SPARC | St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club

SPARC Lagniappe*

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 06/04/2017

Wireless (radio) has a long tradition at sea. If you’re an avid reader, you might enjoy some of these books about maritime radio and radio officers.

One Hundred Years of Maritime Radio by W D Goodwin
Blackwater by Harold Lawrence Tredree (set aboard the SS NORMANDIER)
Deep Sea Sparks – a Canadian Girl in the Norwegian Merchant Navy by Olive J Carroll
Dots, Dashes and Spindrift by Dan Williams
Fated by Charlie Gregory (ex R/O GKR, O/C GNF, Radio Surveyor Cardiff SRIO)
Ferry Destiny by Dan Williams
Life Aboard a

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Enjoying the Dayton Hamvention Without Actually Going

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 05/16/2017

Anyone that has been involved with amateur radio for any period of time has most likely heard tales of the Dayton Hamvention. If you have never been, it is an event unlike anything you can imagine. Rows and rows of tables in the outdoor area where you can find most anything you desire related to this wonderful hobby. Inside is crammed full of vendors with all the latest gear. Going to Dayton is something every ham should do at least once in their ham radio experience. Dayton also has extra-curricular … Click for more

SPARC Net Controllers Honored at May Meeting

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 05/11/2017

At our May meeting, our net control operators were given certificates of appreciation.

From left to right: Bob KC4SXO, Darell KV4HI, Tom AI4QP, Steve W4KET, Brad KM4LTG, Rick KK4WTE and Ron KK4KRC.

Not shown: Linda KI4RV, Dee N4GD, Leslie WA4EEZ and Bill WZ4GW.

Related Images:

May 2017 Meeting Recap

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 05/07/2017

This is our first recap of the meeting as part of the project to move information that would have been in the club newsletter to the website. This is a high-level recap to share the general topics discussed along with some info about the particular presentation for that evening. This is not to be mistaken for the official club meeting minutes. That is available in the Club Business section of the website. Links to other websites, etc that may be relevant to the presentation will also be included here.

Work

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FQP: A Big Struggle, A Big Success

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 05/01/2017

By Bob Wanek N2ESP

This year, SPARC contest station W4TA participated in the Florida QSO Party with a special 1×1 call: W4S. 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of the FQP. In celebration, twenty Florida stations were given special 1×1 calls such that the proper suffixes, when combined together, spell out FLORIDA SUN as part of this year’s FQP spelling bee. That means that the rest of the country was looking for us.

Things started slowly for the CW station on 40M while the SSB … Click for more

Random Lessons from 30+ Years of Field Days

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 04/26/2017

by: Tom Schaefer, NY4I

First, these are my own opinions, but I thought the club might enjoy some things I have picked up over the years. I have seen all of these things actually happen.

Going to Field Day is the best ham radio best decision you will ever make!
This one is only half-joking…The most dangerous place to be is between the Field Day site and the parking lot at 1759z on Sunday afternoon. Teardown starts at 1800z so it is the really committed (and tired) that hang around

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