SPARC

SPARC Invites You To a Party

By Tom Schaeffer W4CU on 04/20/2023

Our club is entering the Florida QSO Party representing Pinellas County. Hams from every state in the US and every province in Canada will calling Florida stations making us the center of activity. This will be our first such operation since winning the FQP Club Plaque in 2019. This will also be our first major operating event with the new Club Station.

You are invited to join others in operating the station on Saturday April 29 from Noon to 10pm, and on Sunday April 30 from 8am to 6pm. If you are interested, please contact Tom W4CU (email: tom_w4cu@yahoo.com (Note: there is an underline dash between tom and w4cu) – mobile: 727-744-1637.

Additionally this is a training event for anyone regardless of experience or license level to learn to operate HF with the N1MM logging program while making SSB or CW contacts in a contest environment. The following is an outline of the training program that will be tailored to each individual’s needs.

Individual training sessions will last 15 to 30 minutes on the dates and times listed below. Initial training will consist of copying a recorded list of typical contest exchanges (call sign and state or province of the station you are working) and entering and logging it using the N1MM program.

This will cover one side of a contact – that of the person you are talking to. For the other side, you will be given a handout of what a “perfect” exchange might look like.(Calling CQ, passing out our contact information, ending a contact and so on.)

On the day of the contest, you will be paired with an experienced operator and learn that there are endless variations of “perfect” for successfully completing a contact. You will see variations in wording, style and pace of operating. When you are comfortable that you can operate with help by observing the operating process, you will be assigned your first operating period accompanied by a coach to assist you.

Training Session 1: Tuesday APR 25 – 6 to 8 pm
Training Session 2: Wednesday APR 26 – 6 to 8 pm
Training Session 3: Thursday APR 27 – 6 to 8 pm
Training Session 4: Saturday APR 29 – 9:30 to 11 am
Training during contest hours only when training positions and trainers are available

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SPARC wants your participation in the Florida QSO Party

By Zack KO4WPO on 04/13/2023

SPARC wants your participation in the Florida QSO Party

SPARC has registered to participate in the April 29 – 30, 2023 Florida QSO Party (FQP) using the newly relocated and updated club station. The club has earned numerous First Place FQP Awards in the past – the most recent being in 2019 just before COVID.

The club is looking for the participation of everyone who wants to improve operating skills or learn about contesting on HF. Please note that all members can operate regardless of license class since Extra class operators will be present. In fact, we have recently had an unlicensed person learn to operate and actually become proficient in making contacts during an operating event. She later earned her Technician license.

We do, of course, need as many experienced operators as we can get to carry the load in making contacts and provide a winning base while others are learning. They will also assist in training or teach by example while operating.

The club station will utilize four operating positions – one for each band allowed in the contest. There will be two seats at each operating position – one for an experienced operator and one for a trainee.

We also plan to have several training positions using audio tapes and laptop computers to allow participants to learn or refresh their knowledge of the N1MM operating interface prior to operating. These positions will be used for three nights of training prior to the contest. Everyone is encouraged to attend one of these sessions. The training aids will also be used on the day of the contest.

Sign ups started at the last club meeting. If you have not already signed up but are interested, please contact Tom W4CU (w4cu.fcg@aol.com). I will personally reply to each email received if you have questions or suggestions.

There are many details that need to be shared. I will send out further details of the QSO party, our training sessions, and operations soon.

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Obituary of Richard Niendorf

By Ed NZ1Q on 03/13/2023

Richard “Rick” Niendorf Jr. (69) of St. Pete passed away on February 28th, 2023.

Rick at the piano, SPARC club meeting Oct 2019

Rick was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 8th, 1953, to Lois and Richard Niendorf. He graduated from Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport in 1971. Rick served honorably in the US Army as an engineman, spending time abroad in Germany. He obtained multiple automotive mechanical, operation, and technician licenses, working for many years at Florida Power. Rick enjoyed playing the piano, loved fishing and boating, and felt most comfortable with a boat in his backyard when he didn’t have it on the water. His call sign in amateur radio (Ham) was KK4WTE, licensed in 2014 through his passing. He made many friends and took pride in helping communities, relaying important information during emergencies. Rick is survived by his daughters Katherine Niendorf, Elizabeth Sherard, Amanda (Christopher) Hurtt; mother, Lois Niendorf; siblings David Niendorf, Steven (Diane) Niendorf, Laura (Paul) Dechen; and six loving grandchildren Anabelle, Laurence, Eleanor, Marc-Antoine, Isaac, and Isabelle. Rick is predeceased by his father, Richard Niendorf Sr. Full military honors will be held on Monday, 10 am, March 20th, 2023, at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, Bay Pines, FL, followed by a wake at War Memorial Park Shelter 2.

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SPARC’s new club station, phase 3 – antenna work

By Ed NZ1Q on 03/07/2023

The Zero-5 80m to 10m vertical antenna was erected and the 2m 440 antenna taken down to be moves closer to the new station.

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St Pete Science Fest 2023

By Pat AAØO on 02/21/2023

The St Petersburg’s Science Fest returned to Poynter Park on the USFSP campus in downtown St Pete this past weekend. It was a rare chilly morning but with a clear sky it made for a very nice day. SPARC members Bob N2ESP, Dee N4GD, Charles W4BPP and myself Pat AA0O ran the booth. I brought my Parks on the Air mobile HF setup, Yaesu FT-891 with 20m wire dipole on a 40ft Spiderbeam mast. This weekend was ARRL Int’l DX CW contest so we found a very strong signal from 9A1A in Croatia and turned that up to attract folks to the booth. Most were very surprised to find we could receive a signal on a wire from that far away.

Many of the kids that came by had never heard CW before and were very interested in trying it out on our straight key code oscillators. One boy came back around 4 times, he couldn’t get enough. Another YL and her mother came back and her mother said it was the only booth she wanted to revisit.