12/05/2025
St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club
WHO: Open to all, but you must be 18 to receive an I.D.
WHAT: SKYWARN Basic Spotter training by the National Weather Service.
For more information on SKYWARN, click here.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Pinellas Coty EOC 10750 Ulmerton Rd. Largo, FL 33778
Seating is limited to 100 people so sign up by clicking here.
For additional information, contact:
Clayton Parrott, KJ4RUS
Emergency Management Coordinator
Pinellas County Emergency Management
(727) 464-4526
The weather was perfect with a cooling breeze blowing over our waterfront venue. The 20M vertical and VHF/UHF Yagi antennas rose above the tent that provided us shade from the Florida sun. Signage identified our mission as strange sounds emanated from the radios we had set up. This was the scene at the SPARC booth as the 2015 St. Petersburg Science Festival got underway.
Tom, NY4I was searching for satellites to work aided by the custom antenna base/mast assembly designed and built by John, KI4UIP. Two large computer screens showed our visitors the available satellites and radio/antenna operations. Dave, KR4U demonstrated how hams could “text” over the radio using PSK31 as he made contacts around the country. Dee, N4GD and Bob, N2ESP had the best job, teaching our young visitors to tap out their names in Morse code on our code practice oscillators.
Thanks to Leslie, WA4EEZ and Roger, K4SHI who loaned us their PSK/SSB station and Felax, KI4TWQ assisted us getting our station ready for the big show, and Clayton, KJ4RUS who provided our graphics. SPARC members dropping by the booth included Kyle, N4NSS and Coy, KK4JMP.
Saturday 10/3 was spent assembling a temporary satellite station, this year’s new addition to our exhibit. It is hoped that that the shiny antennas moving above our tent along with the graphic display of satellite orbits will attract additional interest this year. Using equipment on loan from Tom, NY4I, Tom along with Dave, KR4U, John, KI4UIP, Felax KI4TWQ and Bob, N2ESP assembled and tested the station. Clayton, KJ4RUS has provided us with updated graphics for the booth. We will also be demonstrating PSK and SSB communications, and providing the opportunity for kids to try their hand at sending Morse code.
If you would like to participate, we will start setting up at 8:00AM on Saturday, October 17th with the event running from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Everyone is welcome. It’s a lot of fun introducing our hobby to the public, and you may get the opportunity to kiss a fish at a neighboring booth. Don’t forget your SPARC T-shirt and a folding chair. See the post below for additional information on the festival.