LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 2/03/25

Good Monday!

What! January is GONE! Moving fast February is here and really traveling down the track as well. Very busy time for me especially.

I hope you have been able to take advantage of the new repeater (Fusion) now WIRES X in Bartow. If you have a Fusion radio Russ has been assisting us with ‘how to’ information, the Dade City Fusion net last week was a record setting net for them when we joined in welcoming us. EPARS C4FM Fusion NET Thursdays at 8PM.

Another very informative classroom type meeting will LWRA on the 13th of Feb at 7PM. His imminence Grant Burhans W2BF will be leading our program. More on his topic in upcoming emails. Grant is a very astute businessman with many years in electronics. His background, now enhanced by HAM radio, will make his class pertinent and interesting.

Reminder: Get you Fox Hunting gear ready. We will Have our Feb QRP (a week early) Feb 15th due to TechCon-2025 (www.arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-event/wcftechconference/ This year again it will be at Polk County EOC. Saturday February 22nd, 2025 Welcome and Check in 8AM location 1890 Jim Keen Blvd. Winter Haven, Florida. If you cannot attend in person.)

Back to the FOX hunt, get your antenna or get with a buddy and hunt together, teamwork is the key at times. We will start the morning with the ‘Hunter Brief’ at Mary Holland Park in Bartow. We are going to have four (maybe five) foxes. Remember you don’t have to be a licensed HAM or GMRS to hunt. However, someone with a ticket will have to notify the control point you have located one (NOT WHERE) so others can still hunt.

HAMCATION 7-8-9th in Orlando. A great time to join friends to shop, look, drool over (radios and stuff) same ticket gets you in all three days. https://hamcation.com for additional information and times.
Here is the rebroadcast from the last Monday news about the Fusion Repeater.
Great news the WIRES X Fusion repeater in Bartow is now WIRES capable thanks to Russ, Richard and Robert. More to come on how to use this if you have a Yaesu Fusion Radio 145.270MHz C4FM ONLY. W4PSR Thanks Polk School Radio Society, Lakeland Amateur Radio Club, Lake Wales Repeater Association, and Polk County Emergency Management for success in this project.

Last thing I promise.  Attached is the sign-up sheet for Sun ‘N Fun Special Event Station. You only have to work morning or afternoon.

You get a t shirt, parking pass and admission to Sun N Fun so you can enjoy the event that day when you not working the station.

Value $45.00 +parking. They do have sandwiches (affectionately known as ‘mystery meat’ and have been since my first SNF 49 years ago. Other food vendors are on the property. Anyway, sign up on the attached form and send it back please list 1 2 3rd choice and t shirt size.  I will notify you or someone from the special event station will notify you about your ticket and parking pass if your selected slot is still available. Extremely valuable talking on the radio with friends.

Don’t forget the nets:

Daily VHF/UHF Net Listings – Polk County
 
DAY
TIME
REPEATER(S)
NET NAME
Daily
2030
NI4CE (Analog) Repeater System
Eagle Net:  NTS Traffic Net
Monday
1900
146.625 MHz – N4EMH Repeater
Hardee County ARES Net
Monday
1930
NI4CE (Analog) Repeater System
WCF Section ARES/Information Net
Monday
2000
442.025 MHz – W4CLL NXDN
NXDN “Polie Bottom” Net
Tuesday
1900
GMRS Bartow Repeater
Polk County GMRS Net
Tuesday
1930
442.425 MHz – LWRA Repeater
LWRA Weekly Net
Tuesday
2100
NI4CE (Analog) Repeater System
Skywarn Information Net
Wednesday
1900
WC4PEM Repeater System
Polk County ARES Net
Wednesday
1930
NI4CE NXDN Repeater System
Florida NXDN Net
Thursday
1830
146.685 MHz – LARC Repeater
LARC Fusion Net
Thursday
1930
146.685 MHz – LARC Repeater
LARC Weekly Net
Thursday
2100
NI4CE (Analog) Repeater System
WCF Section Technical Net

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 jml610@comcast.net call 863-412-2467