PARC | Ham Radio

The Best Amateur Radio Club in Florida

Category: Announcement Page 6 of 13

OPEN HOUSE, AUG 31, 2025, NOON to FIVE! Fox Hunt at 1000 am!

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On August 17, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Events, Fox Hunting, Pile-Up

Experience the World of Ham Radio at our Open House!
Join the Playground Amateur Radio Club for an exciting Amateur Radio Open House and explore the captivating world of ham radio!
What is Amateur Radio?
Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a unique hobby and service that allows individuals to communicate across town or around the globe using radio waves. It’s a fantastic way to learn about electronics, physics, meteorology, and other scientific disciplines.
What to Expect at the Open House
Whether you’re curious about getting involved or already licensed, our Open House is the perfect opportunity to:
  • See live demonstrations: Witness hams in action making contacts locally and potentially internationally.
  • Learn about the technology: Explore the different types of equipment, antennas, and modes used in amateur radio.
  • Connect with local hams: Meet experienced operators who are eager to share their knowledge and experiences.
  • Discover emergency communications: Learn about the vital role ham radio plays in disaster relief when other communication systems fail.
  • Get started with licensing: Find out how to obtain your ham radio license and explore the different license classes.
  • Hands-on activities: Depending on the club, you might be able to try your hand at operating a radio or building a simple antenna.
Why Join the Amateur Radio Community?
  • Lifelong learning: Continuously expand your knowledge of radio technology, operating practices, and more.
  • Community and camaraderie: Connect with a supportive and welcoming community of enthusiasts worldwide.
  • Emergency preparedness: Be ready to provide vital communication support in times of need.
  • Experimentation and innovation: Amateur radio is a platform for exploring new technologies and building your own equipment.
Don’t miss out on this chance to embark on an exciting and rewarding journey!

SURPRISE!!! There will be a FOX hunt from 1000 – 1200 starting from the clubhouse and hunting in the City Limits of Fort Walton Beach! 

W4RH, Remembering a Legacy

By

On August 5, 2025

In Announcement, Community

All,

Please respect the families right to privacy.

I have been asked to inform you that long time Amateur Radio Operator Frank Butler is now a Silent Key at the age of 100.

W4RH was and remains a staple in the community. He was a benefactor of many organizations, institutions, and community partners. Franks legacy, honored as Ham of the Century last year, stands to showcase that being a club member, an ARRL Official, participating in the community, serving in official organizations, and being a sound voice of reason embodies the mission of Amateur Radio and beyond.

Please take a moment to reflect on your interactions with Frank. He will surely be missed.

73’s Frank, from your entire Amateur Radio Family.

 

The Frankantenna is Vertical!

By

On July 20, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Pile-Up, Technical

What do you do on a Sunday following a road trip?! Show up at the Pile-Up [during a heatwave] and erect an HF Vertical! This just goes to show that there is a safe way to eat a banana! In any light, other than massively long hotdogs, this weekend, members from PARC gathered to finish the raising of the HF Vertical! “IT’S BAAAAACCCK!

The Playground Team still has some work to do to connect it, but it’s one run of coax away from operational use! Then onto the next antenna project to enhance the Club’s already astounding communications capabilities! Curious?! Look at the Club Calendar and stop in to see for yourself!

Playground Builds a Frankantenna!

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On July 6, 2025

In Announcement, Pile-Up, Technical

Ok what?! Its true! The team at the Playground Amateur Radio Club has been busy the last few Pile-Ups with multiple projects occurring at once in true Sunday Pile-Up fashion! One of note is from a post a while back where we were donated an old, broken, worn, and in need of help Cushcraft R9. Well we at the Playground Amateur Radio Club just so happened to have an old, broken, worn, and in need help Chushcraft R7.

Over the last 3 weeks, a majority of the team (old, new, and interested members and guests) have donated thier time to step in and help tear the two old verticals apart and rebuild them into a singular tuneable and usable HF vertical! Today marked a milestone in assembly of all sections and erecting it for testing and WOW the results!

Thank you to all members and visitors who partook in this venture to enhance the communication capabilities of the Playground Amateur Radio Club and enhance each other’s skillsets!

Testing this Frankantenna resulted in great and usable SWR on the following bands

* 80 meters (3.5 MHz)

* 40 meters (7 MHz)

* 30 meters (10 MHz)

* 20 meters (14 MHz)

* 17 meters (18 MHz)

* 15 meters (21 MHz)

* 12 meters (24 MHz)

* 10 meters (28 MHz)

* 6 meters (50 MHz)

This asset will be in service by the end of July and the Playground Team will be pressing forward with other antenna projects soon to come! Do you want to see and or use them? Stop on by the Club by checking the club calendar for when we will be there!

