12/16/2025
St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club
Originally licensed as WN2JTL in 1968. License and interest lapsed until 1984 when relicensed as N2ESP. I currently hold an Extra class license and a BSEE from the Florida Institute of Technology.
I am past President of the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) and trustee of W4TA, the club’s contest station. I’m also a member of Florida Contest Group, an ARRL Volunteer Examiner, member of the ARRL A-1 Operator Club, frustrated DXer, 10-10 member (40586) and charter member of the Radio Shack Battery of the Month Club.
Station QTH is a small island (USi: FL285S Coquina Key) on the shores of Tampa Bay (Pinellas County / EL87qr). Station consists of an Elecraft K3/P3 (100W) into a ZeroFive GP-1040 Vertical/Ground Plane or an 80M Horizontal Loop. QSL via LoTW.
John Toth, KI4UIP was awarded the SPARC Plug Award for 2015 at the After Holidays Party.
The award is given for exceptional service to the club. Thanks John for all the extra effort you gave to make SPARC the successful club that it is. More photos of the After he Holidays party are available in the SPARC Gap.
The earth has made one more orbit around the sun, resolutions have been made and broken, and the national news shows a lot of white stuff up north. It must be time to transmit your $15 ($20 for families) dues to our treasurer. Due to prudent management of funds and increasing membership, we are able to keep our dues at the same level as previous years.
If you can’t make a meeting, dues can be sent to PO Box 2217, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.… Click for more
The challenge for 2016 is for each SPARC member to expand their activity in our hobby. To this end, the SPARC Bucket List below provides some potential growth areas. There are no prizes, just the personal satisfaction of learning a new skill or reaching a new goal.
Due to lack of interest, the SPARC Buy-Sell Net and web site will be discontinued after the first of the
year. Started as an experiment by Mike Scott, K4ZPE, the net was designed as a focal point to exchange amateur radio equipment. Many thanks to Mike for donating his time and talents towards making SPARC the great organization that it is today.
Mike would also like to retire as SPARC Net Wednesday night net controller. If you are interested in the Wednesday night spot, please contact Johnnie, W4TSP.
NOTE: If … Click for more
In an effort to improve our collective culinary diversity, we have a new venue for this years After the Holidays Party. This year, we will have the entire Skyway Diner, 4000 34th Street South, St. Petersburg at our disposal. Note: This is NOT Skyway Jack’s. The Skyway Diner is further south on the east side of US 19.
The festivities will start at 3:00PM on Sunday, January 31, 2016. Members will order off the menu, and are responsible for their own bill. Rumor has it … Click for more
In order to promote our club, SPARC “eyeball” QSL cards are available free to members. These cards are business card size versions of our world famous W4GAC QSL cards, and feature our web address and Mr. Sun on the reverse side.
Carry a few in your wallet or in your car. When asked about the world’s greatest hobby, simply hand out a card. Personalizing the card with your name and call is encouraged.
Cards are available at all club meetings.