Tom KJ4WFS is Back

Hardly a month has gone by and Tom is back, this time getting his General License. Pictured left to right is Bill KJ4IAI, our new General Tom KJ4WFS, Jim AI4LE, and Ernie KG4YNI. Could there be something Extra in the near future for Tom? Standby one.

Kero and Pasta

Over spaghetti dinner last evening, Bob K2EUH shared some retro tech with Ed K9RWP and me KI4ZMV. Who knows, this information may come in handy on one of those occasions when the power lines are down, the cell towers and phone lines are dead, your back up batteries, the ones you meant to recharge are all dead, and worse still, those 9 volt batteries you harvested from the smoke alarms, and meant to replace, are all used up. You panic. How will you listen to radio? Then you remember your kero-radio, circa 1950. A quick trip to the attic and you are back on the air, at least to listen. 🙂


So what’s become of this technology over the years? It turns out that others have asked the same question, namely K9ZW. Under the right conditions, thermo-electric makes sense. Here is a modern day adaptation of the technology. Note the remarkable similarity between the two designs.

For more information you can visit. K9ZW

Another Busy Session For LARC VE’s


Another busy session for LARC testing and three more new hams in the fold. Bill KJ4IAI is seen congratulating Tom Evans and Mark Sartoris. Two new Technician Class licensees. Good work guys. I am sure we will be seeing you again when you update to General and Extra.


Tom is also shown here with Kieth Seaman, a new Technician as well. Congratulating both is Jim AI4LE, a regular at these VE sessions.

Not shown, but also present was Ernie KG4YNI club president and Bill KI4ZMV, VE and club blogger.

One Down, Two To Go

Jim AI4LE congratulates Richard White as Ernie KG4YNI looks on. Richard hails from Poinciana Florida. He traveled quite a distance to take the test, and it was well worth the effort. He earned his Technician this time. After the testing, Richard shared with us his next goal, General. You did good Richard! All of us at LARC wish you the best.

Richard is retired Air Force. In a brief conversation after the test he revealed that he was once a crew member of a B58 Hustler that broke mach, 2 at 60,000 feet AGL. The Hustler was a delta winged ship designed in the fifties. Impressive then and now. The ionosphere at the speed of light is the target now!

Another New Tech


Mike is all smiles after passing his Tech license test. He is seen here with wife Ruth and Jim AI4LE.

Mike is a powered para-glider pilot. With his new license he will be able to join us on the net at altitude. That would be a first! Think of it; a two thousand foot antenna. Bet that will make for great two meter DXing. Ernie has already offered his back yard for a runway. Congratulations Mike. Enjoy the hobby. The sky’s the limit!

Busy Day for LARC

Passing the Technician’s test as a fourth grader is pretty impressive in itself. More impressive still is someone with the courage, determination and persistence to get back in the game after failure. Ram is a model for all of us. In life, few worthwhile things are ever easy. Challenging accomplishments are the ones most valued. More often than not, great discoveries about the outside, as well as our inside world, are the result of things not going according to plan. Congratulations Ram for showing that you know the material and passed, this time with a near perfect score. Thank you for giving us an example of courage, determination, and persistence. You are an inspiration to all of us, a model for doing it right!


Mr. Prakash and son Ram with Jim KG4YJJ , Ram’s teacher. It is hard to say who is most proud or most happy.

All six candidates are pictured below. From left to right starting in the rear, Jim AI4LE, John WB4KZM new Extra, Walter new Tech, Donald KI4OUX new General, and Landon KI4QVZ new Extra. In the front row, we have Ernie KG4YNI and Ram proud new Tech. Not shown, the third VE Bill KI4ZMV and the pinch hitting photographer, Bob WA4YFN.

Ernie KG4YNI far left, and Jim AI4LE far right are seen here with Bill KI4ZMV congratulating Landon KI4QVZ, a new Extra. Also present, and taking the picture was Bob WA4YFN. Thanks for helping out in a pinch Bob, but you might want to get that camera of yours looked at. 🙂

At the same time testing was underway, other club members were supporting the Kathleen Historical Society event. Bob K2EUH is pictured here trying out for club photographer with Fred K1DU looking on.


Fred K1DU is seen here tuning a new antenna design. My guess is that we will hear more about this one in the future.

Others present at the time but not shown were Webmaster Mike KT2T, Joe AD4IH, wife Pat AI4OP, and Bill KI4ZMV.

Jedd Makes General!


Charlie KI4CRI and wife Norma KI4HIM are seen here congratulating Jedd after he passed both his Technician and General license exams in one sitting with near perfect scores on each. I am sure Jedd will be back to take his Extra before long. Charlie and Norma have been VE’s for some time, but this is the first they have tested for the Lakeland Amateur Radio Club. VE’s are always welcome. Congratulations Jedd, and welcome to the VE team Norma and Charlie. Also present were Ernie KG4YNI and Bill KI4ZMV.