OEMSecrets finds the best price on components

http://www.oemsecrets.com/

This site gives you prices from major parts houses as well a smaller shops.

Dennis O. "Sparky" Sparks WB4NVB, SK

The Net was saddened to learn of the passing of Dennis O. "Sparky" Sparks of Maryville, TN.

WB4NVE served his country in the USAF, NASA, and as a researcher at ORNL.

The following is from his www.qrz.com profile; http://www.qrz.com/db/WB4NBE

---------------------------------------------

1961-1970: NASA MISSION CONTROL, CAPE CANAVERAL  SPACE CRAFT COMMUNICATIONS FOR MERCURY, GEMINI, AND APOLLO PROGRAMS. FLIGHT CONTROLLER NCS CONSOLE FOR NASA WORLD WIDE COMMUNICATION NETWORK.

1970-PRESENT: OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY, RF ENGINEER, STAR WARS, FUSION ENERGY, NASA MANNED MISSION TO MARS AND PLASMA ROCKET PROGRAMS.                                                                    

U.S. PATENT #5867020 - Cap coupled rf voltage probe with optimized flux linkage.

U.S. PATENT #5834931 - RF Current Sensor

FULL COLONEL IN USAF AUX/CAP RET. FLEW SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSIONS FOR 30 YR. SERVED AS DIR. OF OPERATIONS FOR 10 YR AND WING COMMANDER FOR THE STATE OF TENNESSEE FOR 4 YEARS.

HOBBIES: HAM RADIO, FLYING A/C, CIVIL WAR COLLECTOR

-----------------------------------------------------

Below is the link to the funeral home obituary, online guestbook, service time, etc:

http://www.mccammonammonsclick.com/obits.html

Dennis O. Sparks, age 71, died Sunday, November 18, at his home.  A Blount County native and a 1959 graduate of Maryville High School, he was preceded in death by his parents, Olan and Mary Charles Sparks and daughter-in-law, Melissa Sparks.

Survivors include wife of 34 years, Adele K. Sparks; children, Angie (Phil) Menken, Dennis Sparks, Jr., Chris Conner, Bo (Treva) Conner and Adele Conner; grandchildren, David and Olivia Blankenbeckler, Britany and Joe (Tiffany) Menken, Megan, Carmen and Christopher (Kimberly) Conner, and Misty Daniels and 10 great grandchildren.

A man of many accomplishments, his 8 year employment with NASA in Titusville, FL and a 42 year career with ORNL, Oak Ridge, in Research and Development enabled him to be a part of history and amazing technology discoveries.  Dennis was a 35 year member of Civil Air Patrol as an air rescue pilot, and achieved the rank of Colonel during his tenure as Tennessee Wing Commander.  He was a life-long ham radio operator, call sign Wb4nbe.  Other hobbies included photography, pontoon boating, travel, volunteering for Alzheimer’s, TN Association (where he took great pride serving as “Grill Master” of the annual Foothills Memory Walks each fall at Maryville College), and giving unconditional love and support to his extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 23rd at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home from 5-7:00 p.m.  A graveside service will be conducted by Rev. Jeff Wadley at Old Mt. Tabor Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 24th.  The funeral procession will depart McCammon-Ammons-Click at 10:30 a.m.

- text of obituary from funeral home

W4HKL

Tennessee QSO Party September 02, 2012

September 02 2012 starting at 1800

Follow the link below to the official site for much more information regarding bands, rules, etc!

http://tnqp.org/wp/

95 Year Old Stays Young With Amateur Radio

Story at the Commercial Appeal:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jul/15/radio-man-95-keeps-mind-sharp-with-on-air/

Dave Goggio W4OGG

photo via Commercial Appeal

AmateurLogic Echolink Roundtable Net This Monday Night

AmateurLogic.TV

The AmateurLogic Echolink Roundtable net is this Monday night (Tonight) at 8:30 Central time. The net will be held on Echolink at the DODROPINconference server, node number 355800.

The net is also hosted by Joe Mattern (WX4ADX) on D-Star Reflector 14, Module C at 9:00 Central.

Here is your chance to discuss the show with us. Tell us what you like or don’t like about AmateurLogic.TV. The current episode is about the NAB Show. Drop by and tell how you liked it?

AmateurLogic and Ham Nation streaming live from Dayton

Here's the link:

http://www.amateurlogic.tv/dayton

Since work is keeping me stuck in East TN as usual, I think I'll take a look during my down-time this weekend.

Steve, W4HKL

Introducing Gmail Tap

Google's April Fool product announcement.  Bringing Morse Code to the masses on mobile phones...
not a bad idea, actually.

I give them an "A" for putting a smile on my face during a stressful week.



Steve, W4HKL