Lake Wales Repeater Association - Lake Wales, Florida L.W.R.A.
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Lake Wales Repeater Association History
The truth according to Sam - W4KUM
(The only founder still around to tell the tale!)

Okay Sam, make it up as you go along...( He's working on it )

While Sam is doctoring our history up, below is a good compilation of LWRA history by Rick - WB9IJW

...And yes we know the history file needs to be updated quite a bit, by about 12 years!
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The Beginning
Once upon a time three Amateurs said, "Let's have a Repeater", or it might have gone this way- "who was it that said Let's have a Repeater". Well either way (W4KUM, W4PGH, and K4TQA) were the three responsible individuals and we are all very thankful they did.

Of course it takes many things time, money, equipment, people, and etc. to get one started and the following is a list of those as of record who had it not been for them, L.W.R.A as we know it today, would not be!

-by Rick WB9IJW

Facts
WB4WEH Del Replogle Principal benefactor for LWRA
Non-Ham Dan Keith Expert Tower Climber
AD4C Jim Fredricks Acquired and financed GE Master and donated controller
Non-Ham Max Kimbrall Dist. Mgr. of Storrer Cable, Secured tower site and donated hardline
WB4T Bill Wingate Secured Original shed, UHF Repeater, and cabling


Approximate Dates and Data
1974 Freq. 146.19/79 Assigned. Motorola Receiver. Transmitter unknown.
1975 Given tower site by Max Kimbrall 04/18/75. (Storrer cable site)
1976 147.33/93 assigned by Florida Repeater Council 02/29/76. Florida coast to coast coverage
1978 Acquired GE Master VHF repeater. Also acquired Cavities.
1984 New ID'er and tone board 02/29/84.
1986 UHF Repeater Freq. Assigned by Florida Repeater Council.
1989 Donations for new Repeater begins. Also Larry Prelog - KE4PM removed unused hardline from tower per Storrer Cable instructions.
1990 In July new Spectrum VHF Repeater ordered. New Repeater installed 12/21/90.
1991 On 7/29/91 New 2 Meter Cavities received.
  ? Big memory gap?
2004 =January 4 Club web site 're-born' with active content.
=June 26 First club Field Day event. Had a cook out too. This was a big hit with members.
=Aug. 13 to Sept. 26 Hurricane Charley, Frances, and Jeanne come though Lake Wales. Charley breaks antenna and Jeanne bends pole.
=November 20 Repeater back on the air after storms. Site: Lake Wales 'Y' on a 50' tower.
2005 =January 2 Repeater shed moved from long term storage and operational at 'Y' site.
=March 12 Cookout / Radio Day. Club sponsored event held at the Kiwanis Park.
=June 15 Lightning strike destroys antenna, damages Repeater and it's support equipment.
=June 25 Our 2nd Club sponsored Field Day and picnic was very successful.
=July 16 Repeater back on the Air after June lightning strike.
=September 4 six LWRA members provided safety check points for 2005 Sebring bike tour.
2006 =January 6 LWRA Repeater callsign change approved by FCC. Now K4LKW Repeater.
=February 4 Members participate in the "Freeze Your Buns Off" CW QRP contest.
=February 18 LWRA table at the Sebring Hamfest.
=March 28 Club picnic, vintage radio display, and mini-Foxhunt.
=June 24 Our 3rd Club sponsored Field Day and picnic, successful and growing.
=July 30 Members participate in the Flight of the Bumble Bees CW QRP contest.
=November 18 Lost our 'Y' Repeater site location.
2007 =February 17 LWRA table at the Sebring Hamfest. Tables so full we needed more tables!
=March 1 City of Lake Wales provides new home for our repeater on a water tower.
=March 10 Club picnic. Comfortable WX, door prizes and great food.
=September 2 three LWRA members provided checkpoints for the 2007 Sebring bike tour.
=December ? The transistor turns 60 years old. We have a few of those in our repeater!
=December 27 Dan Marquis/Central Florida Tower, donates hardline, installs new 4 bay ant.
2008 =January 4 First reversed-polarity sunspot signals new solar cycle. Wait a few more years...
=February 14 Spectrum and entire repeater system overhaul by John KC4KLM completed.
=February 16 LWRA table at the Sebring Hamfest.
=April 2 LWRA repeater back on the air thanks to City of Lake Wales, using water tower.


Meeting Places - Past to Present
Winter Haven Mall - Girls Club Building - Lake Wales City Hall - Bartow Air Base - Lake Wales Florida Power Building - Lake Wales Methodist - Eagle Ridge Mall Conference Room - And presently the Lake Wales Y.M.C.A.
 :: History
2006 Lake Wales Repeater Association