From the "What in the heck is that?" Category

This is the latest contraption from the "Skunk Works" located in the Shack of Chris - KF4WNB. He, along with Chris - KD4MPN, re-discomboobalated an old TV antenna resulting in the creature pictured here.

According to KF4WNB, this is a "Fox Hunting" rig. However, it is still unclear if the device is designed to 'hear' the electronic critter or focus a beam of RF radiation on it and smoke it! To say the appearance of this piece of gear is 'strange' would be redundant considering the source of the desgn.

Residents in Chris' neighborhood are reporting numerous instances of spontaneous activation of garage doors and wireless pet collars coinciding with the testing of this piece of equipment . . . hmmm ... although no direct link has been made.

I think a contest is in order to name it. I will prime the pump with my submission:

"Buzzard Catcher"

Please submit your entry to gmwinslo@bellsouth.net . Who knows, we may even come up with a prize for the winner!

GMWinslow - N4GMW
President- WTARS

Lambuth Area Fall Harvest Arts Festival

On Saturday October 11, 2008, WTARS and the Jackson Madison-Co EMA Community Emergency Response Team program participated in the 2008 Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association Fall Harvest Arts Festival. This public information event was held on the front lawn of Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee.

The event was well attended and the weather was perfect. Mike - N4GMW had a station set up at the event assisted by Jimmy Owen - W4JHO and Tim Clark -KB4RPV with Phillip Julian - KG4NVN. Contacts were made from around the country including another Fall Festival in Batavia, Ill. The Fox River Radio Club was set up at the Scarecrow Festival there for a similar event.

Bagels and Bluegrass Bicycle Century Tour

The Bagels and Bluegrass Ride across Southwest Tennessee is a bicycle ride featuring Southwest Tennessee’s State Parks and scenic roads. The 100 mile route has a total climb of greater than 7,000 feet. The ride begins with a breakfast of bagels at the staging area located at Jackson State Community College, on the corner of State Highway 412 (Parkway) and US 70 in Jackson, Tennessee. Featured stops include Pinson Mounds State Archaeological Area, the largest Middle Woodland Indian Complex in the Southeast, consisting of at least 15 earthen mounds; and Chickasaw State Park, near Henderson, Tennessee.

The West Tennessee Amateur Radio Society, as it has in years past, provided communication services for this event. Throughout the day, radio operators tracked over 100 bicycle riders through as series of six checkpoints with information relayed to our Net control station located in our communication trailer parked at Jackson State Community College.

Congratulations to all who participated in today's event. You did a great job and enhanced the character and reputation of WTARS and Ham Radio in the process.

GMWinslow, President

WTARS