Category: 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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Ham Stories

Here at the Everglades Amateur Radio Club, we are always trying new things and pushing the envelope with everything ham radio related. Our newest project is called Ham Stories. This will give us a platform to showcase our fellow hams and get to know them a little better, discuss their current projects, pass on some of their abundant knowledge or just sit and chat for a bit. The sky is the limit.

What better person to kick off the project, than Steve W1HQL, president of the club? Steve graciously spent some time with me and shared his ham story. Keep a look out for that interview to be posted right here.

If you, or someone you know, would like to be showcased, please email me at interview@hamstories.com. Thank you all, in advance, for you support and constructive feedback.

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ISS Heard Today Over Miami

So there I was driving home after dropping off my daughter at school and as always I am fiddling with my Kenwood TMV-71A VHF/UHF Transceiver. I start scanning the saved memory channels and the radio stops at 146.460MHz. On that frequency I hear chatter through a considerable deluge of static. Right away I discern that the cadence of the chatter is not the norm for regular amateur traffic. Listening closer, I raise the volume turn the squelch all the way down and turn everything else off to focus on the traffic. I suspect it may be the ISS and quickly look up "146.460 ISS" on google. Sure enough I confirm that it is the frequency often used by the ISS. An additional search yields a current map which tracks the ISS and as suspected they are over the Gulf of Mexico.

The excitement sets in and I get on the KD4LZA 444.800 repeater to sound the alarm and get more ears on this. I get confirmations from Steve W1HQL and Charlie N4CRE that they too are hearing it. Steve confirmed, but the signal was so low that it was too difficult to hear. The signal fading, and life rushing back to remind me that I had other responsibilities than playing radio and trying to listen to Astronauts traveling 254 miles over head at 4.76 miles per second or roughly 17,400 MPH.

Now, I am going about my daily responsibilities and that pesky thing called work, when I get a call from Charlie with news that he had kept on listening, but instead of those buckets of static and QRM, of course Charlie had full quieting on the ISS! I mean have you seen his station? Anyways, I digress, he was kind enough to send me a video with the the crystal clear audio from the ISS.

As it turns out, the International Space Station Expedition Team 66 was doing it's Space Walk number 79 to install the IROSA 3A power channel to expand the power of their solar array. With an expected mission time of 6 hours 30 minutes and open on all channels we were bound to be showered with these radio waves.

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Everglades Radio Club Minutes – June 11, 2021

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

Treasurer’s Report: $3475.20 petty cash $35 $65 renewals. $265. $35 petty cash. Reports Motioned and passed.

Introductions/New Business:

Discussion of Field Day. The location is the Agricultural Center. We have the 444.700 repeater is working. (94.8). And is working as far North 152 Street. As far south as mile marker 101.

Field Day and Flea Market. 8:00AM-1:00 PM.

Hybird model for Field Day. 2 home operators. 8 operators. 8 operators overnight.
Alain in charge of food. We will cater this year. Motion to $300 for food.
Steve in charge of WinLink, make sure he has your email. 144.925 simplex talk in.

Testing was completed successful. 1 new Technician and one General upgrade. Motioned and seconded to adjourn at 8:29 PM.

Testing update: our club now has an Exam Tools account. Going forward the plan is to be able to offer testing in Spanish. However, for this month it is not available. Maybe next month, it is time intensive. I will keep the club posted.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill, KG2CS
Notes for tonight:

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.

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Winter Field Day 2020 – Results

Winter Field Day 2020 has come and gone, but the long awaited results are in. Not that we are competitive in nature, but its good to know that we came IN THIRD IN THE STATE!!! Well, in South Florida's outdoor category, but either way that is very satisfying. We came in 45th overall in the country for outdoor and 8th in the whole state. I don't know if I can speak for the rest of the club, but I am super excited about WFD 2021. We have to sharpen our digital skills and try to get our CW operators out there.

With that said, I would like to send out a virtual high five and a special thanks to all who attended and made this year's WFD possible!

South Florida Entries
State Wide Entries

Courtesy of https://www.winterfieldday.com/

Stay radio ACTIVE!!

73 de

WB4DB

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Florida State Parks On The Air

CQ CQ CQ.. Calling all HAMS. This April 4-5th will be the 4th annual Florida State Parks On The Air event. A group of HAMS at the EARC has already secured a spot at the Bill Baggs Cape State Park and will be activating the park. Callsign W4SVI will be working 10 - 80 meters on SSB and digital. A beautiful location and RF quite environment, this year's activation is looking promising for making a decent amount of contacts as we spread the word on social media and POTA websites.

Space at Bill Baggs is pretty much filled up, but we encourage club and non club members alike to get outdoors and activate one of the many Florida State Parks. A list of parks and park locator utilities along with all the information on the event can be found on the FLSPOTA website.

There are plenty of parks to choose from. So get out there and get on the air! The event will be starting Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and starts up again Sunday 9:00 Am to 10:00 PM. But there is no requirement to make it an overnight stay or even a long event. It's a great opportunity to get out with the family visit a state park and throw in some ham radio while at the same time testing your gear in a portable situation.

