QSL Card Checking, and information about the 4 Area incoming QSL Bureau are available at WINTERFEST 2023 at Oakton HS on Sunday, March 19th. For DXCC or WAS Card Checking follow the instructions found at: https://p1k.arrl.org/onlinedxcc/ or use the paper form found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Application%20forms/DXCC_Application_Form_Nov_2022.pdf If you plan to bring QSL cards to check, fill out the record sheet found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/DXCC%20Record%20Sheet%202013a.pdf prior to arriving at the Hamfest. The outdoor tailgating area opens at 7:00 am and the indoor market fair opens at 8:00 am. The Hamfest closes at 2:00 pm. Purchase your admission/raffle tickets here: https://ticketstripe.com/VWS-WinterFest-2023 You do not need to be present to win the raffle. More info at https://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest/

Join the Club’s Regular General Meeting starting at 7:00 pm, via Zoom Meeting. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09 Forum – “Amateur Radio RF Exposure” Join the ARRL Learning Network pre-recorded presentation on Amateur Radio RF Exposure, by Dan Brown, W1DAN. Dan is the Eastern Massachusetts ARRL Section Technical Coordinator, and President of the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society. In May, the FCC issued a new Rule and Order eliminating the decades-long “categorical exclusion” for mandated RF exposure calculations for most Amateur Radio stations. Effective May, 2021 Amateurs must conduct detailed calculations of RF exposure for both controlled and uncontrolled environments, and have the calculations on file in the shack. After Dan’s presentation, there will be a short discussion. Time: 7:00-7:30 pm Main Program -- “Mitigating Residential Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) RFI (Radio Frequency Interference)” The mandated use of high-efficiency DC motors in HVAC systems poses new challenges for RFI mitigation in the Amateur Radio bands. In this presentation, VWS member Roger, KM4LHZ along with Steven, W9SAN of the Fort Wayne (IN) Radio Club will explain the physical basis for these phenomena, present brief case studies in RFI mitigation, and discuss some common myths regarding HVAC RFI. Considerations for purchasing a new HVAC system will be given. Roger experienced this issue first-hand when he recently updated his home HVAC system, and Steve is an electrical engineer at the Regal Beloit Corporation, specializing in RFI issues. Time: 7:30 – 9:00 pm

Mark your calendars and join the crowd planning to attend the Berryville Hamfest on Sunday, 1 Aug at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds. Details are at: Berryville Hamfest - August 1, 2021 - It's Gonna Happen! - Shenandoah Valley Amateur Radio Club (svarc.us)

Regular General Meeting, 23 July 2021 Join the Club’s Regular General Meeting starting at 7:00 pm, via Zoom Meeting. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09 Forum – “Disaster Deployments” Presenter, Jack Smith, KE4LWT, Virginia Emergency Management Association Certified Professional Emergency Manager (VaPEM). Time: 7:00-7:30 pm Main Program -- “Fairfax County Public Safety/Service Radio Systems” Presenter, Jeffrey Holmes, KD4VZN, Fairfax County Radio/Wireless Services Center. Time: 7:30 – 9:00 pm Summer Picnic, 24 July 2021 The VWS Board of Directors and Officers invite you to a summer picnic on July 24th starting at 11 AM. The event will be held at Glyndon Park, in the Town of Vienna. Parking is available both off of the Glyndon St, NE and Beulah Rd entrances to the Park. For the time being we plan to avoid sharing food from common containers so format of the picnic will be largely a ‘bring your own’ event so please bring your own food, drinks and dishware to the gathering. We plan to light the BBQ/Grill, and will be cooking Club-provided items such as hamburgers, hot dogs and brats. We will also cook items you bring, and we’ll drop the items hot off the grill onto your plates when the cooking is done.

Regular General Meeting, 9 Jul 2021 Join the Club’s Regular General Meeting starting at 7:00 pm, via Zoom Meeting. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09 Forum – “The Worldwide microchip Shortage” Steve, KO4KGS will discuss the causes, effects, issues and long range outlook of the current microchip shortage. He will reveal the reasons why we can’t buy an IC-7300, FT-991A’s, or for that matter new cars or home appliances due to the supply chain issues. Time: 7:00-7:30 pm Main Program -- “Shut Down and Called Up – Hams in the Great War” Chris, W2PA, an engineer and Ham Radio Historian will visit us from New York, and share an interesting story of ham radio before, during, and after World War I. Hams were put off the air by the government, even required to dismantle their stations, in an environment of enforcement and suspicion. QST ceases publication. But the need for radio operators was so great that many volunteered as military operators. As the war ended, everyone needed to be re-licensed, and the League needed a jump start. Hams managed to accomplish this while waiting for the long-delayed reopening and fighting threats of restrictive new regulation. Time: 7:30 -9:00 pm Special Program Presentation, Saturday, 10 Jul @ 1:00 PM Join your fellow VWS members in a special presentation by A71AM, from Qatar, to give us a presentation on his experience as a Ham in the Middle East. He comes highly recommended by folks at the Hamvention. NOTE THIS IS A NEW TIME The Zoom meeting link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82468835727?pwd=MGZTc2xwYVBnRFN5ZC95Q0Y5Y2ErQT09 Because of the seven-hour time difference, Saif is scheduled to present on Saturday, 10 July at 1pm our time. The session is to be recorded for later use. Note: Attendance is limited to the first 500 attendees! You may also view the presentation live via You Tube, click https://youtu.be/SlFWzys6Jm8

