Honda 2200-Watt Generator Recall

About 340,000 Honda EB2200I and EU2200i generators were recalled in March, adding to a recall last year (for a different reason) of 200,000 generators of the same type. Several MCACS members own these generators. Check to see whether your unit is included in the recall. Here is a link to the announcement on the CPSC website.

Tom Horne, W3TDH Appointed ARES Emergency Coordinator

On February 27, 2020, Tom was notified by ARRL HQ of his appointment as ARES Emergency Coordinator for Montgomery County. Tom was appointed to the position by Jim Montgomery, WB3KAS, Section Emergency Coordinator for Maryland-DC. Congrats to Tom.

Tom replaces Fred Bader, K3CSX, who has served in the position for so long that none of us can remember when he was first appointed. We thank Fred for his many years of service. Fred plans to remain active in ARES and remains on the MCACS board of directors as secretary of the organization.

Upcoming Hospital Drills will be Virtual

It is now official that the hospital communications drill scheduled for April 2 will be conducted from home stations. Other hospital drills planned for April and May will likely be cancelled, although we will continue to practice using Winlink for messaging. There will be no deployments to hospitals for exercises until the threat of covid-19 infection has passed. Please check the Net Schedule frequently for updates.

Winter Field Day

We had another successful Winter Field Day deployment on the last weekend in January, although the weather was more spring-like than winter-like. We set up two stations in a tent and a third station in the MAIPN Van. Operating over a 24-hour period, we made contacts in 34 states and four Canadian provinces. Click here for the full story.

Maryland/DC Hospital Drill

Ten MCACS members participated in the quarterly Maryland/DC hospital net on the evening of Jan. 2, operating from stations at three county hospitals. Winlink traffic was passed to and from all participating hospitals, and a voice net was conducted on the Central Maryland Repeater Group’s network of linked 70 cm repeaters. The next hospital drill will be on April 2.