What a great time all of Team PARC had! We went to Fred R. Gannon State Park in Niceville Florida and operated as a 2 Oscar. We had satellite contacts, VHF contacts, and HF contacts! The best part was of course hunting down the signals. Thank you to all who participated on one end of the microphone or the other!
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Tickets for the Holiday Party event are selling quick! Get yours while you can!
The time has come to gather and celebrate!
Be sure to put it on your calendar for an Amateur Radio Holiday Party! All Hams from anywhere in the world (and even the space station (if so inclined)) are welcome to attend! For details click this and contact KQ4FRB! This is going to be a great event as Hams get out of their element and host the gathering at Anglers on Okaloosa Island! Beach Views, thew holidays, Hams, and RF! What more could you want? Come celebrate the year and honor the Hams of the Year and more! Celebrate the hobby with us and enjoy!
Purchase your tickets Today!
Dec 15 from 4pm to 7pm at Anglers, Beachside Grill, 2nd Floor (there is an elevator!), 1030 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 32548
WOW what a wonderful day for a Tailgate! If you missed the Swampfest, YOU missed a great opportunity to get great Ham items at an even better price! Below are some pictures and be looking forward to the next Major Hamfest in March 2025 (hint hint) official details to be released soon!

Are you looking to get your Ham Ticket?! We have the opportunity for you at the Playground Amateur Radio Club on Saturday the 9th of November, 2024 at 900am! We are located at 17 First Street Se in Beautiful Downtown Fort Walton Beach Florida!
Be sure to Pre-Register by emailing the Club at PARCFWB@Gmail.Com
Please make sure you get the FRN# from the FCC. As for the best guide on how to register for an FRN we recommend the ARRL website at:
http://www.arrl.org/what-to-bring-to-an-exam-session
The Parks on the Air (POTA) program encourages amateur radio operators to set up stations in parks and engage in radio communications. This initiative has led to the development of various portable equipment setups that facilitate quick and efficient operations in outdoor environments.
Portable Radio Stations
- Custom Portable POTA Packs:
- Operators often create personalized portable radio packs tailored for ease of transport and setup. For example, one operator designed a pack using a NATO rucksack, which includes a Yaesu FT-891 transceiver and various accessories like an autotuner and a LiFePO4 battery. This setup allows for comfortable operation while seated on a lightweight camping stool.
- Antenna Options:
- A variety of antennas are available for portable operations. The Reel POTA-ble EFHW antennas are specifically designed for easy setup and lightweight transport, making them suitable for POTA activities. These antennas can cover multiple bands (40-10 meters) and are praised for their performance in portable scenarios.
- Other popular options include the MFJ-1979 telescoping antenna, which is noted for its quick deployment and effectiveness across several bands.
Additional Considerations
- Setup and Deployment: Quick deployment is crucial for POTA activations. Many operators emphasize the importance of having an antenna that can be set up in under five minutes, allowing them to maximize their operating time in the field.
- Community and Resources: The POTA community offers numerous resources, including guides on how to participate effectively, tips on equipment selection, and forums for sharing experiences.
Conclusion
Engaging in the POTA program requires thoughtful preparation of portable equipment that balances functionality with ease of transport. Whether through custom packs or specialized antennas, operators can enjoy successful activations while promoting emergency awareness and communication from beautiful outdoor settings.
This last weekend (Feb 24),some of the PARC Team set sight on making it to Dalton Georgia for their Hamfest! Wow what an event and a great mini-vacation! This was done by leaving on a Friday, traveling 6.5 hours North, and enjoying the sights, sounds, flavors, and of course, the Ham!
We went into Tennessee not once, but twice! once for a dinner and the other time for the International Tow Truck Museum! before heading home!
The Dalton Hamfest is an exceptionally large show with three indoor buildings and a large outdoor tailgate area! The activity in this area is all about radio! CB, GMRS, FRS, HAM, you name it, if it’s radio, it’s there! No segregation of services as they merge and blend all facets of communication into one! We highly recommend checking this show out! Follow this link for the 2024 video!
Today [President’s Day] offered the chance for some of the members in the Playground Amateur Radio Club to perform antenna maintenance. Recent windstorms have taken their toll but that is the exception, not the rule when you perform regular maintenance on your antenna systems. Safety being the key right alongside having those that have the skills and the physical durability to ensure a job well done. The pictures below only depict some of the things found wrong, in need of repair (which were) or unusual cases of wear. Stay safe, plan you your inspections and ham on!
73’s, W4ZBB/K4FWB
The event started off at the PARC Clubhouse during one of the greatest opportunities of warm weather we have had all January!
Being that we were hunting from our vehicles around the city, the walking to hunt was down to a minimum except to stop and isolate further once the first harmonic was received at a full 9 on the S meter! below is the write up from the Club’s Treasurer!
Hunting Foxes in the Panhandle – Ed Underfinger (AA0EU)
The Playground Amateur Radio Club hosted a fox hunt on January 20th. This was my second such event, the first time I was a hunter. This time I took on the role of the fox. Queenie (KQ4FRB) organized the event and planned a cookout to follow the hunt. At 9 AM the hunters gathered at the PARC clubhouse, which is on the south side of town. They were given the fox frequency (146.565 mhz) and in a mad dash, the fun began. As the hunters split into 4 teams, I turned the incredibly powerful 5 milliamp transmitter on and the cooks got started.
Two and a half hours later, and 2.5 miles north, Selena and Dale (KQ4MVC) were the first to find the stuffed fox I had staged as the final step. The other teams were Ted (KO4NCL) and his dog Jaeger, DJ (KI4ZER) and Maria, and Rob (waiting on his callsign) and his son. The support team was Queenie, Rey (KM4DYA), and Randy (KJ4FNB).
Over lunch the teams discussed their strategies and any difficulties encountered while I plotted a greater challenge for next time.
Congratulations to all participants for making this a fun event!
Playground ARC is hosting a Holiday Potluck! We would like to welcome you to bring a dish and a White Elephant gift to exchange ($20 limit). Please bring your families for some Ham Holiday Cheer!
For further details and sign up, please visit www.w4zbb.org or email PARCFWB@gmail.com with questions. Reach out to Queenie KQ4FRB@gmail.com for further details.
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C084AA9AA2FA0FDCE9-46273241-hamfor