Category: News

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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THE WCF PRESSER FOR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 IS NOW PUBLISHED

THE WCF PRESSER for January/February 2026, issue #69, has just been published and is now available for download from the Section website at https://arrlwcf.org/home/the-wcf-section-presser-arrl-west-central-florida-section-news/.

THE WCF PRESSER production team is composed of Darrell Davis KT4WX, Assistant Section Manager for Technology, as editor, and Russ Delaney N4RTD Assistant Section Manager for Digital Communications, as layout coordinator.  In order to continue to publish THE WCF PRESSER, content is needed.  The editors are not “mind readers” and your submissions are definitely needed.  If your amateur radio club or group is having an activity or event, write it up and send it to Darrell Davis KT4WX via email at kt4wx@arrl.net.  The submission format does not matter and the production team can work with any format.  Pictures being included is encouraged.

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THE WCF ARES COMMUNICATOR FOR JANUARY 2026 IS PUBLISHED.

The January 2026 issue of THE ARES COMMUNICATOR, is now available for download on the new ARES COMMUNICATOR page located at https://arrlwcf.org/home/wcf-ares-communicator.  This issue features a guest column from Gary Bishop K4GHB, who is with Polk County ARES.

All issues will be archived on this page for current and historical reference.

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CHRIS BLOXSOM AA4CB APPOINTED AS ARRL AFFILIATED CLUB COORDINATOR

On Monday December 15, 2025, Chris Bloxsom AA4CB was appointed to be the new ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, by Jimmy Russ AB4KA, Section Manager.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Bloxsom was first licensed in 1985, upgraded his license to General class in 2000, and then to Extra class in 2016.  Bloxsom has served as an ARRL Public Information Officer in Pasco County for a number of years, and is currently active in the East Pasco Amateur Radio Club, along with several other amateur radio clubs.

Jimmy Russ AB4KA,  had the following comments to say about the appointment of Bloxsom as Affiliated Club Coordinator, “The West Central Florida section has a new Affiliated Club Coordinator, Chris Bloxsom, AA4CB.  Chris has been an amateur radio operator since 1985 and has lived in Florida since 2000.  He is active in several clubs and will be an even greater asset to the West Central Florida section during the upcoming “Year of the Club” in 2026.  Welcome aboard, Chris!  We’re happy to have you.”

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