You read that right! Join us to support a tailgater in Defuniak Springs and then mosey on out to activate a park! See the information below!
Category: Announcement Page 4 of 15
Our members are having a great time working on enhancements to each other’s skill sets! From teaching how to program and operate radios to operating WIRESX, and from preparation for hamfests to building all-star nodes. We even have team members working the club digital station and updating our QRZ page! We even had members making the famed PARC hamfest buttons! More projects that that occur on any given Sunday and if you’re not at the Pile-Up, you’re missing out!
Pota cat (found at potacat.com) is a specialized, 1-click hunting and logging application for Parks On The Air radio operators. It uses CAT control to instantly tune radios, allowing users to quickly find, log, and chase activators. It specifically features watchlist notifications, park filtering, and Hamlib integration for over 200 radios!
Usage Examples & Features:
- 1-Click Hunting: Directly tune your radio to a POTA activator’s frequency by clicking a spot in the app.
- Efficient Logging: Automatically log contacts and manage Park-to-Park (P2P) contacts.
- Filter & Track: Hide previously worked parks and set watchlists for specific activators or rare locations.
- Real-time Data: View live spots and POTA, SOTA, and DX information in a dedicated, often compact, interface.
- Radio Control: Integrates with software like Hamlib, rigctld, flrig, or OmniRig to manage radio settings
How it works:
Launch & configure — A first-run welcome dialog walks you through radio setup: FlexRadio, Hamlib rig, or no radio. Set your Maidenhead grid square for distance calculations.
Browse live spots — Seven sources stream in automatically: POTA, SOTA, DX Cluster, RBN, PSKReporter FreeDV, WSJT-X decodes, and DX Expeditions. Filter by band, mode, source, and spot age.
Pick your target — Sort by distance, use split view or pop-out the map to a second monitor, or set up a watchlist and get desktop notifications when friends come on the air.
Click to tune — One click sends the frequency and mode to your rig. CW XIT offset is applied automatically. You’re on the air and ready to make the contact.
At the Sunday Pile-Up, Tom, N2XU Showed off the Starlink mini! This useful tool comes in handy for reliable internet when conventional methods are down! Here’s how:
The Starlink Mini is the ideal, compact solution for internet access in a pinch, featuring a built-in router, low power consumption, and portability for rapid deployment in emergencies. It offers speeds over 200 Mbps, allowing for essential communication during grid failures. It can be powered by portable power stations or 12V DC, making it highly versatile for remote areas or outages.
Key Aspects of Using Starlink in a Pinch:
- Portability & Setup: The Mini is designed to fit in a backpack and can be set up in minutes.
- Power Options: While it comes with a 120V adapter, it supports 12V DC input, allowing it to run off portable power stations (e.g., Anker Solix) or vehicle power for long-term outages.
- Emergency Reliability: Starlink has proved useful for maintaining internet access during natural disasters (like tornadoes) when cellular towers fail.
- Performance: Capable of high-speed, low-latency internet (200+ Mbps) for browsing, streaming, and Wi-Fi calling.
- Cost-Effective Option: The Mini allows access to cheaper service plans (e.g., $50/month) for sporadic, emergency, or remote use.
Limitations & Considerations:
- Power Consumption: Although lower than standard kits, it still requires a consistent power source.
- Physical Obstructions: Requires a clear view of the sky to function.
- Alternative Devices: For true, remote, or wilderness emergencies (where power isn’t available), satellite messengers or PLBs are more suitable.
For a 3-day outage scenario, a portable power station like the Anker Solix 522 can keep the Mini running for roughly 9-10 hours, according to one user experience.
What the what?! You heard us! Several members of PARC are attending HAMCATION this year in Orlando! Larry, K4LWM is one of them and he is rocking our Club Flag to represent!
Mike, KR4ETE is also down there and its his first trip! We sure hope all have a ton of fun and wish them a safe and enjoyable experience!
What a great gathering today at the Playground Amateur Radio Club! The Pile-Up was wonderful and had many visitors! The Super Bowl and DX Watch Party was great! The Sunday Night Nets were wonderful! In all, we had visitors from multiple areas with Hams and Non-Hams alike joining in and visiting us! Thank you to all who made this another successful event and thank you to the DX contacts all over the globe!
Coming this week the parking lot will finally be getting repaved! This is a wonderful thing that has been in need for a long time! Be sure to catch the ball and make your first down with the Playground Amateur Radio Club by following our Calendar for your next touchdown!
PARC Goes Digital! Great Tech Night at the Playground Amateur Radio Club Technical Night! Mark NC4MR took the reins and taught us a thing or two about digital modes in ham radio. Starting with a great presentation followed up with some time at Station 2 to demonstrate using WSJT-X and GridTracker on FT8.
Thanks, Mark for the great presentation and the work you have put into making PARC a digital powerhouse.
Thanks to everyone who showed up
73, KQ4ATC
Amateur radio isn’t just a hobby—it’s a passport to connecting with fellow enthusiasts from every corner of the planet, all without needing the internet! Whether you’re chatting with someone across town or bouncing signals off the atmosphere to reach another continent, every conversation is an adventure.
What makes ham radio so incredible? You’re part of a community that values skill-building, emergency preparedness, and the pure joy of making contact. From learning Morse code to experimenting with digital modes, there’s always something new to explore. Plus, when disasters strike and modern communication fails, amateur radio operators become lifelines for their communities.
Getting started is easier than you think! Study for your license, grab a starter radio, and suddenly you’re part of a global network of operators who share your passion. The thrill of making your first contact, hearing that voice crackle through the static, and exchanging call signs—it never gets old.
Whether you’re interested in contesting, satellite communication, or just making new friends worldwide, amateur radio offers endless possibilities. It’s technology, community, and adventure all rolled into one. 
Ready to get on the air? The frequencies are waiting!
#AmateurRadio #HamRadio #RadioHobby
Foosball & Ham Radio?!
Absolutely! Look here, the PARC Team is proud to offer yet another astounding event! The best part, it combines the world of Amateur Radio with the Super Bowl! This year, PARC opens it’s doors at 3 PM Central for it’s regularly scheduled Pile-Up and remains open for the Super Bowl! The Seahawks VS. the Patriots in Super Bowl 60! There is going to be food, there is going to be games, there is going to be contests, and, there is going to be Ham Radio! Come down and get on the air, talk across town or even the world (propagation pending). take in the game, enjoy the camaraderie, and just have a great evening with the Team at PARC! You know you want to so just come on down to the Playground!
17 First St SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548
Sunday, February 8, 2026 Pile-Up at 3:00 pm / Super Bowl Pre-Show 5:00 pm