September 2025 Events
Monthly Meeting – September 12
On Friday September 12 at 7:30 PM, join our VWS EMCOMMS lead Mark Cornick N3MSC as we focus on local Emergency Communications Services-courtesy of the ARES Roundtable. The meeting location is the Vienna Community Center, 2nd floor.
What is the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)? What is its role in a changing landscape for emergency communications? What is happening with ARES in Fairfax County and the DMV region? We’ll gather a panel of local ARES leaders and volunteers to discuss these and other topics around one of amateur radio’s signature projects.
As usual we will also be on Zoom, but the food offering on Zoom is much more limited than attending in person!
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83906871573?pwd=V3l1UkZmSGZObGI5YkhLbGFYRzRUZz09
Sky Meadows Trifecta – September 20
THREE events on the same day at the same location !
- Parks on the Air (POTA) — Noon ET, Sky Meadows State Park (US-1318).
The POTA and Mentor Groups are joining forces for what we’re calling “maximum RF density per square foot.” Whether you’re a contesting legend or think CQ DX is someone’s call sign, come add to the fun. There is plenty of space to spread out. Bring your own equipment or sample ours, which may or may not feature that authentic ‘assembled during Field Day’ aesthetic.
We’ve reserved “Mary’s Picnic Shelter” (the only covered shelter) for the day. Just enter the park and hang right at the Y-intersection toward the “Picnic Area.” The picnic shelter is just beyond the gravel parking lot.
A Google Maps link to the shelter: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kW9A1nEd9QC3e2Q17
- The Mentor Group’s “145 Alive” Event — Also Noon
This is Round 2 of demonstrating VHF actually works without a repeater doing all the heavy lifting. The Mentor Group is conducting a “wireless experiment” (translation: we’re not sure this will work) trying to punch 50 miles of signal over Bull Run Mountain. Some pessimists say we’ll fail to make contact to Fairfax from the Park.
Program your HTs for 146.490 MHz simplex and prepare for either radio glory or a valuable lesson in VHF propagation. If direct communication proves as challenging as predicted, we’ll switch to the Bluemont Repeater (147.300 MHz) by 12:30 PM, because sometimes you just need to admit the mountain wins.
For the home-bound: listen for our signals on both frequencies and place your bets on whether we’ll make it over the mountain.
- NOVAC Astronomy Under the Stars — 7:30 PM
After we’ve exhausted all reasonable conversation about coax loss, stick around for the Sky Meadows/NOVAC astronomy event. VWS is not running the event, but reportedly it will feature: a kids’ “Junior Astronomer” program, space talks with NASA JPL Ambassadors, and telescope-assisted gawking at celestial objects.
Bring chairs, blankets, or that camping gear you bought with good intentions. Got optics? NOVAC says bring them.
Event details: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2024-11-18-09-45-00-342756-qza
VWS Picnic
September 27, Saturday
Rain or Shine
11 AM until 2:30 PM
(Antenna Build starts at 9 AM-see announcement for details)
– Planned Activities include a Radio Fox Hunt, Portable Operating, Antenna Building, the CERT Operating Trailer, and a ‘Radio Show and Tell’ of your really cool Stuff!
– Where: Nottoway Park in Vienna: 9537 Courthouse Rd. Vienna, VA, 22181 VWS is at Shelter A. Ample parking nearby!
See announcement for all the details.