Good Monday !
It is a great Monday! I attended a Ray’s game yesterday, I thought it would be in the Center Field area due to the tickets, however, it was in the Box seats, free food and fellowship with a Special Needs group we attend, and WE WON! Ray’s UP! For those who are not Ray’s fans I’m sorry for the jubilation, not really. Anyway, I had the chance to exercise a couple of local repeaters as well as contact t with folks over here to get updated weather on some of our linked systems. Remember, HAM is a participant sport. Throw your call sign out, see if anyone is there. Someone is typically sandbagging and hopefully will answer. These repeaters and networks are in jeopardy when NOT used, so support them with a short QSO. You can also get great information on severe weather reminders with several options. WC4PEM Polk ARES, NI4CE both analog and NXDN* as well as some tools like NXDN Weather Apps. www.NI4CE.org for additional or https://POLKARES.ORG for more about weather. If you are new to the area and need assistance in what is needed for the storm preparation 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. On the fourth Thursday at 7 PM doors open at 630 information at www.polkares.org/meetings for a map and information. Remember hurricane preparedness takes planning and time.
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. Welcome to the several new folks who have joined us this week on SIGNAL.
Great meeting last week, thanks for the 31 folk who attended by Google or in person, some folks could not make it due to illness, and I certainly hope they feel better. ‘Dan the Maine Man’, yes, I know it is misspelled, had a great program… the second in the series on grounding, I definitely learned a few things that I need to change.
Just a reminder that the QRP is upcoming, we are Fox Hunting and setting up stations at the park.
The opportunity to brag on our QRP Tailgate Tech Concept was very topical, and I’m sure in some form will be copied. But that’s good. Our committee has gone way beyond the standard to make these now famous events. More in a few lines about the event.
As we prepare for the JULY QRP, July 27th 9-12, our remarkable team have located a park and four that’s four live and sly FOXES that need to be found. We will be at the Fort Meade Recreation Park on the Peace River in Fort Meade. We are planning a fun hunt with more than just hunting FOX. We have hints that should be of interest in finding these rascals. One of the FOX will be on GMRS, making UHF a little more difficult to find. The ‘Big Dogs on the Porch Café will be operational so I will be sure and bring the donation jar for this event. As always PLEASE bring your own drinks, it is summer, and hydration is important. If you want to see how easy it is to build a directional antenna here is a great link. https://youtu.be/BmHoQrDfw-0?si=5dH2G8ag0LmBmj07 This is a low cost directional that is made from a measuring tape and PVC pipe. (a cheap tape from anywhere like Scotty’s (just kidding I used to work there) or a reason to go to Rual King or Harbor Freight. More information and a flyer at https://www.lwra.us/qrp .
Also, Russ N4RTD besides being a great Elmer and Fixer he is also a great graphic artist. He has designed the LWRA 50th anniversary emblem and it is now available to have shirts made at out shirt vendor, Embroidery shirts and or hats only at this time. At the July meeting I will get an interesting list of screen-printed shirts. Our vendor ALL Tech Stitching is located at 3850
SHOULD LWFD HAVE TO ACTIVATE THEIR CITY EOC (WHICH IS OUR MEETING ROOM) A MEETING CANCELATION WILL BE SENT OUT. PLEASE CHECK EMAILS THE DAY OF THE MEETINGS UNTIL THE HURRICANE SEASON IS ENDED.
NET INFORMATION
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. I NEED one MORE NET CONTROL OPERATOR; it is fun and a great way to practice. This week it is Mike from Lake Wales as NET Controller.
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 Mike KB4FHP. I 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.wcfarrl.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.
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, IF SEVERE WEATHER OCCURS A SKYWARN NET MAY BE ACTIVATED. WC4PEM OR NI4CE FOR INFORMATION OR REPORTING IF NEEDED.
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