Thursday, December 31, 2020

Finding RFI in Your Home - Chris VA3ECO

This was a Panama City ARC Beginner's Academy Talk on Zoom recorded on 12/30/20. Chris VA3ECO joins us from his island home in Ontario.

73 and Happy New Year!


Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Seasons Greetings from Panama City ARC

PCARC,

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your families.


Have a safe and joyous holiday season.

Bob
WB8PAF
President PCARC

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Panama City Amateur Radio Club!





Friday, December 4, 2020

Phil Radford, N4STC, is a Silent Key

Phillip Paul Radford, 61, of Panama City, FL, passed away Sunday, November 29, 2020.
Phil was born April 28, 1959, in Andalusia, Alabama. Phil was a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend. Phil's hobby was amateur radio. He was a longtime member of the Panama City Amateur Radio Club. Phil had many skills, both mechanical and electronic. He enjoyed fixing older equipment. He always encouraged newcomers and was ready to help hams with their station.  Phil was an outstanding club member and volunteered for many club projects.  The club will greatly miss Phil. Rest in peace. See his obituary here.







Thursday, December 3, 2020

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Please renew your PCARC Dues and use Amazon Smile

It is time to renew club memberships or join for 2021   Dues may be sent to the Treasurer, Jack Crusan N1HQ, via mail. His address is

JACK K CRUSAN
907 BRANDEIS AVENUE
PANAMA CITY, FL 32405
USA  

See this page for membership info: https://www.w4ryz.org/p/officers-and-membership.html

Also, please donate to the Club via Amazon Smile

smile.amazon.com works just like amazon.com but allows you to select a charity to get a .5% donation from amazon for eligible purchases. Select Panama City Amateur Radio Club Inc as your charity and the club will get the donation based on your purchases. The club does not know the purchases you make. A quarterly deposit is made to the club account. The Amazon Shopping App can also do AmazonSmile. Just open settings from the menu and tap AmazonSmile.   




Thursday, October 15, 2020

JOTA 2020 Talk by KD4IMA

Mark KD4IMA talks about Jamboree On The Air and his plans for the 10/17/20 Scout Jamboree at Defuniak Springs, FL. This was a PCARC Beginner's Academy Talk on Zoom.


 

Thursday, October 1, 2020

21 Things To Do After Passing Your Amateur Radio License Test

Here is a presentation for our Panama City Amateur Radio Club Beginner's Academy. This talk is based on the book of a similar title by Dan Romanchik KB6NU. Dan graciously gave us permission. We pass on a copy of the 21 Things book to new hams when they pass their test.

 

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Updated License Testing Announcement

The Panama City Amateur Radio Club conducts license testing on the third Wednesday of each month. Due to the COVID situation, testing will be by appointment only using a COVID-aware (masks, social distancing) protocol. If you would like to test, please email Gary at aj4ky@arrl.net a minimum of two days prior to testing to reserve a spot. Reservations will be first come, first served. 


Those taking an exam should be present by 6:00 PM CT to complete the necessary paperwork. Bring a photo ID and a $14 exam fee. Other days and times can be arranged if you cannot take an exam on the third Wednesday. For more information about testing, contact Gary at aj4ky@arrl.net




Thursday, September 17, 2020

Introduction to Panama City Amateur Radio Club

This was a talk for our Beginner's Academy. Note, our club activities are having to be adjusted for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Amateur Radio License Testing at Panama City ARC

The Panama City Amateur Radio Club is re-starting license testing in September. Due to the COVID situation, testing will be by appointment only and we will be following a COVID-aware protocol. If you would like to test, please email Gary at aj4ky@arrl.net for the testing schedule.  Reservations will be first come, first served. 




Monday, August 24, 2020

Echolink is live on the W4RYZ Repeater

Echolink is now available on the 145.210 W4RYZ Repeater. This will allow stations out of the repeater coverage area to talk on the repeater via the internet. The node number is 529622 and the node name is N4STC-R. 

An amateur radio license is required to use Echolink. Please download, install, and run the EchoLink software first. This registers your call with the system. Then, return to the Validation page to proceed with your callsign validation.

To use your smartphone, download the Echolink App from the App Store on your phone. 

To use a computer download the Echolink software from echolink.org.

Select Node # 529622 N4STC-R

The node-link is located at my QTH.

Thanks,

Phil N4STC


Saturday, August 15, 2020

Recent Silent Keys

It is with great sorrow to inform you of the passing of these hams  Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers. Click on their name for their obituary.

Chuck Shanholtzer, W4CWS 

Barry Thompson, KD4ZYR

Bill Watson, NV4T



Monday, June 29, 2020

PCARC Clubhouse Closed for July

PCARC,

I hope everyone is healthy and staying safe.  The club officers are still Not comfortable with opening the clubhouse.  We want to keep it closed for the month of July.  We believe this is the right thing to do for the membership at this time.     

