From time to time we are asked to help out when a spouse and former ham becomes a silent key. We may be approached at an event, or by someone who knows us, or somehow knows we are in amateur radio. This usually results in a team effort to dispose of ham equipment. Some hams are sought out for their knowledge of the value of used equipment. Others for their ability to be the go-betweens to make things happen. It is a service we happy to perform. The following note from Sandra was given to me by Sam. He told me that several others were involved in the pricing and other help. The good news is that the equipment is sold, and everyone is happy. (click on the body of the note for a more readable image.)

Some of us are a bit shy about getting on the air. Good news! The club offers two low risk opportunities, especially for new hams, to practice radio. First there is the Wednesday afternoon Rag Chew. This is held every Wednesday at 11:00 AM. Then there is the LARC Net, held every Thursday at 7:30 PM. These are only a two of the many opportunities to get on the air. Anytime you have a moment, and your radio handy, you can always push the button and say your call sign slowly and phonetically followed by “listening.” If that doesn’t work, try your call sign followed by “radio check.” Finally, if you happen to be on the air and hear a couple hams chatting, and would like to join in, listen for a while to get the gist of who and what, then toss out your call sign. Hopefully the other parties will pause between transmissions to let you pop in. If nothing else it is always nice to get a signal report.

This is the log for Thursday May 30th provided  by Robert. 

N6MRS Mike

K1OPQ Dave also has a Kenwood TS570D for sale 275.00 and needs help changing channels on a Kenwood TH 22AT

Robert Young AG4E

We have several new Hams and Ham upgrades!

LARC had a very busy testing day. There were seven successful candidates: five Techs, one General and one Extra.Congratulations to all.

From left to right VE John, Ed KN4SAV Extra, Justin KN4UJJ Tech, Gabriel KN4UJK Tech, Larry KN4UJI Tech, Steve KM4QBT General, VE Richard, and VE Bill

From left to right VE Richard, VE/coordinator  Rich, Nate KN4UJM  Tech, Brenda KN4UJL Tech, VE John

Show And Tell

This months Show and Tell featured two mini exhibits. The first was a demonstration of reading barcodes using the same hardware and software the club uses to take attendance every month. The second exhibit was Darrell Davis’s Go Kit pictured below.

Can anyone out there hear me?

We have all asked this question from time to time, especially with band conditions being what they are these days. Our main speaker for the evening, John Leahy KK4ITX, has an answer. John spoke at length on WSPR Net, the tool he uses to determine both band conditions as well as antenna effectiveness. WSPR Net, is a series of listening stations dispersed through out the world. By sending a signal packaged in a specific way and using special software it is possible to determine which of the WSPR stations received your signal. From their location you can then determine both band conditions and the effectiveness of your equipment. Because the system updates frequently it is possible to make meaningful comparisons, for example between two antennas tested minutes apart.

A graphic from John’s presentation demonstrates what is possible. His presentation in entirety can be found on the club’s website at .LARC General Meeting Notes

Attendance

For many years the Lakeland Amateur Radio Club has been supporting the Lakeland March For Babies. Yes, everyone has a cell phone, but with ham radio you only need one number to contact everyone or anyone on the team. In past years we have helped with scratched knees, twisted ankles, and even tired toddlers. This year, we were ready, but the March went on without incident. That’s a good thing.

Most of the members pose before dispersing to their stations.

One of the functions we perform at this event is that of determining the last of the marchers and reporting back their location. This year the marchers holding up the rear were my good neighbors, Jim and Frances Robinson. They are the two in the rear pushing the baby carriage.

 A few photos follow as evidence of all the hard work our club puts into this event.

The following was provided by Don Jeerings.

The Fred’s Friday morning breakfast club is intended to be a complementary (not a replacement) for the club the club’s Tuesday breakfast at the BrunchBox. It features, quieter environment, better food selection, more comfortable seating, and better atmosphere. Their blue plate special consists of all you can stack on your plate, plus coffee for $6.71, but you have to be there before 8:30 AM.
At Fred’s we are able to meet and discuss (among us) the real subjects of Ham Radio. There is a meeting room available if we have enough attending.

Don Jeerings KI4EFL 

Kn4Lew  Dan, KN4SAU John, KI4CRI Charlie, Bob Shanchez, Call not renewed, Dian Dian Shanchez,  XYL wife of Bob, AG4E  Robert, K4ZVU, KI4EFl  Don, N7CUC SAM.

Congratulations Michelle KN4FRA!

Michelle passed her General with flying colors, and now has that Extra License in her sights.

You ain’t never gona believe this!

Would you believe alternating sheets of an old QST magazines with aluminum foil, and then saturating the combination with fresh coffee generates enough power to run a QRP radio in an emergency? On any other day, other than than April 1st, you might want to take this seriously. Below, Andrew and Mike are supposedly demonstrating this. All in good fun, and a continuation of LARC tradition on every April Fools Day.

