Category: Club News

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Field Day Quick Wrap Up

Well another Field Day has come and gone.

We  were treated to the aroma of mangos of every type you can imagine while we preapred for the 2 pm start of Field Day. Certainly a one of a kind venue for field day!

Despite some of the weather related issues a good time was had by all. Turnout was a bit light probably due to the weather. Those that did participate enjoyed some great food, plenty of conversation and a chance to use their new found skills.

We spent much of the day rebuilding our radio room and giving away gear that had been stored there for many years. We hope to have a radio room ready  for your use that you can be comfortable in and proud of. Wall moniitors, logging software, boom mikes, weather station, and more are some of the things to look forward to.

Propagation was not that great starting out ,but as evening fell upon us it improved greatly. I know collectively we did well over 300 contacts.

I apologize for my lack of attention to some of the smaller details and failed to provide the usual sign in log.....So with that said, those of you recieveing this message, if you attended could you please reply. Include family members and friends even if they are not licensed amateurs. It would be greatly appriciated.

Thats it for now...

Hope to hear you on the net at 7:30, 442.525.

73 de W1HQL

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Everglades Radio Club Minutes – June 9, 2023

President’s Report: Steven Taylor, W1HQL
Secretary Report: Secretary, Bill, KG2CS
Vice-President: Charlie N4CRE
Treasurer: Pete WB4DB $5,034.26

Treasurer’s Report: $5,034.26 (approximately) $3,937.98 (6.9.23)
Expenses: $1164.96(Go-Box). 4769.98 total balance.
New members updated and read aloud.

Introductions (7:22 PM):

Old Business:
By-Laws in progress.

New Business:
Eric Rodriguez, KF4LZA 442.525 donated. PL 94.8. Tuesday net will be held on
442.525. Other nets remain the same. W4SVI call. Our repeater.
Tables will be set up with additional extra items. Icom 746 Pro: low power issues. There
is a person in New Jersey that services older Icom equipment. Estimate asks for repairs.
Steve and Pete are looking at a bigger area to operate from (desk).

Field Day Update:
The 4 th weekend of June. 24 th and 25 th . The building opens at 7 am. An event is taking
place in the morning. They will be gone by 11 am. Field Day starts 2 PM in the
afternoon. 12 noon begins the set up. Food issues were discussed. We could self support,
or we could plan to be together. “Potluck” style buffet was agreed on.
Go-Box to be the GOTA station. We will set up front. “When all Else Fails.”

7:51 PM Adjourned.

Bill KG2CS won 50-50.

Tuesday night ARES (444.800): 7:00 PM. Eddie NCS.

7:30 PM Steve, W1HQL: Everglades Amateur Radio Club Information Net (444.800).

Do not forget SouthCARS 7.251. 8 am to 1 PM every day of the year.
Or Maritime Mobile Net 14.300. They take general check-ins.

Wednesday 147.150 Coral Gables Emergency Net. 7:00 PM. (Thank you Ron)
And check in on the local 2 meter and 440 nets.

ARES, Southern Florida Section, Now, Monday through Saturday. 3.940 MHZ. 7:45
AM. Steve, W1HQL Saturday morning and Bill, KG2CS Monday morning.

North Florida ARES Net: 3.950 7:30 PM. They call for South Florida check-ins around
7:45 PM.


Respectfully submitted,
Bill, KG2CS

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Everglades Radio Club – May 12, 2023

President’s Report: Steven Taylor, W1HQL
Secretary Report: Secretary, Bill, KG2CS
Vice-President: Charlie N4CRE
Treasurer: Pete WB4DB $5,034.26

Treasurer’s Report: $5,034.26 (approximately) $3,937.98 (6.9.23)
Expenses: $1145 (Go-Box)

Introductions (7:22 PM): Tony Hall from the South Dade Radio Club.
One new member online. Motioned to accept minutes.

Old Business:
Field Day: June 24-25. 4th full weekend of June. Practice for emergencies. It will be the
Ag Center. The club’s members’ choice.
Go-Box update by Charlie, N4CRE.

New Business:
Steve is working on by-laws for the club. This is a follow-up from the constitution. Steve
will send out via e-mail to membership. Club station computer set up. Thank you Ryan
and Steve. Steve, W1HQL will test 5/13/23, SET test. Also, Steve did the SET test and
checked in Miami Dade. Thanks.