73,
Bob, WB8PAF
President PCARC


July Two Meter Spelling Bee with ZIP Codes Event



Objective: The objective of the spelling bee event is to increase two-meter FM activity and to have fun.

Goal: The goal is two-fold;  First, it is to spell as many words in the list of rotators manufacturers below using letters from the call sign of contacts you make on two-meter FM. The letters from callsigns can be reused on multiple words. The second goal is to work as many hams in as many ZIP Codes as possible. The ZIP code will be their residence ZIP code.


Emotator
Cornell Dubilier
Blonder Tongue
HyGain Telex
Alliance
Wilson
Archerotor
Yaesu
Lance Colormaster
Winegard
RCA
Zenith
Lava
Channel Master
Tailtwister
Gemini
Emerson
Sears

AlphaSpid

Eligibility: Eligible participants include PCARC club members where ever they live or any Bay County ham. N4KGL will not participate as he is the administrator of the event. However, if you work N4KGL you can use his callsign and ZIP code.


Scoring:  The score will be the number of words spelled multiplied by the number of unique ZIP codes worked.

Winners: The top five hams with the highest score are winners. 


Exchange: The QSO exchange must include callsign and the residence ZIP Code of  each operator

Valid Contacts: Contacts must be on two meters FM on a repeater or simplex. Scheduled net or roundtable contacts do not count. However, contacts that are made after the close of a scheduled net or round table do count. Club calls do not count.

Entry Submission: Please email the list of stations with their ZIP codes you worked to lanekg@gmail before 23:00 UTC August 5th, 2020. Your score will be calculated from your entry.


Prizes: The winners will get their choice from a limited pool of inexpensive prizes posted on www.w4ryz.org. The five winners get select a prize in the order their scores starting with the highest.  The prizes for the July Spelling Bee will be delivered in August. 


Spelling Bee Prize List (Additional prizes may be added any time through the end of July)

Code Practice Oscillator 1 Each 4 Available Greg N4KGL
12 Watt Dummy Load Prize 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Barrel Connector Adapter 2 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Anderson Power Poles 30 amp 5 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Egg Insulators 5 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Ham Radio Bumper Sticker 2 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
QRP Sticker 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Power Pole Polarity Indicator/Corrector 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
SMA Female to UHF Male 1 each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
SMA Male SO239 Female 1 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Hints & Kinks Book New 1 Each 1 Available Jack Crusan N1HQ
Custom-cut vinyl call sign stickers 1 each 2 Available Austin Williams KN4WVR
Homemade Bell Rope 1 each 1 available Jim KW4UT
HP Pavilion Desktop Computer with Linux Mint and ham software installed. John Sanderson
Electronics Demystified book by Stan Gibilisco Greg N4KGL 1 each 1 available
IC-28H 2 Meter radio working condition and easy to program Phil N4STC 1 each 1 available
Alinco DJ-MD5TGP. VHF/UHF dual-band, DMR, and Analog with GPS. KK4DIV 1 each 1 available


Photos of Prizes:



Hints & Kinks Book New

two custom-cut vinyl call sign stickers (winner choice of color)
  for windows or anything else, you want to stick them on.
Homemade Bell Rope
HP Pavilion Computer with Linux and ham software installed

Model Number of the above computer.


Electronics Demystified book by Stan Gibilisco
IC-28H 2 Meter radio working condition and easy to program

Slightly used Alinco DJ-MD5TGP. VHF/UHF dual-band, DMR, and Analog with GPS.


Good luck,

Greg N4KGL

lanekg@gmail.com

Monday, April 27, 2020

Announcement: Two-Meter FM Spelling Bee for May 2020



Objective: The objective of the spelling bee event is to increase two-meter FM activity and to have fun.

Goal: The goal is to spell all the words in the list below using letters from the call sign of contacts you make on two-meter FM. The letters from callsigns can be reused on multiple words.

Icom
Kenwood
Yaesu
Elecraft
Flex
Alinco

QRP Labs
Xiegu
Hallicrafters
Motorola
Baofeng

Eligibility: Eligible participants include PCARC club members where ever they live or any Bay County ham. N4KGL will not participate as he is the administrator of the event. However, if you work N4KGL you can use his callsign.

Winners: The first five hams to spell all the words are winners. If less than five hams spell all the words by the last day in May, entries with the most words spelled will be winners to complete the five winners. The letters of a callsign worked can be re-used on multiple words. 


Winner #1 Rick NZ2I

Exchange: The QSO exchange must include callsign and birth month.

Valid Contacts: Contacts must be on two meters FM on a repeater or simplex. Scheduled net or roundtable contacts do not count. However, contacts that are made after the close of a scheduled net or round table do count. Club calls do not count.

