LWRA Ham Bytes – Week of 5/11/26

Good day, LWRA! It is nearly hot season here in Polk. As many know, May is one of the warmest months of the year here in Central Florida. We do not yet have the jet stream collisions that cause our typical afternoon showers. So, the baking continues all day making the air/ground hotter. I hope you are checking your provisions, radios and of course your alternative power be it generator, solar/ battery or squirrel cage with three squirrels and an electric motor. Time to test is now. A good cooking source like a grill or gas grill or gas griddle with staples that can be prepared on these devices. You get the idea … Prepare now and know that is all works. Unfortunately, stocking up on a lot of gasoline could be costly right now, so early start is just good advice. Reminder the WC4PEM network as well as the NI4CE network will be your best option for weather information if a weather or SKYWARN net has been activated on either or both of those networks.

We will enjoy the net this week with Dave KO4FRZ filling in for KU8Q. 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 Question will be a conversation-based topic right after the regular net.

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

QRP- This Month’s QRP will be something we have not done in several months. We have the opportunity with the knowledge base in our club to assist our members who may have a station issue that they just cannot resolve. This may be technical or logistical or just plain muscle. So, we are having our famous Helping Hams QRP. We need worker bees and assistant bees and observer bees to participate. Here is how it works. Fill in the request form on page two of this email. One section is for the folks who can help; the other is for the I need assistance. We will NOT put up tower or climb towers on this event. But we can help check out SWR, Coax issues, radio concerns and on and on these are for the fixed station. We also hope to have a drive up check out your mobile issue like connector, SWR, power concerns, mounting suggestions and so on. (Location to be determined by where these requests for help are centered, the other we hope to have a location to help with minor programming issues. This will depend on type of radio and available CPS and programming cables. We will also determine the location based on request. This will be on the last Saturday of the month, 9-noon and again undecided if the Big Dogs will have a paw in this. We can decide toward the end after we see where the projects are. It just depends on the location.

We typically have two roaming teams, one for the north and one for the south, if we get more folks involved, we may be able to add a third. If we have the drive-up location will centrally locate. We also can do the program or cable issues there is that is possible.

This information will be clarified with notifications and SIGNAL messages as well (both). Last time we did this we helped several of our members, some who are very capable of doing what needed to be done, they just need more than one hand to get the job done. No request too small just ask and we will see if we can get you in. HELPING HAMS is a fun, fun day!

If you check with those who have been a part of these in the past, it is a great day for the LWRA!

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

Email helping hams form to jml610@comcast.net