If you plan on activating a park please drop us a line so we can try to work each other. And remember, it's all about having fun with our hobby, spreading the word and awareness of Ham Radio.

Have Fun, stay safe and STAY RADIO ACTIVE!!

73

de

WB4DB

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Msg From the EARC President: W1HQL

//WL2K R/ EARC Meeting Recap.

Good Evening,

I am about ready to shut down the shack and call it a night...but wanted to take a couple of minutes to do my weekly email as emergency comms practice and sending it out to you via HF...

W4NTR just left a short time ago after assisting me with my final stages of training for MARS operations. WHEW! Intense.

Thank You Ryan!

Fridays meeting went well and we elected a new Vice President.!!! Robert Cruz W4THM.

Luis KI4VEY stepped in as interim to replace Frank AK4FU. Thanks Frank and Luis for all the work you did building up ARES...Luis will be the primary coordinator for our area ARES moving forward.

Pete WB4DB was elected as our Treasuer and Bill KG2CS will remain as our Secretary.

Congrats to them all and thank you to all the members for  asking me to remain as your president.

Speaking of Pete, he deliverd some really nice equipment that was donated to the club including a spectrum analyzer and  100mhz ocilliscope. Some of the other items we will decide later on selling to club members, free flea, or on ebay to help add some additioanl funds to the club coffers.

We had one civilian tested and now he is an official Amateur!

Winter Field Day was obviously a great success. Thanks to all that participated. It was you that made is such a great event. I will be heading over to the office Tuesday to secure the venue for next year.

Also April was selected to have another Free Flea. I will be meeting up with the Director of the Ag Center to secure a weekend and will keep you all posted. Robert our new VP will be the primary coordinator and any questions should be directed to him. Here is his email address: dcat4955 (at) gmail.com.

THANK YOU JOHN FOR THE AWESOME UPSIDE DOWN PINEAPPLE CAKE....WARM AND HOME MADE...

Feel free to respond to this email with a simple CONFIRMATION RX....

Thanks and 73 de W1QHL

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Invest 94 L Update July 22, 2019 @ 14:30 EDT

The Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is monitoring an area of low pressure (Invest 94L) located near Andros Island in the Bahamas.  If this system further develops it could be named Chantal.   

Current location: 24.6N / 77.5W (Approximately 100 miles East of Miami-Dade County)

Maximum Sustained Wind Speed: 30 MPH

Forward Speed: - - MPH

Forward Direction: NW

Potential for further development or weakening:  While environmental conditions are only marginally conducive for development, only a slight increase in the organization of this system could result in the formation of a tropical depression later today or tonight.  The low is expected to move northwestward today and northward tonight and Tuesday.  By Wednesday, the system will have merged with a cold front and development will no longer be a possibility.

Potential Impact for Miami-Dade County: Although the system is expected to remain offshore the approach and passage of this system could bring increased coverage of showers, thunderstorms and wind gusts across South Florida tonight and through Tuesday.  The main concern will be the potential for locally heavy rainfall (1” - 3”) and street flooding, especially along the east coast.  Any westward shift of the system may bring a higher flooding risk. 

              

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Club News: Lightning Protection & APRS Geo-Location

Saturday morning George KD4WET used some of his rare free time and installed a Polyphaser lightning arrestor at the base of the tower for added protection to the 444.700 repeater. He had to use specialized tools and skills only the experienced posess to cut into the LMR 600 cable and add N connectors. The lightning arrestor is located inside a utility box at the base of the tower. Nice neat installation. Thanks George.

Ryan W4NTR programming the APRS repeater.

Then Robert KE4MCL and Ryan W4NTR on Sunday updated the Solar Powered APRS Digi Station so that it is now providing an accurate geo-location when squawking a beacon.

Here is a link to see the club location: https://aprs.fi/#!addr=homestead%2Cfl

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BIDS ARE NOW OPEN ON Ebay

Bidding is Now Underway – Out of This World ARISS Auction!

April 8, 2019  The bidding has begun!  The Out of This World ARISS Auction is speeding along!  It will run until April 14th at 22:00 UTC. 

Bidders are moving fast hoping to garner a special astronaut signed brand new JVC Kenwood TS-890S—Bidding is done by going towww.ariss.org and pressing the Auction Website button or by visiting http://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952171.  Similar for bidding on aspecial astronaut signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook, but a different URL is used—seehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/323770952890.

Thanks to JVC Kenwood and ARRL, proceeds from the on-line auction will benefit ARISS in its quest to launch a new custom-built higher-power radio system in late 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams can enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS.  ARISS also needs funding to keep introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about STEM and radio. 

Kenwood has been a super supporter of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this special radio to be an exclusive for one ham to own. The limited edition boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook sold out fast last fall but ARRL saved back one set for ARISS's fund-raiser.  AMSAT-NA, another ARISS sponsor, provided parts of the auction infrastructure.  ARISS is thankful for all of its great sponsors and supporters! 

If auctions aren't your thing, please contribute a donation to ARISS—look for the Donate button near the top right corner ofwww.ariss.org page or email k1sto@arrl.org.