SPARC

HAMCATION 2017

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 02/12/2017

The trip over to the big Hamfest in Orlando was easy and the weather was great. I chatted with Ed NZ1Q, Bob N2ESP and Bob KC4SXO mobile to mobile on the way. I think we all got there just before the gates opened. All the usual factory vendors were there and you could see all the new stuff. It was a little odd not to see AES there but HRO and the other main radio suppliers were there. HRO had Gordon West signing autographs and promoting educational supplies.

Moving outside to the tailgate area was nice with the great weather and it covered a huge area. The middle building had more venders in it and the drum where you dropped your ticket stub with hopes of winning the prize. I’m sure they will be calling me Monday. There was a nice display of old telegraph keys and telegraph station set up like what might be in the old train depots. I took some pictures and sent them to my friend Frank K7GSE in Seattle. He is a key fanatic with a great collection of keys.

We met for the annual photo (above) of the SPARC group in the food court area and after that we pretty much broke up to head our different ways. It was a great Hamfest and hope to see you next year. If you missed it put it down for next year.

de Tom, AI4QP

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Members Inducted Into A-1 Club

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 02/05/2017

SPARC announces that three of its members have been inducted into the ARRL “A-1 Operator Club.” Nominated by Dave, KR4U and George, W1AAG, SPARC members Dee, N4GD; Tom, NY4I and Bob, N2ESP received framed A-1 Operator Club Member certificates and pins at the February club meeting.

L-R: N4GD Dee, NY4I Tom, N2ESP Bob — L-R: Dee, N4GD; Tom, NY4I; Bob, N2ESP

First organized in May 1933, the ARRL A-1 Operator Club has a proud history and occupies an important place in Amateur Radio tradition. Communications Manager Ed Handy, W1BDI, announced its formation with these words in July 1933 QST:

Are you an A-1 Operator? Excellence in stations has often been emphasized. Yet, station performance, equipment, adjustment, etc., are but part of the story. The operation of the equipment, knowledge of procedure, and general communications technique are of very great importance in determining the results of any station. To bring attention to good operating as a paramount issue, and to give it something of the importance it deserves we are this month announcing in these columns the launching of a club for A-1 operators.

Through the years, recognition as an A-1 Operator represented an unsolicited acknowledgment of one’s high standing among one’s peers. Prospective members must be nominated by two current members of the A-1 Operator Club. This prestigious award is based on:

General considerations.
- Transmissions: well filtered, minimum required bandwidth.
- Voice: clarity, brevity, wording, grammar
- Digital: tones, operating-frequency selection.
- CW: character formation, spacing, appropriate speed
Procedure.
- Listen before transmitting.
- Appropriately short CQs
- Proper procedures and abbreviations
- Make sure that traffic is routed to its destination.
Judgment and courtesy.
- Courteous, and considerate of the other operator’s point of view.
- Assists others, especially beginners.
- Patient and helpful
- Never knowingly operates as to lessen the pleasure of others.
Copying ability.
- Passing information through interference from other stations (QRM), atmospheric noises (QRN), fading (QSB), etc.

Congratulations Dee, Tom and Bob.

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New page to show upcoming contesting efforts from club station

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 02/04/2017

In order to let people know what club contesting activities are planned, there is now a page that members and guests can review. This will be updated with information about each contest and the planned schedule of operating. You can find this page in the menu on the left side of the club website as well as here. If there is other information you would like to see here, please email NY4I@arrl.net.

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After Holidays Party

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 01/02/2017

This years After the Holidays Party is right around the corner. We will have the entire Skyway Diner, 4000 34^th Street South, St. Petersburg at our disposal. Note: This is NOT Skyway Jack’s. The Skyway Diner is further south on the east side of US 19.

The festivities will start at 3:00PM on Sunday, January 29, 2017. Members will order off the menu, and are responsible for their own bill. Rumor has it that Santa may stop by on his way to his timeshare on St Pete Beach. Dress is casual.

Be sure to sign up at the meeting or email Bob (click here) with the number of attendees.

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Skywarn Training

By Bob Wanek N2ESP on 12/01/2016

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue will host a National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotter training on December 14th. This free 75-minute long class will be delivered by Tampa Bay National Weather Service Warning and Coordination Meteorologist Dan Noah. Those completing this training will receive a weather spotter’s guidebook and become part of a nationwide network of citizen monitors. Citizen monitors report anomalies such as tornados, flooding rains and extreme temperatures.

WHO: Anyone! You can attend the training even if you do not want to be an official spotter.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 14th at 10:00am

WHERE: St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Headquarters, 1st Floor Classroom

400 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S.

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

WHY: You can help protect yourself, your family, and neighbors by becoming a trained SKYWARN Spotter. A trained spotter knows the weather threats in Florida, safety rules, and visual clues regarding thunderstorm strength.

HOW: Reserve your seat by emailing Amber.Boulding@StPete.org or call

727-892-5200. Seating for the course is limited to the first 40 people.

Information on SKYWARN – www.weather.gov/Tampa/skywarn

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URGENT Action Required for the Amateur Radio Parity Act!

By Tom Schaefer NY4I on 11/21/2016

From the ARRL:

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), is still not supporting H.R. 1301 / S.253 the Amateur Radio Parity Act.

In fact, Senator Nelson has placed a “hold” on the legislation, effectively barring consideration of the Bill despite its widespread bipartisan support. If this hold isn’t removed, the bill will die in the Senate and require the process to completely start over when the new Congress begins on January 1, 2017.

You are one of well over 40,000 licensed Amateur Radio operators living in Florida. Many of you already live in deed-restricted communities, and that number grows daily.

We need you to reach out to Senator Nelson TODAY! Right away. We know that thousands of you have written to the Senator. NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL HIM ON THE PHONE, tell him you’re a constituent, that you support H.R. 1301 and S.253, demand that he stop blocking the Bill, and to support the legislation to its passage.

Here are his phone numbers. Please call your local office AND the Washington D.C. office.

Office Phone
Washington D.C.: 202-224-5274

Broward 954-693-4851

Fort Myers 239-334-7760

Jacksonville 904-346-4500

Miami-Dade 305-536-5999
Orlando 407-872-7161 or toll free in Florida: 1-888-671-4091

Tallahassee 850-942-8415

Tampa 813-225-7040

West Palm Beach 561-514-0189

Thank you.
Very 73,
Rick

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Rick Roderick, K5UR
President
ARRL – The national association for Amateur Radio®