Outing 24 June 2017 – Summertime QRP

Summer QRP Contest Time

Summer marks the start of QRP Contest time for many portable ops. I am not heavy into contesting, but I do enjoy being able to make contacts with some of the ops that I’ve met on the air, through their blogs or some of the many QRP email lists and groups that I enjoy. Our June outing is a great time to test your new antenna or rig, see how others get wire into the trees at 40 or more feet up and have some fun.

As is our custom, we start with breakfast at 0730 EDT meeting at the Sanford, FL Cracker Barrel just off I-4 at State Road 46. This is where the problems of the world (everyone else, not ours) gets discussed and solved over a meal and coffee to get us fueled and ready to go. We also have some show n tell and often pass around some tiny rigs or accessories that someone has homebrewed.

If you cannot make it to breakfast, you can join us around 0900 EDT at Sylvan Lake Park which is about 5 miles west of I-4 on SR 46 and 3/4 mile south on Lake Markham Road. We typically take over picnic area A unless it has been reserved. Watch for our license tags and antennas in Picnic Area B or C if you don’t catch us in our normal hangout. The trees and tall and the facilities make for a quiet and shady operating area.

Here’s a list of the main summer events for QRP portable fun: Flight of the Bumblebees is normally announced about the 1st week of July and is one of our favorite times out. I operated from Honeymoon Island State Park on the Gulf Coast in 2010 and had a great time. Watch  Adventure Radio Society and the QRP-L  yahoo group for announcement details. My friend Rem kicks off mid-summer with the SYBO QRP contest each year in mid-July and you get extra multipliers based on the heat index so it is great for Florida hams as long as the LIGHTNING doesn’t chase us to shelter. Wednesday, June 21st is the first day to get your number of the Skeeter Hunt outing run by our QRP friend Larry W2LJ. It is the bookmark for the end of Summertime QRP in late August. Get out in the parks and make some QSO’s.

You are always welcome to join us for our monthly outings, the 4th Saturday unless it conflicts with local hamfests. Watch our blog for updates!

72,

Kelly K4UPG

for the Central Florida QRP Group

Outing Saturday May 27, 2017

Here we go again! Time to head out and play radio in the park!

As usual, we will gather for breakfast at 0730 at the Cracker Barrel in Sanford, FL. This is also a time to show off new rigs, brag about DX, solve world problems and eat some biscuits and gravy. Did you make it to Hamvention or any other recent hamfests? Come join the chatter with us.

K4AHO in the shade

KA4KXX

About 0900 we should be setting up in Sylvan Lake Park and picnic area A unless it has been reserved. If you don’t see us there check the other 2 picnic areas and watch for our license plates and antennas in the parking areas.

Yes, conditions on the bands have been slow going, it might even rain. But we always have a good time. If you want to practice for Field Day conditions or just ragchew on the side this event will fill the bill.

Hope to see you there…

72, Kelly K4UPG

for the Central Florida QRP Group

Outing Sat Apr 22, 2017 SOMETHING DIFFERENT

We’ll meet as usual at the Cracker Barrel in Sanford, FL at 0730 EDT on Saturday April 22, 2017.  Come join the chatter and brag about your new rig or DX exploits.

BUT we’ll be operating later from a slightly different location because our outing takes place during the annual QRP To The Field event:

This is a national QRP event and attracts a good crowd of operators each year. Every year has a theme and this time it involves operating near a river to qualify for extra multiplier points.

So we’ll move west on highway 46 about 3/4 mile from our normal spot at Sylvan Lake Park to operate from WILSON’S LANDING PARK along the Wekiva River! If you cross over the bridge when heading west, you missed the turn!

We’ve been to this location once or twice before. There is a small pavilion, rest rooms, water and a lot of wide open space with trees to use for hanging wire! If you operate from the first pavilion, you will need to bring along a mast or pole and mount as there are no trees nearby. Most of the time the large 2nd pavilion by the river boat landing is occupied with the picnic and kayak/canoe crowd so plan accordingly and bring antenna supports as needed. Verticals might be a good way to go here too!

This is a relaxed speed contest and a good opportunity to get your feet wet with using CW as most ops will gladly QRS to adjust to your speed. So come join the fun, or if you stay home, jump on the air and see if you can catch us while we’re out playing radio!

CUL es 72,

K4UPG for the group