Below is the newsletter for February 26, 2024. I could use some help with the newsletter so we can keep sending one out weekly. If you can help, please let me know.
Steven Christy, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
NWS Weather Spotter Training on Thursday, February 29th in Guthrie
Believe it or not severe weather will be here before we know it. That means that the National Weather Service will be holding their annual weather spotter training soon. They recently released the schedule. There are 2 remaining online sessions and the closest remaining in-person session is Thursday, February 29th in Guthrie at Meridian Technology Center. It begins at 6:30pm. No reservation is required!
The recommendation is to take the class at least every other year. If at possible, please consider attending the class. Even if you have taken it before, you may learn something new!
A link to the full training schedule is below.
https://www.weather.gov/oun/spottertalk
Please consider attending the training on Thursday. I look forward to seeing many of you there!
Ham Holiday – July 26-27, 2024!
Preregistration for Ham Holiday 2024 is now open!!!!
Ham Holiday 2024 will be on Friday, 26 July and Saturday, 27 July at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC). Preregistration tickets are available on the Ham Holiday website at hamholiday.com/tix.
More information on prizes, forums, special drawing, and other Ham Holiday 2024 activities will be announced over the next few months. Please visit hamholiday.com regularly for all of the updated info!
Tickets Available Now – Click To Get Yours Today
Membership Renewal
EARS membership runs on an annual basis so it is time to renew your membership if you have not already done so. Renewing is as easy as completing the membership form on the Membership Form page. You can either pay at that time using a credit card via PayPal or you can mail in a check. The membership roster is purged of non-renewals at the end of March so be sure to renew soon!
If you have any questions, they can be directed to the membership coordinator, Chris, KD5OOJ, at membership@k5eok.org.
Membership Information Update
As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our records are up-to-date and to foster continuous engagement within the Edmond Amateur Radio Society, we kindly remind you to renew your membership for the upcoming year. Your active participation and support are the bedrock of our vibrant community.
I recently sent out an email verification to current members. This is an essential step in confirming that your contact information is accurate. If you received this verification email, please take a moment to review your info. If you see a correction that needs to be made, please reply with your details as necessary.
If you did not receive a verification email, it’s likely because:
1. Your membership needs renewal.
2. We have an incorrect email address on file.
In either case, please contact me at your earliest convenience to update your membership status or correct your email information.
membership@k5eok.org
https://k5eok.org/membership-form/
73s, Chris KD5OOJ
Medical Status Of Mac, K2GKK
Wednesday, February 21 Update
An update on Sam Smith’s, KI5SAM, visit with Mac this afternoon:
“Spent about two hours with Mac and Barbara. Mac is Mac and if wasn’t for the
setting, you wouldn’t know he is sick. Staff seems to love him. Tomorrow is
what seems like a tricky procedure on his neck. Probably not a good day to
visit, but please do after that. He hopes to go home on Monday. Says ‘Hi!’ to
everyone. Please send healing thoughts.”
…and now an update from Barbara:
“We don’t know what time the procedure will be yet, but it’s something in the
afternoon. Morning would probably be OK for a visit, but just check with me
first in case I have any updates.”
Thomas Webb
WA9AFM
PIO
OCAPA
Thursday, February 22 Update
An update from Barbara…
“Doc said he was headed there (ICU) after surgery, but apparently his vitals
were good enough that he didn’t need the ICU. Good news indeed.”
Thomas Webb
WA9AFM
PIO
OCAPA
Ham Corner
Just like many of you I woke up last Thursday, February 22nd to no cell service. Even though I grew up without it, I have become accustomed (and at times addicted) to having data service on a mobile device. I use it to stream music on my morning drive. What did I ever do without map navigation and turn-by-turn directions? Instead, my phone just displayed the dreaded SOS. I guess at least I could get a hold of 911 if necessary but I quickly had to adapt for my morning drive. I did quickly download some music so I would have something to listen to without having to listen to commercials.
