Year: 2023

WPBARG In The News

Posted on By Michael M
News

The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group is in the news again. This time on Fox 29. You can see that here – https://www.wflx.com/2023/10/18/growing-iceberg-titanic-exhibit-west-palm-beach/

WPTV also covered this. You can see that here – https://www.wptv.com/shining-a-light/growing-iceberg-at-titanic-exhibit-in-west-palm-beach On the last video, beginning at 1:22, Kristina showcases our spark gap transceiver array, while T.A. Walker tries his hand at sending code on the Morse code oscillator.

For more information – https://wpbarg.com/2023/10/10/wpbarg-joins-cox-in-titanic-exhibit/

WPBARG Joins Cox in Titanic Exhibit

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements

This morning Randy KO4WTM and Dave WD4LLQ attended a press event and demonstrated Morse code at the Cox Science Center. 

This evening I joined them for the Cox Science Center’s premier of their exhibit, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.

Our area received a lot of interest, and that’s not surprising given the transceiver array that Dave WD4LLQ and Jim KO4UYW built. This is a picture of it. The receiver, tuner, and spark gap transmitter were all fabricated by hand. This wasn’t a kit. This was hand-built from scratch. Dave is a very talented guy, and Jim served with the elite Seabees during Vietnam. These two guys can build anything, and they didn’t have a lot of time to do it. They were under a tight timeline. This display wouldn’t be complete without Bruce KB4SWP designing and creating the backdrop banner, which I had a lesson on tonight!

More pictures and discussion –  WPBARG Forums

More information of the exhibit – https://www.coxsciencecenter.org/Titanic

Monthly Meeting – October 25

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements, Meetings
Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Our monthly meeting, held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, is Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

We will be following up on our ongoing projects, including the Titanic display, our custom developed curriculum for Palm Beach County schools (that has now been requested by a homeschooling group), discussing how it went at JOTA and our upcoming WPBARG Fall Picnic/Saturday in the Park.

At our last meeting, Dave and Jim presented the spark gap transmitter and the membership was very excited about this project. Dave then found himself in an impromptu role as a docent. He was so good that this became an unplanned presentation, bumping our planned presentation of Winlink Global Radio Email, hosted by Marcos. We will have that Winlink presentation at this meeting.

We welcome everyone to our meetings and activities, members and non-members, whether licensed or not!

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

It’s Back! October 28th

Posted on By Michael M
Activities, Announcements

The weather is starting to get cooler, and you know what that means!

After a long and hot summer, Saturday in The Park is back!

We’re kicking off this event with our fall picnic. Richard will be manning the grill, doing what he does best while ensuring everyone gets their fill! Are you an amateur radio operator or looking to get your license? Join us! Everyone is welcome for food, drink and camaraderie.

Set-up starts at 10:00 a.m. Some folks like to get there a little earlier, and we run till we’re done, usually around 2:00 or so. 

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!

Jamboree On The Air 2023

Posted on By Marcos Mirabent
Activities, Announcements

The third full weekend in October is Jamboree on The Air. This year, JOTA is October 20-22. Gulfstream Council is looking for volunteers to come to Camp Tanah Keeta to set up radio stations and help get scouts on the air. More information available at https://www.gulfstreamcouncil.org/JOTA2023. If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to complete the Youth Protection Training at scouting.org

If you are not available to go to the park physically, please consider getting on the air and making contact with some scouts. The Leader’s Guide has a list of suggested frequencies for JOTA activity

We Will Be Testing Saturday October 7th

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements, Testing

Now is the opportunity to sit for your technician or upgrade your current license.

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. When you get to the front door let them know you are here for the amateur radio exam and they will get you to our room. Below is an ARRL link on what to bring Saturday.

What to Bring – Click here

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

Monthly Meeting – September 27

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements, Meetings
Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Our monthly meeting, held on the fourth Wednesday of the month, is Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

We will be getting a first look at our spark gap transmitter project that Dave and Jim have been working diligently on. Dave’s talent and passion is far reaching. Combine that with Jim’s experience serving with the elite Seabees, and these two guys can build anything!

The spark gap transmitter will be available for the Science Center’s Titanic display and other projects we have in the hopper, including with Palm Beach County schools. 

Last Friday, at our Youth Outreach meeting, we got a look at a PowerPoint presentation of the curriculum created by Cindy and Randy that we will be using in Palm Beach County schools, and it is fantastic! We will be talking more about that. 

As the Jamboree On The Air Camporee 2023 approaches, we will be providing a quick review of those dates and activities for next month. 

We have been so busy with these upcoming projects that we didn’t have time for presentations at our meetings. We are getting back to our presentations, which this month will be hosted by Marcos. Marcos has put together a presentation on Winlink Global Radio Email, and, personally, I’m really looking forward to that!

We welcome everyone to our meetings and activities, members and non-members, whether licensed or not!

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

Bob Hagans Service & Military Honors 09/28/22

Posted on By Michael M
Announcements

Robert Lee Hagans
November 16, 1927 — August 20, 2023
Lake Worth, Florida

Robert Lee (Bob) Hagans was born November 16, 1927, in Bonifay, Florida. Both of Bob’s parents died when Bob was very young. He was raised by his paternal grand parents J.V and Mattie Ross of Bonifay. In December of 1947 Bob enlisted in the US Air Force and achieved the rank of S/Sgt. before being honorably discharged in May 1956. After the AirForce, Bob served for 37 years with Defense Logistics Agency, a Federal Defense Contracting agency. Bob was a true patriot and was honored to be invited on the Honor Flight in 2022. He was also a member of the local amateur radio club.

Bob is survived by his daughter Linda of Jacksonville, FL and cousins Donald Ross, Ross McSwain and Sarah McSwain of Tallahassee, Florida, Victor Stokes of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and Ray Stokes of Girley, Alabama.

Bob was fortunate to have an adopted family in the Lake Worth area including the love of his life and companion, Marilyn I. Fuschetti; daughters, Marilyn A. (Bud) Evans and Carolyn Stevens; granddaughters, Marilyn D. (Jeff) Cousins and Robertta L. (DJ) Manger; great grandchildren, Alexander A. Pimentel, Cadden J. Cousins, Cambelle M. Cousins, Blake Manger and Kendall Manger. His adopted family loved and cared for him for many years and especially during his final days. From the surviving blood relatives, we extend our eternal gratitude to them.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory, West Palm Beach. The US Air Force will render Military Honors at 11:00 AM at the funeral home on Thursday.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Lee Hagans, please visit our flower store.

https://www.tillmanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/robert-hagans

https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=297

Swains Island W8S DXpedition

Posted on By Michael M
Events, News

It takes several years to plan an expedition like this, and this one was originally scheduled in 2020, but postponed because of COVID.

The site states operations will be from October 4, 2023 until October 17, 2023, with 10 operators. The island is privately owned by the Jennings family who is assisting with the logistics. 

Of the 340 DXCC locations, Swains Island ranks 27 as the most wanted. The last time this island was activated was in 2002, 21 years ago. 

If you’re looking for this DXCC, start getting ready!

For more information – https://swains2020.lldxt.eu/

Additional discussion may be found here – https://wpbarg.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=323