Good afternoon,
I hope all have had a remarkable day this year’s Memorial Day. This day, formerly Decoration Day, was first observed to honor the fallen from the War Between the States. It was later changed to reflect and honor those who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in service to our country. I, as many of you, have family members who paid this price dating back to the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and Vietnam. The dedication and understanding that, if possible, they would again lay their life down. A good friend of mine, also a HAM, expresses it in his poem ‘We took an Oath.’ The oath of a service person NEVER expires; the true patriot spirit is embodied in the soldier. I know many many many of you served. For that I am eternally grateful! Some of you saw battle, others may not have but your desire, and unbridled willingness to serve and beyond genuinely appreciated. Thank You, I salute you all!
The weekend was GREAT! We had a wonderful QRP with thirty-seven folks participating. We had several stations and contacts were made with POTA stations in LA and AK, forty meters. Other contacts were also made on other bands . Our T-G-T feature was APRS, thanks to the team for aiding several with the APRS setup. We had eight APRS messages sent and nineteen check in. Folks check into the event via APRS. Our event was attended by several visitors, THANKS FOR WELCOMING THEM! We had our first official ‘Big Dogs on the Porch Café’ Kudos to Chef Kyle and the Café manager Darrell for setting this up. The folks who helped with the venture with provisions, thank you as well. We will look forward to these throughout the year. WWW.LWRA.US/qrp
The park itself was a hit. The video is or will be available on the web site soon. We will be revisiting this park and may consider this our Ham n Beans site this year.
A reminder the clock is ticking and the calendar creeping toward that ole nasty 2024 Hurricane season. A couple of good things to think about NOW!
Make sure your portable radios are in full operation and batteries are ready to go, your provision for sustenance such as easily prepared food, water OTC Rx items batteries generators assessed, fuel for generators, gas for the grill you get the picture.
If you are new to the area and need assistance in what is needed for the storm and the recovery, we can certainly direct you to the proper resources and agencies. A good place to see emergency operations would be to join us at the Polk ARES meeting this month. The fourth Thursday at 7 PM doors open at 630 information at www.polkares.org/meetings for a map and information.
A great tool for preparation would be to have LWRA SIGNAL on your phone for questions and or updates. See Russ or John W4JFS for more information.
Important; IF YOU PLAN ON OPERATING AT THE FIELD DAY OR WILL HELP PUT UP OR TAKE DOWN THE STATIONS, PLEASE SEND ME AN EMAIL AT jml610@comcast.net for additional information. June 22nd
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF AND WHEN YOU WANT TO OPERATE. OPERATORS ARE NEEDED. WE WILL NOT HAVE A QRP IN JUNE IN LIGHT OF THIS EVENT. JML610@COMCAST.NET
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
WALK IN NOT EXCEPTED PRE REGISTRATION REQUIRED! ve@lwra.us more information at www.lwra.us/ve
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. https://arrl.org/extra-question-pool
Don’t forget the nets
Monday: We have the Hardee County ARES Net, KT4WX will be NC on the WC4PEM repeater network at 7PM https://polkares.org for frequencies and repeater locations
WCF ARRL ARES NET with KN4WXX on the NI4CE repeater network www.ni4ce.org for frequencies and repeater locations
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. Temporarily postponed we will list when the repeater is back in service.
Tuesday Net opportunities are:
GMRS Net 462.725 141.3 +5 CTCSS 7 PM KB4FHP/WRCP675 is the NC. I NEED TWO MORE NET CONTROL OPERATORS; it is fun and a great way to practice.
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 Jim N4JPC is the NC. He will announce the location of the informal that follows the regular net with a great topical question.
We have GREAT NETS with LWRA, if you are a SNOWBIRD on the way or already back up there; don’t forget we have SIGNAL. This is for you to let us know you ‘would if you could’ be a part of the net. Check in on SIGNAL just to let us know you are OK.
(of course, you can ‘would if you could’ check in even if you are here.)
Wednesday net opportunities:
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.
TO be announced on SIGNAL no net this week due to final school week activities. If you need additional send me an email jml610@comcast.net
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
Wednesday Continued
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 Eagle 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