Monthly Meeting February 25

Posted on By Michael M
Meetings

It’s going to be Meshtastic Monthly Meeting!

Okay, we are back to our regularly scheduled meetings. Last month was a one-off and we are not expecting any other changes for the year.

Our monthly meeting is held on the fourth Wednesday of the month This month our meeting is on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

Our presentations have been great. Our members have done a great job working and putting them together for all of us. I’m particularly excited to announce our presentation this month will be on Meshtastic. That may not come as a surprise to those who have seen recent posts on our Forums. Marcos will be our presenter this month. We are inviting everyone who has Meshtastic gear to bring it as part of the presentation will be setting up an ad hoc network with your gear. This is a network that we’re going to continue outside of the presentation, so you don’t want to miss this one! if you can, update to the latest firmware. If you don’t have gear, don’t worry, it’s not necessary. If you do and you want some help before the meeting, just reach out to me. 

As always, we welcome everyone who has an interest in what we do, so join us in our meetings and activities, members and non-members, whether licensed or not! If you’re a new ham or thinking about getting your license, come on out and meet us! We can assist you in all aspects of getting your license and getting started in amateur radio.

Location:
STEM Center
Cox Science Center and Aquarium
4800 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
https://www.coxsciencecenter.org

For the 2026 year, we will be holding our meetings at the STEM Center. That building is on the North East corner of the general parking area. If you’re standing at the Cox Science Center looking out into the parking lot, it is straight ahead to your right. The stem center now has its own parking right in front of the building. 

Stay up to date with what we’re doing, local community events, and amateur radio related news and events in our Forums here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/

Saturday in the Park – February 28

Posted on By Michael M
Events

Do you have portable gear? Bring it! It’s a Run What You Brung, Saturday in the Park! Don’t have any portable gear? No problem… we share! Come on out, have some fun, and maybe get some ideas if you’re thinking of building your own go box, or share your ideas with others who may be considering building theirs.

This is where we get together for laughs and fun, while we play radio. Come join us!

Set-up starts at 10:00 a.m. and usually wraps up by 2:00. Some folks like to get there a little earlier.

Directions can be found here – Saturday in The Park & Directions – WPBARG Forums

As always, everyone is invited… members, non-members, participants and observers, come one, come all!

Stay up to date with what we’re doing, local community events, and amateur radio related news and events in our Forums here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/

We Will Be Testing Saturday, February 7

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements, Testing

Now is the opportunity to sit for your technician or upgrade your current license. We are excited to announce there is no longer any cost to to sit for the exam. We will be absorbing all costs incurred in administering the FCC Radio Exams.

We are accredited to administer all elements of the FCC Amateur Radio exams, and we do so every OTHER month, on the first Saturday of the month, at the Cox Science Center in West Palm Beach.

Testing begins at 10:00 a.m. Below are links on what to bring Saturday with an FAQ.

Candidates must have an FRN number before sitting for the exam. See here – https://larc-vec.org/frn.php

More information on the exam is here – https://larc-vec.org/faq.php

While walk-ins are welcome, you can register here – https://exam.tools/reg/693f8b4947eb4c852ddd50fd

Any questions, register and post on our forms here – Click here

Monthly Meeting January 29 (Changed – See Below)

Posted on By Michael M
Meetings

Our monthly meeting is normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, but this January, due to construction, we moved it Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. This change is for January 2026 only.

We will be installing our officers for the new year. Rex will be performing that honor. After that, we will have a year in review of what we accomplished in the past year. Richie has put together another fantastic presentation. This one is all fun! It’s a music video of our year in review. I am excited to see what Richie has done!

As always, we welcome everyone who has an interest in what we do, so join us in our meetings and activities, members and non-members, whether licensed or not! If you’re a new ham or thinking about getting your license, come on out and meet us! We can assist you in all aspects of getting your license and getting started in amateur radio.

Location:
STEM Center
Cox Science Center and Aquarium
4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
https://www.coxsciencecenter.org

For the 2026 year, we will be holding our meetings at the STEM Center. That building is on the North East corner of the general parking area. If you’re standing at the Cox Science Center looking out into the parking lot, it is straight ahead to your right. The stem center now has its own parking right in front of the building. 

Stay up to date with what we’re doing, local community events, and amateur radio related news and events in our Forums here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/

Winter Field Day 2026 – January 24-25

Posted on By Michael M
Activities, Events

South Florida is the best location for Winter Field Day!

Winter Field Day is quickly approaching. Our Winter Field Day last year was a huge success and this is going to be an outstanding event!  In addition to a gazebo, we have tents, tables, chairs, generators, lighting, all the necessary radio equipment, and an amazing location. Additionally, we will have personnel supplies, including a motorhome for operators to rest and nap! We have secured Phipps Park from the city of West Palm Beach. The location is outstanding and beautiful!

