WinLink presentation by Mike Drake at SPARC’s July meeting. Email over radio, including concept, detailed operation, and how to set up your own WinLink station.
In this presentation by Mike, he starts with the basic concepts of email via radio and then goes into many of the features of WinLink. Finally, he discusses what is needed to set up your own WinLink station.
Club banners and satellite antenna [Photo by AF4O]It would be somewhat trite to say we got the band back together for ARRL Field Day this year, but that is nonetheless what we did. Members of SPARC teamed up with members from the Clearwater Amateur Radio Society and the Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club for the annual ARRL Field Day this past June. Specifically, June 27 and 28th at the Clearwater Fire Training Center off of Belcher Road.
We have been at this facility before with both the other clubs for the most recent Winter Field Day in January and in years past. It is a wonderful facility and sharing the workload with the other clubs allows us to put on what I think is a better event. As with other Field Days in the summer, we opt to setup temporary antennas but we do operate inside. We also use commercial power (since for a real emergency, we are well-versed in using the generators and the Clearwater EOC which is also at this facility has a generator).
We set out to run 3 stations plus the free VHF station for 6 meters and the satellite station. This all went to plan with the three UPARC Elecraft K3 radios, Paul KC4YDY (“6 meter Paul”) Yaesu radio for 6m and the 9700/Arrow antenna satellite station.
We grabbed the usual bonus points such as the natural power QSOs, a visit by a served agency, passing the Field day message to the Section Manager and copying the Field Day bulletin. We also managed to send 10 NTS messages from attendees and even had a youth contact. While we always get the media publicity bonus, this year thanks to the tenacity of Bruce K2BHS, we did it in style.
WFLA Comes to Town
Bruce K2BHS joined the Field Day Planning Committee with the intention of acting as the public relations person. Bruce sent invitations to various elected officials, served agencies and many media outlets. This paid off handsomely. Bruce was contacted by WFLA that they wanted to do a live broadcast from our Field Day site on Sunday morning starting at 6:00 AM. Yes, 6:00 AM on Sunday–not a typo. Reporter Jenna Bass and her camera operator came out to the site and setup for their live shot. But it wasn’t just one live shot. Bruce did three on-camera interviews. You can see one of those videos here.
Jenna Bass of WFLA talks to Kenny K4OB [Photo by AF4O]Jenna Bass of WFLA and Bruce K2BHS during one of the Live Standups [Photo by AF4O].The video at the end of this article is a later video they did at 6:00 PM on the Sunday of Field Day. This has more “action shots” and interviews with other members.
So how did we do?
We made over 2400 QSOs this year. The three HF stations stayed busy as did the 6m station. Here is a map of all the ARRL sections we contacted:
ARRL Sections WorkedAll operators making at least one QSOGraph showing how active the stations were. Notice even overnight stayed relatively busy.
Olev at the Digital station [Photo by N4OHI’s camera]Orin KG1S (foreground), Bruce K2BHS, Danielle, Jeff NE4C and Jason N4BOZ on the background [Photo by N4OHI]
I have plenty of pictures yet to put in a gallery. But this gives you an idea of the event. More to come…
On Saturday June 21, members of CARS, SPARC and UPARC met at the Clearwater Fire Training Center for the Field Day Dry-Run. This is where we setup the radios and computers to ensure we have all the necessary cables for this coming weekend’s ARRL Field Day. We do not setup the antennas or coax but we do perform a transmitter test on the Elecraft K3 radios to ensure they are transmitting full power.
Ron N2SKH and Ryan AF4O setting up the CW station. while Olev N4OHI looks on. [Photo by K2BHS]We started at 9:00 AM and were able to finish up by 11:30 AM. It is a few well-spent hours to make sure we have all the little cables and other accouterment that radios and computers need to operate (microphones, CW keys, foot switch, USB cables, etc).
Rob WD4IFT and Tom NY4I setting up the computers. [Photo by K2BHS]You still have time to register for Field Day to let us know you are coming. The deadline is TONIGHT at 11:59 PM to guarantee food. We need an accurate head count so if you have not signed-up already, please do so today. If you are unsure if you have already signed up, you can confirm by clicking here. If you have not signed-up, please go to this link to sign up now.
The St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club held its annual Mobile Installation Contest at the Monthly Meeting on May 2, 2025.
Congratulations to this year’s winners: Lisa, KC1YL and Joe, W4GGJ.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. A great time was had by all.
(photos by: Bruce, K2BHS)
Lisa KC1YL, winner of the HF category Installation (with Paul KA4IOX). [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]Joe W4GGJ, winner of the VHF/UHF category Installation (with Paul KA4IOX). [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]Lisa KC1YL next to her POTA-mobile complete with orange mast. [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]How exactly does Lisa KC1YL get through a drive-thru? [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]Ed NZ1Q filling in his score sheet as a judge. [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]The mounting section of Lisa KC1YL’s portable antenna. [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]
Bruce K2BHS’s installation.Bruce K2BHS
Glenn N4GRC showing his installation [Photo by Bruce K2BHS]
You are still welcome to attend but please plan on your own meals.
ARRL Field Day is a combined event to test our ability to setup radio communication under less than ideal conditions–think temporary antennas, generators and radio gear. Our event this year is a combined event with three clubs—the Clearwater Amateur Radio Society (CARS), St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) and the Upper Pinellas Amateur Radio Club (UPARC). The date is Saturday, June 28thstarting at 2:00 PM until Sunday, June 29th at 2:00 PM. Setup generally begins in earnest at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning. The location for all of this is the Clearwater Fire Department Fire Training Center at 1716 N. Belcher Road in Clearwater. Click here for a map.
The operation is comprised of 3 HF stations (all Elecraft K3 radios). We also have a 6 meter station and a satellite station. We use TR4W for logging and WSJT-X for FT8/FT4 operations. All operations are inside in the training center building (air conditioning since it is Florida in June). For modes, we run SSB (voice), FT8 and CW. For CW operators, a Bencher paddle is provided but if you have a favorite paddle or straight key, bring it along. The computer sends CW as well but you can go “old-school” if you like. No experience is necessary beyond a willingness to learn and try something new. If you have never operated a radio, we have plenty of people to help you out to show you how to make a contact to help you get started. In no time, you will be working stations all over the US and Canada. If you plan on operating, please bring your own headphones. For sanitary reasons, we do not share headphones or microphone headsets. We have adapters for your headphones as well as Heil and RadioSport cables. We also have desk mics for the radios for those that do not have microphone headsets.
We have the equipment all arranged as well as food and drink. Lunch is provided. Dinner Saturday will be provided (more details to follow) with sides provides by the attendees (dish to share). We do ask a few things related to food:
One, we need to know you are coming so please sign up by clicking here so we have an accurate count of the people attending so we do not run out of food.
We also ask that if you are coming for dinner on Saturday, bring a dish (side or dessert) to share with everyone (no, a bag of chips is not a side-dish).
If you do sign-up for meals but your plans change, please let us know so we have as accurate a count as possible.
The public is welcome as one of the purposes of Field Day is to introduce amateur radio to new people.
Field Day is the premiere event on our club calendars and we hope to see as many club members and guests as possible. Remember, Saturday June 28th–rain or shine–at 2:00 PM with setup starting at 8:00 AM.