Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Operation
In Support Of Scouting At The Flying Circus
de East of Bealeton, Virginia
September 7, 2001

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
Loudoun County, Virginia
1600 Hours EDT, Tuesday, September 4, 2001
De Norm Styer - AI2C
Canby Road, Leesburg, Virginia

LARG OPLAN 2001-4

Mission: Members of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group operate Amateur Radio Station K4LRG at the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Of America Camp at the Flying Circus Aerodrome near Bealeton, VA on Saturday, September 8, 2001.

Location and Directions: The Camp Site is at the Flying Circus Aerodrome (See Aerial Photo) southeast Bealeton, Virginia at 38 Degrees 32.945 Minutes North and 77 Degrees 42.918 Minutes West on Virginia Route 644 about 1.5 miles northeast of US Route 17. The station will be established at Site #1 shown on this aerial photograph provided by Aviation Coordinator and Scouter Joe Gallen. The site is adjacent to Troop 982's camp and uses the last 2 or 3 table spaces at the northwest end of the camping area. Members traveling from south should take US Route 15 to US Route 29 and then southeast on Route 17 to Route 644. See Area Maps.

Weather: This is a NO-THUNDERSTORM weather operation. If very heavy rain or the threat of thunderstorms exist then this demonstration operation will be delayed or cancelled.

Concept Of Radio Operation:

   1. On-Site Operators and equipment will depart the Leesburg Church of the Nazarene on Route 15 By-Pass at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, September 8, 2001. Road distance is about 48 miles and travel time is a little over an hour. Radio antennas, equipment, and shelter facilities will be set up on site starting at about 7::30 A.M. Priority will be to installation of HF antenna and the shelter The Amateur Radio Demonstrations will start about 9:00 A.M. and continue through about 4:00 P.M at which time all stations and facilities will be closed.

   2. Throughout the demonstration periods, Scouts will visit the Radio Site individually or in patrol size units of 8 to 10. LARG Operators will explain what Amateur Radio is and demonstrate their radio equipment. The Scouts will be invited to Sign In on the Radio Visitors Log and will be invited to operate the radio equipment under the direct control of a LARG Radio Operator. Contacts will be made with LARG Out-Stations and other Amateur Radio Stations and the Scouts will exchange information about their troop, their name and other interests. Each contact should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Each radio contact will be entered into the K4LRG Radio Station Log. Out-Station Operators should encourage the Scouts to communicate by asking them good questions about their activities and interests.

Schedule

Radio Demonstrations: Each station will be under the direct control of at least one LARG member. The LARG Amateur Radio Callsign K4LRG will be used. Each group should be told how amateur radio works and something about the radios and antennas being demonstrated and the call signs of the LARG Out-Stations that are standing by on frequency. The LARG operator should call one of the Out-Stations and establish radio contact then allow each Scout to call the Out-Station and talks briefly to the Out-Station Operator.
     Out-Station Operators should be prepared and ask each Scout several questions. The idea is to have a short exchange of information with each Scout. The exchange might include information about first names, grades, age, Scout Troop and location, Scouting Rank and Merit Badges earned, favorite subjects in school or sporting activities, or what school they attend. Each Scout QSO should not last more than 3 to 4 minutes.
     The Scouts will sign in on the K4LRG Radio Station Log and complete some basic log information on name, age, troop number, station worked and its operator's name, time, date and frequency. The LARG On-Site operator will sign-off on each log entry. The LARG member/operator should encourage each Scout and he should be prepared to assist them in getting started. And of course, keep the rotation of Scouts moving. As soon as a group has finished with their rotation at one radio station they should be prepared to move to the next site. It may be possible to get some of the Scouts to each of the stations.
     The quality of the QSO should come before meeting time limits. There may be some Scouts who will not want to talk but only watch others; this will be OK. Remember their attention span is sometimes limited so be prepared to keep them involved. This will be fast moving event once the Scouts get an idea of what is expected and is happening.
     A Morse Code Practice and Demonstration Station will also be available. Scouts will be encouraged to "decode" the messages. The LARG Morse Code Card will be provided each Scout.
     Norm Styer, AI2C, is a registered Boy Scout Radio Merit Badge Counselor and will provide information on the Requirements for the Radio Merit Badge (Current Requirements August 1, 2008). One of the several requirements can be completed on site if the Scout learns about the various radio stations and makes a QSO on one of the radios. Troop Scoutmasters should have available Radio Merit Badge Cards for Scouts wishing to start this effort.
     Everyone should just take their time with the Scouts; try to explain what Amateur Radio is all about and answer their questions. This will be a long day so pace yourself.

WARNINGS:  Some snakes have been found in the area and they are definitely at home in wood, leaf and debris piles. Please encourage people to stay away from these potential problem areas. Also, the ticks are appearing and are hungry. Please be sure you do tick checks on Saturday evening. There are some holes in the camping and display areas so be careful walking.

Close Stations - March Order: After the Demonstration Period #2 the on-site LARG members will assist each other to close stations and pack for the march order.

Radio Station Configurations and LARG Operators:

General: This is planned as a two Station-Band Operation. The LARG will operate an HF and a VHF/UHF radio station.

