LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 2/23/26

As I sit here, visiting my wife’s family in Western Kentuck(y), I look out the window at beautiful scenery (currently 19 with as they call ‘spitting snows’) . I enjoy being here and love the people and of course the family. Then I go back to what’s missing.

What’s missing is HAM radio . Every time I come here, I realize that amateur radio is almost non-existent. Not one repeater of any description here and has not been in years. The repeaters in the next county are just a little too far away, partially because of distance and the other is I am used to great height great equipment great maintenance. The VHF repeater in the adjacent county is a cobbled together radio (two mobiles) on a barn roof.

The point is that our radio community is very fortunate to have both infrastructures and more importantly the radio community, the people. Yes, I could get out the HF and set up, But… It’s too dang cold to be out in this wind. I know some of our folks are strictly HF. I think that is great but somehow the connections between the friendships the helping HAMS we experience are well grounded in 2M, 70cm and simplex as well. On that note I look forward to getting home in couple of days to speak to you folks.

The Flavor this week will be NXDN standalone repeater 442.025 NXDN in the Highlands and the Topping will be our own LWRA 442.425Mhz repeater in Dundee. 127.3 on TX and RX as well as AMS system Fusion capable. (No wires on this machine).

We want to wish NI4CE a HAPPY BIRT(H)DAY! Twenty-Five! This great well maintained interconnected network of repeaters from Holiday (near New Port Richie) to Verna (near Sarasota county south), to Lake Placid and Bartow wishes them a HB as you check in the Eagle Net this week!

The ’Flavor of the Week’

Please use these and our other repeaters. As was stated by the Emergency Manager for Polk County earlier this year, push PTT; if we don’t use them, we lose them.’

QRP we will have a great QRP on Saturday at Crystal Lake Park in Lake Wales. Now be careful traffic may be heavier than normal around the lake due to the Art Festival. I am not sure about food so just be prepared. A lot of HAM related things are going on. The theme will be APRS, so come learn more about this great radio feature. Of course you can set up a HF station as well.

NET TUESDAY!

The NET will be on the UHF repeater with Jim Carlin de N4JPC at 7 30PM 442.425 127.3 TX and RX. He will call a round table on the same repeater for open topic or a specific question immediately after.
We still net a few net controllers for our GMRS associated nets. Third or fourth week on Bartow and W5DBH’s repeater in Haines City.

Dan’s W5DBH Haines City Net on Fridays 462.55 127.3 he needs subs and controllers for his 7 PM Friday net.

I need a third- or fourth-week controller for the Polk GMRS net for Tuesday at 7PM each week. 462.725 141.3. Also, standby subs for all three nets would be great. Let me know about any 863-412-2467

Thanks, Russ, for the celestial updates. Great net reminders on SIGNAL each day… a wonderful tool!
Net information on the next page

Don’t forget use LWRA Signal Club & Swap group to find or create great deals on this medium. One average item only stays active for a few days before they are sold.

Several items have been listed in the last few days and lasted mere minutes.

Several items are still available on SIGNAL if interested.

If you are NOT on SIGNAL and want info email me jml610@comcast.net

One last thing.

Check out WINLINK Monday with Gary today, you can find more information on the Polk ARES web site.
Also, WINLINK WED is another opportunity.

It’s not like here! You have to PLAN not to miss radio there like I’m missing radio here!

73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’

Mike
KB4FHP jml610@comcast.net call 863-412-2467