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Posts published in “Club Station”

SPARC on the Move

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 09/17/2018

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.

Our old shack

 

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 new shack under construction

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.

 

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W4TA 2nd Worldwide in Makrothen

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 08/27/2018

The SPARC Contest Team is proud to announce they placed second worldwide and second in North America in the Multi-Op High Power (Single Receiver) category. This was for the Makrothen RTTY contest run from the SPARC station over the weekend of October 14th and 15th, 2017. Contest certificateOur second place score of 2,023,660 points represents the total distance (in Km) between our station and the 545 stations contacted during the contest. The average distance for each QSO was 3,713 Km/QSO. Congratulations to team members Tom W4CU, Paul KA4IOX, Bob N2ESP, Tom NY4I, Ron KP2N, Dave KR4U, Dee N4GD, Richard N4BUA, Rex KB8ESY and Leslie WA4EEZ.

Please click here for a write-up Bob N2ESP did right after the contest last year.  Congratulations to all that participated. We will be trying to grab the number 1 spot during this contest in October. If you would like to participate, please check this website for more info. The contest will be on October 12 – 14 this year.

 

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Want to Learn RTTY?

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 07/02/2018

If you would like to learn the art of radioteletype, aka RTTY, do we have a deal for you. The ARRL is sponsoring the North American QSO Party – RTTY. Starting on Saturday July 21st at 2:00PM local time, and running for 12 hours. We will be running two stations simultaneously at W4TA in class M2.

NAQP – RTTY is a fun contest as all stations are required to run 100 watts or less. This makes for a relatively even playing field, with advantages to stations with good antennas and good operators. If you have never operated in a RTTY contest, one word of caution…it’s addictive. Once you get started, you will not want to miss the next contest. We will have mentors available to assist you with your first few QSOs. Once you get the hang of it, you can watch the QSO rate meter quickly rise.

All SPARC members are welcome to join us. Remember to bring your own headphones. If you would like to learn more about RTTY, the following web site will get you started: https://www.aa5au.com/rtty/

More information is available on our Upcoming HF Operating Events page here. If you have any questions, contact Ron KP2N.

RAH RAH RTTY.

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W4TA Scores to a Different Drummer in the FQP

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 04/30/2018

The SPARC Contest Group, W4TA, just completed another running of the Florida QSO Party sponsored by the Florida Contest Group. The only good thing I can say about the propagation was that it sucked equally for all contestants. In spite of conditions, the FCG did everything in its power to pull off another successful event. Thanks for all the hard work.

[N2ESPhoto]

SPARC has a habit of keeping score to a different drummer. Yes we had QSOs–1263 to be exact. These break down as follows…

Band      Mode    QSOs     Pts          Mult      Pt/Q

7              CW         334         1336       14           4.0

7              LSB         64           128         4              2.0

14           CW         338         1352       51           4.0

14           USB        501         1002       62           2.0

21           CW         26           104         1              4.0

Total      Both      1263       3922       132         3.1

Rich AA2MF working with new operators [N2ESPhoto]
But those are just the numbers for which most stations vie. At SPARC, we keep score differently. We introduced two hams to Radiosport that had no clue what a contest was. We re-introduced two more hams whose experience was limited to some Field Day QSOs (we all know FD is not a contest…at least until 2:00 PM local time). Finally Dave KR4U beat his old record
for the longest contest QSO. Running on the CW station on 20M, Dave put the brakes on the CW keyer to answer a 5 WPM call. As has happened in previous FQPs, Dave learned the operator’s name, antenna and rig type, and most importantly, 599 in PA. SIX MINUTES after calling CQ, another CW QSO was in the log. This is the true spirit of amateur radio, and in our eyes, the only way to keep the hobby growing.

Rich AA2MF helps Gail KD2PCS make her first contest contacts. [N2ESPhoto]
Competing in the FQP were the following SPARC operators: Lisa KC1YL, Rich AA2MF, Gail KD2PCS. Ron KP2N, Bob N2ESP, Dave KR4U, Pat KX4HL, Dee N4GD, Scotty N4RI, Tom NY4I, Tom W4CU, Johnnie W4TSP and Rex KB8ESY.

“The Schaef[f]er Brothers”, Tom W4CU and Tom NY4I [N2ESPhoto]

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DXLabs Workshop on April 21, 2018

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/15/2018

SPARC will be conducting a full day DXLabs workshop on Saturday April 21st starting at 10:00 AM. The purpose of this is to introduce people to using the DXLabs Suite of software. If you are a recent convert to DXLabs or looking to change from a different logging package, this is the session for you. Topics we will cover include:

  • Installing the software
  • Converting from your current logging software
  • Set up of Logbook of the World (LOTW), QRZ and eQSL integration
  • Getting setup on LOTW including TQSL and completing your setup if you bring your LOTW postcard (more below).
  • Connecting DXLabs to your radio for rig control
  • Using DXView so you can see where the DX is.
  • Digital interfaces
  • Using DXKeeper for award chasing specifically DXCC and WAS.
  • Other topics as determined by the audience

This is an all day session so bring lunch. We have a small ‘fridge if necessary and a microwave. Water and soft drinks are available for purchase from the club’s ‘fridge. The workshop will end around 5:00 PM. Please plan on staying the whole time.

Important – If you have a laptop that you use in your shack, bring it along. That way we can install the software right on your computer. Also, seating is limited so please email NY4I@arrl.net to reserve your spot. Please only register if you are actively looking to switch to DXLabs or have recently done so. You are welcome to attend if you are just curious but since this is a hands-on workshop with laptops, if we have too many people, it will be difficult to help those seeking to actively switch to the software.

If you have never heard of DXLabs and would like more info to see if you want to switch, check here. You will find information on the software and its capabilities.

Logbook of the World (LOTW)

Since one of the areas we will cover includes LOTW, if you are still trying to get setup on LOTW, we can help at this session too. Even if you use another logging package, bring along your laptop and we can help you get setup on LOTW. However, if you have never tried to setup on LOTW before, you MUST go to this link and get started. The process starts with installing TQSL and requesting a certificate. The ARRL will send you a post card. Bring this post card along to the session. If you have trouble with this step, email Tom at NY4I@arrl.net. When you register, please let me know if you are just looking for LOTW help or to switch to DXLabs suite of software.

Current Registered Attendees

NameCall
Leslie JohnsonWA4EEZ
Glenn CateN4GRC
Bob WanekN2ESP
Dave TrewinKR4U
Rich CarielloAA2MF
Steve Heppler
Mark FoltarzKA4JVY
Bud NoceraWO4K
Paul KrahmerKA4IOX

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You’re Invited! Come out and Operate a Phone Contest on March 23 – 25.

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 03/15/2018

The SPARC Contesters invite everyone to come out and operate the CQ WPX SSB contest starting at 8:00 PM on Friday, March 23. We will be at the club station to work as many stations as we can–all on phone. The WPX contest is a fun contest as we use a rare prefix (NY4) which makes us a multiplier and hence, a desired station to work. You can experience what it is like to operate on the “other side” of the pileup. Rates of 100 contacts an hour are not uncommon. But we also stress introducing new people to contesting and will also work with anyone new to get them comfortable working stations. We have lots of “Elmers” around to help you out. When not operating, we always have people hanging around to discuss your latest project.

We need operators. If you can come out, please email Tom at NY4I@arrl.net so we know you are coming. We can create a schedule so even if you only have a couple of hours, you can get in and operate. Full rules on WPX contest are available here. Please bring your own headset or headphones. If you do not have a headset with a microphone, you can use the boom mic but you will want headphones so bring a set along—we have adapters.

We hope to see you there!

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