Alain mentioned operation “Operation Marconi” EMCOM and there are opportunities to
get certified to help during natural disasters. Joe, , gave an update on how to get
certified.

Steve gave more information on ICS 100 and 700. 600 is for space weather. (Ham radio)
Steve also talked about understanding SOP. Standard Operating Procedures. Steve gave a
scenario of total loss of communication/Internet. So, who is listening? Where? What are
the protocols? Steve mentioned calling in a brush fire out West. Radio operators was out
of band and was giving orders. The FCC fined him. (a lot). Listen, and assist. Steve
downloaded the State Watch Book. This book has all the frequencies. Thank you Steve.
Be prepared. NIFOG. National Information for Operating Guide. (From Joe). May 27,
2023, National Hurricane Center. 14,325. And other frequencies. Suzie and Alan are
involved. WX4NHC is the Hurricane Center call. Al mentioned the issue of the
handhelds on the ship. Captain said no. (none of us every had this issue)

7:51 PM Adjourned.

Milton won the 50-50.

Tuesday night ARES (444.800): 7:00 PM. Eddies NCS.
7:30 PM Steve, W1HQL: Everglades Amateur Radio Club Information Net (444.800).

Do not forget SouthCARS 7.251. 8 am to 1 PM every day of the year.
Or Maritime Mobile Net 14.300. They take general check-ins.

Wednesday 147.150 Coral Gables Emergency Net. 7:00 PM. (Thank you Ron)
And check in on the local 2 meter and 440 nets.

ARES, Southern Florida Section, Now, Monday through Saturday. 3.940 MHZ. 7:45
AM. Steve, W1HQL Saturday morning. Bill, KG2CS Monday morning.

North Florida ARES Net: 3.950 7:30 PM. They call for South Florida check-ins around
7:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill, KG2CS

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Everglades Radio Cub Minutes – April 14, 2023

President’s Report: Steven Taylor, W1HQL
Secretary Report: Secretary, Bill, KG2CS
Vice-President: Charlie N4CRE
Treasurer: Pete WB4DB

Treasurer’s Report: $5,034.26 (approximately)

5 renewals, and new members. Joe. Motioned to accept.

Introduction/Induction of Vice President: Charlie Rodriguez, N4CRE.
Charles Rodriguez, N4CRE, gave a brief speech.

Old Business:
Special Election Held: Charlie, N4CRE is now our Vice-President.

New Business:
Tropical Park. Ham get together. Saturday the 15 th . (Roly hosting). Pinecrest Bakery
donated food.

Alain: Florida QSO Party. 28 th , 29 th .

Pete went to symposium, The emergency manager of Miami Children’s Hospital. Steve is
going to meet with them. Pete gave an update by Miami Dade County Healthcare
Preparedness. 2 hour update. 3 slides, much interaction with agencies. Concern about
emergency communications. Filled half the room, great information sharing.

Discussion about the club station and a go-box. Have Go-Box constructed. The club will
purchase the items we may need. Some equipment already on hand. Voted in the
affirmative. Charlie, N4CRE will take the lead in the Go-Box assembly.

SET on April 22, 2023. Denial of Service. Simulated Emergency Test (North Florida
ARES).

Field Day: June 24-25. 4th full weekend of June. Practice for emergencies. It will be the
Ag Center. The club’s members choice.

Joe mentioned about SarNet issues about operation. Pete, WB4DB, Activated Parks on
the Air. Xiegu 5 watts. 10 watts 19 contacts 20 meters.

7:51 PM Adjourned.
See back of minutes for additional information.

Tuesday night ARES (444.800): 7:00 PM. Eddies NCS.

7:30 PM Steve, W1HQL: Everglades Amateur Radio Club Information Net (444.800).

Do not forget SouthCARS 7.251. 8 am to 1 PM every day of the year.
Or Maritime Mobile Net 14.300. They take general check-ins.

Wednesday 147.150 Coral Gables Emergency Net. 7:00 PM. (Thank you Ron)
And check in on the local 2 meter and 440 nets.

ARES, Southern Florida Section, Now, Monday through Saturday. 3.940 MHZ. 7:45
AM. Steve, W1HQL Saturday morning.

