Cancelled: October SPARC Operating Event: Makrothen RTTY Contest

By Tom Schaeffer W4CU on 10/02/2023

Unfortunately SPARC will not participate in theMakrothen RTTY event and the club station will not be open October 14 and 15

Makrothen RTTY is a favorite operating event of SPARC and other RTTY operators because the score for a contact is the distance from you to the contact. Scores in the millions of points are routine. In fact, in 2017 SPARC placed Second World Wide with a score of 2,023,660. This year’s contest will take place October 14 & 15.

Related Images:

1500 watts and a Beam…

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 10/22/2019

With apologies to “100 watts and a wire”, why not go big with the SPARC remote club station! For those that may not know, one of the benefits of SPARC membership is access to a great remote station. The station happens to be the SPARC club station we use for contesting. The station is available using the RemoteHams software (free or $10 for an Android app).

Using your PC and headset, or a paddle and keyer if you prefer (including a straight key if you are really adventurous), you can … Click for more

FT8 program at SPARC’s new meeting location Friday, Nov 2

By Ed NZ1Q on 10/25/2018

FT8 will be presented at the Nov 2 SPARC meeting. We’ll cover what it is, why it was created, what it’s used for and how to use/operate FT8.

The picture is an example of FT8 software, available for Free. FT8 has captured a large portion of the data/digital modes being used today on HF. There is always someone on FT8 on some band some where. FT8 is a development based on earlier generations of WSJT modes such as JT-65 and JT-9.

FT-8 is now being used for DXpeditions (VP6D, Ducie … Click for more

DXLabs Workshop on April 21, 2018

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/15/2018

SPARC will be conducting a full day DXLabs workshop on Saturday April 21st starting at 10:00 AM. The purpose of this is to introduce people to using the DXLabs Suite of software. If you are a recent convert to DXLabs or looking to change from a different logging package, this is the session for you. Topics we will cover include:

Installing the software
Converting from your current logging software
Set up of Logbook of the World (LOTW), QRZ and eQSL integration
Getting setup on LOTW including TQSL and completing

… Click for more

URGENT Action Required for the Amateur Radio Parity Act!

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 11/21/2016

From the ARRL:

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), is still not supporting H.R. 1301 / S.253 the Amateur Radio Parity Act.

In fact, Senator Nelson has placed a “hold” on the legislation, effectively barring consideration of the Bill despite its widespread bipartisan support. If this hold isn’t removed, the bill will die in the Senate and require the process to completely start over when the new Congress begins on January 1, 2017.

You are one of well over 40,000 licensed Amateur Radio operators living in Florida. Many of you already live … Click for more

Scotty, N4RI, places in the 2015 DX Marathon Formula Class

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 06/03/2016

WPX RTTY 2009 N4RI — N4RI Working 2009 WPX RTTY

SPARC member and fellow W4TA contester Scott O’Keefe N4RI placed second in the 2015 CQ DX Marathon Formula class. Scotty finished with 250 countries worked in 2015 just behind winner Joe W4TV with 254 countries. The Formula class is for people that are using only vertical or simple dipole antennas and 100 watts (there is a separate QRP category).

You can find out more information about the DX Marathon here. The way the award resets each year allows the people that have worked just … Click for more

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