No club meeting on Friday, Jul 2th, please mark your calendar for Jul 9th for some very exciting presentations. But don’t fret, Hams in the US and Canada have two great events this weekend to celebrate national historical events, and hone ham radio skills. Radio Amateur Canada (RAC) Canada Day Contest, 1 Jul: This is a great contest to work that far West Providence(s) you’re missing. But maybe more important ... this might be only one of the few times that the Hams from the Canadian Nunavut, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories are on the air. More details, see: https://www.rac.ca/rac-canada-day-contest-celebrate-canadas-birthday-on-the-air/ 13 Colonies Special Event Stations: From 1-7 Jul, Hams from the 13 colonies join in a group of special event stations – K2A, K2B, K2C, K2D, K2E, etc. see: http://www.13colonies.us/

There is no scheduled Club meeting, via Zoom on Friday, June 25th. Instead, members are encouraged to prepare for Field Day, which starts at 2pm, Saturday, June 26th and runs continuously through Sunday, June 27th at 2pm. There is no organized FD event at Burke Lake Park this year, instead Club members are encouraged to work from their home QTH, or gather in small groups in the field.

Regular General Meeting, 11 June 2021 Join the Club’s Regular General Meeting starting at 7:00 pm, via Zoom Meeting. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09 Forum Topic – “The NanoVNA” Dean, KK4DAS; Mike, KA4CDN and Mike, KD4MM will discuss the the features and capabilities of the NanoVNA for analyzing electrical equipment impedance, including antennas and feedlines . Time: 7:00-7:30 pm Main Program -- The Awakening of 10 meters” Bill, AF4LL, “Mr. 10 meters” will share his extensive experience using the 10m amateur band. Time: 7:30-9:00 pm Ole Virginia Hams Tailgate Party, 12 June 2021 In lieu of the regular June Manassas Hamfest this year, the OVHs are sponsoring a Tailgate Party on Saturday, June 12, 2021 from 8am to 2pm, rain or shine. See details at: https://w4ovh.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Tailgate21_Map2.pdf

Purpose To stimulate digital PSK activity on the ten meter band. Date & Time Start 0000 UTC June 5, 2021 end 2400 UTC June 6, 2021 Mode BPSK31 All contacts must be 2-way BPSK31 No repeater, cross-mode or cross-band contacts allowed. BANDS Ten meters: digital section Primary suggested frequency: 28.120 (suggested in case of heavy traffic 28.125). Rules @ https://www.ten-ten.org/index.php/activity/2013-07-22-20-26-48/qso-party-schedule/2-uncategorised/51-open-season-rules

Join the Club’s Regular General Meeting starting at 7:00 pm, via Zoom Meeting. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09 Forum Topic – "Using FT-8 during Field Day" Don, KM4UDX and Anthony, K8ZT, from Ohio, will discuss using FT-8 at Field Day. How to set up the contest program, how to work stations, and how to submit logs. Time: 7:00-7:30 pm Main Program – “FT-8 Smackdown” Don and panel will host their “FT-8 Smackdown” and discuss the pros and cons of the FT-8 digital mode and why it may not be as popular as you think. They will point out the good and bad of the mode and why proponents may be misled. Time: 7:30-9:00 pm

Field Day is June 26-27th and out of an abundance of caution the Club will not operate FD from Burke Lake Park this year. Members are encouraged to operate individually or form teams and to name Vienna Wireless Society as their Club when submitting scores. Don’t know much about FD? See: http://www.arrl.org/field-day Follow the VWS Discussion on FD 2021 on www.Hamcommunity.com and go to the Field Day Discussion on the VWS Page on the site. Note, you’ll need to be signed-in to Hamcommunity.com to gain entrance to the VWS pages, and the FD discussion group. If not registered? It’s free, and easy to do. Just click “sign in” at the top right corner of site. And while you are on the VWS pages, check out our photo gallery, and other features of Hamcommunity.com If you have questions about FD, or if you’re looking for a Club member hosting a small group of other Club members for FD, drop an email to FD@viennawireless.net Likewise, if you would like to host a small group for FD this year, drop an email at the same email address.

Thanks Doug

VWS will not host our usual Field Day event at Burke Lake Park this year due to concern for safety during the pandemic. Members are encouraged to operate individually or form teams and to name Vienna Wireless Society as their club when submitting scores. We have mentors available to help with your Field Day questions. Please post them here or e-mail to FD@viennawireless.net.