News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

We have posted the pictures and results of the license classes and the examination session on our website.

     https://www.qsl.net/sterling/Licensing/licensing.html

It took a lot of time and effort for the volunteers to run the events.  Please thank them when you see them next.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Another month has rolled by and it is time for our March monthly meeting.  Tuesday, 3 March, at 7PM.

Refreshments for this month will be provided by Eric, AJ4LN.

Our presentation this month will be from Joe, WB2SAI, on "History and Visit to WWV."  Should be interesting.  I know little about it and have only listened to WWV once or twice.  But now we will know all there is to know about the place.

We do have some club business to review.

We held a General License Preparation Class, A Technician Class Preparation Class, and an Examination Session in February.  Amit, WY2Z, may not be at the meeting to provide highlights about the class, but maybe we can hear from some of the instructors.  Mike, WB8RDN, organized the examination.  Maybe he can provide some numbers and commentary.  Unfortunately, not much went wrong so we do not have anything to blame Kevin for. 

The Virginia QSO Party is coming up on 21-22 March.  Preparations are coming along very well.  All plaques have been sponsored.  We are trying to work out some instructions on FT8 for those who want to try it.  Otherwise all set to go.

We will conclude the meeting with a Tech-Ten-Talk from the Tech Ten Talk Team.  Maybe Steve, KN4BGW, or Tod, KN4BGX, can email all with the topic.

Hi,

We have updated the membership list on our website.

   https://www.qsl.net/sterling/Members/members.htm

If you are a member, or think you are a member, or want to be a member and your name is not on the list, please let me know. 

We generally consider folks as members
  If they pay dues,  OR
  If they attend some meetings,  OR
  If they participate in some of our activities.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Info on generator.

Russ, W3RST, has been maintaining the club generator for more years than I know.

At the last Field Day, it started making noises, but did stay running for the entire 24 hours.

See note from Russ below and attached pictures.

73, Gordon, NQ4K


-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Russ Thomason
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2020 14:02:46 -0500
Subject: Generator repairs

Bad bearing making screeching noise. Nothing like having a lift and engine hoist to effect repairs . There's more iron in this generator then most V8 engines!

73 de Russ/W3RST

Hi,

Remember that the meeting is this coming TUESDAY.  Weather should be great!  Speaker should be great!  It would be great is all came out.

We will try for a group photo again.  Hopefully this time I will remember a camera.

We do have some additional items of business.

Amit, WY2Z, will demonstrate the streaming video setup they have implemented for the upcoming tech class for those who cannot attend the class in person.

Also for the tech class coming up on 21-22 Feb, we need additional instructors. 

     Kevin, W4KLS, who was going to teach has decided to take a business trip on those days.  We therefore need instructors for two classes.

          T7: Station equipment: common transmitter and receiver problems; antenna measurements; troubleshooting; basic repair and testing.

          T0: Electrical safety: AC and DC power circuits; antenna installation; RF hazards.

     Larry, W8ANT, has already volunteered for both. However, that would give him three classes. 

     We are therefore opening it up so that other folks can have an opportunity to participate as an instructor.  If you are interested, please let us know.

We also have received a proposal from Rich, K1HTV, a long time participant in the Virginia QSO Party concerning FT8.  He proposes we implement rules similar to those used this weekend in the Vermont QSO Party.  We can talk about this at the meeting.

In addition, there is a new contest, the State QSO Party Challenge.  Basically who participated the most in all the state QSO parties.  Minimum a 2 QSO to qualify as participating in a state QSO party.  Be interesting to see if we get a significant increase in low QSO logs as a result.

See you at the meeting,
73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Our February monthly meeting is rapidly approaching.  This will be the first meeting to be held on Tuesdays,  Tuesday, 4 February, at 7 PM.

Refreshments will be provided by Patrick, KN4PIZ. 

Marty, NV3H, arranged for a very interesting presentation this month. Steve, KS1G, will talk about "Amateur Radio on the International Space Station."  I believe he will talk about the Farmwell Station Middle School contact with the International Space Station.  If you have been with the club for a while, you may also remember Steve came in and demonstrated his Bicycle Mobile, that was used in one of our Virginia QSO Parties.

We can talk a little about some club business.

The VA QSO Party is coming up soon on 21-22 March.

We will have just completed our General License Preparation Classes on 1-2 February. Maybe Amit, WY2Z, can give us an update.

We will be preparing for our Tech License Preparation Classes on 22 -23 Feb and Examination Session on 23 Feb.  Maybe Amit, WY2Z, can give an update on the classes and Mike, WB8RDN, can give an update on the examination session.  This will be a very full examination session and we will need help from all of our VEs.

We will conclude with a Tech-Ten-Talk by our Tech Ten Talk Team.

See you at the meeting.
73, Gordon, NQ4K