Category: News

NTS DIGITAL TRAFFIC NETWORK NEED VOLUNTEERS

The ARRL and Radio Relay International (RRI) are working to reinvigorating the National Traffic System (NTS). Traffic handling was once a core element of amateur radio operations. When sending telegrams was expensive, ham radio operators offered a free alternative for noncommercial messages. With the development of the internet and text messaging on our phones, the NTS has seen a significant decline. Passing radiograms is still a critical part of our emergency communications and a component of our public service toolbox.

The Digital Traffic Network (DTN), a team effort by ARRL and RRI, has taken over a considerable portion of the NTS workload. DTN operates message servers where a local Digital Traffic Station (DTS) receive and download message for local traffic nets (e. g. our Eagle Net or the Florida Phone Traffic Net – FPTN). These digital stations then serve as liaison between DTN and the local voice or CW net (what we call the “last mile” in communications).

We need more DTS operators in our section. One advantage is you can download the traffic on your own schedule though you would need to sign into one of the local traffic nets to pass the radiograms to the recipient. If you would be interested, checkout the information at the following websites:  ARRL National Traffic System – https://arrl.org/nts, and the Digital Traffic Network – https://nts-digital.net/mw/index.php/Main_Page

If you are interested in being part of Digital Traffic Network, please contact our Section Traffic Manager, Dave Rockwell W4PXE via email at w4pxe@arrl.net.  Rockwell will provide your information to a point of contact from the National Traffic who will assist you in getting started.

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ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST IS CONCLUDED

The ARRL West Central Florida Section Simulated Emergency Test (SET), called Operation Dark Start, is now successfully concluded.  ARES and ACS groups from all ten counties of the ARRL West Central Florida Section participated in today’s exercise, which simulated a widespread power grid failure that escalated from a simulated single power plant failure.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section extends its thanks to everyone who participated in the SET, no matter what their capacity.

A detailed report on Operation Dark Start will follow as an article in an upcoming article in a future issue of THE WCF PRESSER, the bimonthly newsletter of the ARRL West Central Florida Section.

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ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION SET SCENARIO IS ANNOUNCED

Tonight on the Eagle Net, the following simulated scenario was announced for the ARRL West Central Florida Section Simulated Emergency Test (SET) which takes place tomorrow morning from 0900 through 1200.

“The following is a drill message.  At around 0700 EST today a fire at the transformer station next to the Nuclear power plant in Dade County, FL caused multiple power generating facilities to go offline.  The automatic protection systems created a domino effect, and has darkened most of the Gold Coast and Space Coast in eastern Florida.  A complicating factor is the recent opening of an AI Hub just west of Vero Beach, putting a heavy strain on the electrical grid.  The State has alerted all 67 counties, and local emergency managers are monitoring the progress of power restoration.  This is a drill, repeat this is a drill!!

ALL WCF Section ARRL Emergency Coordinators should plan on joining in on a radio planning net at 1000 Eastern Time, Saturday February, 7 2026 on the NI4CE analog repeater system.

All ARES personnel are to stay in communication with your local ARES Emergency Coordinator in your county for any instructions on how to participate in the SET.

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SECTION ARES SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST INFORMATION

This evening on the Eagle Net at 2030 Eastern Time, the scenario for the 2026 ARRL West Central Florida Section Simulated Emergency Test will be announced in the announcement portion of the net. All ARES members are encourage to monitor and or check in to this edition of the Eagle Net.

The Eagle Net is held daily at 2030 Eastern time on the NI4CE Repeater System. For repeater frequencies, go to https://ni4ce.org/ni4ce-repeater-map-frequencies/.

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NEW SECTION MANAGER APPOINTED

On Tuesday January 27, 2026, Jimmy Russ AB4KA, stepped down as Section Manager citing numerous health issues that would not allow him to devote the proper level of energy to the position.  After consultation with ARRL Headquarters, and our Division Director Mickey Baker N4MB, ARRL Headquarters has appointed Darrell Davis KT4WX to succeed Russ as the next Section Manager of the ARRL West Central Florida Section.

