SEDALIA – PETTIS AMATEUR RADIO KLUB
Serving Pettis and surrounding counties
In response to a recent inquiry regarding doing APRS over DMR, I put together this guide describing how I was able to set it up on my own radio.
If you have suggestions for improvement or find any errors, let me know directly. I’ll update the document.
Harry, KØTV
The club is beginning to use the Net Control Manager for logging our nets.
You can find Net Control Manager by clicking HERE
You can follow net activity, see check ins, and get some cool post-net statistics. This is a map of tonights check ins for example.
The reports you will find on net-manager are available for viewing immediately following the net. You can check the statistics at your own convenience.
WinLink Thursday exercises have begun again.
Go here for information and download the exercise PDF:
https://www.emcomm-training.org/Winlink_Thursdays.html
I participated last year and found each exercise to be not only informative but a lot of fun. Every weekly exercise added a layer of complexity and a new challenge. As a result, quite a bit was learned regarding the capabilities and previously unknown inner workings of using WinLink.
If you are already using WinLink, then you are set. If your equipment is set up for digital modes, like FT8, then you are very close and you may only need to add the software. There is a local VHF FM WinLink node on 145.07 WAØSDO-10. You can use Packet Radio for access. Or, WinLink using VARA-HF modem software works very well on HF. Once you have WinLink working, the PDF, mentioned above, pretty much leads you click by click on what you need to complete the exercise.
The exercise runs 0000Z to 2359Z on Thursday. Usually on the weekend following the Thursday exercise, they publish a map showing all the check-ins. It would be cool to see lots of spots show up here in central Missouri.
Harry, KØTV
Field Day 2021 is behind us.
Time for picking up the pieces and reviewing how we did.
The map shows where we made contacts.
Early stats so far appear to be that we had:
21 members/guests signed in
3 new members joined
25 points made from contacts
We are still counting the bonus points
Also, there might be other members who will share points from their home station contacts
What happened:
On Friday there was really bad weather in the area and a forecast for Saturday threatened cancellation of our event. But we found things different on Saturday morning. Can you believe it, the weather forecast was wrong!
At 10am, we decided to go ahead and do set up.
We were done around noonish
We began operation at 1pm
We were class 5A and our ARRL section was MO.
There was a lot of digital activity (FT8 mostly), but conditions for both voice and digital didn’t seem to be very favorable.
Around 3pm, we had a small, but very strong, storm cell pass over the FD site bringing a huge amount of rain over a short period.
We took a break about 5pm for supper.
We enjoyed hot dogs, side dishes, and deserts.
Daren KDØOPS cooked the dogs.
I didn’t try all the pot luck dishes. But, Chris KCØTKS ‘best ever baked beans’ claim didn’t disappoint.
We closed around 8pm. Everyone left in shiny, clean, freshly washed vehicles from the 3pm downpour.
Points are still being counted. A better idea of how we did will be announced at the July club meeting. The ARRL publishes Field Day results in their December QST magazine.
If you got contacts from your home stations, consider turning in points for yourself. Claim those contacts for your own call credit, but associate your submission with our club and your points will then be added to our club result.
Our club name is known as “Sedalia-Pettis AR Klub” to the ARRL.
We are an ARRL Special Service Club and are already in the ARRL database. So it is likely going to already be one of your choices as you search.
I’m working on collecting pictures which will be posted to this website. Be sure to check back later.
A really big Thank-You goes out to all the members of the SPARK club that made this 2021 Field Day such an enjoyable event. I think everyone got something out of the experience and, if anything, we learned a few things to implement and make the next FD even better.
,73
Harry, KØTV
UPDATE: Field Day is a go
See everyone there. It is Friday evening. We had some pretty fierce rain pass thru. And, the Saturday forecast is for even more rain.
I know why you are reading this. You are concerned about how that will affect the SPARK Field Day plans.
Well, for now, we are still a GO. The set up crew is still looking to meet around 10am. Everyone will throw around their opinions, and we will decide about any FD schedule changes at that time.
Continue to watch this website, the club FaceBook page, and also monitor the club 2M repeater. We will do our best to keep everyone informed about how this weekend weather event might alter our plans.
Harry, KØTV
K0tv@burford.org
You are invited!
Local Amateur Radio operators, guests, even the Amateur Radio wanna-be are invited to the Sedalia SPARK club Field Day event being held this Saturday June 26, 2021. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.
LOCATION: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3700 W. Broadway in Sedalia
DATE: Saturday June 26, 2021
SCHEDULE:
10:00 am – Begin equipment setup
1:00 pm – Begin operating
5:00 pm (or a little after) – Pot Luck Dinner
As of this post, we have 4 stations we will be putting on the air. We will determine our operating class Saturday morning.
For the pot luck, we will have hot dogs and fixings. Plus what ever dishes you might bring to share. I already have a list of a few folks saying they will be bringing something. Surprise dishes are OK, but it would be nice if you let me know what to expect. The church has a refrigerator if you bring a dish that needs to be kept cold.
Plan to spend Saturday with us.
CU at Field Day
Harry, KØTV
K0tv@burford.org
PURPOSE: Weekly SPARK club information net
LOCATION: The club 147.03- (179.9) repeater
NET CONTROL: KØTV
CHECK IN:
KEØVCR, KEØWTX, KEØCYR, KEØOTS, ADØVD, KEØMER, KFØARQ, KDØOPV, KDØETL, KEØWJX, KEØFUD, W3MEB, WØVK, KEØUHO, KDØWXT, KEØYWX, KEØLMY, KEØLMZ, KEØYGT, KCØTKS
Net opened 8:00 pm and closed 8:15pm. It only lasted 15min. Majority of check-in was in and out status. Pretty much everyone had other more pressing projects going on. The most frequent reason was getting back to the Chiefs Divisional game which was in progress. If I missed anyone on the check in list or messed up your call, let me know and I’ll update the posting.
Harry, KØTV
There ‘ya go. That is the link to the online hamfest mentioned at todays SPARK membership meeting.
Looks pretty cool. 70+ speakers, virtual vendor booths, and pretty significant door prizes. Sign up is free and presentations will be available for download for 30 days after the fest. Use the link above to learn all the details.
Have fun
Harry, KØTV
I’m sure you have already heard about a new local 6 meter repeater due to go live shortly here in the Sedalia area. It may not be of much interest to you now because many of us don’t have 6M capability.
But, did you know that you may already have the ability to at least listen to the new repeater once it goes on the air? Many hand held, base, and mobile radios today enjoy expanded receivers. You will be able to monitor, but not transmit.
So, put the new 6M repeater in a memory channel in your radio and include it when you scan. For that matter, local repeaters in the 220 Mhz band could be included, too. The little, pocket-friendly, iCom Q7 here enjoys a wide band receiver capable of picking up a wide range of other frequencies like commercial FM broadcast radio, public service, and even AM aircraft. It will only transmit in the 2M/70cm bands. It is a very old radio. Newer ones have lots more capabilities.
Take another look at the radios you carry or in your shack. They may have some features you overlooked or were not aware of.
Harry, KØTV
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