Winter Field Day 2020

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/06/2020

Another Winter Field Day has come and gone (more than a few weeks ago due to my belated report). The weather was mild if not just a tad cold at night (for us Floridians anyway). The now annual combined Winter Field Day effort between the Clearwater ARS, St. Petersburg ARC and Upper Pinellas ARC took place the weekend of January 25 at the Clearwater Fire Training Center.

Antenna crew lifting the beam into place on the tall fire tower [Photo by Julie NF1T].

… Click for more

Another W4TA RTTY Win

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 12/13/2019

W4TA, the SPARC Contest Group, continues its winning ways by taking First Place in both the West Central Florida section and ARRL Southeast Division as well as Third Place in USA/Canada in the Multi-operator, Single transmitter, Low power category of the 2019 RTTY Roundup.

Posting a score of 88,788 points were: Paul KA4IOX, Rex KB8ESY, Ron KP2N, Dave KR4U, Bob N2ESP, Dee N4GD, Don VE3XD, Tom W4CU, Johnnie W4TSP and Leslie WA4EEZ.

If you are interested in joining this elite group of operators in the 2020 RTTY Roundup, save January … Click for more

SPARC’s Winter Field Day Plans

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 12/13/2019

Only 16 Days left to register to ensure your meals

Do you like operating in the field but hate dripping in sweat while setting up antennas? Does the idea of enduring another Field Day constantly fighting off every mosquito in Tampa Bay make you wish they held Field Day in January? Well, you’re in luck! Winter Field Day is an event very similar to the June ARRL Field Day except—you guessed it—it’s held in Winter. Specifically January 25 & 26, 2020. This is the third time SPARC is participating in … Click for more

W4TA World Champs

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 11/13/2019

Radio teletype (RTTY) may be a technically ancient mode of communication in these days of sophisticated digital modes, but it can be a lot of fun. Members of SPARC’s contest team proved that by winning 1^st place Worldwide and 1^st place North America in the Multi-Operator High Power (Multiple Transmitter category in the 2019 running of the Makrothen RTTY Contest. With a total score of 3,003,769 points consisted of 652 QSOs, each having an average distance of 2,902 mi (4,607 km).

Member taking place in this record setting … Click for more

Are You Ready to RTTY…

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 07/13/2019

As announced at the last meeting, will be participating as W4TA in the North American QSO Party-RTTY.

This contest begins at 2:00 PM local time on Saturday July 20, 2019. The contest continues for 12 hours, ending early Sunday morning. W4TA will be operating in class M2, i.e. two transmitters will be on the air at the same time, but on different bands.

This contest is a great chance for newcomers to get your feet wet in digital contesting. WARNING: RTTY contesting is addictive, so plan to stay awhile. … Click for more

Who Needs Propagation?

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 06/24/2019

SPARC members were out in force for the 2019 Open Season QSO Party sponsored by Ten-Ten Net International, Inc. Using PSK 31, 5 watts and a flagpole antenna, Robert aka Dean, W8IM won not one but three certificates as shown below: 1^st Place QRP, 3^rd Place World, and 1^st Place 8^th call area.