Field Day 2025 is a Wrap!

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On June 29, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Events, Field Day

PARC met at Fred Gannon State Park in Niceville Florida and utilized back pack radio kits to communicate in multi-mode operations while teaching young and old hams the tricks to making the most of their time and mentoring others as to how to set-up, tune, and troubleshoot any issues that would prevent a barrier to communications!

Mayor Daniel Henkel even stopped in and was very inquisitive on our capabilities and how we can provide communications for the community with limited operations for emergency situations! But mostly we explained that Field Day is about “FUN” and teaching others how to communicate away from brick and mortar facilities operating in a remote capability to ensure message handling and specialized traffic information is reported and recorded!

Did you make Field Day?! Did you miss Field Day? What was your impression? We want to hear from you as the Amateur Radio Community is always willing to hear feedback and evolve with your interests in mind! Be a part of the conversations and radio operations by joining us at the Playground Amateur Radio Club!

W4ZBB/K4FWB Repeater Site Visit

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On June 19, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Technical

W4ZBB/K4FWB Repeater site visit and familiarization tour for Rey and Mike! This team along with others are actively maintaining the area repeaters helping to keep you on the air!

The Eglin Amateur Radio Society

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On June 14, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Technical

The Eglin Amateur Radio Society is an amateur radio group associated with Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. While detailed current information about the society is limited, some historical context and activities can be outlined.

Eglin Air Force Base, located in the western Florida panhandle near Valparaiso, Florida, is a major U.S. Air Force installation established in 1935. It serves as a test and evaluation center for Air Force weapons and systems. The base has a long history, including significant military and technological activities during World War II and beyond.

The Eglin Amateur Radio Society has been known to operate from the base, as evidenced by a 1969 illustrated QSL card mailed by the society from Eglin Air Force Base to New York. QSL cards are confirmation cards exchanged by amateur radio operators to confirm two-way radio communications, indicating that the society was active in amateur radio communications at least as far back as the late 1960s.

Amateur radio societies like the Eglin Amateur Radio Society typically consist of licensed amateur radio operators who engage in radio communication as a hobby and public service. These societies often provide a platform for experimentation, emergency communication support, and community engagement within the amateur radio community. Given Eglin Air Force Base’s technical and military environment, the society likely supports both recreational and operational communication interests of personnel on base.

Amateur radio itself has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, with organizations such as the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) advocating for amateur radio operators in the United States. Groups like the Eglin Amateur Radio Society contribute to this tradition by fostering radio communication skills, technical knowledge, and camaraderie among members.

The Eglin Amateur Radio Society is a historic amateur radio group based at Eglin Air Force Base, known for its participation in amateur radio communications since at least the 1960s. It serves as a community for radio enthusiasts at the base, supporting both hobbyist and potentially operational communication activities linked to the Air Force environment.

In more recent history,  the Eglin Amateur Radio Society received an anonymous donation to replace aging antenna systems to keep W4NN and its APRS W4NN-1 on the air. It’s current team are highly skilled professionals within the Amateur Radio Hobby and technology  along woth professionals in the Eglin Military Complex.

Antennas Galore: Ham Radio in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

By

On June 8, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Events, Pile-Up, Technical

Antennas Galore: Ham Radio in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a vibrant hub for amateur radio enthusiasts, where antennas of every shape and size dot the landscape—from attics and rooftops to beaches and parks. The local ham community, anchored by the Playground Amateur Radio Club (PARC), showcases the diversity and ingenuity of antenna setups that make ham radio both a technical challenge and a rewarding hobby.

A Community Built on Waves

PARC, located at 17 First Street SE in downtown Fort Walton Beach, serves as the epicenter for local hams. The club is known for its welcoming atmosphere, frequent events, and a strong support network for both newcomers and seasoned operators. Meetings are held twice monthly, and the club actively encourages experimentation with antennas and operating from unique locations—be it a beach, the clubhouse, or portable setup in a local park.

