Technical Support – Getting technical help when in need

Darrell Davis KT4WX – ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Coordinator

PURPOSE FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT

“Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communications and technical phases of the art.”  [FCC Rules Part 97.1(c)]

One of the five main tenants of the amateur radio service is technical advancement and advancing the technical abilities and skills of the amateur radio operator.

RESOURCES FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT

ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION TECHNICAL NET
Every Thursday evening at 2100 (9:00 P.M.)  –  NI4CE Repeater System.
Jim Peterson AF2W – Net Manager – af2w@tampabay.rr.com

Established in 2001, if you have a technical question in any phase of amateur radio, bring your question to the ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Net.  There are ARRL Technical Specialists who check in on the net that either can answer your question or can refer to someone who can.  The net is held on the NI4CE Repeater System and Jim Peterson AF2W is the Net Manager.  Click on the link just given for a list of repeaters and a coverage map.  Net Controls for this net currently are:

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THE “WCF EXPERIMENTER”:  The official ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Newsletter

Established in 2001 and rebooted in 2013, The WCF EXPERIMENTER has articles mostly written by one our ARRL Technical Specialists or other hams here in the state of Florida, or on occasion a reprint from sources not read too widely.  All past issues of the WCF EXPERIMENTER are archived on the WCF EXPERIMENTER page.

If you wish to submit an article for the WCF EXPERIMENTER you can submit the article to Jim Weslager K3WR our Assistant Section Managger for Publications.  You can submit those via email to Jim at weslager@gmail.com.  Jim can work with almost any format so do not hesitate to write it up and send it in.  All material will be screened in order to keep from publishing any material that is harmful.

For all issues past and present of the WCF EXPERIMENTER, please click here.

TECHCON – The Annual ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Conference.

Established in 2015, TECHCON is the main annual conference for the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  Held towards the end of February of each year, TECHCON is where amateur radio operators do presentations on technical topics in amateur radio.  The conference runs for two days and the following events occur:

  • Friday Afternoon Workshop:  Instituted at TECHCON 2019, this is a hands on four hour workshop on a topic of technology that is amateur radio related.
  • Friday Evening Social:  Instituted at TECHCON 2017, this is a “meet and eat” social at a local restaurant where TECHCON attendees and presenters can meet and socialize.  The conversations can be just about any topic.
  • Saturday General Session:  Consists of six 50 minute presentation time periods.  Topic of presentation are up to the presenter, as long as they are amateur radio related.  Mostly has two different presentations running in each time slot.

For details about TECHCON including links to present and past presentations at TECHCON, please click here

WCF SECTION TECHNICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENTS

The following below is a list of documents that are specific related to technical issue here in the West Central Florida Section:

WCF Section Radio Repair Facilities

WHERE TO FIND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

SUBMIT A TECHNICAL QUESTION FOR OUR SECTION HERE ONLINE

If you have a Technical Question and cannot wait for the ARRL WCF Technical Net you can fill out our online contact form and submit your questions.  Geoff will be glad to answer your question or refer it to one of our ARRL Technical Specialists.

Click here for the online Contact and Information Form.  Give us a day or two to service your inquiry.

CONTACT ONE OF OUR ARRL TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Check back here.  We will post a list of the ARRL Technical Specialist and their contact email as soon as it is available.

ARRL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE

This resource is available to ARRL members (some parts of it non members can access).  It is a one stop resource for technical assistance that is very well done by ARRL Headquarters.  The following are the most popular features:

READY AND ABLE TO HELP?  BECOME AN ARRL TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Amateur Radio Operators who are interested in promoting technical advancements are encouraged to apply for a Technical Specialist (TS) appointment. You may apply to be an ARRL Technical Specialist by filling out an online ARRL Station Appointment Application

There are two main areas of responsibility: Radio Frequency Interference and Technical Information.  Technical Specialists can specialize in a specific area or can be a generalist.   Some examples of TS duties are:

  • Serve as a technical advisor to local hams and clubs. Correspond by telephone and letter on tech topics. Refer correspondents to other sources if specific topic is outside TS’s knowledge.
  • Serve as advisor in radio frequency interference issues. RFI can drive a wedge in neighbor and city relations. It will be the TS with a cool head who will resolve problems. Local hams will come to you for guidance in dealing with interference problems.
  • Speak at local clubs on popular tech topics. Let local clubs know you’re available and willing.
  • Represent ARRL at technical symposiums in industry; serve on CATV advisory committees; advise municipal governments on technical matters.
  • Work with other ARRL officials and appointees when called upon for technical advice, especially in emergency communications situations where technical prowess can mean the difference in getting a communications system up and running, the difference between life and death.
  • Handle other miscellaneous technically-related tasks assigned by the Technical Coordinator

If you are interested in applying for a Technical Specialist Appointment in the West Central Florida Section, you can fill out the online ARRL West Central Florida Section – Station Appointment Application Form.

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