Club Station

Tower discussion meeting this Saturday Feb 27th at 10am

By Pat AAØO on 02/23/2021

This is just a reminder that we are having a discussion on what to do about the tower for the club station. The meeting will take place outside DMI Research (6699 90th Ave N, Pinellas Park) at 10am this Saturday Feb 27th. All members are welcome, especially if you have tower, metalworking and/or pulley system experience.

There will be VE testing going on at the same time so please be quiet if you need to enter the building.

Medical Research Opportunities from DMI

By Pat AAØO on 01/21/2021

Next week, DMI, the research organization where our HF station W4GAC & W4TA are located is conducting research on a product to treat migraine headaches. There will be a one hour Zoom meeting and the pay is $75.00 for qualified individuals. If you are interested in participating, call 727 548-9600.

The first week of February, they are beginning a study to inject antibodies for Covid for those who cannot get vaccine or the vaccine would not be that effective. Over 60 years of age, over weight, heart conditions, immune compromised … Click for more

Repeater Trustee Request

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 09/03/2020

The SPARC repeater system has FCC mandated 3 minute timeout requirement programmed into its RC-210 controller. This holds true for all amateur radio repeaters under FCC license.

Most hams using the SPARC system, for the most part, are using programmable radios that have a timeout (TOT) feature in the software. I am requesting you program your TOT to less than 3 minutes. This would help to keep our repeaters from timing out from the occasional stuck microphone switch or shorted PTT line.

Our system also has a BEEP signal that … Click for more

Coronas all around…RFI too?

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 06/08/2020

Dave KR4U reported that he was contacted by Duke Energy with an update on the RF noise at the station. Duke went to the site with a “corona detecting camera” presumably to detect any arcing on various power components. This corona is the electrical arcing kind, not the drinking kind nor that other one in the news lately. They found 12 leaking insulators! Duke has ordered the parts and will contact Dave again once they are replaced. That will hopefully significantly reduce the noise level at the club … Click for more

Club Station Update – Tower Removal Work Party

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/13/2020

As you may recall, the club experienced damage due to the tornado in Pinellas Park last week.

Dave KR4U, John KI4UIP, Pat AA0O and Billy KN4LUZ were on site to work on the project (The author arrives late so anyone was had already left, please accept my apology for the omission).

The tower was bent just above the first section nesting point. With the help of a crane secured by Pat AA0O, the tower was safely lowered on Thursday 2/13 along with the … Click for more

SPARC Tower Damage from Pinellas Park Tornado

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/08/2020

The recent tornado that passed through Pinellas Park on Thursday February 6th was not kind to SPARC. While this damage pales in comparison to people that had trees fall on their homes; nonetheless, the tower at the club station suffered some damage such that it will not crank down. The tower appears to have bent at the base of the joint where the sections overlap. One element on the log periodic antennas appears damaged as well.

Further behind the club station, you can see from this picture … Click for more

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