solid communications for the event. Backup radios included an ICOM 2720 with a mobile mag-mount antenna hugging a street light pole.

Stephan Greene, KS1G, a.k.a. “Bike 1” and Rick Miller, AI1V, a.k.a. “Reston” (below, lower left) smile for the camera before Sunrise as Stephan prepares to head West on the grueling 100-mile “Century Route.” Green was riding an APRS-equipped bicycle with a VOX VHF radio. He provided much-needed service during the ride including, at one point, back tracking for a lost biker.

Stephan Greene, KS1G, a.k.a. “Bike 1” and Rick Miller, AI1V, a.k.a. “Reston” (below, lower left) smile for the camera before Sunrise as Stephan prepares to head West on the grueling 100-mile “Century Route.” Green was riding an APRS-equipped bicycle with a VOX VHF radio. He provided much-needed service during the ride including, at one point, back tracking for a lost biker. Photograph by Jeff Slusher - KE5APC de Leesburg, VA.

Stephan Greene, KS1G, a.k.a. “Bike 1” and Rick Miller, AI1V



 While most other operators enjoyed their peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with bottled water for lunch, Reston station operators chowed down on catered high protein pasta, salad, and ice cream. (Sorry, folks. AI1V and KE5APC have already volunteered to fill the Reston post next year). Photograph by Jeff Slusher - KE5APC of Leesburg, VA.

While most other operators enjoyed their peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with bottled water for lunch, Reston station operators chowed down on catered high protein pasta, salad, and ice cream. (Sorry, folks. AI1V and KE5APC have already volunteered to fill the Reston post next year).

The Reston Cross Band Repeater By Rick Miller - AI1V

The Ashburn Rest Stop Story

Ashburg Rest Station is busy all day. Everyone goes through here twice. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T of Ashburn, VA.

Jay Ives - KI4TXP reports that he "met Grant  - KB3EMT at about 0600 and got thing set up and ready to go for the 0700 start. The operations at Ashburn went very smoothly with no major or minor incidents. We were able to secure at about 1500. Helping out with communications were Jay - KI4TXP, Grant - KB3EMT, Z - KU1T, Anna - KJ4EOS, and Greg - N3MXX who provided mobile communications for SAG-1. It was great fun for all and I enjoyed the conversations we had. What a great time to get and know different folks in our Group.

Ashburn Rest Stop Communications Operators
 SAG-1 Shot-Gun
Ashburn Rest Station Captain - Grant Russell - KE3EMT of Purcellville. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Grant Russell - KE3EMT
Purcellville, VA.
Ashburn Rest Station Operator Jay Ives- KI4TXP of Lucketts, VA. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Jay Ives - KI4TXP
Lucketts, Va.
Ashburn Rest Station Operator Anna Tyrik - KJ4EOS of Ashburn, VA. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Anna Tyrlik - KJ4EOS
Ashburn, VA.
SAG Shut Gun Greg Drew - N3MXX de Sterling, VA., operating out of Ashburn. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Greg Drew - N3MXX
Sterling, VA.
The communications station at Ashburn Rest Station. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Anna - KJ4EOS monitors the radio
while Jay - KI4TXP and Grant - KE3EMT visit with a rider
The nice vertical ground-plane antenna at Ashburn, VA. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Nice high multiband ground plane antenna
Riders rolling into Ashburn. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Rollin' Into Ashburn

In honor of the WW II Polish Post Battle. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Remembering

Plenty of action at Ashburn. Photograph by Z Tyrik - KU1T de Ashburn, VA.

Everyone visited Ashburn twice !!!
   

The Hamilton Rest Stop Story

Hamilton Rest Stop is visited by over half the riders. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Early Sunday morning, John Unger - W4AU and Jay Greeley - KI4UTB are ready. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

John Unger - W4AU and Jay Greeley - KI4UTB
set up the 2-meter radio station at Hamilton.

      At the Hamilton Rest Stop, John Unger - W4AU, Jay Greeley - KI4UTB, Paul Dluehosh assisted Norm Styer - AI2C. Three SAG Shotguns - Bill Buchholz - K8SYH on SAG-2, Dave Wendland - KE4OKY, and Kurt Reber - KI4FWB - staged out of Hamilton.

      Hamilton Station is in their beautiful community park. It's an ideal location and was recently remodeled by Eagle Scout community project. Very nice job. Over 500 riders and support personnel past through this site. We really tried to leave no signs when we left.

      Jay Greeley was on site first at 6 AM and assisted Norm Styer in installing the antennas and setting up the radios. John Unger used his dismounted mobile unit on the 2-Meter voice net. We really heard everyone very nicely. The APRS station tracked many of the SAGs and Steve - KS1G on his bicycle when out in western Loudoun. We also used the APRS to pass packet status messages to the APRS station at NCS.