Types of Antennas You’ll Find

The Fort Walton Beach ham community is a showcase of antenna diversity, reflecting the wide range of interests and operating environments:

  • Dipole Antennas: Simple and effective, dipoles are a favorite for HF bands, often strung between trees or mounted on rooftops.
  • Vertical Antennas: Popular for their small footprint and omnidirectional coverage, especially useful in limited-space environments.
  • Loop Antennas: Both magnetic and electric loop antennas are used for their compact size and low noise, ideal for condo dwellers or portable operations6.
  • Log-Periodic and Quad Antennas: For those seeking high gain and directivity, these larger antennas are sometimes spotted in backyards or on club field days, providing excellent performance for DXing and contesting.
  • Handheld and Mobile Antennas: Essential for VHF/UHF simplex and repeater operation, especially during public service events or emergency communications.

Operating on the Emerald Coast

The unique geography of Fort Walton Beach—proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and a mix of urban and suburban landscapes—means hams must be creative. Some operate from beachside grills and parks, taking advantage of saltwater’s ground-plane effect to boost signal propagation. Others install stealth antennas in attics to comply with neighborhood restrictions, a common challenge addressed by national advocacy efforts like the Amateur Radio Parity Act.

Club Repeaters and Frequencies

PARC maintains repeaters on 146.790 MHz and 444.450 MHz, offering reliable coverage for local communications and emergency nets5. Monitoring national calling frequencies (146.52 and 446.00 MHz simplex) is also encouraged, ensuring hams are always ready to make contact, whether at home or on the move.

Events and Education

From license test sessions to “tech nights” and annual holiday gatherings at local venues like Anglers on Okaloosa Island, PARC fosters a sense of community and continuous learning. Members share antenna-building tips, troubleshoot interference issues, and celebrate the year’s achievements—proving that ham radio is as much about camaraderie as it is about technology.

Summary

In Fort Walton Beach, ham radio operators embrace the mantra “antennas galore,” turning every available space into an opportunity for experimentation and connection. Whether you’re stringing a dipole between palm trees or fine-tuning a magnetic loop in your condo, the local ham community—and its antennas—are alive and thriving on the Emerald Coast.

Attics, and Beaches, and generators, and Ham Radio Galore!

By

On June 1, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Pile-Up

Welcome to the month of June! From now until November 30th 2025 we are in Hurricane Season. Be sure to have your plan ready as it is not if, but when. Stay weather aware and stay safe.

So what does that have to do with the tagline for PARC? We took the time on the first day of hurricane season to prep some coax that we recently recovered from the attic space above the club. This coax is from the former tower and was replaced with new coax during the new towers installation. It was recovered before the heat was unbearable and is going to be put back to use for the HF vertical and the fan dipole that will be rebuilt, test, and installed increasing the capabilities for communication at the clubhouse as PARC continues to make headway on multiple upgrades!

While we had the time, PARC tested the generator for emergency communications. It fired right up on the first pull. This is done semi-annually to ensure our property at the club is in tip top shape for emergency use! While on the subject of Club gear, we found an abandoned antenna set up in the attic while recovering the coax! Its true! Putting it across the meter, we identified that it is still exceptionally usable for multiple HF, VHF, and UHF bands. It is now cleaned up and ready for deployment! Where one might ask?! Potentially at a POTA, Field Day, or a weekend planned radio day! You just have to keep an eye on the calendar, come to a meeting, technical night, or pile-up to find out!

But what of the beach in the subject line?! PARC took time out after doing the morning attic crawl to head a few miles south and go to the beach! Walking along the shore, testing out frequencies with an HT, and just taking in the sites! Great fishing weather although we did not bring a rod. Mental note, you can’t hook a fish on RF (HiHi).

The team at the Playground Amateur Radio Club is happy to serve it’s members and guests! So if you are in our neck of the woods stop on by when we are open and we will gladly transmit along with you the world over! We will see you soon with your project, interest, answer your questions, and we will be sure to offer some of the best hospitality Florida has to offer while you are here!

Memorial Day 2025

By

On May 25, 2025

In Announcement, Community, Pile-Up

The Pile-Up went on as scheduled and hams partook in projects club wide! Some programmed newly obtained radios, some went over the plausibility of using an android tablet to use Bluetooth to program handhelds, some played with wires-x, some installed a tv mount for station 1! Other went over activities, and some even performed a capacitance test on a loaded coil!

No matter what peaks your interest, the skillsets of the members of the Playground Amateur Radio Club offer the time and the dedication to show and teach those who have a genuine interest in all things communication! Be sure to take the time to attend the weekly Sunday Pile-Ups, you never know what you will learn or inspire others to do!

Speaking of inspiration, take the time to honor those who serve, have served, or gave all to allow us the freedoms we embrace. The freedoms we use use everyday are not possible without the few who protect the many!

 

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