Club Station

2022 Year in Review

By Pat AAØO on 12/26/2022

Sunset at DMI before December 20th VE session

During my research for the update to the SPARC History page, I came across the Year in Review post from our previous Club President Bob N2ESP and that inspired me to write one for this year. I feel that SPARC had a great 2022 and 2023 is looking good too.

We started out the year with Winter Field Day, collaborating with CARS and UPARC, the event was setup at the Clearwater Fire Training center. Due to forecasted low temperatures and … Click for more

SPARC Open House – Sunday October 24th 11a-3pm

By Charles Adkinson on 10/18/2021

Just a reminder that SPARC is hosting it’s open house on Sunday the 24th of October from 11-3pm. Several folks have already RSVPed but there is plenty of times to come out, and no time slot is filled at the moment. There will be donuts and coffee and the opportunity to see our club station in action, ask questions, get some elmering, and even to get on the air…. come out regardless of your license, our control operators will all be Extras so you’ll have a chance to play on … Click for more

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.

Related Images:

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

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