Entry Submission: Please email the 1.) list of stations with their birth month you worked to spell the words, 2.) The words spelled to lanekg@gmail.com. If all words are spelled submit the list ASAP. A partial list of words spelled will be accepted between June 1st and June 5th at midnight The earliest email date will be given priority over later entries for a tie.

Prizes: The winners will get their choice from a limited pool of inexpensive prizes. The winners get their choice in the order they submit a winning entry to lanekg@gmail.com. The prize list will be announced on April 30th. The prizes for the May Spelling Bee will be delivered in June. If there are hams that would like to donate a prize, identify the prize to me via email before the first winner is confirmed.



May Spelling Bee Prize List

Code Practice Oscillator 1 Each 5 Available Greg N4KGL
12 Watt Dummy Load Prize 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Barrel Connector Adapter 2 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Anderson Power Poles 30 amp 5 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Egg Insulators 5 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Ham Radio Bumper Sticker 2 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
QRP Sticker 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
Power Pole Polarity Indicator/Corrector 1 Each 1 Available Greg N4KGL
SMA Female to UHF Male 1 each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
SMA Male SO239 Female 1 Each 2 Available Greg N4KGL
Hints & Kinks Book New 1 Each 1 Available Jack Crusan N1HQ
Custom-cut vinyl call sign stickers 1 each 2 Available Austin Williams KN4WVR
Homemade Bell Rope 1 each 1 available Jim KW4UT
HP Pavilion Desktop Computer with Linux Mint and ham software installed. John Sanderson
Electronics Demystified book by Stan Gibilisco Greg N4KGL 1 each 1 available
Beaglebone Black Single Board Computer 1 Each 1 Available  John Sanderson

Photos of Prizes:



Hints & Kinks Book New

two custom-cut vinyl call sign stickers (winner choice of color)
  for windows or anything else, you want to stick them on.
Homemade Bell Rope
HP Pavilion Computer with Linux and ham software installed

Model Number of the above computer.


Electronics Demystified book by Stan Gibilisco
Beaglebone Black Single Board Computer


Good luck,

Greg N4KGL
Lanekg@gmail.com

Monday, March 23, 2020

Wednesday Night Panama City ARC Roundtable

To fill the gap of not having the weekly meetings at the clubhouse, join me Wednesday night at 1900 CDT on the 145.210 repeater for an informal roundtable net.

73,

Bob Leasko, WB8PAF
Panama City ARC President


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

PCARC In-Person Club Meetings/Activities Canceled

PCARC,

With the recent chain of events concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am canceling all in-person club meetings/activities until further notice.  Be safe and take care of yourself and your family.  

73,
Bob, WB8PAF
President PCARC

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Club Tailgate This Saturday 3/14

PCARC,

We are having a Tailgate on Saturday, 14 March 2020.  Come on down to the clubhouse and join the fun.  You can bring your gently used gear to sell, trade, barter, swap, give away, get advice on, or whatever else. It should be a good time for all. Come see the improvements to the clubhouse.

Starts at 9:00 AM
Doughnuts will be available.
License Testing in the PM

130 N. Church Ave
Panama City, FL
www.w4ryz.org
Club repeater 145.210 100Hz tone

Bob Leasko
WB8PAF
President PCARC









Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Beginner's Academy Talk March 11, 2020

Mark Cantrell KD4IMA will give a talk entitled: "Getting the Most From Your Handheld Transceiver"  on March 11, 6 PM at the PCARC Clubhouse. See you there!

photo from k4tlh.net



Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Beginners Academy: Satellite Station Presentation by Chris VA3ECO

For those that may have missed it, here is a recording of Chris, VA3ECO giving his informative presentation on the club's new satellite station.


-Bob KK4DIV

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Panama City ARC is on Amateur Satellites: Demo on Feb 26 at 6 PM

The club satellite base station has recently been completed and tested on the air. Chris Bigelow VA3ECO will demonstrate its capability for a 6:20 PM satellite pass and a 7:40 PM satellite pass on Wednesday, February 26th at the clubhouse. Please be seated at 6 PM while Chris explains how the station works.

VHF and UHF Yagis pointed by azimuth and elevation rotators on our tower.

The amateur radio satellites have low earth orbits that bring them over for short periods once or twice a day. Our station uses the SatPC32 software to point our antennas in the correct direction as the satellite moves across the sky. The program interfaces with the control boxes for both azimuth and elevation rotators. The antennas are on a short tower outside the clubhouse. There are two antennas since the satellites use one band for the uplink and another band for the downlink. Our antenna has a crossed yagi for 2-meters and a 70-centimeter band. The crossed elements are phased to provide right-hand circular polarization.


A screen shot for the pcsat32 satellite software


The uplink and downlink operate at the same time or full-duplex. Our transceiver is the Icom 910h, which supports full-duplex on VHF and UHF. Since the satellites are traveling very fast to maintain their orbits, this causes a doppler shift of the signals. The Sat PC 32 software automatically adjusts the frequency on both the uplink and downlink for the doppler shift by sending commands to the radio.

