JAMBOREE ON THE AIR 2018

The Spartanburg Amateur Radio Club will participate in this year's Boy Scout "Jamboree on the Air" which will take place on Saturday, October 20, at Morningside Baptist Church, 897 S.Pine Street, in Spartanburg.  The event begins at 8:30 AM and runs until noon.  All members are encouraged to support both the club and the Boy Scouts in this activity.  Here's how you can help:

1. Attend the event.  You don't have to stay the whole time, but your presence will demonstrate to the Scouts that ham radio is alive and well in Spartanburg.  (Wear your call sign badge!)  There will be plenty of opportunity for you to be involved in the activities!  Also, we will be setting up the day before - Friday, October 19, at 4:00 PM - and your help would be appreciated.

2. Loan your surplus gear for the static equipment display.   Any interesting piece of radio paraphernalia would be appreciated: radios, microphones, Morse keys, etc.  It doesn't have to be pretty and it doesn't have to be functional - it's for display only.  We'd especially like to have some home brew equipment.  If you can't attend the event but have gear you'd like to contribute, contact me - I'll pick it up and return it to you (wa8ojr@arrl.net).

3. Monitor the K4JLA repeater (147.315) during the event and be prepared to answer our CQ's.  We hope to have some Scouts ready to talk with you on the radio!

Many thanks for helping to make the 2018 JOTA a success!

73, Bruce  WA8OJR  

LETS PARTY LIKE IT'S 1919

On Saturday, July 21, 2018, we will have our Summer Supper and celebrate Fritz, W4NTO's, birthday. Born in 1919 he will be turning 99 years young. We will gather at the Grapevine Restaurant at 6:30 pm for the celebration. As always, this is a Dutch treat event. Let's have a big turn out to wish the club's Elmer a happy birthday! The Grapevine is located at 1926 Boiling Springs Road (Highway 9), Boiling Springs, SC. Mark your calendar's so you won't miss the fun!

FIELD DAY 2018

It's time for Field Day! The Grid Chase will begin on Saturday, June 23, 2018, at 2 pm. For the next 24 hours our members will make as many contacts as possible in an effort to improve our ranking from last year. This year we have two new state of the art Icom IC-7300 radios plus new end fed antennas. This years event will again be at the Drayton Fire Department, 50 Carney Street, Drayton SC. Setup is Friday, June 22, 2018, at 9 am. Below you will find a links to the Icom IC-7300 manual and a video to help you learn about these new radios. You can come early on Saturday, starting  at noon so you can "play" with the IC-7300 before the contest begins. Please bring snacks to share with your fellow radio operators; drinks and other necessary supplies will be provided. Get ready it's time to for Field Day. Come help your club participate in this awesome event and increase our ranking!

IC-7300 Specifications (Basic Manual)

IC-7300 VIDEO

Famous DXer Talks About his New Radio

Local Students Discover Amateur Radio

McCracken Middle School students found their radio voice with the help of Timothy Terrell, W4TDT, Bret Phillips, N9LPT and Fritz Nitsch, W4NTO. Timothy wants to thank his fellow SPARCsters who helped introduce these students to amateur radio. For most, this was their first opportunity to talk on amateur radio and he hopes this will inspire them to pursue a license. Bret and Fritz answered lots of questions and did a wonderful job promoting amateur radio. This is a great effort to inspire a new generation of Hams!

SPARC Moves to a New Home

On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, we will have the first meeting at our new home  on the campus of USC Upstate. The meeting space is in the University Readiness Center, a shared facility between the SC National Guard and USC Upstate. The building is located on North Campus Boulevard in Spartanburg  SC. The room for Tuesday, May 29th is 252; future meetings will alternate between rooms 252 and 219. All meetings will begin at 7:00 pm. We have included two links to help you find our new home, one from Google Maps and one from the University: 

University Readiness Center/ SC National Guard
USC Upstate Campus Map

See you Tuesday!

Ms. Bonnie Kallio

We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Ms. Bonnie Kallio, wife of Bill Kallio, KK4BRK. Bonnie passed away Saturday, May, 19, 2018. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May, 22, 2018, from 2:00 – 2:45 PM and the service will follow at 3:00 pm in Floyd’s Pacolet Chapel, 141 Memorial Drive, Pacolet, SC 29372. Please keep Bill in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. You will find her full obituary here: Bonnie Kallio Obituary

Sad News...

We are sorry to report that Mr. Mark Thompson, N4TIR, passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2018. Mark was a life member of SPARC and will be greatly missed. Information about his funeral arrangements may be found by following this link: Mr. Mark Thompson Obituary.

Ms. Deborah Beck, wife of Mr. Carl Beck, N3EKW, also passed away on March 10, 2018. Carl is a life member of SPARC and moved out of state a couple of years ago. Information about her funeral arrangements may be found by following this link: Ms. Deborah Beck Obituary.

Please keep both families in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

PHYLLIS HAYES THOMPSON

Ms. Phyllis Hayes Thompson, wife of Mark Thompson, N4TIR, passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018, after a brief illness. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:30 PM on Friday, February 23, 2018, at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307. A private graveside service will follow. 

Additional details my be found at http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/spartanburg/obituary.aspx?n=phyllis-hayes-thompson&pid=188256756.

Please keep Mark and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.