As you may remember the “distracted driver” law currently in effect was for just work zones and amateur radio was not an exception to the law.
This last legislature session passed a new version of the state law (H 874 on March 10 2020) that applies to the whole state. The good news is that amateur radio is now exempt from the law. Here is a link to the new law (yellow highlights are mine).
While the law normally would have started July 1st the governor delayed it till 01/01/2021. Also be aware that the city of Richmond has their own law and it applies to amateur radio. It is unclear (I am not a lawyer) if the state law supersedes the city law or not. I’ll update this as we find out more information.
October’s RARC meeting has been placed on our YOUTUBE channel, you can follow the link here.
Our program was Solar Numbers and Amateur Radio by Robert Orndorff – Good information
We also elected the new officers
President: John DeMajo, K5HTZ
Vice Present: Allan Johnson, WA3J
Secretary: David Robinson, KJ4LHP
Treasurer: Ken Leidner,WV0L
Director: Robin Jones, KM4TWQ
Director: Joey Hairfield, WJ3H
The October newsletter is waiting for you HERE
Business meeting
The first 10 to 20 minutes are the business of the club. Reports on the finances, new members, the school, the club stations, etc. are covered.
Program
The rest of the meeting is the usual technical program. For October program is by Robert Orndorff, W4BNO. The subject:
W4BNO
“Solar Numbers and Amateur Radio”; this will cover what the solar numbers (SFI, K index, A index, etc) mean. Information on solar flares, CMEs and other solar information is also presented. The presentation will also cover the data reported in the WWV solar reports. The intent is to give the audience a better understanding of how the sun affects ham radio propagation.
Zoom credentials to attend the meeting
The RARC meeting is completely on Zoom, no 2-meter radio part.
For those of you have a problem with using Zoom, note that you can join the meeting using just a phone, landline or cell phone, no zoom app needed. Granted you will miss any video but it will be like using a radio. If you are calling in on a phone here are 2 special “codes”
* 6 Mute / Unmute
* 9 Raise Hand
Here is the Zoom meeting information
Topic: RARC Monthly Meeting – Virtual;
Time: Aug 14, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88518058584
Meeting ID: 885 1805 8584
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 885 1805 8584
A new version of the VA Master KML(Z) file is available. Data is as of 9/27/2020. See the information here.
Program
Rig control, logging, and digital modes with a Raspberry Pi
Bruce MacAlister, W4BRU, will attempt a live demonstration of rig control with a $35 hand-sized Raspberry Pi computer from his station. He’ll have a few slides on hand in case the live demo goes … well you know how live demos can go. Since some of the computer setup info came from KX4QC, Bruce will attempt to get him to participate.
Zoom credentials to attend the meeting
This month the RARC meeting will be completely on Zoom, no 2-meter radio part.
For those of you have a problem with using Zoom, note that you can join the meeting using just a phone, landline or cell phone, no zoom app needed. Granted you will miss any video but it will be like using a radio. If you are calling in on a phone here are 2 special “codes”
* 6 Mute / Unmute
* 9 Raise Hand
Here is the Zoom meeting information
Topic: RARC Monthly Meeting – Virtual;
Time: Aug 14, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88518058584
Meeting ID: 885 1805 8584
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 885 1805 8584
The September newsletter can be found here.
See you at the Virtual meeting Friday 9/11/2020
The Richmond Amateur Radio Club has received a large donation of vacuum tubes. All tubes in this collection have been recently tested on an emission tube checker, verified as “good” and individually boxed with appropriate 
identification. With the ever lurking possibility of damage to solid-state radios from natural or man-made EMPs, as well as the renewed nostalgic interest in vintage equipment, many hams are tuning up their remaining tube equipment or seeking to obtain and restore them. Current Ebay prices indicate a solid present day market for vintage radios by such manufacturers as Hallicrafters, Collins, National and other brands from years gone by. If you are in need of replacement tubes for such a project, please check out the stock of tubes that we have to offer. Tubes will be sold at reasonable prices, and all proceeds benefit the RARC.
To look and to bid click this link –> http://demajo.net/rarc_auction
Registration ended September 8th at 8pm. Classes start September 15 via Zoom.
Spring classes will be announced sometime in early January 2021.
Our August meeting is now on our YouTube Channel follow the link below
