News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)

 Hi,

It is time for our November monthly meeting. Wednesday, 1 Nov 23 at 7PM at the Sheriff station in Sterling.

October went by very quickly. It is getting chilly at night.  Stays dark later in the morning.  We get to vote again in Virginia elections. 

We do not have anyone signed up for refreshments.  Need a volunteer.

Conrad, N4ZQA, suggested we find someone to talk about "Antenna SWR and Tuning."  We found Kevin, McCrory, WA4KBM.  He lives north of Leesburg, not too far away and will be joining us in-person. He is also the President of LARG.  Please come out and welcome him.

We will try to connect in folks via Zoom.  Probably be successful but cannot guarantee it.  The connection is the same as for our regular Wednesday evening 2M/Zoom Nets.  See
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/2M_Zoom_Net/2M_Zoom_Net.html

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 8:32 AM

 Hi,

Seven attendees.  good conversation. 

Jokes.

Why did the Jack-o-Lattern not cross the street?
No guts.

What do you get when you boil a funny bone?
Laughing stock.

A Pig went to the doctor.  After an exam the doctor said we have some good news and some bad news.
The Good News is that we can cure you.
The Bad News is that we can cure you.

Which sports player gives a refund?
The quarterback.

What is the problem with Velco?
It is a rip-off.

Why did the high school baseball player take a baseball bat the library?
The teacher said to hit the books.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 8:06 AM

 Hi,

Eight attendees.  All on Zoom.

Interesting discussion about VPN from Conrad, N4ZQA.  I will have to look into this.

Jokes:

A vulture was taking an airplane trip and remembered that the food was not very good.
He decided to take his own.  A rabbit under one wing and a groundhog under the other.
At check-in he was told that he could have only one carrion.

I told a friend that she was putting her eye liner tool high.
She looked surprised.

What do you call an alligator in a vest?
An investigator.

How does the moon get a haircut.
He eclipsed it.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 12:28 PM

 Hi,

A good meeting.  Five attendees.  Three on Zoom. One on 2M.  I was on both.

Jokes.

Why did the light bulb fail the test?
It was not bright enough.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 2:10 PM

 Hi,

We had 16 people attend, wither by Zoom or in-person.  A good turnout.  Two new folks.  One from the tech class. 

ARRL is fairly quick with the application turn around.  I mailed the class results / applications on Monday and one of the attendees was a member of the class said he had just received the email from the FCC before he left to come to the meeting.  

The presentation from Flex Radio was excellent.  I had not realized how far SDR and direct digital sampling had come in the amateur community. 

All else is going well.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 7:14 AM

 Hi,

It is time for our monthly in-person meeting at the Sheriff Substation in Sterling.  Starts at 7 PM.

Refreshments: We need a volunteer to bring some refreshments. 

Paul, KK4AIA, and I visited the community room a few day ago and believe that we have figured out how to make zoom work at the same time as the projection system.  Therefore, we should be able to zoom in our guest speaker, other members of the club who cannot attend inn person, and also project the speakers presentation.  I am optimistic we can make it work.

Our guest speaker will be Mike, VA3MW, from FlexRadio.  He will speak on "FlexRadio Technology and Direct Sampling."  At least one member of our club has a flex radio and he likes it.  Several others recognize that SDR is the wave of the future.  Here is an opportunity to learn a little more about the subject.  This will be especiall good for those of us who were raised in the analog world.  We will put Mike on shortly after the beginning of the meeting at 7 PM. Thanks to Marty, NV3H, for bringing this speaker to our attention.

Zoom connection information is the same as for our regular 2M/Zoom Net meetings. See
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/2M_Zoom_Net/2M_Zoom_Net.html

Hope to see you all there.
73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 7:14 AM

 Hi,

Eight attendees.  All on zoom.  No one on 2M repeater.

Jokes:

What do you do with a dead chemist?
You barium.

73, Gordon, NQ4K

posted by SPARC'ie  # 7:03 AM