Bill, KG2CS Monday morning.
North Florida ARES Net: 3.950 7:30 PM. They call for South Florida check-ins around
7:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill, KG2CS

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Last Call Net for Luis KI4VEY

As you undoubtedly know by now, our Ham brother and club Vice President, Luis Piñon KI4VEY, is a silent key. If you would like to listen to the net, where club President Steve Taylor W1HQL, made the Last Call for him, please click below.

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EARC Needs Your Help!!

We have found a photo while cleaning up a bit in our clubhouse shack and we came across this picture. In this picture we have four possible hams, which were probably members of our beloved club. We need your help in identifying these four gentlemen. Please email us if you know the Name , callsign or any other information that could help us determine who they were. The picture was taken between Jun 1978 and Jun 1979. This bit of information was obtained by zooming into the picture with electronic magnifiers. Unfortunately we could not get anything from the patches or name tag on the shirt and jacket of the men two the left of the picture. Now it's up to you to help us find more information. Please email us using the contact us page if you have anything to share that might help us.

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EARC – After Meeting

You may be scratching your head and asking... After meeting? Is that a typo...? Well it is certainly not. Well before the pandemic, EARC club members and club friends would attend the monthly club meeting held on the second Friday of every month at the John D Campbell Agricultural center at 7:30 PM. We go over club business hold testing sessions and talk amongst like minds about Amateur radio, QSO's made, projects in progress and the latest gossip..ehem on goings on the local repeaters. At sometime between the adjournment of the meeting and shop talk, a subset of these hams would escape to a local pizza place to partake in libations, good grub and other shenanigan's.

In comes the pandemic, and as some would have guessed it, the meetings alongwith after meetings went stage left. One would think that starting backup old quirky traditions would be slow, but it couldn't be further from the truth. Meetings started up again on May 14th and surprisingly so did all the other activities. Some challenges on the first visit to our favorite "After Meeting" location could not slow us down. Because of Covid, Son of a Pizza, would not allow our large party due to being a bit late on our reservation. Normally that would be the end of that... But not for this group, a few "To Go" orders and a quick visit to the grocery store and we had ourselves a full swing tailgate party in a nearby field outside our favorite venue. A great time was had and since then things have gone back to normalcy.

Last meeting was no exception, a group of us met at Son of a Pizza after our club meeting and had a grand old time. Good friends, good food and great times!! Definitely looking forward to the next one! Come and JOIN US!!

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Everglades Radio Club Minutes – July 9, 2021

President’s Report: Steven Taylor, W1HQL
Secretary Report: Secretary, Bill, KG2CS
Vice-President: Robert, W4THM
Treasurer: Pete WB4DB

Introductions/New Business:
Meeting opened @ 2015 hours.
Apologies for starting late due to special testing circumstances.
Meetings will be on schedule at 7:30 PM moving forward.

Introductions:
Minutes from previous meeting and Treasurers Report read.
Motion to accept and read and second by membership. Reminder to sign in.
Any logs from Field Day that have not been forwarded to Pete WB4DB please do so ASAP.


Current stats from Field Day: 281 contacts Across 76 Sections
Additional Points: Safety Officer, Town Official present, Public Information Station
Also send in any photos you may have. Discussion regarding having another Special Event for the 74th anniversary of Everglades National Park.
Brief discussion to think about the idea. Steve Taylor W1HQL will reach out to the Park department to see if entry fees can be waived for the event. (They have been waived in the past Ed.)
Alternate locations can be considered. Discussion regarding getting the HF station up and running at the club. Membership was encouraged to come up with ideas to get an antenna up that does not require maintenance and can remain in position so that the station can operate without any setup and preparation. Discuss more at the next meeting.
Show and tell by Alain K4KKC demonstrating the use of a product???(name) to mitigate corrosion on antenna parts especially when two dissimilar metals are in contact with each other.

20:45 Meeting adjourned. Testing: A new General Leonardo, KN4OIP. Congratulations!

Thank you Steve W1HQL for wearing all the Hats!!

Respectfully submitted,
Bill, KG2CS

Don’t forget SouthCARS 7.251. 8 am to 1 PM every day of the year.
ARES: 8:00 Saturday 3.940. Or Maritime Mobile Net 14.300. They take general check-ins. Also, both Tuesday night nets are 444.800.
And check in on the local 2 meter and 440 nets.