araswf

arrl

Welcome!

Special Service Club


     

Welcome to the web site of the Amateur Radio Association of Southwest Florida (ARASWF).  Our club calls are WB2QLP and K4YHB. We are an affiliate Special Service Club with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and we serve the local community of Naples and Collier County, Florida. We're in grid EL96.

The club mailing address for payment of dues and other correspondence is:

ARASWF
P.O. Box 111604
Naples, FL 34108

 

     

baloons

ARASWF 2012 DUES ARE DUE NOW!

Once again, Dues Notices for 2012 have been sent to all members via email. (Same as last year).

It is requested that you support YOUR CLUB by downloading the Dues Notice, and complete it with your name, address, telephone and (most importantly) your email address. Then return it, together with the $25. annual dues, as soon as possible, and preferably before the January membership meeting to be held on January 24th.

Please make out checks payable to "ARASWF" and send them to the following address:  

ARASWF
P.O. Box 111604
Naples, FL 34108

Here is a sample check, correctly filled out for 2012 Dues:

check

 

 


calendar Welcome back!

We'd like to say "Hello, and Welcome Back" to our seasonal members who are returning to Naples from their homes up North. Please remember that our monthly membership meetings are held on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the American Red Cross building in North Naples, starting at 7:00pm. We hope to see you there, and on the air.

Upcoming Events

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This Upcoming Events section is revised as needed to inform you of events of interest. Dates and times of future events are accurate as of the most recent information available, and are always subject to change due to re-scheduling, conflicts, etc. Please be sure to verify dates and times before committing yourself - this usually can be done on the Wednesday night net. Please inform the of any other event that should be listed here.

 

February, 2012, Membership Meeting - Tuesday, February 28th
The regular membership meeting for February, 2012, will be held on Tuesday, February 28th, at 7:00 PM, at the American Red Cross building at 2610 Northbrooke Plaza Drive, Naples.  Everyone is welcome!  You do not have to be an ARASWF member to attend this meeting. All interested persons (and interesting persons) are invited! Scheduled speaker is Pete Jordan, K1PJ, who will be discussing "cw/morse code".

Let's have a good turnout for this meeting, and demonstrate support for Pete and interest in his topic.

Here is a map of the meeting location:

 

 

OIL WELL PARK SPECIAL EVENT

DATE: Saturday, February 25, 2012
TIME: 9 am to 2 pm
FOOD & DRINKS will be on hand until gone
BRING your own chair and table if needed
BRING your radio & antenna if you want, also a generator if you have one

Come on out and work the Bands and have some FUN!

This is a small public park in Sunniland, which has Florida's first commercial oil derrick. Oil was discovered in 1943, and although oil did not pump from this exact location, the equipment was moved here as a public display.

If you have any questions, please contact A.D., K4ADR at k4adr@comcast.net

Here is a map to the site, showing it to be off Route 29, just south of Oil Well Road.

 



UPCOMING FLORIDA HAMFESTS

January 28, 2012 - DeSoto Amateur Radio Club Hamfest (Arcadia)
                                  Info:  www.desotoarc.org

February 10-12, 2012 - Northern Florida Section Convention - Orlando HamCation (Orlando)
                                  Info:  www.hamcation.com

February 18, 2012 - Brooksville Hamfest (Brooksville)
                                  Info:  www.hcara.org

March 10, 2012 - Palm Beach County Ham Radio Festival (West Palm Beach)
                                  Info:  www.palmswestarc.org

March 10, 2012 - East Pasco Tailgater (Zephyrhills)
                                  Info:  www.eparsonline.org

March 17, 2012 - Southern Florida Section Convention (Stuart)
                                  Info:  www.stuarthamfest.com

April 21, 2012 - Flamingo Net / UMARC Free Flea (Coral Gables)
                                  Info:  www.flamingonet.8m.net

May 26, 2012 - Wormfest (Pinellas Park)
                                  Info:  www.thewormholesociety.org/

October 13, 2012 - Florida State Convention - Melbourne Hamfest (Melbourne)
                                  Info:  www.pcars.org

November 17, 2012 - Flamingo Net / UMARC Free Flea (Coral Gables)
                                  Info:  www.flamingonet.8m.net

 

 



 

What's New...

 

PHOTOS OF 2011 CHRISTMAS PARTY ARE

HERE

Click above to view the photos taken at the Christmas Party / Annual Meeting.

   

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ELECTED FOR 2012
At the November membership meeting the following officers and directors were elected for 2012:
     President:                Bill Krauss, N1MMQ
     Vice-President:        Bob Ostrin, WB2TGY
     Sec'y/Treasurer:      Ken Bills, W9KB
     Director:                   Frank Halas, W4RBW
     Director:                   Uli Altvater, AGØX
     Director:                   Harry Sevush, KD4JMV
     Director:                   Henrietta Horvay, KA1JVN
     Immed. Past Pres.   George Tomlinson, AA4GT

 

HEATHKIT IS BACK In The Kit Business!
Heathkit, well-known to all amateur Radio operators of a certain age, is re-entering the kit business. They will soon debut their new line of Do-it-Yourself kits for common around-the-house items. The first kit will be a Garage Parking Assistant (GPA). The Garage Parking assistant kit lets you build your own system that uses ultrasonic sound waves to locate your car as it enters the garage. The system signals to the driver using LED lights mounted on the wall when the car is detected and in the perfect spot for parking. The GPA-100 kit consists of two primary assemblies - The LED Display in kit form and the pre-assembled ultrasonic range module. The kit will include everything you need to complete the project except a soldering iron and hand tools.

