News from the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)
The SPARC web site is at http://www.qsl.net/sterling.
Monday, February 02, 2026
Monthly in person SPARC meeting 4 February 2026
Reminder for our February in person Monthly meeting this coming Wednesday February 4, 2026 at the Eastern Loudoun Sheriffs Office 46620 E Frederick Dr, Sterling, VA 20164
Agenda
Refreshments: Bud, W4KSN
Presentation: Michael Walker, FlexRadio on FlexRadio (Zoom)
Club Business: Initial coordination for VA QSO Party, etc.
Get to Know a SPARC Member: TBD
If you wish to join us via ZOOM:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85420830985?pwd=VkwyKzgxbVJnTzJtYkxuUEE5MWhyUT09
Meeting ID: 854 2083 0985
Passcode: 111111
73,
Kevin
W4KLS
Friday, January 09, 2026
Meeting Summary - 7 January 2026
• The meeting was attended by 14 SPARC members (12 in-person, 2 via Zoom)
• Refreshments were provided by Rhett Linke WW4RL
• Kevin W4KLS, led the meeting and reviewed the agenda for the evening
• Each member had an opportunity to introduce themselves and to discuss recent activities in Ham radio and to share interesting items/information in the Show and Tell session.
• There was no “Get to Know a Member” presentation scheduled for this meeting, but several members have signed up for future sessions with Bud Aiella W4KSN at the February meeting
• Kevin led a discussion regarding the opening for a new club President
o Kevin and Rhett will share responsibilities for running the meetings for the short term (thru Field Day) until a new President is in place
o A robust discussion was conducted regarding ideas to recruit new and retain existing membership. Several good suggestions were discussed and will be addressed for future action.
• A group photo was taken and will be shared with the club
• A White Elephant gift exchange was conducted with very interesting gifts shared amongst the members in attendance.
• Annual club dues were collected at the meeting
• Kevin adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
• Next in-person meeting is scheduled for February 4th, 2026 with refreshments being provided by Bud Aiella W4KSN
Rhett, WW4RL
Monday, January 05, 2026
In-Person Meeting, - 7 January 2026
I will MC this weeks meeting.
Paul-will you be attending and handle the ZOOM portion of the meeting?
As this meeting is also a annual "Group Photo" I will bring my camera, tripod etc for the picture.
Below is the agenda (copied from the website) Dues remain at $10 per person.
Please bring exact change if possible as this makes it easier on the treasure. ( Dennis, KQ4NMV)
7January 2026 (Wednesday) Club Meeting
Refreshments: Rhett, WW4RL
Activity: Show and Tell.
White Elephant Exchange
Eric, AJ4LN: State QSO Party Championship Overview
Club Business: Annual dues collection
Group Photo
Review VA QSO Party status.
Get to Know a SPARC Member:
Looking forward to seeing everyone.
73,
Kevin
W4KLS
Monday, December 01, 2025
IN-Person Meeting, Wednesday 3 Dec 2025 at 7 PM
Refreshments will be provided by Steve, KN4BGW.
The activity will be building 2M Monopoles. The directions are attached. Gordon, NQ4K, will provide the parts for four antennas.. We will build it without the PVC Pipe in anticipation of most people hanging it from a tree or ceiling in a house. Ala, KR4FJB, built one and will bring his in to show.
We need volunteers to bring:
Soldering stations (for attached wires to the SO-239( Wire cutters and strippers (for preparing the vertical and grand plane wires)
If we have time we can discuss some club business.
Virginia QSO Party
10 of the 30 plaques are spoken for already.
Update on "Virginia is for Lovers" bonus station initiative.
Proposal to have club calls as bonus stations also.
The Get to Know a SPARC Member will be Ala, KR4FJB.
73, Gordon, NQ4K
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Monthly Meeting Summary November 5, 2025
• Refreshments were provided by Evan Mann KM4SK
• Conrad N4ZQA led the meeting and reviewed the agenda for the evening
• Conrad Johnson N4ZQA introduced the guest presenter, Andy Z. K1RA who shared a presentation on LoRa and The Meshtastic Project
o Andy provided a robust presentation detailing LoRa and Meshtastic including definitions, equipment, local networks, performance, and costs
o Additionally, Mitch Dickey W4LAN provided examples of the equipment used and met with SPARC members to discuss their use
o Many thanks to Andy Z K1RA and Mitch Dickey W4LAN for their participation and information share with the group
• Conrad led a discussion regarding pending changes to the VA QP Bonus Station in order to assist Gordon in deciding upon any changes for the upcoming contest
• Kevin Stuart W4KLS did a “Get to Know a Member” presentation
• Everyone in attendance (in person or via Zoom) had a chance to describe recent personal radio related activities over the past month
• Conrad adjourned the meeting
• Next in-person meeting is scheduled for December 3rd with refreshments being provided by Steve Balik KN4BGW
Friday, October 03, 2025
SPARC Monthly Meeting Summary October 1, 2025
Archives
April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 June 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 September 2011 October 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 November 2024 January 2025 February 2025 April 2025 May 2025 July 2025 September 2025 October 2025 November 2025 December 2025 January 2026 February 2026