Davis has previously served as the 3rd Section Manager of the ARRL West Central Florida Section for three two year terms from January 2015 through December 2020.  Davis has served as Assistant Section Manager for Technology from January 2021 through January 2026, and as ARRL Technical Coordinator from January 2021 through January 2026.  Davis said the following concerning his appointment as Section Manager, “I am honored and humbled that ARRL HQ chose me to serve once again as your Section Manager.  I appreciate the dedication and hard work of all of our ARRL Station Level Appointees, the devotion of our ARRL members, and all amateur radio operators here in our Section.  Looking forward to renewing many acquaintances and friendships made when I was previously our Section Manager.”

Davis’ appointment as Section Manager became effective on Sunday February 1, 2026. Davis will be the 6th Section Manager of the ARRL West Central Florida Section

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ANNUAL ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION SIMULATED EMERGENCY TEST IS THIS WEEKEND.

The Annual ARRL West Central Florida Section Simulated Emergency Test (SET) for 2026 will be held on Saturday February 7, 2026.  The Simulated Emergency Test for the ARRL West Central Florida Section is usually held in the winter or spring months here in the ARRL West Central Florida Section, instead of being held during the traditional ARRL Simulated Emergency Test period on the first weekend of October.  This is due to potential impacts from a tropical storm or hurricane being high during the month of October.

The SET will be called “DARK START”. The scenario for the SET will be announced on Friday February 6, 2026, during the EAGLE NET, which starts at 2030 Eastern Time.  The SET is scheduled to run on Saturday February 7, 2026 from 0900 through 1200.  All ARES personnel are encouraged to listen in and or participate in the EAGLE NET on Friday evening February 7, 2026.

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THE WCF ARES COMMUNICATOR FOR FEBRUARY 2026 IS PUBLISHED.

The February 2026 issue of THE ARES COMMUNICATOR, is now available for download on the ARES COMMUNICATOR page located at https://arrlwcf.org/home/wcf-ares-communicator.  This issue features a guest column from Mike Drake WA1RYQ, training officer for Pinellas County ACS/ARES.  Also the monthly reports for December 2025 are listed as well.

All issues will be archived on this page for current and historical reference.

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HF SECTION ARES NET CANCELLATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2026

The ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Net on 3940 KHz at 0730 EDT, will be cancelled on Saturday February 7, 2026 due to the ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Simulated Emergency Test that is scheduled on that morning.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Net on 3940 KHz at 0730 EDT, will be cancelled on Saturday February 14, 2026 due to Orlando Hamcation, which is that weekend.

The net will return to normal operation on Saturday February 21, 2026.  All other Section Net will operate through this period as scheduled.

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FLORIDA QSO PARTY FOR 2026 SET FOR APRIL 25 – 26

The 2026 Florida QSO Party will be held from 1600Z April 25, 2026 (1200 EDT – April 25,2026) to 0159Z April 26th, 2026 (2159 EDT – April 25, 2026), and 1200Z-2159Z, April 26th, 2026 (0800-1759 EDT – April 26, 2026).  The Florida QSO Party is sponsored by the Florida Contest Group.  Since it’s re-introduction to the contest scene in 1998, the Florida QSO Party has become one of the fastest growing and most popular State QSO Parties around today. This is due, in part, to the tremendous effort by the mobile teams to activate as many counties as they can in order to allow those participating from out-of-state, to achieve a county “Sweep” (working all 67 Florida Counties: https://floridaqsoparty.org/florida-county-abbreviations/).

Florida stations operating from home are also valuable, since that increases the chances that stations will work all counties! Regardless if you are a serious or casual participant from Florida, or from outside of Florida, the Florida QSO Party was designed to be a FUN operating event. Why not give it a try.

For full details on the Florida QSO Party, including the rules and how to submit an entry you may go to https://floridaqsoparty.org/

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FLORIDA PARKS ON THE AIR UPDATE

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