This event has been cancelled due to an unavoidable conflict.
SPARC
Are you proud of your mobile installation? Why not enter it in the first annual SPARC mobile installation contest? At the regular July SPARC meeting on July 7th, members are welcome to enter their car in the contest for a chance to win a nice prize in either the HF category or VHF/UHF category (or both). The judging criteria are summarized below. Click here for more detailed judging criteria. It is not about the cost of your equipment, but how finished and polished the installation is. The more your installation looks like it came that way from the factory, the better.
HF and VHF/UHF entrants judged on:
Power Connections Antenna Mounting
Grounding Cable Routing
Radio Installation Operational Safety Concerns
SPECIAL MEETING FORMAT
All cars entering contest should park in front of DMI building (car show style) by 7:00 PM. Judging will start at 7:15 PM. To take advantage of the light, we will have time for people to look at the cars until it starts getting too dark. Then we will go inside for the regular meeting and then the judges will highlight what they saw in the contest and announce the winners. Think of it as a meeting in reverse.
So tie off those cables, neaten that rat’s nest under your dash or under your hood and come out and enter your car–or just get ideas to improve your own installation.
Please contact Tom Schaefer, NY4I at NY4I@arrl.net or 727-437-2771 to register for the contest or with any questions.
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Join us June 23rd, 24th and 25th at the SPARC club house for this year’s ARRL FD activities.
Our goal is not a big score, but for everyone to take part and experience station setup and getting on the air.
- Field Day setup begins on Friday at 2:00PM. We will begin station configuration. This includes tables, antennas, radios, computers, and power.
- Saturday morning, beginning at 10:00AM, we will finish station setup and verify all systems are go. We will form Ad Hoc committees to take care of the operating schedule, food and any other necessities.
- The event starts Saturday afternoon at 2:00PM. Let the fun begin. Operators of all experience levels are welcome to operate. CW/Digital/SSB operating positions will be available at various times of the day. If enough operators are available, we can keep the station open a full 24 hours. Remember to bring your own headphones.
- Sunday at 2:00PM the operating event ends and station take-down begins. Many hands make light work, so chip in and don’t miss the fun.
The new SPARC FD format should be more fun and less hassle for all members. Look forward to seeing everyone there.
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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 Wartime Liberty Ship by Ian M Malcolm
- Memories of a Sea Gipsy by Derek Peters
- QTC – I Have a Message for You by “Sparks” (Ray Redwood)
- SOS TO THE RESCUE by Karl Baarslag [title subsequently changed to “Famous Sea Rescues”]
- Sparks at Sea by R W Chandler
- Sparks in the Parks: by W Hutcherson
- Through Salt Sprayed Eyes by Robert Welsh
- To Catch a Shadow by Leon Wortman
- The Wireless Officer by Percy Westerman
- Watchers of the Waves: a history of British Coast Radio Stations
- Wireless at Sea, The First Fifty Years
- History of The Radio Officer in the British Merchant Navy And on Deep-Sea Trawlers;
- CQ-GTZM – Diary of a Maritime Radio Officer
*Lagniappe: (LAN-yap) “A little something extra.”
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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 activities such as Contest University, banquets for DX’ers, DStar, AMSAT, Contesting and on. But, what if you cannot get to Dayton? What if cramming yourself along with 25,000 others into the inside buildings to hide from the frequent Spring rains in Dayton is not your cup of tea? Whatever the reason you cannot get to Dayton, that does not mean you cannot experience some part of it.
Through the wonders of technology, there are several ways to experience Dayton from afar. While it is certainly NOT the same as being there, you can experience some of the wonder that is the Dayton Hamvention from the comforts of your own home. Read on to see how to see some of these online opportunities.
First up is Contest University. Contest University brings together some of the World’s best contesters to conduct training for everyone interested in radiosport. Thanks to Icom, you can watch most of Contest University online. Click here for a full schedule of events starting Thursday at 8:00 AM. You can use the same link for the DStar events on Friday.
As far as the actual hamfest itself, you can watch live streaming of the hamfest via W5KUB.COM. Tom W5KUB has been streaming the hamfest live for several years. He has a table inside the commercial area and does interviews and walk-a-rounds to allow folks watching at home to get a feel for the happenings in Dayton. A nice benefit is the chat room where folks can share the experience with others and win nice door prizes all donated by vendors. There is absolutely no charge for this service but you are certainly encouraged to make a donation (especially if you win a prize). You can find all the information about the live streaming event at w5kub.com.
There you have it. While it is not the same as being there, you can still experience some of what the Dayton Hamvention has to offer from the comforts of your own home.
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At our May meeting, our net control operators were given certificates of appreciation.
Not shown: Linda KI4RV, Dee N4GD, Leslie WA4EEZ and Bill WZ4GW.