PARC | Ham Radio

The Best Amateur Radio Club in Florida

Category: Events Page 3 of 11

Florida State POTA!

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On March 19, 2026

In Announcement, Community, Events, Excitement!, POTA

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Florida State Parks on the Air contest! Usually held over the first weekend in April (adjusted for Easter Sunday). Whether you are a casual operator, contester, in Florida, out of Florida, or even outside the United States, this contest is for you. We urge, but do not require, contestants to also be members of the national Parks on the Air (POTA) organization.

https://fspota.org/

Free Technician Class!

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On March 15, 2026

In Announcement, Classes, Community, Events, Excitement!, Technical, Testing

What?! Again! YES, AGAIN! The team at the Playground Amateur Radio Club Fort Walton Beach Florida is proud to offer yet another FREE Technician Class starting 1 Apr 2026! Sign up at parcfwb@gmail.com!

Its Hamfest week!

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On March 15, 2026

In Announcement, Community, Events, Excitement!, Hamfest/Tailgate!, Technical, Testing, Uncategorized

Its hamfest week! And the Playground Amateur Radio Club is ready for another fabulous event! 56th Annual PARC Hamfest: Systems Operational

​The Playground Amateur Radio Club (PARC) 56th Annual Hamfest is officially commencing. Data indicates high activity levels at the Rigdon Center (formerly Northwest Florida Fairgrounds) for this weekend’s events.

​Event Logistics

​Location: Rigdon Center, 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL.

​Dates:

​Friday, March 20: Pre-show from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Setup 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM).

​Saturday, March 21: Main event from 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Setup 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM).

​Admission: $10.00 (Free for Scouts in uniform, ages 12 and under, and seniors over 85).

​Talk-In Frequency: 146.790 MHz (100Hz tone).

​Key Programming

​License Testing: VE testing begins at 9:00 AM on Saturday, March 21. Pre-registration via PARCFWB@gmail.com is recommended.

​Swapfest & Tables: Indoor tables are $15.00 each, featuring a wide array of radio gear, electronics, and specialized equipment.

​Grand Prizes: Saturday drawings are scheduled for 12:00 PM (3rd), 12:30 PM (2nd), and 1:00 PM (Main Prize). Presence is not required for the main prize.

Skate your way into the Beach Bash!

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On March 12, 2026

In Announcement, Community, Events, Excitement!

Being a part of the community means partnerships and sharing resources. Build your community strengths by showing up and offering assistance. That’s 90 percent of getting things done! Be sure to check out the Panhandle United Roller Derby! 

WIN WIN WIN @ the PARC Hamfest!

By

On March 4, 2026

In Announcement, Events, Excitement!, Hamfest/Tailgate!

Tailgate Followed by POTA?!

By

On March 3, 2026

In Announcement, Community, Events, Excitement!, Hamfest/Tailgate!, POTA

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!

https://www.floridastateparks.org/shoalriverheadwaters

A few pics from the Pile-Up!

By

On March 1, 2026

In Announcement, Events, Excitement!, Pile-Up

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!

 

56th Hamfest PSA!

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On February 25, 2026

In Announcement, Events, Excitement!, Hamfest/Tailgate!, Testing

What is POTACAT?!

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On February 24, 2026

In Announcement, Events, Excitement!, POTA, Technical

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.

N2XU Shows Off with Purpose!

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On February 15, 2026

In Announcement, Events, Excitement!, Pile-Up, Technical

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.

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