LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 4/20/26

Well Sun N Fun is over for another year! Man, it was fun, but the sun created havoc on the medical teams out there. The T-Birds were great and for those who participated in the Special event Ham station, a big thank you! Great job Russ, Mike, Dan and of course Geoff for running that station. Several hundred contacts were made.  I had the opportunity to talk to a new HAM and even picked him up and took him to the special event station, encouraging him to come to the QRP and play some radio.  As we move into the warmer season, it is a great time to start preparing your station, house and staples for a storm, should we get one. If you are new to the area and have questions on how to prepare, just ask. Some things are purely old school and are no longer relevant like masking tape on windows. It doesn’t do anything but not come out of the window so if you have questions, please check with someone in the club.  Also, if you need to know what radio channels and or services are available for HAM, we can assist with that as well.

We will enjoy the net this week Dave Hulling KO4FRZ (thanks Dave for filling in!)  We will need all the help we can get on the LWRA UHF machine 442.425Mhz +5MHz offset with 127.3 on both TX and RX. This is a dual mode repeater for AMS Fusion*. The net is conducted in the analog mode starting at 730PM followed by the ‘round table’ for the LWRA repeater.

*The repeater is temporarily on the secondary repeater which is analog only.<

I need an NC for my GMRS net Tuesday! If no one takes it; please let the folks know that the net is not going to happen… I will be out of the area. If interested, please call 863-412-2467 ( if I do not answer PLEASE leave a message)

QRP- Great opportunity to learn about Fusion and Wires X. The repeater is in Bartow so even with your portable range should not be an issue.  Mary Holland Park (bungalow 13) on the very back side of the park. You can set up an HF station or just mingle with the folks there. Top Cat Café’ will be there for lunch (bring a drink it’s already warming up) . Talk in PEM or GMRS Bartow. 9-12 on Saturday 04/25/2026.

We still net a few net controllers for our GMRS associated nets. Third or fourth week on Bartow and W5DBH’s repeater in Haines City.

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

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

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

One last thing.

Check out WINLINK Monday with Gary today, you can find more information on the Polk ARES web site.
Also, Winlink WED is another opportunity.

73 and I hope to ‘see ya on the air.’

Mike
KB4FHP jml610@comcast.net call 863-412-2467