I thought it might be nice to share this. Many of you know Bob, and might enjoy learning what he is up to.

Hi Bill,

A lot has changed with LARC since our trip North to our summer home in Franklin, N.C. You now have a new meeting place, Field Day has come and gone, a Tail Gate, and now a picnic. I regret missing the meetings and all of those events. I expect to see familiar faces at the LARC meeting in November.

I have been very active with MARS ( Military Affiliate Radio System) and my interest in and proficiency with the Digital Modes is getting exercised regularly. You may recall Glen _ _ 4 K W, from Winter Haven presented PSK-31 at one of the LARC meetings two or three years ago. Since my hearing Sierra, Uniform, Xray, and my eye site is still good, I found digital modes fascinating. The list of digital modes I’ve used keeps growing. It all started with PSK-31, then on to MFSK, MT63, Olivia, RTTY, and THOR. Each of those modes also have a variety of parameters available. MARS has provided an opportunity to use Military developed Digital software some of which uses encryption / decryption and all kinds of ‘secret’ stuff. MARS operates outside of the Amateur Radio Band, but that doesn’t mean you can’t scan, find, and listen in. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to provide MARS frequencies.

I participate with the local Franklin Amateur Radio Club, help out with the repeater site maintenance on the top of a mountain, serve as Net Control Station twice a month, and haven’t missed but one meal. We meet to eat every week, alternating weekly breakfast and lunch at different area restaurants. If the month has a 5th Thursday, we have a dinner meeting. FYI, the trip UP to the repeater is a 7 1/2 mile drive on single lane gravel road up and around more curves than I care to count.

There are several folks in the Franklin Amateur Radio Club from Fl. The group made the XYL and I feel welcome on day one, and that was 3 years ago. If you plan a trip or vacation, don’t forget to take your VHF radio along. You will meet the nicest people on the other end of the radio waves.
Thought you might want to share with the club.

73, wishing everyone good health.

Bob Van Orman / N4BVO / AFA4BV (AIR FORCE MARS)
813-713-2698
Zephyrhills, FL & Franklin, N.C.

P.S. Navy Marine Corp MARS will come to an end 30 Sept. 2015.
Air Force and Army MARS will continue to support the Department of Defense
with emergency communications if / when the need arises

From I-4 Take the Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) exit west to 22nd Street and turn North on 22nd Street,
TARC is located at on the right at the end of 22nd Street.

From I-275 take the Sligh Avenue exit east to 22nd Street and turn North on 22nd Street, TARC is located
at on the right at the end of 22nd Street.

From I-75 take I-4 west to Hillsborough Avenue (US 92) exit west to 22nd Street and turn North on 22nd
Street, TARC is located at on the right at the end of 22nd Street.
See you there!

We have some new hams, and . . .

 Left to right George, Richard, Clifton Fussell KM4MJH, David Wilt KM4MJJ, Peggy, Al, Ringo, and Steve Munson KM4MJI.  Congratulations to all. David is now a General, Steve and Clifton are new Techs. All now have something to sing about.

were treated to a fine presentation by

Chet Carruth on the subject of antenna tuners. Chet’s presentation is online on our Yahoo Group site, as are most all others. Chet is pictured below, doing his usual great job on a tough subject.

Thirty-five attended, including several first timers. That said, we still had room for more.

For more pictures of this event,

Wounded Warrior Walk 2015

Location Church in the Meadows, 2825 Winter Lake Rd., Lakeland, FL

Directions

The 2015 Wounded Warrior Walk will be held on August 1, 2015 at 6AM (Yes, that is the one before breakfast.) at the First Presbyterian Church at 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive in Lakeland.

The work and participation of the club last year was greatly appreciated. Several club members were approached by various workers from the previous year and thanked for the difference the club made to the event. As you can imagine, good radio communications put an end to much confusion, frustration, yelling, hair pulling, thrown punches and running back and forth. We were approached early on this year and asked for assistance in this most worthwhile of projects. One of the organizers has even asked to be paired up with her “awesome guy” from last year. Hmmmmmmm The folks who put it together do a great job and I personally felt honored to be a part of the project.

I guarantee that anyone who registers will have a part in this event. This year’s volunteers will all receive a T shirt if registered prior to the event. Don’t be left shirtless.

Please let me know as soon as possible by email to BillPaul@ij.net don’t forget to include a good phone number.

Last evening we were very fortunate to have Ellen White, W1YL, share her ham radio experiences from High School to the present with us. Ham radio has been an integral part of Ellen’s life, family and professional for many years.

During her presentation, Ellen passed around a memento from an era long ago when certain practices were more more acceptable. From its pristine condition, it is evident that this one has never been put into service. 🙂

Here Ellen poses with Daryl Davis KT4WX, West Central Florida Section Manager.

Above are the members of the Florida Contest Group, who attended our meeting to hear Ellen speak. This group was founded by K4OJ, Ellen’s son. Standing on the far left, proudly wearing the group’s colors, and no stranger to the members of LARC is our very own, Bob Foxworth, K2EUH.

And the winner is… Chet Carruth! Chet AB4XK is the lucky winner of the grand prize of a radio valued at $609 dollars.

Congratulations are in order. We have a new Tech, David McQueary KM4LPR, from Sun and Fun. Dave is shaking hands with his Elmer, Don Jeerings.