For those of you who want to know just how far your radio can reach on simplex, this is your chance. Plan to join in on the Simplex Net.

     March 23rd – 10AM – VHF, 7PM – UHF

Frequencies will depend on your location. You must visit the Polk ares site to determine the frequencies for your location in the county.

Overview Of This Month’s Meeting

This evening we had two successful candidates for Ham Radio licenses. We had a great turnout, which included 19 visitors. Visitors are always welcome to our meetings.

Starting this month we have introduced Show and Tell. Hams who have something to show are encouraged to bring it to the meeting. A table will be provided for you to display your items. This month a free and easy to use software package to record audio from a repeater was displayed along with a dipole that fit into a pill box, and a two-meter seventy-centimeter mobile radio that was for sale.

As usual, members and guests are encouraged to come early, we open the doors at 5:15, enjoy a cup of coffee and mingle.

A reminder for new club members. Please take a moment to sign up for the club’s mailing list. It is easy to do, and you will find instructions by CLICKING HERE

Finally, Techcon is right around the corner. Feb 22nd and 23rd. See the flyer below.

Testing 

While everyone else is drinking that coffee and eating those treats, others are hard a work. The intensity on the faces of those taking the test is self evident. Pictures captured by Chris Bloxsom, AA4CB, visiting VE, before assembly into a composite. That’s Chris on the right in a partial selfie. Picture taken with his radio. What else at a ham test?

Congratulations John on obtaining your General License!

Congratulations Ed on obtaining your Technician licnese

I find LARC presentations most interesting.

Buddy Morgan joint presenter with Matthew addressing VHF Contesting

We had a good turnout. 69 in all counting visitors.

Techcon is Right Around The corner 

The 73rd Annual Hamcation will be held February 8th, 9th, and 10th. New hams especially should put this on their calendar. This is the big event of the year. Virtually every ham radio supplier will be present. Everything from connectors and coax to the latest radios will be on display. This your chance to see the stuff of hams.

For more information check out their website at Hamcation
This site contains a link to the official site. If you haven’t already purchased your ticket, price at the gate for all three days is $17. Parking is free.

The log for Thursday night net 1/31/2019 submitted by Robert Young

KI4ZMV Bill
K8TPH Dick
KN4PVO Jesse
K1DU Fred
KB4FHP Mike
WZ1P Dan
AB4KA Jimmy  “Has a High Gain 4band trapped vertical  antenna for sale $50.00”  Check the blog.
W2THU Bob
KN4PIH Jay
K4LKM Dave
KM4PYG Warren
N4HES Lee
KN4CHP Jim
KK4OGM Ron
KN4FBD Dan
KB0QMN George

Thanks,
Robert Young
n4lvg@aol.com

We are trying something new.
Well, sorta new. Bill Paul volunteered to head up a rag chew on our club’s repeater, Wednesdays starting at 11:00 AM. The time and day may change at his discretion. This is a great opportunity for all hams, but especially those new to amateur radio. Bill will focus on good radio technique.

Some of you may remember the club’s original 2 at 2 rag chew that was headed up by Charley Gribble several years ago. Charley is alive and well and hopefully will join in on the fun as Bill takes up the reigns on Wednesdays.

So what is a rag chew anyway?
Here is one definition. A rag chew is a long informal conversation between two or more amateur radio operators. This is generally what amateur radio operators do on the radio when they’re not contesting, testing equipment, bouncing signals off the moon or meteor showers, providing communications in national emergencies, sending still or moving pictures or text back and forth, connecting to packet radio networks, and partaking in nets.

“Show and tells” were discussed at length at the last board meeting. Everyone agreed that they are worthwhile, especially for new hams. They have a place at our monthly meetings. The question is not if, but when. In fairness to the main speaker, it was decided that show and tells take place during the coffee hour prior to the formal meting. The club will set up a table in the back of the meeting room each month for anyone who has something to show or demonstrate. So, if you have something to show and tell about, set it up on the provided table, grab a coffee and cookie, get behind the table, and be prepared to answer all the questions about that spiral antenna or flux capacitor you brought to the meeting.

W4GFW