12/05/2025
St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club
The video of last weeks SPARC presentation about Lightning and Amateur Radio is now available on our resource page at https://www.sparc-club.org/test-page-pdf-links/
Many thanks to Glenn, N4GRC for doing the presentation and to Billy, KN4LUZ for creating the video.
To access any of the SPARC past presentations go to the Resource Page on SPARC-Club.org
This page has recent presentations and other information files. Just added is a link to Ron’s presentation on Heathkit and Glenn’s presentation on Grounding.
On the main page look in the lower left column for the SPARC Resource page as shown below.
Also, bookmark the SPARC YouTube page for other videos.
At the October 5 meeting, Glenn, N4GRC will tell us how he designed and installed his shack ground system and how he planned out his perimeter ground loop.
The October meeting on the 5th will be at DMI Research in the usual meeting room. Stay tuned for future meetings that will be in a new location. Meeting starts at 7:30 PM.
You may remember Glenn from the dynamic Wi-Fi presentation and demo he gave to SPARC last year. For this talk his grounding presentation pictures show how Glenn constructed his SPGP (single point ground panel) with copper strap and how the grounding is wired. Plus he will have some general lightning info as well.
Glenn now is employed by Duke Energy and may tell us a bit about Duke’s point of view on lightning. Should be an interesting evening.
SPARC has been asked to relocate their station to another room in the same building. Our station engineering team consisting of John KI4UIP and Dave KR4U has worked out a plan to move our equipment, furniture, power, internet and antenna wiring to the new station location.
On Saturday 9/15, the furniture and equipment was relocated to the new room. Additionally, all the equipment previously stored in the back room was also moved. In addition to John and Dave, thanks to Ron KP2N, Rich AA2MF, Tom NY4I, Lisa KC1YL, Bob N2ESP, Ed NZ1Q for assisting in the move. Additional work will be scheduled shortly.
Our October business meeting will be the last meeting held at DMI. We are currently trying to identify a new location to hold our monthly meetings. We anticipate that we will be able to continue to do VE Testing in the new station room. If you have any meeting room suggestions, please send them to president@sparc-club.org
Keep an ear to the nightly nets, our web site and Face Book pages for up to the minute changes.
If you could not get to the last club meeting, Sept 7, don’t miss this video clip of Ron, KP2N telling us about his time at Heathkit. Ron shares Heathkit history, the people, the products and personal stories. If you have ever used/built Heathkit gear, don’t miss this video.
For those folks that missed Dean’s, (W8IM) program at our August meeting, a link to the video produced by Ed, NZ1Q is available by clicking here.
UPDATE: Below is a radiogram sent to Bob, N2ESP from Dean, W8IM aboard the USS American Victory, KKUI after his presentation to SPARC.
