Pardon our progress! The Playground Amateur Radio Club is currently revamping station 1 for the future of PARC communications!
Category: Pile-Up Page 1 of 5
Every Odd Month, Every 2nd Saturday of that Odd Month, PARC holds a testing session! And this Month [July], PARC held its session without fail! One candidate made General and two candidates made Extra! What a feat by the participants and thank you to all of our VE’s for making time to help others progress and upgrade!
If you are interested in testing, see our exams page for more information or follow this link!
…And Boy Howdy!
Hope your Sunday is a hamtastic day! PARC started off at the Panhandle United Roller Derby Junior Bombers Market! We demonstrated the ease and use of Amateur Radio while also continuing the public role of representing Amateur Radio!
This was followed by a site sur4vey for the Field Day event at the end of this month! Multiple Hams gathered to goc over last Thursday’s presentation and see the property at Liz Jackson in person to map out the extensive and exciting antenna field!
Be sure to tune tune your RF to the Playground Amateur Radio Club!
What the what?! That’s right…
Not one, but two chances this coming weekend to enjoy some awesome RF challenges!
First up, From the original post:
RAWNY will be joining over 100 other museum ships, June 6-7, for the annual Museum Ships Weekend – Amateur Radio Event! We will be on the air making contacts over ham radio from each of these vessels at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park:
USS Little Rock – W2PE
USS The Sullivans – W2S
USS Croaker – W2C
USS Boston – W2B
The USS Boston SSN-703 is new for us this year. We will be operating from her memorial/sail, in front of the main museum building.
Look for each of these call signs spotted on POTA.app at US-6532 Erie Canalway, and the DX Cluster.
Second, New Month, New Challenges! Explore the US via the Lewis and Clark Trail! Get on the air and contact the stations along the route Lewis and Clark took to explore, map and record the Louisiana Purchase.
How many stations can you bag?
Good Luck and ham on!
From the desk of KR4YXX!
For POTA operations, the Yaesu ATAS-120A is best mounted on a tripod using a BuddiPole Vertical Antenna Clamp or a Gabil antenna tripod, which often includes thumbscrews for attaching ground radials. Operators frequently use the large TIA tripod or modified mini-tripods, ensuring the legs are extended and angled to provide stability against wind. A critical requirement for tripod use is adding a ground plane system; this typically involves installing 4 to 8 radials (often 1/4 wavelength for lower bands like 40m and 20m) to achieve acceptable SWR, as the antenna performs poorly without them.
For home use with HOA restrictions, the ATAS-120A can be mounted on a balcony rail using a Diamond CRM mount or a Vice Grip, or elevated on a 6-foot mast positioned at rain gutter height to remain unobtrusive. To maintain low SWR in these elevated setups, users have successfully run counterpoise wires inside rain gutters or along the structure, though this requires testing for electrical continuity. Alternatively, mounting the antenna on a ground spike with a robust radial system is an option, though it may be less aesthetically pleasing for some HOA environments compared to elevated, hidden counterpoises.
Ever played a high-tech game of hide-and-seek? Known as “T-hunting” or “bunny hunting,” a Fox Hunt involves tracking down a hidden, battery-powered radio transmitter using directional antennas and portable radios. While it’s a favorite hobby for amateur radio enthusiasts, it also builds critical skills for search and rescue and locating signal interference. The Playground Team is inviting you to a Llama Hunt!
You might be wondering: Why the Llama? It started as an “in the moment” joke at a local ham event when someone lost a llama keychain. In true ham fashion, everyone jumped in to help “rescue” the lost llama, and the tradition stuck! Today, our 3D printing team keeps the legend alive with custom llamas to remind us all to take a break, share a laugh, and stay kind.
Ready to join the hunt? The Playground Amateur Radio Club invites you to grab your gear and see if you can find the Llama [FOX] first!
24 May at 1200 pm 17 First ST SE Fort Walton Beach is the starting point! We will see you at the start and welcome you back to the Clubhouse for the results!
What a great Sunday Pile-Up at PARC! Projects abound from solar battery recharge kits, radio programming, power supply options, equipment recommendations, radio programming, system upgrades, and item sorting! The Playground Amateur Radio Club certainly dives in on full scope! If you’re planning on joining the ranks of a great Amateur Radio Club then Playground is the place to be with the experience to help you navigate the airwaves! Be sure to check our club calendar and participate so that you may catch the RF!
Some of Team PARC assembled to gather in Mobile at their Hamfest and boy howdy what a great time! We took time to sell, swap, trade, barter, see friends, make new ones, and experience the joy of our wonderful hobby! If you weren’t there, you missed out on a great time! We sure made the best of it and took it all in! Made a few stops and saw some cool stuff along the way as well! Be sure to join in with PARC as we continue to explore the world of Amateur Radio! Fo you want to k ow what’s next?! Go the the club calendar and see for yourself! 
PARC joined up with the FWB Jr. Bombers Market and showed off what Amateur Radio is! We set up vhf/uhf/hf and demonstrated our capabilities!
