LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 8/18/25

Good Monday,

I hope you all are having a great August, it is certainly “dog days” as they say in the south. Translation: plain ole’ HOT! Stay vigilant, this is the rapidly changing weather time of the year. To exemplify; last week Erin was going to be a TS ramp up rapidly to a Cat 3 as it turned north in the Atlantic. As it ramped up it turned into a massive Cat 5 before downgrading to a 4. Things happen very fast this time of year. Be prepared or get prepared NOW! Easier now than when everyone else is scrambling.

Anyway, Thank You to the 27 or so folks who attended the LWRA meeting last Thursday. A great crew we have here, yes, we do! From the program creator Russ N4RTD, the camera and production crew, Dan and Dave, W5DBH and KO4FRZ to the officers and their outstanding jobs, as Dave again for the unexpected cookies and drinks. A good time had by all.

QRP- As you know we talk this time of year about relaying or passing traffic into the Emergency Operations Center during activated events such as hurricanes. This now includes the GMRS community. Several CERT groups are culminating information that needs to be relayed and are using GMRS and/or HAM radio. The net we started 1 year and 5 months ago has become a HUGE success. I never anticipated a weekly average of 32-36 check ins. Mentioned in a couple of articles even QST. They have become adept at using the net check in format and ‘Now for the Rest of the Story”, as my hero Paul Harvey used to say. Our QRP this month (last Saturday will be at Mary Holland Park Bartow.) From there we will disseminate scripted notifications back to the EOC, which will be manned by dual license individuals to take that information and acknowledge the sending station, as it would be in an actual activation. WE NEED YOU HELP. I bet you have never sent information to the EOC as a HAM or GMRS, so this is a remarkable opportunity to PRACTICE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. After all, this really is why we say we got into the hobby. ‘I just want to be able to get a hold of someone in case other systems are out.’ Whether you label that ‘Prepper, Emergency Communicator, even Sky warn weather reporting, any other adjective or description, you want to be able to get help when you need it. Here is you chance to PRACTICE.

As always, you can set up HF, 2M,70CM and more. A regular QRP but this time with real time drill quality response to emergency comms. Come out to the park and we will give you a card with the scenario. You can use any of the approved comms into the EOC which will be on the scenario information. More to come as we plan. PLEASE come out and join us. We will provide you with a real hot dog and bun just for coming sponsored by ‘Big Dogs on the Porch’.

Thanks to Russ, Christine, John S. for working to make this happen.

Bring your drink, because it is still summertime in Florida. You do NOT have to be a member or ARES, LWRA or the GMRS community to observe and/or participate.
www.lwra.us/qrp for the flyer and information

See the attached letter from BOD Member Mike Green AG4LT regarding our soon upcoming ‘Ham n Beans’ note the change of date and the overall theme.

Don’t forget the nets: We need ya! Summertime our numbers dip a little so join us if you can. The venerable Repeater Killer W4JFS is making a special appearance this week to take my net. He is ALWAYS a great NC and loves doing our nets. Join him on the 442.425 repeater at 7:30 with the ’round table’ to follow on the repeater he announces.

Check out W4JFS’ ‘flavor of the day’ (what repeater we are highlighting that day) on Signal Chat.

Don’t forget WINLINK Monday: We need you here too!

Thanks, Russ, for the celestial updates.

Net information on the next page.

Don’t forget use LWRA Signal Club & Swap group to find or create great deals on this medium. One average item only stays active for a few days before they are sold.

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