Welcome to the Shore Point Amateur Radio Club W1SPC
Put a little SPARC in your life!
147.505
224.040
224.500
442.500
Welcome to the Shore Point Amateur Radio Club W1SPC
Put a little SPARC in your life!
147.505
224.040
224.500
442.500
Club News & Activities
Who we are
This South Central Connecticut area amateur radio club offers four repeaters, two with EchoLink and IRLP. Members enjoy weekly breakfast get togethers. We sponsor several weekly nets on the Club repeaters where any amateur operator is welcome. We also assist with volunteer events, such as walk-a-thons throughout the year.
Newly licensed hams or those just new to the SPARC repeaters are always welcome!
SPARC’s repeaters now run on DRC
For the past 2 months, our 147.505 repeater ran DRX (Digital Repeater Xpander), which worked alongside a commercial controller to add features it didn’t have. All three repeaters are now run by DRC (Digital Repeater Controller), a complete repeater controller written by Brian, K1SOX. Because the software is our own, it can be improved or changed whenever the club needs something new.
DRC handles up to 16 ports, including radio ports and internet (VoIP) links. The 224.040 and 442.500 repeaters now each have their own AllStarLink node.
The links for the SPARC Net are now direct instead of going through IRLP, so there is much less delay and the audio quality is much better.
What’s new for members
The features 147.505 users already know now work on all three repeaters:
- S-meter and quieting signal reports
- Echo test, to hear how your own audio sounds
- Spoken weather alerts and conditions
- Newsline played on the air
- Listening live from a browser on the club’s public page, where you can pick which repeater you hear in each ear
Personal courtesy tones and IDs for members stay on 147.505.
All Star Link Added to 3 of the SPARC Repeaters!
Nodes 44379, 41703, 41833
The All Star VoIP Link system was recently added to the 224.040 and 442.500. Superior audio and low latency! This is in addition to the ASL node on the 147.505.
SPARC Meetings
The next SPARC meeting is April 12, 2027
SPARC normally meets on the second Monday of April and September at 7:00 P.M. We meet at the Twin Pines Diner at 34 Main Street, East Haven. Check back for updates! Talk-in is the 442.500 repeater.
The meetings are open to all!
SPARC 2026 Summer Gathering!
Saturday July 18, 2026
Thank you to everyone who attended, especially Robert K1MJL and Scott AA1WM for there major contributions to making this a success!
Please see the Media Section for pictures!
New repeater to be installed for 224.500!
The old HiPro repeater has had issues for some time at the Northford site. A new Bridgecom repeater was ordered to replace it. After the DRX project has wrapped up, we will be replacing this repeater. Check back on the website for progress updates.
SPARC 30 Year Anniversary!
Thank you to all who attended the 30 year celebration of SPARC! It was a great success!
Look for upcoming pictures and video on this site in the Media Section. Anyone who has media from the event is welcome to post it on the SPARC Facebook page!
Club Dues / Donations
There are many Club expenses, if you use the SPARC repeaters, please consider a donation.
Please go to the INFO / DONATION section of this site. You can use a credit card, PayPal or mail a check.
Thank you!
Breakfast Net!
Saturday Mornings at 9:30!
Brenda, KW1YL runs the breakfast net for those not attending the actual Club breakfast. Please check in on the 442.500 on Saturday mornings at 9:30 for the SPARC Breakfast Net.
Way Back Machine
Take a look at what the SPARC website looked like in 2007 and in the 90s!
This website and a Club email service were maintained at K1SOX's house on several servers. Here is the link - Wayback Machine (archive.org)
By the way, our original domain was sparcweb.net and prior to that, we were a subdomain on QSL.net - qsl.net/sparc. Here is a look at what the site look like back in the 90s - Shore Point Amateur Radio Club (archive.org). A lot of the graphics are missing, but you get the idea. Very simplistic by today's standards.
SPARC's website first went live on March 8, 1998.
Additional Activities
Saturday Morning Breakfast
Currently, there are no "in person" breakfasts. In the past, we have had these gatherings on Saturdays mornings. If any club members wish to start this up again, lets us know!
Club Net - Wednesday at 8 PM
Week 1 - Brenda KW1YL
Week 2 - Brian K1SOX
Week 3 - Meyer AA1NQ
Week 4 - NEED NCS
Week 5 - Craig W1MHz
If we get any others who would like to run the net to give the regulars a night off, please email nets at sparc.us! Thank you and looking forward to hearing you on the net!
Check out the MURG Net!
Check out the KW1MH Net on Tuesdays at 6 PM on the 442.500.
Your net control is Brenda, KW1YL. She will be running the net from the MakeHaven Underground Radio Group's station. This net is open to all amateurs.
SKYWARN and Weather Nets
There are currently no Weather or SKYWARN Nets scheduled, however SPARC repeaters are available for these purposes.
SPARC Facebook Page
SPARC has had a Facebook page for several years but it seems some members are unaware of it. Although, you can always get the latest news here on our website, sparc.us, the Facebook page allows members to interact by posting and replying. Also some posts might not be "Club News" but something you would like to share with the other members. Members' posts will be in the Community section. Please check it out, like and follow the page. Just remember - facebook.com slash followed by our Club callsign!
Amateur Radio Newsline
Click the picture to listen.
Affiliations
