The club needs assistance with the Maryland-DC QSO Party. If you are able to help with the planning and execution, contact Eric at president@w3vpr.org or the chairperson at mdcqsop@w3vpr.org.

You are the lifeblood and future of the Anne Arundel Radio Club.

The AARC is always looking for members to volunteer either as a chairperson or a committee member. The possibilities are multiple. There are a few chairperson positions open and committee chairs are always very glad to welcome you aboard. Check out the committees at the Staff List page.

UPDATED: Beginning with the July 21 meeting, in person meetings at the clubhouse will resume. They will also be presented on Zoom for members who cannot attend in person. The meeting begins at 7:30 pm.

Visitors are welcome to attend and become acquainted with the club and members.

The AARC offers testing for all license levels throughout the year, except August when the day conflicts with the Maryland-DC QSO Party. The tests are for the Technician, General and Amateur Extra licenses.

You may take more than one test at a time. However, to get get a General License you must pass the Technician test and to qualify for the Amateur Extra you must pass the Technician and General exams.

For details and further information see the License Examinations page.

Field Day has started. Drop by the clubhouse between 2 pm Saturday and 2 pm Sunday. The radios are set up close by and temporary antennas are around the Davidsonville Family Recreation Center grounds. 

Field Day allows any member or even non-members the opportunity to see amateur radio at work (perhaps be ad hoc on the air yourself). And it offers a chance for you to become acquainted with members who may waiting their turn to be on the air or who are providing backup services.

The new ARRL Technician study manual is presently available from the ARRL website. The questions from the manual become effective on July 1 and will be the basis for Technician exams through June 30, 2026. At present the only option is the bound version (ARRL has the spiral bound format on order from the printer but they've been delayed).

Available at the ARRL store.

The club is hoping to resume hybrid meetings beginning in July. This means members would be able to attend both in person or by Zoom. Watch the website or the President's emails for more information and the date this will happen.

The Maryland-DC QSO Party rules for the coming contest are presently online here.

For full information, see the Maryland-DC QSO Party page.

Many thanks and much appreciation to Maryland Delegates Mr. Boteler and Mr. Buckel and their staff.

Narrative –
Local Government - Regulation of Amateur Radio Station Antenna Structures
Requiring that an ordinance adopted by a county or municipality to regulate amateur radio station antenna structures may not preclude amateur radio communications, must accommodate amateur radio communications, and must constitute the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish the purpose of the ordinance.

The club is in need of a person to serve as the Chairman of the Maryland-DC QSO Party. We are the hosts of the annual event and provide a plaque to the club that initiates the most contacts and points (AARC as the host is ineligible). All other participants are acknowledged by a certificate of participation.

The process is largely automated as a Python program tallies the final score as well as software to help with the mailing. Information is on the website, click here.

Are you an Amateur Extra? 

Keith, AE3D, is seeking Extras to narrate brief topics that will be a part of the upcoming AE class lectures. If you have the time to record a brief presentation on an Extra topic contact Keith at learn@w3vpr.org. The topics are pre-written.

On Friday, May 27, Governor Hogan notified the Speaker of the House of Delegates that HB 331 on the regulation of amateur radio station antennas will take effect without his signature. 

Article II, Section 17(c) of the state constitution allows such bills duly passed to become law if not vetoed or signed by the governor.

Dear Eric Berman,
We feel supported

The RigExpert brand comes from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Therefore, with the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine, our team received hundreds of emails from all over the world.

Each such appeal contained words of support to Ukraine and the RigExpert team.

Radio amateurs from all over the world offered us their help: shelter for Ukrainian families, financial assistance, offices, information support, and much more.

Such unprecedented support inspired us then and gives us wings now.

The May 5, 2022 presentation was on Working the FM Satellites by Chris  Mishaga, KB3IBI. The presentation can be accessed by clicking this link.

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One of the benefits of membership in the Anne Arundel Radio Club is the ability for members to use the Club station radios during Open Shack Sundays. 

The Shack radios are an Icom 7300, IC 9700, Yaesu FT-991A, Kenwood TS-570 and a Flex. And members can access digital communications as the club has hot spots available for DMR, D-STAR and Fusion.

The operating schedule for Open Shack is posted here

The next General Class has started, however you can still attend. For information, contact Keith, AE3D at training@w3vpr.org. The Class is held at 1:30 pm on consecutive Sundays, except May 29 (Memorial Day weekend) via Zoom.

Field Day is approaching. As ARRL says:

Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.

The FCC fee to obtain licenses or get a new sequential or vanity license will become effective on April 19. This means the April testing session is the last session the AARC will have before the fee takes effect.