NOTE DATE CHANGE! CFL QRP Outing Sat 29 Jun 2019

Due to annual ARRL Field Day falling on our normal meeting day, we will meet on Saturday 29 June 2019!

Please take note of this change and support your local club in its Field Day efforts!

If you are an OT Op like many of us, you have fond memories of your first Field Day portable operation. If my memory is correct, mine was as a new novice in 1963 or 64 in Windfall, IN. I had a great time with the big guys learning to speed log and copy code at faster speeds than I was used to hearing. Once home, I kept hearing CW in my head for the next few days. What a blast! That brought together my love of the outdoors and ham radio in a way that I still enjoy.

If you enjoy being in the outdoors and playing radio, we welcome you to join the fun! We normally meet on the 4th Saturday of the month with the exception of June. Here is our routine…

• 0730 ET we meet at the Cracker Barrel in Sanford, FL for show n tell and breakfast.
• 0900 ET we should be setting up our rigs at Sylvan Lake Park and Picnic Area A which is lakeside, tall trees, deer, birds of all kinds, pavilions and rest room facilities.
• 1200 ET depending on band conditions and weather we’re headed home for lunch, naps and honey-do projects

We have a great mix of regular attendees:

• EE’s EET’s and tech wanna-be’s that know how to build from scratch or fix your ailing gear – they’ll be sure to tell ya what you need to know
• Antenna experimenters who are trying to find the best way to make QRP contacts despite propagation challenges
• Hang ’em high or NVIS setups
• Quick up or takes 5 of us to get things to work

You just never know who or what is going to happen, but it is always fun and we learn something each time we gather. Time’s awastin’

72,

Kelly K4UPG for the Central FL QRP Group

No dues, officers, membership or rules – just fun!

 

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OUTING – Saturday 25 May 2019

NOT for portable ops OM!

Time to get out in the park and play radio again! But don’t bring your boat anchor rigs… no power out there! If you don’t have a rig, or a portable antenna, we’re happy to share with licensed ops! Come out and see the latest techniques and homebrew stuff!

We start with breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Sanford, FL at 0730 EDT on Sat. 25 May 2019. We meet on the 4th Saturday and 99% of the time are at Sylvan Lake Park and Picnic Area A. The park is about 5 miles west of I-4 and is well marked by road signs. If that area is reserved, we’ll be in areas B or C.

Antennas and setup starts about 0900 EDT if you are not going to make the early breakfast time.

Watch out for the lovebugs on the way… see you in the park!

72,

Kelly K4UPG for the Central Florida QRP Group

CFL QRP OUTING – Saturday 27 April 2019

It’s FL QSO PARTY TIME!

We will be going out for our regular monthly meeting but wanted you to have a head’s up about the Florida QSO Party that will be starting a noon EDT. Might be a few stations checking setup and propagation before start time. If you plan to stay over to make a few QSO’s as things get started at noon, be sure to plan to bring water, a snack or lunch, and perhaps an extra battery or solar charger!

Breakfast and brag time at Cracker Barrel in Sanford, FL will start at 0730. Got a new toy you want to show off? This is the time to do that!

About 0900 we should be setting up in Sylvan Lake Park. Look for us in Picnic Area A past the soccer fields on the left and follow the road signs. If many operators show up, we may have to spread out a bit to avoid interference with one another. If that area has been reserved try areas B and C. Sometimes youth soccer can bring a crowd so watch out of little ones and look for our cars and antennas.

Should be a good time for both SSB and CW modes during the QSO contest and Sunday when the time’s running out, it is amazing how well QRP stations can be heard giving away points to the big guns.

Contests are for fun, so come out and play radio with us. Have some fun!

72, Kelly K4UPG for the CFL QRP Group