Never been to a Field Day or not familiar with it? Don’t worry! This is a great time to get started and we will help you with that. Don’t have your license yet? No problem! In addition to our operators’ radios, which we share, we have a station set up for first timers. With supervision – which we provide – you will be able to work the radio. One of our operators will be right next to you, assisting you with making contacts with others hundreds and even thousands of miles away. 

We work with today’s youth, so if you have an interest in STEM, you don’t want to miss this event. If you’re a minor, you will need to have a parent or guardian with you. 

As with everything we do, it’s SFL… Safety, Fun, Learn. 

We will be open to the public beginning Saturday at noon, and we will wrap things up Sunday around 2:00 p.m.

Phipps Park – 4715 S Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

If you’re a member of WPBARG, click here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1110

Note: As announced back in November, due to construction, our monthly meeting for January has moved to Thursday, January 29th, 7:00 pm in the STEM Center at the Cox Science Center. This change is for January 2026 only.

Saturday in the Park – December 27

Posted on By Michael M
Activities

Do you have portable gear? Bring it! It’s a Run What You Brung, Saturday in the Park! Don’t have any portable gear? No problem… we share! Come on out, have some fun, and maybe get some ideas if you’re thinking of building your own go box, or share your ideas with others who may be considering building theirs.

This is where we get together for laughs and fun, while we play radio. Come join us!

Set-up starts at 10:00 a.m. and usually wraps up by 2:00. Some folks like to get there a little earlier.

Directions can be found here – Saturday in The Park & Directions – WPBARG Forums

As always, everyone is invited… members, non-members, participants and observers, come one, come all!

Stay up to date with what we’re doing, local community events, and amateur radio related news and events in our Forums here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/

Remembrance

Posted on By Michael M
News
Ralph "Red" Hollis Sept. 10, 1906 - Dec. 7, 1941
Ralph “Red” Hollis (Sept. 10, 1906 – Dec. 7, 1941)

As we take time to remember today, “a date which will live in infamy,” and we reflect on all of the lives lost, we bring our attention to the USS Arizona, where 1,177 crew members lost their lives on this day. Two of those sailors, Ralph “Red” Hollis and Forrest Dana, were founding members of our club.

After serving in the US Navy, Ralph moved to this area and worked with the Palm Beach Fire Department. Later he would join the Palm Beach Police Department, where he worked with fellow police officer Forrest Dana, and set up that agency’s first radio system. During this time he was in the reserves and was called back to active duty. Although he qualified for a deferment, he said his country needed him and he wanted to serve.

Ralph and Forrest were named to the CQ Hall of Fame in 2010.

We Will Be Testing Saturday, December 6

Posted on By Michael M
Testing

Now is the opportunity to sit for your technician or upgrade your current license. We are excited to announce there is no longer a cost to to sit for the exam. We will be absorbing all costs incurred in administering the FCC Radio Exams.

We are accredited to administer all elements of the FCC Amateur Radio exams, and we do so every OTHER month, on the first Saturday of the month, at the Cox Science Center in West Palm Beach.

Testing begins at 10:00 a.m. Below are links on what to bring Saturday with an FAQ.

Candidates must have an FRN number before sitting for the exam. See here – https://larc-vec.org/frn.php

More information on the exam is here – https://larc-vec.org/faq.php

Walk-ins are welcome. Any questions, register and post on our forms here – Click here

Contact us directly here – Click here

Cox Science Center
4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

We will be testing at the STEM Center, which is across from the Science Center’s main entrance. The STEM Center now has its own parking lot right in front of the building.


Saturday in the Park – November 29

Posted on By Michael M
Activities

Due to Thanksgiving, we move our November meeting back one week. Normally, Saturday in the Park follows our Wednesday meeting, but for November we will be having our monthly Saturday in the Park on November 29th.

Do you have portable gear? Bring it! It’s a Run What You Brung, Saturday in the Park! Don’t have any portable gear? No problem… we share! Come on out, have some fun, and maybe get some ideas if you’re thinking of building your own go box, or share your ideas with others who may be considering building theirs.

This is where we get together for laughs and fun, while we play radio. Come join us!

Set-up starts at 10:00 a.m. and usually wraps up by 2:00. Some folks like to get there a little earlier.

Directions can be found here – Saturday in The Park & Directions – WPBARG Forums

As always, everyone is invited… members, non-members, participants and observers, come one, come all!

Stay up to date with what we’re doing, local community events, and amateur radio related news and events in our Forums here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/