Operating

Setup digital modes and interface a radio to your computer

By Ed NZ1Q on 03/27/2018

The April meeting program by Paul, KA4IOX will describe how to setup the two most popular digital communication applications, FLDIGI and WSJT-X. This overview will cover basic concepts for connecting your equipment and establishing communications with digital modes. Paul will also offer (for later use in your shack) a detailed step-by-step written process for set up and operation of your own digital station. Common setup issues will be covered along with how to troubleshoot them.

The presentation includes connections for a separate transmitter-receiver pair with a digital interface as well … 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

You’re Invited! Come out and Operate a Phone Contest on March 23 – 25.

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/15/2018

The SPARC Contesters invite everyone to come out and operate the CQ WPX SSB contest starting at 8:00 PM on Friday, March 23. We will be at the club station to work as many stations as we can–all on phone. The WPX contest is a fun contest as we use a rare prefix (NY4) which makes us a multiplier and hence, a desired station to work. You can experience what it is like to operate on the “other side” of the pileup. Rates of 100 contacts an hour are not … Click for more

The SPARC Contesters are live on the air (and you can watch)

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/24/2018

In yet another new feature to bring more contesting to you, you can now watch the SPARC contesters live in the shack. Click here to go to the Upcoming HF Events page here and you can watch a live bird’s eye view of the stations operating. It is video only (no sound). We will be down there until 1:00 AM Sunday morning.

You can also watch how we are doing with our real-time score board available here.

While we hope people can make it to the station, this is the … Click for more

SPARC Breaks Own Record in CQ WPX RTTY Contest

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/15/2018

This past weekend (February 10th – 11th, 2018), the SPARC Contesters activated the SPARC club station again to participate in the CQ WPX RTTY Contest. You may recall that in last year’s effort, SPARC achieved the highest score in our history and had the top score in the 4th call area. We also had the 7th highest score in the US in the Multi-operator, Single transmitter category.

2017 Certificate (Note the score is the final score versus the 3.1 million we submitted) — 2017 Certificate (Note the score is the final score versus the 3.1 million points we submitted)

The WPX RTTY contest, sponsored … Click for more

Winter Field Day 2018 Report – Field Day Fun at 70 Degrees instead of 93.

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/01/2018

One of the first Field Days I ever attended (back in 1982) was at the Fairgrounds in Largo (home of the Renaissance festivals). At that event, the Clearwater Amateur Radio Society (CARS), the Metro Repeater Association (Metro) and the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) came together in the spirit of inter-club cooperation to put on a huge ARRL Field Day effort. This was complete with a great location, good equipment, operators to man the stations, great food and loads of fun.

View of site from fire tower (dipole support)