The Icom 910h full-duplex VHF/UHF transceiver

This station can access the linear satellites as well as FM satellites. The linear satellites translate a band of frequencies on the uplink to the downlink. Both CW and SSB modes are used and multiple conversations can occur while the satellite passes over. The footprint of the satellites can support conversations across the US as well as into Canada and Central America depending on the pass. Contacts with Europe are possible.

Our members contributed various skills and donated equipment to complete the station. In particular, Chis VA3ECO on vacation from the Canadian Winter this year has been our mentor and leader for the assembly and testing. Chris calls this a "Cadilac" satellite station. It is much easier to use than a portable satellite station.


Sunday, February 16, 2020

DSTAR Repeater On The Air

To all:

The DStar repeater is up and running on the IHeart radio tower thanks to Charlie NF4A for the use of this location.

The KK4TAD Repeater is operational for local use but is not hooked to the internet at this time

146.8800  KK4TAD C node

DSTAR Users use your call in "mycall" and "KK4TAD C" in rpt1/rpt2 for 146.880.

73
Steve N4VSP


PCARC Tailgate Saturday, March 14th

PCARC,

We are having a Tailgate on Saturday, 14 March 2020.  Come on down to the clubhouse and join the fun.  You can bring your gently used gear to sell, trade, barter, swap, give away, get advice on, or whatever else. It should be a good time for all. Come see the improvements to the clubhouse.

Starts at 9:00 AM

Doughnuts will be available.

License Testing in the PM

130 N. Church Ave
Panama City, FL
www.w4ryz.org
Club repeater 145.210 100Hz tone

Bob Leasko
WB8PAF
President PCARC









Monday, February 10, 2020

Beginners Academy Antenna Talk/Demo Feb 12

Our next talk/demo will be Wednesday February 12th, 6 PM, at the Panama City ARC Clubhouse. The topic will be Dipole Antenna Basics and HOA Installations. The presenter is Frank Roman, KC8VKA.

Panama City ARC has launched Beginners Academy. Our goal is to help new hams get started in the hobby. Our club members have volunteered to give short talks and demos on amateur radio topics for beginners. These talks will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 6 PM. However, for January, they will be on the 4th and the 5th Wednesdays. You do not have to be a member of our club or licensed to attend. Also, experienced hams wishing to mentor new and returning  hams are encouraged to attend.

We will tailor our talks to your interest. You don't have to RSVP to attend, but a reply email would be helpful if you are interested in the idea of a Beginners Academy.

Ham Radio has come to the forefront since Hurricane Michael.  Bay County Amateurs formed an Amateur Radio Emergency Organization, see baycountyares.org. Also, visit www.w4ryz.org for club announcements.

73,

Greg Lane N4KGL

Graphic from https://hamradioschool.com/your-first-dipole-antenna/

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Beginner Academy Antenna Analyzer Talk Jan 29th 2020

Our next talk/demo is on January 29th, 6 PM, at the Panama City ARC Clubhouse. The topic will be using the inexpensive NanoVNA analyzer with some practical antenna guidance. The presenter is Chris Bigelow VA3ECO.  Chris will be available to discuss some of the more advanced applications of the NanoVNA afterward around 7 PM.

Panama City ARC has launched Beginners Academy. Our goal is to help new hams get started in the hobby. Our club members have volunteered to give short talks and demos on amateur radio topics for beginners. These talks will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 6 PM. However, for January, they will be on the 4th and the 5th Wednesdays. You do not have to be a member of our club or licensed to attend. 

Ham Radio has come to the forefront since Hurricane Michael.  Bay County Amateurs formed an Amateur Radio Emergency Organization, see baycountyares.org.

NanoVNA see https://hackaday.com/2019/08/11/nanovna-is-a-50-vector-network-analyzer/



Sunday, January 19, 2020

Beginner Academy Talk: 21 Things to Do with Amateur Radio, January 22nd 6 PM

Panama City ARC is launching Beginners Academy. Our goal is to help new hams get started in the hobby. Our club members have volunteered to give short talks and demos on amateur radio topics for beginners. These talks will be on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 6 PM. However, for January, they will be on the 4th and the 5th Wednesdays. You do not have to be a member of our club or licensed to attend. 

Our first talk is on January 22nd, 6 PM, at the Panama City ARC Clubhouse. The talk will be 21 Things to Do After You Get Your Amateur Radio License, adapted with permission from the book of the same name authored by Dan Romanchik, KB6NU. 

Ham Radio has come to the forefront since Hurricane Michael.  Bay County Amateurs formed an Amateur Radio Emergency Organization, see baycountyares.org. Also, visit www.w4ryz.org for club announcements.