Operating

Copy the Field Day Bulletin…

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 06/24/2020

A normal task we always do on Field Day is to copy the W1AW special bulletin sent each year before and during Field Day. This activity simulates what you would do if in a real emergency and you were relying upon bulletins from the ARRL for information. So it is a good skill to learn. To boot, you get 100 bonus points for doing it.

The bulletin is sent in multiple modes (CW, digital (RTTY, PSK31 and MFSK16) and phone. This starts at Friday night at 8:00 local time with … Click for more

Field Day 2020 – What’s in a Name?

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 06/19/2020

As you may know, our normal Field Day at the fire training center is not happening this year. Many members are taking advantage of the rule changes to operate class 1D or 1E from home. One of the changes the ARRL made—for this year only—is the ability to aggregate our individual scores under one club name. Please note that you still just make contacts with your own call but when it comes time to send in your Field Day entry, in the spot for club name you can add a … Click for more

Saturday Presentation Series – Setting up N1MM and TR4W for Field Day

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 05/27/2020

With more people opting to operate from home this year, this is a Zoom online session presented by Tom NY4I on setting up N1MM and TR4W for Field Day. Many people are not used to setting this up for at the shared Field Day event, this is usually done ahead of time by others. But with operating from home, you might find a local instance handy for logging your Field Day contacts. This session will cover downloading, and installing each program and we will look at operating them both if … Click for more

SPARC in the Park Big Success

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/14/2020

SPARC in the Park [Photo by Gerry WR6N].

Members of SPARC, UPARC and CARS came out to Lake Seminole on Saturday March 14 to enjoy the sunshine as well as operating HF and satellite portable. Patterned after other “in the Park” events put on by our clubs in the past, approximately 15 people came out to enjoy a day in the fresh air. Unlike Field Day, everyone is encouraged to bring their own radios and test their portable setup in the field. It also gives members a chance to see … Click for more

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

SPARC in the Park

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 01/27/2020

On Saturday March 14th, 2020, SPARC is hosting a gathering for club members (and our north county CARS and UPARC friends) to setup in the park. This is an informal gathering so plan on bringing your own stuff to this one. The site is Lake Seminole Park (shelter # 6) starting at 8:00 AM. Grab your lunch, drinks, a radio and come out and play radio in park. More information is available at Radio Clubs in the Park ( https://www.sparc-club.org/event/radio-clubs-in-the-park )

Posts published in “Operating”