Local Events/Links

Updated 12/02/2024 

12/06/24 19:00-12/07/24 19:00 – Skywarn™ Recognition Day – Skywarn™ Recognition Day was developed in 1999 by the National Weather Service and the American Radio Relay League. It celebrates the contributions that Skywarn™ volunteers make to the NWS mission, the protection of life and property.

*** For our local Skywarn™ spotters, you are welcome on Saturday, 12/07/24, from 08:00-16:00, to visit our local Tampa Bay, Ruskin office of the National Weather Service.  Stop on out and operate the radios, as well as take a tour of the office.  The National Weather Service office in Ruskin is located at 2525 14th Ave. SE Ruskin, FL 33570. ***

Amateur radio operators comprise a large percentage of the Skywarn™ volunteers across the country. The Amateur radio operators also provide vital communication between the NWS and emergency management if normal communications become inoperative.

All Skywarn™ spotters provide critical weather information before, during and after adverse weather strikes. This includes reports of rain and snow, ice and wind, storms and tornadoes, flooding and fire. This is our 24 hours to recognize all of the Skywarn™ spotters serving our nation!

12/07/24 – Doors Open 07:30AM – Silver Springs Amateur Radio Club Hamfest – Ocala, FL – 1908 East Fort King Street – Commercial vendors, VE testing, flea market and tailgate, and a food vendor.  For more information, visit https://k4gso.us/

12/09/24 – 7:00pm – Lakeland Amateur Radio Club (LARC) monthly meeting – Parkview Baptist Church, 509 Parkview Pl, Lakeland, FL 33805.    Meetings are held on the second monday of each month.  *** BE ADIVSED THAT THERE IS NO VE TESTING SESSION AT THIS MONTH’S MEETING *** More information can be found at https://lakelandarc.org/events/monthly_meetings.htm

12/12/24 – 7:00pm – Lake Wales Radio Amateurs (LWRA) monthly meeting – Lake Wales City Fire Department Station 1, 253 W Central Ave., Lake Wales, FL 33853.  Directions: Turn and go east on Central Avenue from U.S. 27.  Lake Wales Fire Station 1 is about 2000 feet on the south side of Central Avenue, to the right.

12/13/24 and 12/14/24 – 08:00 – 15:00 – Tampa Bay Hamfest, ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention – 303 Berrryfest Place, Plant City, FL 33564.  For more information visit https://fgcarc.org/

12/13/24 and 12/14/24 – 08:00 – 15:00 – Tampa Bay Hamfest, ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention – 303 Berrryfest Place, Plant City, FL 33564.  There will be an NXDN Forum at 12 noon on the 14th.  For more information visit https://fgcarc.org/.

01/09/25 – 7:00pm – Lake Wales Radio Amateurs (LWRA) monthly meeting – Lake Wales City Fire Department Station 1, 253 W Central Ave., Lake Wales, FL 33853.  Directions: Turn and go east on Central Avenue from U.S. 27.  Lake Wales Fire Station 1 is about 2000 feet on the south side of Central Avenue, to the right.

01/10/25 and 01/11/25 -2025 Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention – Florida Southwestern State College
8090 College Parkway Building “U”, Fort Myers, FL 33901 -Talk-In: 147.170 136.5.

01/13/25 – 7:00pm – Lakeland Amateur Radio Club (LARC) monthly meeting – Parkview Baptist Church, 509 Parkview Pl, Lakeland, FL 33805.   VE Testing is available at 5:30pm with no pre-registration required.  Meetings are held on the second monday of each month.  For more information on this and other local VE testing, please visit https://tinyurl.com/radioexams.  The Lakeland Amateur Radio Club meets monthly on the second Monday of each month.  More information can be found at https://lakelandarc.org/events/monthly_meetings.htm

01/18/25 – Opens 08:00AM – TARCfest – Tampa Amateur Radio Club – 7801 North 22nd Street, Tampa, Florida 33610 – For more information, visit https://hamclub.org/wp/?p=3317

02/07/25 thru  02/09/25 – Hamcation 2025 – If you can’t make it to Xenia, OH for Hamvention, the absolute next best swap is Hamcation.  All the major manufacturers are there such as Icom, Yaesu, Kenwood, Flex Radio, Elecraft, and others will be there.  Ham radio vendors such as Ham Radio Outlet, Gigaparts, DX Engineering, and others will be there.  Hams travel from all over to attend this wonderful event!  Click here for more information.  

 

This is a video on research being done on how the two meter band is utilized in Florida.

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