News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

Hi,

It is time for our February monthly meeting. Wednesday, 2 February. We start at 7 PM. Via Zoom. Instructions below.

Refreshments, at least at my home, will be Girl Scott cookies with root beer.

Charlie, K3SR, has arranged for a very interesting presentation.

Steve, K3SW, will appear via Zoom to talk about “The Race Against Time: A Contester’s Perspective.” Steve will talk about a contesters imperative to minimize time lost though the application of good technique and automation with emphasis on Single Operator 2 Radio (SO2R) techniques. Steve recommends that viewers use stereo headphones to listen as he will be demonstrating his SO2R station. Steve's read-ahead is attached.

We will also talk about other SPARC activities coming up as time permits.

We have technician license classes and an examination session this coming weekend on 5-6 February.

We have a technician license class and examination session currently scheduled for 5 March at the Lansdowne INOVA Hospital.

The Virginia QSO Party is coming up on 19-20 March. All should be getting their stations ready for this event.

Finally, if someone volunteers, we will have a 5-10 minute Tech Ten Team Talk at the end of our meeting.

73, Gordon, NQ4K


Join via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (New York)
+13017158592,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (Germantown)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kew6N4ZTgf

Good net tonight-
8 on Zoom
2 on 2M

Ran from 2000 - 2039

John P had a good joke - Should ask him to repeat it next week.

73
Paul
KK4AIA

Hi,

Another Wednesday is coming up. We will have a meeting online via the 2M repeater and Zoom.

Same agenda.
Open net
Check-ins
Initial round of introductions and comments.
Short story/tech talk (looking for volunteer)
Final round of comments with Joke
Close net

You can join us on 2M repeater or on Zoom or both.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Join via 2M Repeater
2M on the Dulles Repeater 145.310 (-) PL77

Join via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09

Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (New York)
+13017158592,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (Germantown)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kew6N4ZTgf

Hi,

Excellent meeting. Ten participants.

The jokes are getting better.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

Another Wednesday is coming up. We will have a meeting online via the 2M repeater and Zoom.

Same agenda.
Open net
Check-ins
Initial round of introductions and comments.
Short story/tech talk (looking for volunteer)
Final round of comments with Joke
Close net

You can join us on 2M repeater or on Zoom or both.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Join via 2M Repeater
2M on the Dulles Repeater 145.310 (-) PL77

Join via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09

Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (New York)
+13017158592,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (Germantown)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kew6N4ZTgf

Hi,

You can access the SK page for Charlie, KV4KS, from

https://www.qsl.net/sterling/Silent_Keys/SK_Main.html


Any recommended changes are welcome.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi, Greetings to new members from NQ4K.

Hi,

Paul, KK4AIA, reported that:
6 - Zoom check-ins
0 - 2M check-ins
Kevin did really good on running it. Did great on getting folks to chat.
Lasted about an hour.

Kevin, W4KLS, emailed:
6 people on zoom, no check ins on 2 meters. Jokes getting better.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

We have a Net Controller. Paul, KK4AIA, and Kevin, W4KLS, have volunteered.

Therefore Wednesday is on.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

NEED NET CONTROLLER. I will be on Grandparent duties and not available for this net. Need someone to run it.

VOLUNTEER??

Another Wednesday is coming up. We will have a meeting online via the 2M repeater and Zoom.

Same agenda.
Open net
Check-ins
Initial round of introductions and comments.
Short story/tech talk (looking for volunteer)
Final round of comments with Joke
Close net

You can join us on 2M repeater or on Zoom or both.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Join via 2M Repeater
2M on the Dulles Repeater 145.310 (-) PL77

Join via Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09

Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (New York)
+13017158592,,85420830985#,,,,0#,,111111# US (Germantown)

Dial by your location
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Password: 111111
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kew6N4ZTgf

Hi,

A very good monthly meeting. Thirteen attendees.

We started with introductions and continued with show and tell. The stuff demonstrated were very interesting. I think all enjoyed showing off their toys.

I still have the following available for free (from Charlie, K3SR):
2003 ARRL Antenna Book, 20th Ed.
Commercial battery tester. Puts load across terminals and looks at battery current and voltage.

Dues collection is underway. Money to Eric, AJ4LN, or via donate button on our website.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

Hi,

This is a momentous event. The most errors or omissions in a single email.

1. Mike's call sign is WB8RDN, not KB8RDN. He is not going to get our of being exam coordinator that easy.

2. Dues are $10 per year. Each additional family member is $5. (Based upon our 1989 constitution).

3. Charlie, K3SR, hads donated a 2003 ARRL Antenna Book, edition 20, to the club. We will either auction it off or raffle it off at the meeting.

4. We will use our normal Zoom instructions.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Passcode: 111111

Hi,

The New Year is upon us and it is time for our first monthly meeting of the new year.

Wednesday, 5 January, at 7 PM. This will be a VIRTUAL meeting on Zoom only. No in-person activity at the Sheriff's station.

Refreshments will be by you. I will be having "Fancy Mixed Nuts" with root beer. Can't get much better.

Our January activity will be a "Show and Tell." We have been doing this in January since 2007. So remember to have something to talk about. Preferably ham radio related, but could be anything.

We can also highlight anything we want to give away or sell. Normally we would do a gift exchange, but it is hard to teleport gift through Zoom, and Scotty will not make it this year.

January is also normally when we do a group photo. So we will do a screen shot with everyone on Zoom. So remember to brush your hair after you wake up from your afternoon nap.

We also start our dues collection. Be a little harder this year. You may drop money off at my QTH. I have a plastic contained on our front porch. You may mail money to Eric, AJ4LN. Finally you may click on the "Donate" button on our website and remember to select "Dues" otherwise we will think it is for something else. In a month or so, we will update our on-line members page with the current members.

We have two classes and exam sessions coming up in February.

We will do one in our normal format on 5-6 February at the Sheriff's substation. Amit, WY2Z, will coordinate the classes and Mike, KB8RND, will coordinate the examination session.

We have a second class and examination session in planning at the Lansdowne INOVA hospital. One day on Saturday, 12 Feb. Both class and exam on same day. Amit, W2YZ, will coordinate the classes. Gordon, NQ4K, will coordinate the exam.

Please put these on your calendar, especially if you are an instructor or VE. We will need lots of help to make these happen.

We do not have a Tech Ten Talk lined up. Maybe someone will volunteer to talk for 5 minutes at the end of our meeting.

One last remembrance, Monte, KV4KS, passed away on 21 December 2021. I attended his funeral service on 29 December, met his family and friends, and remembered some good times.

We have had several members pass away over the past two years. Dick, W2YE; Ray, KD4RSL; Gary, K4SRX, Bill "Red", K3TG; and now Monte, KV4KS. So be careful and stay safe.

I think that is all.
73, Gordon, NQ4K