DMR – what is it and how is it different?

Our speaker this evening was Mike Lunsford, KB4FHP. Mike presented the case for DMR, yet another flavor of digital radio. LARC members are familiar with Fusion, Yaesu’s proprietary digital mode. Then there is D-Star from icom, also proprietary. DMR on the other hand is an open and published digital standard. This means that those with the knowledge and inclination can lift the hood so to speak and experiment. New flavors of communication often result. This is what ham radio is all about.  In the very near future the LARC repeater will have the capability to do AllStar and EchoLink. Two more modes of communication. EchoLink is proprietary, while AllStar, like DMR, is open source.

It is fair to ask why so many different ways do the same thing? The same question can be asked about programming languages. Why so many? The answer is that some are better suited for some jobs than others. They are tools. The same is true of radio communications in general, and digital modes in particular. Mike made his point during the meeting by passing out multi-colored lollipops. While each had a unique flavor, grape, orange, lime, and cherry, they were all the same in the sense that each had a tootsie roll center.They were all different, but when you get down to it,  very much alike at their core.

Click here to get a copy of Mike’s presentation.

Show and Tell this evening was about foxhunting

If you are new to ham radio you may wonder what fox hunting is all about. In ham speak the fox is a small radio transmitter that is hidden somewhere near by. Using all their radio direction finding skills, the hunters try to discover the location of the hidden transmitter, or fox. This is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you get close to the transmitter. The key to successful foxhunting is the antenna.

Two of the many kinds of antennas used for foxhunting were shown.

Instructions for building a tape measure yagi can be found on the web. Here is a site that does a pretty good job explaining how to build one, but keep in mind there are others as well.
Click here for instructions

A second antenna demonstrated was a bit more challenging to build than the first. Its strength lies in its ability to work close in. It is useful in those last few feet to the fox. The commercial version is know as the Handi-Finder , more information can be found at Click here for more informaion

If you are interested in foxhunting and want to try your hand with your own super special antenna creation, let me know. I will be happy to bring the fox to the next picnic so you can test your foxhunting skills. If nothing else, you will work up a good appetite running around the park.

As in most cases, Google is your friend when it comes to research. Google foxhunting amateur radio to get started. Good hunting!

We had a remarkable turnout this evening. 

We had a remarkable turnout this evening. By our Top Sargent’s at arm’s count, well over seventy. 

Attendance April 1, 2019

Make mine well done please!

Another LARC picnic is a warm memory. We couldn’t ask for better weather, company, or food. 

Two new antenna configurations were showcased this time around.  One was a rather unique version of an inverted V. The other was a vertical utilizing two above the ground radials. 

The unusual method of  fixing the ends of  this version of an inverted V below works great on both land and sea. Attaching the ends while on a small boat can be problematic. The PVC pipe at the base solves this problem. The combination of wire and pipe gives the impression of a bow and arrow pointed to the ground. The result is a very cleaver solution to a problem. 

Radials are usually laid on the ground, but not always.  There are advantages to using elevated radials as in the setup below. As with any antenna system, the key word is trade off. Theoretically, four elevated radials can be as good as forty on the ground, but the devil is in the details, and this is true only under ideal conditions. There is much written comparing on and above ground radials. For the curious, I suggest you Google comparison of on the ground, and above the ground radial configurations.

Click here for more images from the picnic.

We are having a picnic!

• March 30, 2019
• From sunrise until around 2:00PM
• Lake Parker Park. (Last Pavilion on the right. Use the dock  entrance.)

The club will provide the burgers, dogs, buns and condiments.
Bring a dish to pass and something to drink.

All Hams are encouraged to bring their radios and or something to show and tell about. Bring that Flux Capacitor, and a story to go along with it. It is all part of the fun.

March of Dimes – March for Babies 2019 – Lakeland

LARC has, once again this year, been chosen to provide communication support for the Lakeland Portion of this national event. Volunteer Radio Operators are needed from 7:30 AM until 10:30 AM. Please bring your HT. We will be using the LARC repeater at 146.685 PL 127.3. The event will once again be held at the First Presbyterian Church. We need a total of 10 volunteers to fufill the needs of the event.

Please email Bob Doherty (KM4BAO) at  KM4BAO@yahoo.com too sign up. A detailed email will then be sent to all volunteers.

Thank you in advance for volunteering!

Bob KM4BAO

We have a new General!
Eleanor KK4VCN passed the General Exam with flying colors. Pictured with her from left to right are Charlie KE7UTH, PeggyN4PEG, Eleanor KK4VCN, and Rich N4ESS.
 

Show and Tell For March

Click here to learn more

Attendance March 2019