It is SUMMER (in case you have not noticed),
It is time to enjoy time off with family, or get those projects completed for your trips, yard, house projects. Planning for vacations or staycations and just as important HAM radio stuff. Checking out the radios, just in case the season changes and you may have to communicate with someone when your phone does not work for a week or so because of power failures.
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.
June events.
The June Meeting will be a learning meeting with W4JFS. He will enlighten us on the values and workings of APRS, much more than a location tool. John has delved into this part of the hobby to give us some tools in the toolbox for communications. W4JFS, our speaker this month is an educator by trade, his love for this hobby is self-evident, he is a great asset to the club by being our 1st week net controller and one of the folks who make our QRP events each month fun, educational and complete with camp style coffee on the stove. The meeting will be the SECOND THURSDAY at LWFD station #1 253 West Central Avenue at 7PM.
FIELD DAY 2024!
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 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! June testing was a success again this month!
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 in 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 ACCEPTED! PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED! ve@lwra.us more information at www.lwra.us/ve
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.
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 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 John, W4JFS 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.
NET OFF FOR SUMMER VACATION WILL RETURN EARLY SEPTEMBER
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.arrlwcf.org . www.ni4ce.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