News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

Another month has gone by. Quickly. At the last meeting, I announced that I had made 88 contacts in the CQWW RTTY contest. And Dick, W2YE, subsequently announced 880 contacts. Last weekend I did 32 15M contacts in the CQWW DX SSB contest. I am looking forward to Dick's comments about how well he did. (HA HA).

The guest speaker this month is Frank, K0BRA, on the topic of Software Defined Radio. Bill, WF1L, heard this presentation at a recent LARG meeting and recommended it. Jim, KF4PQL, was subsequently able to arrange it for this month. I am looking forward to it. I know nothing about the subject and will be interested to learn how many of the transceiver's functions can be done in software and how much hardware is still needed.

In addition, we will have a final discussion of the 2007 VQP rules. There are no proposed changes so far, but we will offer one last opportunity for comments. And, if we pressure Dick, W2YE, a little, maybe he will talk to us about our club participation in upcoming contests. The contesting season is upon us and with a little effort we can have a few club entries in the appropriate contests.

Refreshments will be provided by Bill, WF1L.

For those of you who did not come out to the last meeting, you missed an excellent tour of WAGE by Jim, KF4PQL. Special thanks to Jim for a very nice evening.

See you at the meeting on Wednesday, 1 Nov, at 7:30 PM.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Updated the VQP web pages with the 2007 rules and a link to the new log scoring program. See http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/QSOParty.htm.

Hi,

Dick, W2YE, and Russ, W3RST, made a command decision to cancel SPARC participation in Sterlingfest due to the rain. Too much expensive equipment and too much electricity.

Oh, well. Hope things work out better next year.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

I think all is set now for Sterlingfest. Russ, W3RST, volunteered to do a little extra work to bring some extra equipment. Forrest, N4UTY, promised to bring at least one antenna, and Ray, KD4RSL, volunteered his tent (to be picked up by Russ). All is well. Good effort by all.

I hope someone remembers to bring a camera to take some pictures. At least I will be able to see what I missed.

The weather forecast does not look too bad. 90 percent chance of rainon Friday. 20 percent on Saturday. Hope things work out better this weekend than last year when it was canceled.

73 and Good Sterlingfest,
Gordon, NQ4K

**********************
The Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club will operate a Special Event amateur radio station at the Sterlingfest. The SPARC special event station will be located in Sterlingfest space 96.

The schedule for events is:

Date: Saturday, 7 October 2006
Set-up starts at 8:30 AM. Cars should be out of area by 9:30 AM
Fest starts at 10 AM
Fest ends at 4 PM

Equipment is provided as follows:

Generator and Power Cords: Russ, W3RST

Tent: Russ, W3RST, will pick up
from Ray, KD4RSL

Tables (2) and Chairs (3): Henry, K2BFY - 1 Table
Russ, W3RST - 1 Table
Dick, W2YE - 2 chairs

Antennas: Forrest, N4UTY - R-5 antenna,
maybe a 2nd one also
Dick, W2YE - Long wire

Coax: Dick, W2YE

Transceiver/Antenna Tuner: Dick, W2YE - Icom 735 and
antenna tuner)
Forrest, N4UTY - Small CW rig

Code Oscillator and Key: Forrest, N4UTY

SPARC Banner & Promotional Dick, W2YE
Materials

Old QSL Cards Dick, W2YE

Call Sign K4NVA Forrest, N4UTY

Operators:
All are invited to come, operate the station and have fun.

Morning Set-Up and Operation: Dick, W2YE; Russ, W3RST; Henry, K2BFY

Late Afternoon: Bill, KF4PQL; Bill, WF1L

Hi,

It is time for the next meeting. The month went by too quickly. I was successful in getting a few contacts in the CQWW RTTY contest. I rediscovered what I have mentioned before, I really do need a better antenna. Oh, well. October is a new month and opportunities abound for interesting ham radio activities.

Speaking of interesting ham radio activities. This month's meeting should be especially interesting. Our own Jim Purks, KF4PQL, the internationally known host (http://www.wage.com/hosts/") of the "popular Saturday morning show called Jim's Jukebox" has arranged for us to have our meeting at WAGE. WAGE is a local radio station serving Loudoun County.

WAGE is located at 711 WAGE Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175. Jim's directions are:
Take route 7 (west) into Leesburg
Turn left (ie, south) on Catoctin Circle at Johnson's house Of Beef
Stay on Catoctin Circle, crossing Rt 15 business and continuing about
another mile to Dry Mill Road
Turn left (ie, south) onto Dry Mill Road in front of Loudoun County High School
At the first public street on the right after passing the High School,
turn right onto WAGE Drive
Continue about two blocks and you will be in the WAGE parking lot
Come on in and make yourself comfortable

After a tour and some discussion about the radio station, we do have some additional business to discuss.

Sterlingfest is the following weekend (7 Oct) and we need to review our plan again. One major change to the plan is that I will not be able to attend. Unfortunately, I have a granddaughter's birthday party in Richmond to attend and even I know the relative importance of granddaughter and Sterlingfest. Therefore we need someone to bring some tables and chairs to the event.

Finally, The Virginia QSO Party is coming up in March. This is the time to have an initial discussion on any changes to the rules that we may want to introduce.

That is all for now. See you at the meeting at WAGE at 7:30 PM.

73,
Gordon, NQ4K