W4F, A Special Event Station Commemorating Florida’s Statehood : March 8, 2025

Come Have Fun With Us!

LMARS will once again be hosting a Special Event Station Celebrating Florida Statehood.

As Florida commemorates its statehood anniversary, March 3, 1845, LMARS, Lake Monroe Amateur Radio Society will come together to celebrate this significant milestone.

We will operate under the Special Event call sign of W4F. We will operate SSB voice, CW, and FT8.

Date & Time: March 8, 2025 // 9.00am - 5.00pm…

Event Lead: Joe Marsh KQ4AID. Joe will be onsite at HRO.

This event is open to all. If you're a Technician level operator you can operate with a partner who is a General or higher… OR… You must operate within your license privileges. If you want to partner with someone let Joe, KQ4AID, know.

Details are as follows…

SSB Voice:

SSB voice will operate out of the Winter Springs Ham Radio Outlet (HRO). We will be using the new 200w ICOM 7760 radio and HROs multiband vertical. Since we will be in the store, space will be limited and you must register. They will be open for business and we have to be respectful of that. We will have 3 operators inside and Joe, KQ4AID (Joe will not be operating unless there is time). We will operate under 2 hour blocks and rotate what we are doing between the 3 operators. We will have one participant operating on the radio, we will have one participant logging (LMARS will supply the logging computer), and the other will be observing. Others will be able to come in as space allows and see the action first hand. We will set up a hospitality canopy in the parking lot for those who want to stop by and hang out and listen to the action under the canopy shade. We will have a radio set up so you can hear what's going on. There will be drinks (water, soda, gatorade) and light snacks.

SSB operating frequencies will be based on band conditions and QRM but will start as follows… 20m: 14.255 // 15m: 21.335 // 10m: 28.360 (+/- QRM).

CW & FT8:

The CW & FT8 stations will operate at the participants' home. You must use a logging program to keep your contacts. You must export the log as an adif file and send that file to Joe, KQ4AID, right after your operating time is over. If you're not sure about this let me know and we will get you set up. We need the logs ASAP because those we make contact with get a Special Event Certificate. They can't get the certificate until we send the logs in to be uploaded.

CW Operating Bands & Frequencies (based on band conditions & QRM) : 20m: 14.035 - 14.060 // 15m: 21.050 - 21.100 // 10m: 28.050 - 28.150 (+/- QRM)

FT8 Operating Bands & Frequencies : 20m: 14.074 // 15m: 21.074 // 10m: 28.074

FT8 instructions on how to set up WSJT-X for the event and how to use it are here: xxxxxxxx

All event participants and those we make contact with will be able to download a Special Event Certificate a few days after the logs have been uploaded from the event.

OPERATING PLAN BELOW

Register NOW:

Questions/Comments, please reach out to me…

Joe Marsh, KQ4AID

jhmarshfla@gmail.com

407-454-1520

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OPERATING PLAN

Date/Time: 3/8/25

• Operate during the 2-hour block/s for which you signed up. [9-11am; 11-1pm; 1-3pm; 3-5pm]

Call Sign: Use only the W4F call sign and only use during the time slots you are registered for.

Logging: FT8 & CW stations export your logs as ADF and send it to me right after the completion of your last operating session. Do NOT upload your W4F contacts into your personal online log database such as QRZ, LotW, etc. *Send ONLY contacts made under W4F.

Voice:

• Location: 521 East State Rd 434, STE 1009, Winter Springs, FL, 32708-2602
• Arrival: Shift 1 (9.00-11.00am) operators arrive at 8.30a. You can still come into HRO to operate, observe, and/or log even if you didn't sign up. We will do our best to get you operating time but it is not guaranteed.
• Frequencies: Based on band conditions and QRM but will start as follows… 20m: 14.255 // 15m: 21.335 // 10m: 28.360 (+/- QRM).
• Exchange: Minimum: Location / Signal Report. Special certificate on QRZ W4F page. Have fun with it. Share whatever details you want. Our club LMARS (N4EH) is operating the event. We are partnering with Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) in Winter Springs Florida and working out of their location.Using the new 200w ICOM 7760. Find out where they are from. Get and give a signal report. There will be a special certificate available via the W4F QRZ page once the logs are uploaded.
• Hospitality Tent: We may not have one. As of now only a few responded. Lunch is on your own. We will supply light snacks/drinks.
• Gear to Bring: Camp chair (only needed if you are hanging out outside). Any special food/snacks you want.

CW:

• Location: From your personal location.
• Frequencies: Based on band conditions and QRM but will start as follows… 20m: 14.035 - 14.060 // 15m: 21.050 - 21.100 // 10m: 28.050 - 28.150
• Calling & Exchange: Minimum: CQ SES W4F // Signal Report // Cert on QRZ W4F Have fun with it. Share whatever details you want. Our club LMARS (N4EH) is operating the event. Find out where they are from. Get and give a signal report. There will be a special certificate available via the W4F QRZ page once the logs are uploaded.

FT8:

• Location: From your personal location.
• Frequencies: Normal FT8 Frequencies: 20m, 15m, 10m
• Calling & Exchange: CQ SES W4F ((GRID)) Normal FT8 Exchange. FT8 WSJT-X Setup:
• Option 1: Create a new working copy of WSJT-X specifically for W4F: Instructions here. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JbkGgifuPhVCNnzXVy6Ma38AG_crl3tGpgBAl6WHIrM/edit?usp=sharing:
• Option 2: Change your call sign within WSJT-X to W4F. (Note: This will mix your W4F and other FT8 contacts up within the WSJT-X QSO log.