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Volunteers Needed for S.P.A.R.K. Tech. Training Session

S.P.A.R.K. members:

We have discussed in past meeting putting together a “Technician Class” to get new persons interested in the hobby a place to come and learn.  I have been asked to head up the training.  I agreed to do this but like the hobby itself its no fun just with one person.  I am asking for volunteers to help teach  the (10) Sub-elements in the question pool.  I have gone to (2) Tech classes over the course of several years.  One was when I was first licensed and one was a short time ago when my wife got the bug and got her ticket.  Both of these learning sessions were done in Warrensburg at the WAARCI club office.  Both were very good classes with a similar type of layout.  I am hoping to get (5) instructors to fill the two weekend days of Sat. Jan 5th and Sat. Jan 12th.

Now the questions are churning and you ask yourself: What do I have to do?

Well, I am working on preliminary lesson plans and hope that the instructors can give feedback or offer some suggestions for corrections.  I hope to have most of the work done and the instructors will be asked to go over the power point presentation lesson, in the beginning, followed by the selected question pool questions at the end.    That’s it.  We will try to have times set for those that cannot stay the duration of the day.  If you don’t like public speaking that’s ok also.  Please come to support your fellow HAMS and meet the new wave coming in.

We do not intend for this class to teach the new students everything they need to know about Amateur Radio.  We are having the classes to teach them how to pass the test.

I expect for those operators that are there to get loaded down with questions so any support to the cause you can give will be appreciated.

Current list of Subelements and Volunteers

Subelements:

T1 — FCC Rules, descriptions, and definitions for the Amateur Radio Service, operator and station license responsibilities

T2 — Operating Procedures

T3 — Radio wave characteristics: properties of radio waves; propagation modes (Phillip Markmann)

T4 — Amateur radio practices and station set-up (Daren Nerad)

T5 — Electrical principles: math for electronics; electronic principles; Ohm’s Law

T6 — Electrical components; circuit diagrams; component functions

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

T8 — Modulation modes: amateur satellite operation; operating activities; non-voice and digital communications

T9 — Antennas and feed lines (Phillip Markmann)

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

Please send me a direct email to : KD0OPS@ARRL.NET

If you could put “Volunteer Tech Testing” in the subject line and let me know which Subelement you’re interested in teaching.  If you are interested and it is one that is already taken please list that also and we can use you as an alternate.

UPDATE: 12/8/2018

Dates for Technician Classes:

1/5/2019 = 8:00 to 3:00 (Times are best guess and could be extended to complete the lessons)

1/12/2019 = 8:00 to 12:00

1/12/2019 = 1:00 to last test completion

Instructor volunteers to date:  Scott – KEØQLT, Brett – KDØUSK,  John – NØXG, Phillip – KJ5ZW,  Daren – KDØOPS

Please feel free to shoot me an email to get your name in so we can coordinate.

 

Club Embroidered Shirts

 

Contact:

Julie Dougherty

6338 NE 68th Ter

Kansas City, Missouri

 Call (816) 665-7076

Email: doortee7@gmail.com                 

Polo Shirts:

With Logo only =$13

With Logo and Name/Call =$14

Mesh Back Hats =$10

Mesh Back Hats with Call (on side) =$11

Julie is easy to work with,  give her a call to place your order.  She would be able to tweek to your liking.  I am sure she can pool the orders if needed.  Please let me know if you have any question.

Daren – KDØOPS

Net Audio

The net last evening was a really good and informative one. I even got to check in for a change, which is rare. Perfect time for the recording to fail and it did.

I am at my wits’ end. I spent a significant amount of time diagnosing and repairing all possible causes of failure and several weeks had passed and I was confident I had it figured out once and for all. After I let my guard down, another failure happened 16 seconds into the recording this past Sunday.

I’m not sure what to do except to have several of us do the recording every week, that way at least one of us captures it. Anyone interested in stepping up, let me know and I will show you how to do it.

I hate to do it, but I may just give up on it.  I have alarms, reminders and timers set and still have a sketchy record that all seems like a waste of my time and effort. I enjoy the recordings as much as the rest of you, I am rarely here for the net and get to listen after the fact but the unreliability really has my enthusiasm at zero.

Chris – KC0TKS

 

Net Audio Problem Resolved?

As many of you have noticed, the posting of the net’s audio has been flaky as of late. Crackly audio had become the norm and total failures of the recording had been commonplace.

I spent most of an afternoon earlier last week, researching the problem, then testing suggested fixes. After that, I recorded the repeater for two days straight without a failure  and with clean audio, then again on Sunday’s net. All seems well now (fingers crossed).

I hope you all enjoy the website and Net audio, I spend a significant amount of my spare time maintaining this site and trying to keep the audio up to date.

Chris – KC0TKS

 

 

WWV – NIST Station

 

NIST station WWV and sister stations are among the oldest radio stations in the United States, having been in continuous operation since May 1920. The station has transmitted the official US Time for nearly 100 years, and is an instrumental part in the telecommunications field, ranging from broadcasting to scientific research and education. Additionally, these stations transmit marine storm warnings from the National Weather Service, GPS satellite health reports, and specific information concerning current solar activity, and radio propagation conditions. These broadcasts are an essential resource to the worldwide communications industry. This petition requests continued funding of these stations be maintained into the 21st century and beyond to ensure future operations.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-stations-wwv-wwvh

For your information and consideration.

 

Paul, KD0ETL

Who ‘Ya gonna Call? …

Bret, KDØUSK and John, NØEE inspect their work at the QTH of Harry, KAØTTY

No not the Ghostbusters.  You call upon the fellow members of S.P.A.R.K.  The other day, John, NØEE and Bret, KDØUSK stopped by to help me put up an antenna so I could finally get a base station on the air. 
 
In the past, I can remember being on the other side, climbing, lifting, and pulling cables.  It was a rewarding feeling helping out.  It never occurred to me that some day I would be on the receiving side.  The assistance from Bret and John is certainly appreciated.  Thank-You!
 
If anyone else needs help on a project.  Programming that new radio. Installing or operating that new software. Upgrading a license. Installing an antenna. Or, just getting on the air.  All you have to do is say something and someone from SPARK will step up.  The expertise and talent is pretty broad in the group.  Someone will be able to help you out.
 
Thanks again for the help.
Harry, KAØTTY

Special Event

 

Thanks John N0EE for all the field work on setting up the special event station.

Thanks to all who participated.

Looking forward to the certificate art .

Paul, KD0ETL

 

“National Zero Derby”

“National Zero Derby”
July 4th, 2018
The Sedalia Pettis Amateur Radio Klub will be operating Special Event Station NØD July 4th, 2018 from the Missouri State Fairgrounds, commemorating the 2018 National Derby Rallies National Championship for soap box derby cars. Operations will be in the General portions of the HF bands, 28.300-28.500 on 10m, and 147.03 -600 PL 179.9.

The Missouri National Guard has given us permission to set up our special event station NØD July 4th on the west side of the armory located on the west end of the fairgrounds, and is allowing us access to AC power. The armory is directly beside the starting line and race track for the derby cars, and we determined that this location is far more suitable than near the Swine Pavilion. Everyone is invited to attend and operate the special event station. Talk in will be on the 147.03 repeater, negative offset PL 179.9.

For a certificate send your QSL, $1 and a #10 SASE to NØEE, or send $2 and your certificate will be sent unfolded in a 9 x 12 envelope postage paid.

Listen for “National Zero Derby” and make a contact! For more information contact n0ee@juno.com.

arrl.org - Special Events

ksisradio.com - Derby

mostatefairgrounds.com - Derby

sedaliademocrat.com - Derby