Greeting fellow LWRA folks!
It is Monday and I wanted to give you a brief rundown on the things to look forward to in May.
The LWRA meeting will be this THURSDAY and boy do we have a great classroom setting meeting for you this month. W4JFS, a world-renowned record holder, most check ins on our LWRA net, and feared by several repeaters in the area, since he has burned two up doing nets, probably another record… oh well I digress, will be our program this month. He will be tackling a subject I’m certainly interested in. “everything you wanted to know about APRS but was afraid to ask” …that’s me I have never used it, would like to know more about it so I’m excited. So, get those questions ready for John as he explains how to and the why to use APRS. Thursday May 9th 7PM at LWFD Station 1 253 West Central Avenue in Lake Wales. App 1/8th of a mile east of US 27.
A reminder we tested the Google Meets link last meeting. Those who tested it with us had no issues with audio or getting the meeting. This can be accessed via phone, or computer. The app may be required for your phone. Here is the link. It will be live a few minutes prior to the meeting so come aboard and let us know you are there.https://meet.google.com/mhb-ukfz-upi.
Other stuff, we are in the final planning stages for this months QRP. It will be at Simmers Young Park in Winter Haven-Auburndale area. A new park for the QRP. A very large area with several pavilions, a long-isolated trail for those who may want to venture away from the pavilions. Our Tail Gate Tech section will be APRS and Meshtastic long range off grid form of communications. We will have the first official “Big Dogs on the Porch Café” with hot dogs and condiments. BRING your own drinks and if you so desire look for the donation jar to keep this part of our QRP’s going. More information at www.lwra.us/qrp
HEADLINE May testing was a success!
The VE TEAM, a great dedicated bunch as well, had to make an emergency move to a temporary location at the last minute. The Red Cross is making a few updates and remodeling the facility we normally use. After a brief search KO4FRZ came to the rescue. We will be testing JUNE, and JULY at the Masonic lodge on Recker Highway. The times will remain the same beginning at 9AM.
Winter Haven F&AM Masonic Lodge Nos. 186; 3596 Recker Highway; Winter Haven, Fl 33880
Walking in not excepted preregistration to test still applies.
As a reminder the EXTRA Pool will change June 30th, so the testing for the LWRA will change after June’s testing on the first Saturday as well as LARC on the First Monday. I am unaware of other testing sites.
LARC 05/13/2024 at 5:30 PM Parview Baptist Church, or Parview Ave Lakeland ( Walk in welcome)
LWRA 06/01/2024 at 9MA 3596 Recker Highway Winter Haven PRE REGISTRATION REQUIRED www.lwra.us/ve
LARC 06/10/2024 at 5:30 PM Parview Baptist Church, or Parview Ave Lakeland ( Walk in welcome): https://arrl.org/extra-question-pool.
Don’t forget the nets:
Monday net opportunities:
Local ‘Polie Bottom” NXDN net with Jimmy KJ4KJG as host on the W4CLL NXDN South Lakeland repeater at 8PM on 442.025 RAN 45 NXDN ICOM Or Kenwood radio required.
Tuesday Net opportunities are:
GMRS Net 462.725 141.3 +5 CTCSS 7 PM KI4MOX is the NC (Thanks for him filling on at the last-minute last week. I had to make an emergency trip out of county due to a family emergency)
LWRA TACO TUESDAY NET – The LWRA Net will be at 730PM on the 442.425MHz repeater + 5MHz using CTCSS Tone squelch 127.3 The net controller will be W4JFS, John our 1st Tuesday NC. He will announce the location of the informal that follows the regular net with a great topical question.
W4PSR Polk Schools Radio Society radio net. This is aa great chance to encourage youth. It is operated by youth under the supervision of Ham clubs in the schools. They operate on various modes to let students become aware of the types of systems available. We will announce the mode on our net on Tuesday as well as on Signal Chat for the LWRA. The net begins at 2:15PM each Wednesday during the regular school year.
I believe this week we will be back on the Polk Fusion Repeater (C4FM Fusion required) 145.270Mhz -.6 using C4FM DN or VW mode.
Polk County ARES net on the WC4PEM linked repeater systems. The net begins at 7PM with WX4NEX Norm. Always a great net. More information can be found at https://polkares.org
NI4CE NXDN net on the NI4CE NXDN radio network. This net requires a NXDN radio, and more information can be found on the www.ni4ce.org/nxdn. This net is hosted by NB9X Paul and starts at 730PM.
Thursday net opportunities:
LARC Fusion with Bob on the 146.685MHz -.6 Mhz C4FM. This requires a Fusion radio to participate.
LARC Traders net at 730PM on the LARC repeater 146.685Mhz -.6 Mhz 127.3 Tone Squelch.
WCF TECH Net. Listen- Learn-Inquire and Inspire. The wealth of knowledge out there is usually only a question away. On the NI4CE network is the TECH NET. This net allows questions to our WCF Technical Specialist on a variety of subjects and or problems. Join in at 9PM every Thursday evening. www.ni4ce.org /nets for more information and frequencies. www.wcfarrl.org for more information. We have several Tech Specialist from our area on the net frequently.
And of course, daily 365 days a year at 830 PM we have the Eagles Net the WCF ARRL Traffic Net on the NI4CE radio network. www.ni4ce.org for more information.
One last thing. Check out the WINLINK Monday with Gary today, you can find more information on the www.polkares.org/WINLINK
73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’
Mike
KB4FHP