Next on the market will be a Wireless Swimming Pool Monitor kit followed by many more. Heathkit wants to continue to bring to its customers interesting, unique Heathkit products. Heathkit is interested in learning what types of products kit builders would like to build. Kit builders can submit their suggestions through their website wwww.heathkit.com/ using the Contact Us email.

Although it was not their intention to re-enter the amateur radio kit business, they have had an overwhelming response from hams with requests that they do so, and are actually planning a couple of entry items to capitalize on their brand name recognition and loyalty, including a Dual Wattmeter, Antenna Tuners and the Cantenna. Amateur Radio kits are simple to complex to maximize skill levels and operational levels. They will be developing new kits based on input and recommendations, so, again, hams can submit their suggestions through their website using the Contact Us email. Please keep checking their website for updates and product launches.  

 

MONDAY 6-METER NET - NEW MODE (SSB) AND FREQUENCY (50.200)
Effective Monday, November 23rd, our 6 meter Net is changing both mode and operating frequency.  The net will be using SSB (upper sideband) and the new frequency will be 50.200 MHz.  It will continue to be active every Monday night at 7:30 PM, and everyone is welcome to check into this very informal net.  

 

MEMBERS GALLERY
Check out the new Members Gallery by selecting the Photos link at the left, then selecting Members Gallery.  Here will be posted photos of members and their stations, together with whatever details the member submits. 

Be among the first on your block to have your photo and station details (or mobile station details) listed here.  Simply send photo and station information via email to the webmaster - click on the Webmaster link at the left.  Photos are best sent in .jpg format, but almost any format can be converted if necessary.

 

PHOTOS FROM PAST EVENTS
calendar Also, visit the Photos page and click on any of the links there to view photos from past events, including Field Days, Keewaydin Dxpeditions, Oil Well Park Special Event, and other notable events that are worthy of archiving. (Incidentally, if you have any old photos, please email them to the Webmaster so they can be posted here.)

 

 


Net and Repeater Notes

antenna

The primary 146.670(-) club repeater WB2QLP is on the air! PL is 136.5

A second repeater on 145.27(-), also 136.5PL, is now temporarily inactive in east Naples.  This repeater is linked to the 146.67 repeater so that handi-talkies operating in the eastern part of the local area have access to everyone using the 146.67 machine.  Please note that echolink access is only available through 146.67.  

(Backup 2 meter repeaters are on 146.64(-600/136.5PL), and the EOC repeater on 147.03(+600/136.5PL )

Please join us every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm on the ARASWF Information Net on WB2QLP, 146.670(-600/136.5PL). Members and non-members with or without traffic are welcome.

Echolink is active on 146.67 MHz. Identify with your callsign, then enter " * " before the node number to connect. Enter " # " to disconnect when your QSO is complete.  Our new node number is 389568.

Join us every Monday night at 7:30 pm on the ARASWF 6-meter net on 50.200, SSB-upper sideband.  Everyone is invited to join this very informal net.

 

AMATEUR RADIO NETS IN COLLIER COUNTY

1. The 6 METER net on:

Mondays, 7:30 pm - 50.200 (USB)

2. SFL 10 METER NET

Tuesdays, 5:00 pm - 28.430 MHz. USB [+/- 2 KHz.]

3. THE SOUTH FLORIDA VOIP & TECH NET

Tuesdays, 5:00 pm - 28.430 MHz. USB [+/- 2 KHz.]

YOU CAN CONNECT VIA ECHOLINK - WB2QLP/R, Node #389568

The South Florida VOIP and Tech Net informs you of Amateur Radio events, Amateur Radio Hamfests, Trivia questions, Trade or Sell. Even ask any questions about Ham Radio.

4. ARASWF CLUB NET ON:

Wednesdays, 7:00 pm - 146.670- PL. 136.5 & you can also connect on ECHOLINK......

YOU CAN CONNECT VIA ECHOLINK - WB2QLP/R, Node #389568
A.R. NEWSLINE ON AIR EITHER BEFORE/AFTER NET

5. The ARES/RACES Net on:

Thursdays, 7:00 pm - 147.030+ PL 136.5

 

unclesam                    

PHOTOS WANTED!

Come on members...

It's time to include a photo of your home station, together with a brief description of your station and equipment, in the  "MEMBERS GALLERY" that is the first choice on the "PHOTOS" page of this web site.

So far, we have only 13 members whose stations are shown in the "Members Gallery", and we need all of you to be there.

Just take a photo of your station (hopefully with you included, but not necessary) with your digital camera, then prepare a few words about your station, and send them both to:  webmaster@araswf.org

Or, if you don't have a digital camera, then send a scan or copy of a photo print instead - we'll do the rest.

It's easy and it's fun, so no more excuses - send your photo and station info today.

So do what Uncle Webmaster (pictured above) says - he's looking forward to being able to publish your photo and write-up soon.

 

 

                                                  

Collier County Weather Conditions
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Solar & Geomagnetic Conditions

Solar X-rays:   Status - Opens in new window
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From n3kl.org
 

 

Amateur Licenses in the State of Florida
          
Novice 1130
Technician 15155
Tech Plus 51
General 10247
Advanced 4495
Extra 7199
Total 38277
Clubs 559


Source: http://www.arrl.org/fcc/stats.html - updated July 30, 2009

 

 

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