Bob Wanek N2ESP

Posts published by “Bob Wanek N2ESP”

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.

Field Day 2017

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 06/07/2017

Join us June 23^rd, 24^th and 25^th at the SPARC club house for this year’s ARRL FD activities.

Our goal is not a big score, but for everyone to take part and experience station setup and getting on the air.

Field Day setup begins on Friday at 2:00PM. We will begin station configuration. This includes tables, antennas, radios, computers, and power.
Saturday morning, beginning at 10:00AM, we will finish station setup and verify all systems are go. We will form Ad Hoc

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SPARC Lagniappe*

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 06/04/2017

Wireless (radio) has a long tradition at sea. If you’re an avid reader, you might enjoy some of these books about maritime radio and radio officers.

One Hundred Years of Maritime Radio by W D Goodwin
Blackwater by Harold Lawrence Tredree (set aboard the SS NORMANDIER)
Deep Sea Sparks – a Canadian Girl in the Norwegian Merchant Navy by Olive J Carroll
Dots, Dashes and Spindrift by Dan Williams
Fated by Charlie Gregory (ex R/O GKR, O/C GNF, Radio Surveyor Cardiff SRIO)
Ferry Destiny by Dan Williams
Life Aboard a

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SPARC Net Controllers Honored at May Meeting

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 05/11/2017

At our May meeting, our net control operators were given certificates of appreciation.

From left to right: Bob KC4SXO, Darell KV4HI, Tom AI4QP, Steve W4KET, Brad KM4LTG, Rick KK4WTE and Ron KK4KRC.

Not shown: Linda KI4RV, Dee N4GD, Leslie WA4EEZ and Bill WZ4GW.

Related Images:

FQP: A Big Struggle, A Big Success

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 05/01/2017

By Bob Wanek N2ESP

This year, SPARC contest station W4TA participated in the Florida QSO Party with a special 1×1 call: W4S. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the FQP. In celebration, twenty Florida stations were given special 1×1 calls such that the proper suffixes, when combined together, spell out FLORIDA SUN as part of this year’s FQP spelling bee. That means that the rest of the country was looking for us.

Things started slowly for the CW station on 40M while the SSB … Click for more

Join Us to Create a Pile Up

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 04/09/2017

This month, join the contesters at SPARC Contest station W4TA as they use the special 1×1 call sign W4S in the Florida QSO Party. The object of the Florida QSO Party is for everyone to work Florida (67 counties) and Florida to work everyone.

This year is the 20^th anniversary of the FQP. In celebration, twenty Florida stations have been given special 1×1 calls such that when the proper suffixes are combined together spell out FLORIDA SUN (e.g. SUN = W4S & K4U & W4N… Click for more

New SPARC 220 MHz Repeater Installed

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 04/09/2017

Ron, KP2N, and Dee, N4GD, installing the new WA4AKH 220 MHZ SPARC repeater. Please visit us on 224.660 MHz, no tone required.

KP2N (L) and N4GD (R) installing repeater

SPARC also has repeaters on 147.060 MHZ, no tone, and 444.475 MHZ (tone 146.2). When in the area check us out.