The Heritage Camporee LARG Radio Operation

Amateur Radio Station K4LRG at the Boy Scouts Of America Goose Creek District Fall Camporee
at Round Hill, Virginia on Saturday, October 14, 2000

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
Loudoun County, Virginia
1700 Hours EDT, Friday, October 6, 2000
De Norm Styer - AI2C
Canby Road, Leesburg, Virginia

LARG OPLAN 2000-4

Mission: Members of the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group operate Amateur Radio Station K4LRG at the Boy Scouts Of America Goose Creek District Fall Camporee at Round Hill, Virginia on Saturday, October 14, 2000.

Weather: This is a fair weather operation. If heavy rain or the threat of thunderstorms exist then this demonstration operation will be delayed or cancelled.

Scouting Theme: This camporee will celebrate heritage and culture in America, and in Scouting over the past 90 years. The Scouts will look at labor, families, and their diversities, disabilities, American and Scouting heritages. Some of the activities the Scouts plan to conduct include:

• Feed The Old Folks! - Explore camp cooking and provide a meal to adults in another troop.
  
• Service and Labor! - Two American Standards. They will complete a service project on site for the Potts family.
  
• Pitch the Poop! - Cow chip tossing contest.
  
• The Memorial Sty! - Visit the wonderful world of do's and don't in the campsite.
  
• Tour the Farm! - Tour one of the few remaining and working dairy farms in Loudoun County.
  
• Kiss the Pig! - Err- Cow.
  
• Chase the Chicken! - Come on out all Rocky fans. See if you can catch our chicken.
  
• What's my Abilities! - Explore the Disabilities Merit Badge finding ways around disabilities.

The Scout Troops will arrive and establish camps on Friday evening, October 13, 2000. They will remain on-site through Sunday noon, October 15, 2000.

Concept Of Radio Operation:

   1. Radio antennas, equipment, and shelter facilities will be set up on site starting at about 1:00 P.M., Friday, October 13, 2000. Operational test will be conducted following installation of all equipment. If some members of the LARG do not remain on site throughout the evening of Friday, October 13, 2000, then the radio equipment will be removed and reinstalled on Saturday morning, October 14, 2000. The Amateur Radio Demonstrations will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2000 starting at 9:00 A.M.and will continue until about 3:00 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 Radio Station Log. Out-Station Operators should encourage the Scouts to communicate by asking them good questions about their activities and interests.

Schedule

Location: The Heritage Camporee will be held on the grounds of the Potts Family Farm, north of Round Hill, Virginia.

Directions: Directions to site to be published later.

Radio Demonstrations: Each station will be under the direct control of at least one LARG member. The LARG 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 of the 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 on information with each Scout. The exchange might include information about names, grades, age, Scouting Rnk and Merit Badges earned, favorite subjects in school or sporting activities. 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 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.
     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:  Copperheads 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 still out and hungry. Please be sure you do tick checks each evening and morning.

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 8 Band Operation. The LARG will operate four HF/VHF/UHF radio stations on five HF and 3 VHF/UHF Amateur Radio Bands.

Station Site: The Radio Station Site will be selected on Friday, October 13, 2000 or if possible earlier during a to be arranged recon of the farm. Two station positions will be established. Flyers will be used to cover the operating tables. Three tables and 3 flyer will be provided by Norm Styer, AI2C. One large table will be used for the HF stations provided by Norm Styer and Larry - KC1YC. The second large table will be used for the the VHF/UHF Station provided by Art - KD4CSO. The third flyer (screened) and folding table will be the food shelter. The following LARG members will assist in installation of antennas and equipment on Friday, October 13, 2000: Larry Hughes, KG4CGR, Larry McCaig, KC1YC, Bob Oliphant, KF4VBM, and Norm Styer, AI2C.

Electrical Power. All stations will be power from 12-volt DC batteries. There is no on-site commercial power. A portable electrical generator will be provided by Norm Styer, AI2C as a on site back up.

The VHF/UHF Station. Operation will be on the LARG Club Frequency of 147.480 MHz.The 440 MHz and 6-Meter operating frequencies will be announced later and also on the 2-Meter operating frequency. This station and antennas are provided by Art, KD4CSO. This station will be a Yaesu FT-36R 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:
Ray Houff, K4AJA in Purcellville, VA. - Demo Periods #1 and #2.

The 10-Meter Station. Operation will be the LARG Club Frequency of 28.360 MHz and in the 10 Meter Band between 28.460 to 28.475 MHz. This station will be a President HR-2510 25-watt SSB and CW 10 Meter Mobile Radio provided by Norm Styer, AI2C. A 10-meter dipole will be hung from the near by trees. This station will be battery powered by Norm, AI2C's deep-cycle 12-volt battery.

On-Site Operators for the 10 Meter Station:
Norm Styer - AI2C.

LARG Out-Stations On 10 Meter:
Ray Houff, K4AJA in Purcellville, VA - Demo Periods #1 and #2.

The 80-Meter and 40-Meter Station. Operation will take place on 3895 +/- 10 KHz and 7275 MHz +/- 10 KHz. This station will be Gary, NC4S's ICOM IC 730 and Norm, AI2C's Viking Match-Box Antenna Tuner. The antennas will be 80-Meter and 40-Meter dipoles provided by Norm, AI2C and hung in near by trees. This station will also be able to operate on 15-Meter and 10-Meter Amateur Radio Bands if there is interests. This station will be powered by Norm, AI2C's deep-cycle 12-volt battery.

On-Site Operators for the 80 and 40-Meter Station:
Norm Styer, AI2C - Demo Periods #1 and #2

LARG Out-Stations On 80 and 40-Meter Bands:
Ray Houff, K4AJA in Purcellville, VA - Demo Periods #1 and #2.

The 20-Meter QRP CW Station. Operation will take place on 14.050 +/- 10 KHz. This station is a MFJ Cub QRP Transceiver provided by Larry - KC1YC. The antennas will be Larry, KC1YC's 20-Meter Dipole hung in near by trees and fed with coax cable. This station will be powered by Larry, KC1YC's battery.

On-Site Operators for the 20-Meter QRP CW Station:
Larry McCaig, KC1YC - Demo Periods #1 and #2

LARG Out-Stations On 20-Meters: To Be Determined.

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 Radio Merit Badge Requirements 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. The Pennsylvania QSO Party is happening this weekend, so operations on 80 and 40-Meters may be limited.

On-Site Refreshments: Sodas and sandwiches will be provided on-site by Norm Styer, AI2C. There is no water facilities.

Official Pictures: Larry Hughes, KG4CGR will take official LARG photographs throughout the installation and operation for posting to our K4LRG.ORG WEB Site. He will be assisted by Norm, AI2C.

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: Ai2c@aol.com.

Boy Scout Liaison:

Cheri Berman, Camporee Director, telephone (540)338-7243 or Email: CMBERMAN2@aol.com
Dale Cabaniss, KD4LSL, telephone (540) 338-3521 or Email: d_cabanis@anent.com

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group Liaison:

Ray Houff, K4AJA, telephone (540) 338-7297 or Email: k4aja@erols.com
Norm Styer, AI2C, telephone (540) 338-2584 or Email: Ai2c@aol.com
LARG Website: http://www.k4lrg.org
LARG Reflector Site: http://www.egroups.com/group/l_a_r_g/

This Plan Released: 5:00 P.M. Friday, October 6, 2000 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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