News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

Another month has gone by and I was only able to get on the air one time. Time does go by fast, but I do not think that this is what is meant by being in the fast lane.

Since the last meeting I gave the Virginia QSO Party Presentation to two clubs. Both the Fauquier Amateur Radio Association and Manassas Ole Virginia Hams had good turnouts and I felt welcome.

I managed to get on the air for the CQ WPX RTTY contest. 114 QSOs for a score of 20698. Heard Dick, W2YE, twice. Once we competed for a contact with the same station - you can guess who got the contact and it was not I!

The Virginia QSO Party preparations are coming along fine. Harry, KI4MSE, has got the new scoring program running very well. Jim, AF4MO, is still working county and independent city coverage. I have been getting some emails indicating that we should have some competition for the new Expedition plaque as well as some competition for the digital plaques this year. Finally, the Central Virginia Contest Club (CVCC) volunteered to sponsor the High Single Operator Novice/Tech Mixed Mode plaque. Things are looking very good.

This will be a very full meeting.

First we have a presentation by Bill, WF1L, and Paul, K4MSG, on "High Speed Meteor Scatter (HSMS). A few weeks ago, we emailed all Bill's teaser on the presentation and I know he is really enthusiastic about this mode.

Next we have a few things to discuss on the Virginia QSO Party. Primarily, I hope Dick, W2YE, can lead a discussion about K4NVA operations are his home QTH. We need to think about station organization and operators. In addition, I hope Jim, AF4MO, can give us an update on the efforts to ensure County and Independent City coverage.

Finally, I messed up and forgot about dues collection last month - maybe because our Treasurer was missing. Therefore, at this meeting, I will offer all the opportunity to make your annual contribution.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the meeting on Monday.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

There are two hamfests coming up this month in this area. Here is a reminder.

February 19, 2006: FROSTFEST The Richmond Amateur Telecommunications Society sponsors Virginia's Largest Hamfest and State ARRL Convention. http://www.frostfest.com/

February 26, 2006, The Vienna Wireless Society is hosting the 30th annual Winterfest to be held at the Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus. http://www.viennawireless.org/winterfest.php

The later one is where I took my amateur extra license exam not too many years ago.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Gordon, Here's a copy of an email messageg I received this evening from Paul Bock. I'd like for you to shoot it out to the SPARC membership. It's a taste of what can be done on a regular basis with meteor scatter.

Thanks, Bill-WF1L

Begin Message:

Just to demonstrate that it can be done using an indoor antenna, I successfully completed a 50 MHz digital meteor scatter QSO with Greg, K4KO, in grid EM66 (TN), a distance of 519 miles, running JT6M protocol. I was running 70 watts to an indoor dipole in the attic, at a
height of around 20 feet or so, and fed with around 30' of (gag!) RG-8X mini coax. The QSO took 23 minutes to complete successfully and there were some pretty decent - although sparse - pings on both ends.

Of course, sporadic E would have gotten me to the midwest (or even the west coast with some double-hop) using the same set-up, but ain't it sweet not to have to sit around for days or weeks or months waiting for
a band opening.................. ;-)

73,
Paul, K4MSG
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Paul Bock, K4MSG FM19ee
Catch me on the Ping Jockey web page at
http://www.pingjockey.net/cgi-bin/pingtalk