LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 12/29/25

GOOD MORNING!   As we gathered today for our ‘Almost QRP” we met with dense fog but made our way to the beautiful Lake Kissimmee State Park. The QRP was a wonderful time with several distinct components. Upon arrival I witnessed some busy hams unloading and staking out territory to set up stations. It was interesting today because we had a new Ham join us for the first time to ‘take it all in’. Roger T. KR4HSX, a ham for LESS than 1 month! And he is out eager to become ‘radioactive’. Roger was given the $1.50 tour where he saw and met over 11 LWRA members eager to talk about the station they were operating. This is where the second component was discovered. The majority of the stations operating today were Yaesu FT891, all with different antennas. Ironically (as far as I know) we had no FT8 set ups today. The other component we discovered is that KO4FRZ Dave H. is quite the cook, he fixed ‘white chicken chili” with fixings, man it was 2 two ‘bowler’ for me!

As we were all packing up, a gentleman walked over to one of the stations and asked ‘who we were talking to. We had just joked about being asked by folks ‘are we were talking to aliens’, so we said “aliens”. He laughed and several of us saw his cap. He was a Vietnam Vet, a cobra, helicopter pilot from Palm Beach County (KN4YZH). He was, as my deep conviction, told of my appreciation for his service to protect my freedoms. He indicated he retired from Fire Services in Palm Beach County as a medivac pilot. Then he sprung it on us, he was a HAM.

He lost his wife several years ago and on the recommendation of friends became a technician. He has not actively pursued the hobby in the last few years but was instinctively intrigued by what our group was doing. I feel the welcome he received and the encouragement from those there, he will become more active. I have his address, so I’m searching for local repeaters close to him and clubs to help him get back in the hobby. So, it never ceases to amaze me when and where our hobby is recognized. With the opportunity to be a good HAM we welcomed, encouraged and just had a little fun with him, all because we are in this wonderful hobby!
Don’t forget the LWRA January meeting will be on the 8th, and we will have a little different approach to the ‘state of the club” meeting. Exciting times to be ‘radioactive’ so join in the fun when you can.

The ’Flavor of the Week’ will be 146.655 P25 NAC 293 repeater and the LWRA VHF 147.330 127.3 repeater in Lk Wales will be the topping.

The NET control operator will be the ‘ole 5th’ Tuesday dude, KT4WX Darrell. Join Darrell for Tuesday evening’s net at 730PM on the LWRA UHF repeater. He will also be, as in years past, be the guest star performer on the Eagle Net Wednesday edition for the New year’s eve net. He usually has a question so join him on the NI4CE repeater network on New Years Eve. https://www.ni4ce.org

QRP for Jan 26!

We already know a few things about the QRP Jan 26

It’s ‘HAM ‘n Beans relocated’; We moved this year to January after several conflicts in October. We will be at Simmers Young Park and the LWRA will be providing meat(s). Next Monday I will send out an easy way to know what we need folks to bring. It will be a QRP, probably themed, and we will announce that in a few days. So come out to play radio and have a little fellowship Last day of January ’26.

Dan’s W5DBH Haines City Net on Fridays 462.55 127.3 he needs subs and controllers for his 7 PM Friday net.
I need a third- or fourth-week controller for the Polk GMRS net for Tuesday at 7PM each week. 462.725 141.3. Also, standby subs for all three nets would be great. Let me know about any 863-412-2467
We still net a few net controllers for our GMRS associated nets.

Thanks, Russ, for the celestial updates. Great net reminders on SIGNAL each day… a wonderful tool!
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.

If you are NOT on SIGNAL and want info email me jml610@comcast.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