LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 6/08/25

Good morning, folks. It is fast approaching the busy time of year for some, including me. I would like to take a few moments to highlight the overlooked and steadfast volunteers in our group. Our VE Team is remarkable! Each month they prepare and test prospective, albeit nervous, new or returning amateur test candidates for all classes of license. The American Red Cross on the first Saturday of the month in reality becomes a very organized, calm and reassuring location for the nervous to take their time and concentrate to express the hours of study though testing by our VE team. That’s not where it starts. Each of these VE (volunteer examiners) are also well trained to arrange the session, contact the candidates that sign up, administer the test, grade the test, complete the associated paperwork for that test. The team is coordinated and usually in advance know what their Saturday task assignment will be to make this a seamless operation. Once the candidate has taken the test, they acknowledge the candidate of their success and unfortunately sometimes not so much success. They, within the rules, make accommodation for some with unusual testing requirements and in other cases accommodate groups of candidates from other areas. At the end of the session the John, assures that the proper paperwork is in the hands of those registering with the FCC and then contacts the candidate back once the call sign is assigned. Each successful candidate is giving information about LWRA. This and the other VE teams in Polk (LARC) accomplish all of this in a very short time frame. I would like to thank the VE Team from LWRA in particular, as well as the LARC team (most of which are in the LWRA as well) for making Polk County a very vibrant area for amateur radio. Without these folks testing would be a travel event to Tampa or Orlando area for testing, which in some cases charge, we both are free testing sites. THANK YOU, VE TEAM(s), for ALL you do to grow our hobby!

Speaking of VE team, the renowned leader of our VE team is our Net Control for this week.

We will enjoy the Net this week with KU8Q John as Net Control. 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 Tuesday evening..

Meeting week!

This is meeting week Dan will have a program for the club so we will see you at 7PM the LW Fire Station at 253 West Central Avenue Lake Wales. Chat on the way in on either the LWRA 2m or 70 cm machine. I will send the Google Meets on Thursday or use the previous links if you have it saved.

QRP- the QRP will be centered with preparations for the Filed Day at Tom Davis Building at Sun N Fun Property this year. We have 3 stations that need to be operated.

Check it out. More information will be forth coming with a flyer.

The FLAVOR of the week is DMR, and particularly the PC Schools Talk Group 3195162 (TS2) on the W4VCO network or available on the Brandmeister Network on a HOTSPOT.

The Topping will be Analog will be the LARC machine, It operates on 146.685MHz with 127.3 TX and RX. It is also ECHO Link accessible for stations beyond the range.

Thanks for good use last week on the repeaters. Keep on using that PTT and make a few contacts.

I NEED A GMRS NET CONTROLLER FOR THE POLK GMRS FOR JUNE 23RD. I WILL BE IN MINNESOTA FOR THE USA GAMES SPECIAL OLYMPICS. MY RADIO WILL BE OUT OF RANGE. IF INTERESTED PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP AND I CAN GET YOU THE PREAMBLE. Contact me on signal or at jml610@comcast.net

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

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.

73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’

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