LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 3/16/26

The Irish luck be with you!

St Patrick’s Day is near, I hope all are having a great change of season. I know it is a very busy time for most with Spring Break, min vacations, Soring cleaning or remodels, some of you are preparing to return back to the northern states, replanting your frozen tropical plants and on and on and on. I know it can be so busy that we forget to play on the radio. I know I did the last few days and apologize for not being on the air.

Anyway, I want to thank Todd for a great program at LWRA last Thursday. You know we had 31 folks either in person or online . That’s great. I know his information has already been used by several club members to rejuvenate or alter or even order your Meshtastic gear. It was a great time. If you miss it here is the link for the presentation. https://youtu.be/eMzlJ4n823Q

Radio this week we have a lot of opportunities. Our repeaters are awaiting you as well as those HF and other modes. Conversation and reports to our members on SIGNAL are greatly appreciated to keep us motivated and ready. Thanks to those guys like Russ, Dave John and others for encouraging us when the bands are Hoppin’.
POLK ARES this week will be conducting a SIMPLEX NET and testing, more info about that on the more information at www.polkares.org

The ’Flavor of the Week’ FUSION on the Bartow repeater 145.270MHz (C4FM) this can accessed from out-of-town using WIRES X.

And the “topping” the Polk County WC4PEM is the linked repeater system here in Polk which is accessible via ECHOLINK.

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 going on.

NET TUESDAY!

We will enjoy the net this week with the not so famous KB4FHP . We will need all the help we can get on the LWRA UHF machine 442.425Mhz +5MHz offset with 127.3 on both TX and RX. This is a dual mode repeater for AMS Fusion. The net is conducted in the analog mode starting at 730PM followed by the ‘round table’ the LWRA repeater.

The Question will be “If you could what would you like to have for a station antenna?”

QRP- The March QRP will be at Lake Shipp Park in Winter Haven on the 28th. We will NOT have a lunch on site afterwards so here’s your opportunity to check out some of the local foods in Winter Haven like Andy’s Igloo or Pebbles BBQ in Auburndale, two of the restaurants in Polk that are over 60 years old.

The tech theme will be VarAC . Additional information can be found on the www.lwra.us website. Talk in will be the WC4PEM repeater system or the Polk County GMRS Bartow repeater.

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