      It was a nice day and we took advantage of it with a hot meal at noon. It didn't last long. By 3 PM, all riders were through Hamilton and the RBC staff had cleaned up and departed. He closed station and march ordered. We were home by 4 PM.
The colinear antenna used on the 2-Meter APRS station. A diamond Model 200 on 4 sections of Radio Shack 4-foot poles. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Diamond 200 vertical for APRS operations

 The five element 2 and 440 yagi for FM voice operations at Hamilton. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Cushcraft for 2-meters voice net

The APRS station at Hamilton with UIView Tracking Program. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Dismounted APRS station provided by Norm Styer - AI2C

Packet Message Traffic To-From AI2C-9 APRS Station at Hamilton
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 13:37:12 You copy Hamilton Station ???
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 13:37:57 No???
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 13:38:38 That's strange - you answered me
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 13:39:54 just checking to see if u awake
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 13:40:43 Cool - Big crowd here now - peak bike traffic
AI2C-9 RESTON 2008-08-24 13:47:15 Reston - You copy Hamilton ???
AI2C-9 N3MXX-9 2008-08-24 14:32:07 n3mxx you copy hamilton ???
AI2C-9 RESTON 2008-08-24 14:34:42 you copy hamilton ????
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 15:23:23 Are the burgers ready?
AI2C-9 RESTON 2008-08-24 15:24:16 the sos is great - you are late !!!
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 15:25:32 the sos is great - you are late !!!
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 15:25:43 were waiting 4 sam ores
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 15:27:09 we have smoke sausage beef stew pickles etc
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 18:54:59 less than 15 riders sitting around here
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 18:57:32 status # riders ur qth? timestamp?
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 18:59:25 abt 10 riders & 10 rbc volunteers here 1900Z
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 19:00:02 tu
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 19:00:40 tu
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:05:18 k8syh leaving with a 2nd rider & his bike to reston

AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:08:43 k8syh left his radio here for ki4fwb to pick up
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:12:08 roger my last two ?????
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:14:33 k8syh leaving now 1915 for reston with 2 riders
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:15:17 k8syh left his radio here for ki4fwb to pick up RGR ??
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:38:13 rbc support closing here
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:38:59 ke4oky here and closed down
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:46:51 ke4oyk left nc4s's battery here
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:47:37 ke4oyk also left mag mounted ant here
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:47:44 it might be for or from nc4s
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:50:05 you guys copy any of this ???
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 19:51:34 rgr all; sag4 will p u equip
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 19:52:16 rgr all; sag4 will p u equip
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:53:39 roger dodger charlie brown
AI2C-9 K4LRG-6 2008-08-24 19:58:48 this is hamilton aprs closing de ai2c
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 19:59:52 clr 2 secure. 73 es tks
K4LRG-6 AI2C-9 2008-08-24 20:00:35 clr 2 secure. 73 es tks

Total number of message records for AI2C-9 in the DB0ANF database: 35

Dave - KE4OKY ran shot gun on SAG-3 out of Hamilton. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Dave Wendland - KE4OYK provided communications for SAG-3 on the Taylorstown Loop
Bill - K8SYH ran shot gun on SAG-2 out of Hamilton. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Bill Buchholz - K8SYH of Potomac Falls provided communications for SAG-2 in the Leesburg area
and the sweep to Reston Town Center
Merc - N4TGA of Leesburn pays visit to Hamilton Station. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Merc Skaggs - N4TGA of Leesburg
stopped by to visit


Paul Dluehosh - N4PD de Leesburg operates the FM 2-Meter Voice station out of Hamilton. Photograph by Norm Styer - Ai2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Paul Dluehosh - N4PD of Leesburg
manned the 2-meter voice operation
The hot stove of mid-day meal at Hamilton Station. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

What's left of a hot meal prepared by Norm - AI2C
It didn't last long !

The Mobile Unit of N4PD - Paul Dluehosh

The fine business mobile station of N4PD. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Kenwood TS-480 DSP HF/50MHz All Mode Transceiver

Plus antenna tuning unit, SWR/Watt meter, speaker,
and a morse key

The big mobile screwdriver for N4PD / Mobile. Photograph by Norm Styeer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

A busy Hamilton Station. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Hamilton Rest Stop early on Sunday morning
After lunch, a lone rider figures out where to go next. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

So, how much further is it, or where am I ?


The 2008 edition of the Reston Century was another great success and offered opportunities for many to test their skills and equipment, and gain experience supporting community events. Some new amateur radio emergency communicators stood up this year. Thanks for all the support.


NNNN

About Us | Site Map | Contact Us | Established 13 September 1999, Copyright 1999-2006, All Rights Reserved by Loudoun Amateur Radio Group. See Credits Published In Announcements Section. Internet Hosting Provided As A Public Service By  MicroNeil Research Corporation