Station Site: The Radio Station Site was selected on Saturday, September 1, 2001, during a recon of the site by Norm Styer, AI2C and Kay Styer, KA2IJU. Two station positions will be established. The AI2C-Flyer will be used to cover the operating tables. Two tables will be provided by Norm Styer, AI2C. One large table will be used for the HF station and the Morse Code Demonstration Station provided by Norm Styer, AI2C.. The second large table will be used for the the VHF/UHF Station provided by Art Laurent, KD4CSO. Several Terrain Profiles from the Aerodrome to several LARG Members have been developed. Ropes for flyers and antennas will be marked with engineering tape.

The Amateur Radio Station Site

Electrical Power. All stations will be power from 12-volt deep-cycle DC batteries. There is no on-site commercial power.

The VHF/UHF Station. Operation will be on the LARG Club Frequency of 147.480 MHz Simplex. ..The 440 MHz and 6-Meter operating frequencies will be announced on the 2-Meter operating frequency. This station and antennas are provided by Art Laurent, KD4CSO. This station will be a Yaesu FT-836R Four-Band, All-Mode VHF Transceiver operating on 6-Meter, 2-Meter, 70-Centimeters and 1.2 GHz Amateur Radio Bands. For antennas, Art will provide his Diamond X-50 2-Meter and 440 MHz Dual-Band Vertical Antenna and a Cushcraft 13B2 with 13 elements on 144-148 MHz Yagi Antenna. He will also provide a 1/4-wavelength vertical for 6-Meter with a magnetic mount. Antennas for 2-Meter and 440 MHz will go atop a 25-foot Collapsible Portable Mast held in a roll-over ground mount and guyed in three directions. Belton 9913-F coax cable will be used as feedline. This station will be powered by deep-cycle marine battery that is kept charged by two 22-watt solar panels. Art will also install 2-Meter and 440 MHz Amplifiers that include 15-dB Preamps.

On-Site Operators for the VHF/UHF Station:
Art Laurent, KD4CSO
Bob Oliphant, KF4VBM

LARG Out-Stations On VHF/UHF:
Gary Quinn, NC4S in Lovettsville, VA. - Demo Periods #1 and #2.

The HF Station. This station will operate on several HF Amateur Radio Bands including 80-Meters at 3917 KHz and 40-Meters at 7280 KHz.. This station is an Kenwood TS-440 Transceiver provided and operated by Norm Styer, AI2C. The HF antenna is of the W3DZZ-Design with dipole elements for 40 and 80 Meters. A Johnson  Matchbox will be used and thus operation is also possible on 15 and 10 Meters. Power will be provided by a 12-volt deep cycle battery furnished by Norm Styer, AI2C.

On-Site Operators for the HF Station:
Norm Styer, AI2C
Chester Kmak, WA9LAZ
Paul Dluehosh, N4PD.

LARG Out-Stations On HF:
Gary Quinn, NC4S in Lovettsville, VA. - Demo Periods #1 and #2.
John Unger, W4AU in Hamilton, VA - Demo #1.
And other amateur radio stations who want to talk to the Scouts.

The Morse Code Demonstration Station: This station will consist of MFJ Grandmaster Morse Code Keyer and a Practice Key. Preprogrammed messages will be generated and the Scouts offered the opportunity to decode the messages. The key may be used by the Scouts to practice sending Morse Code. The LARG Morse Code Card will be provided each Scout.

On-Site Operators Morse Code Station:
Norm Styer, AI2C - Demo Periods #1 and #2

Amateur Radio Handouts and Radio Merit Badge Information: An ARRL Archie's Ham Radio Adventure Comic Book will be offered to each Scout. The Boy Scout Requirements for the Radio Merit Badge (Current Requirements August 1, 2008) will be explain by Norm Styer, AI2C who is a registered Radio Merit Badge Counselor.

Other Stations: Other LARG and Non-LARG Amateur Radio members and stations are encouraged to participate. Contact the liaison officers listed below or contact On-Site Stations directly on-the-air during the Demonstration Periods.

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

On-Site Refreshments: Lunch will be provided LARG On-Site Operators by Joe Gallen. Sodas will be provided on-site by Norm Styer, AI2C. There is no water facilities.

On-Site Parking: Space is limited with space for two maybe three vehicles to the side of the stations. Others not required to support the operation will park in the consolidated parking area.

Official Pictures: Photographs will be taken throughout the installation and operation for posting to our K4LRG.ORG WEB Site.

Summary Of Operational Personnel

Additions and Changes: Additions and changes should be brought to the attention of Norm Styer, AI2C. Telephone (540) 338-2584 or Email: [email protected].

Boy Scout Liaison:

Joe Gallen, Scout Aviation Coordinator, telephone (703) 771-4985 or Email: [email protected]

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Liaison:

President, Denny Boehler, KF4TJI, telephone (703) 777-9427 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://groups.yahoo.com/group/l_a_r_g

This Plan Released: 4:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 4, 2001 by Norm Styer, AI2C. This plan is released in summary form to the L_A_R_G Reflector and posted in full on the LARG Reflector Website.

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