We as amateur radio operators are in a position to adapt and continue to communicate in such situations. Our radios don’t require inter-connected towers or Internet connections. Both can be used but they are not required. Many VHF and UHF repeater sites have backup power so they can still operate during power outages. We have many different HF bands that can be used to talk nearby or around the world. Humans are communicators by nature and most of us amateurs are experts at it.
I ended up with the opportunity to discuss exactly this topic in an interview with KOCO Channel 5. Through a strange set of circumstances I was asked about giving an interview and it was all done less than 30 minutes later. It is amazing how a cell phone outages creates interest in alternative (and some would say “older”) forms of communication. Below is the story KOCO aired. The entire story is available on their website: https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-at-t-outages-nationwide-emergency-responders/46913670.
Logan County Emergency Management posted the following on Facebook:
This simple post exploded. Our emergency manager is very ham friendly and we have recently started an ARES group that has been pretty active. He received numerous comments, Facebook Messages and emails. In fact we quickly created an email address for people looking for info. One of the messages was from KOCO and they wanted an interview. When I was asked agreed because I figured it was a good opportunity to mention amateur radio. They were really interested in hearing about us!
We are in a unique position to still have communication options when these events happen. Fortunately entire cell networks don’t go down often but it has happened before and it will happen again. The best thing each of you can do is to practice and be prepared. Make sure you know how to use your radio. Ensure it is programmed and working and that you know how to program it without having to use a computer. Use it regularly! EARS operates 2 repeaters that are open to anyone. Please use them. Field day is a great emergency exercise event.
Since I mentioned ARES I will include just a little bit about it here. Below is a summary of ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) from the ARRL website:
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
The goal of ARES is to help out in emergency situations. Our Logan County team has helped most recently with a search for a missing person last October. With the wildfire threat the next few days, the team is prepared to assist. Training is part of program and details can be found on the ARRL website.
There are numbers ARES groups in different counties around the state. Oklahoma ARES info can be found on the aresok.org website.
In summary, we should all be prepared and know how to use our radios when the time comes. Take a few minutes to make sure your HT batteries are charged, several local repeaters are programmed along with some simplex frequencies. Talk on the repeater. Most of us don’t bite. Please ask questions. That is what we are here for. Just remember that everything was new to someone at one point!
The Logan County ARES group can be contacted at info@wx5lgn.org if you have any ARES questions. If you have any questions about anything radio (or EARS) related, feel free to contact us at k5eok@k5eok.org and we will do our best to help.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Stockyards City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be here before you know it. The date this year is Saturday, March 16th. It is a great starter parade if you have never helped with one before. I highly recommend it. Usually the reporting time is 8am and the parade is over by 11am.
The signup form is live on the website at the link below. Please check your calendar and consider helping!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade Signup
If there are any questions, please contact Brandy, K5GBN, at parades@k5eok.org.
Oklahoma QSO Party
The Oklahoma QSO Party 2024 is March 9-10, 2024. It runs from 1500 – 0200 UTC on Saturday and 1500 – 2100 UTC Sunday. That is 9am to 8pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. All of the info can be found on the k5cm.com website.
Please consider participating!
EARS Volunteers
I am sure all of you are aware that EARS is an entirely volunteer organization. That means we alway need volunteers. There are many tasks to get done and the more we share the load, the more this club will be able to do!
Below is a summary of just some of the events and activities in which the club participates:
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
LibertyFest Parade
Cowboy Christmas Parade
Cycle 66 Bike Race
Monthly Siren Test
Weekly Information Net – 52 Net Control Volunteers
Monthly VE Test Session
Bi-Monthly Club Dinner – 5 Dinners
Christmas Dinner
Technician License Class – Spring and Fall
Field Day – Also One of the Club Dinners
Severe Weather Spotting
This list does not include all of the administrative and management function of the club. The website needs frequent updates, this newsletter needs to be written, etc.
What does all this mean? It means We Need You! If you are able to help in any way, please let us know. Even if you are unsure how to help or where you might best fit, please let us know and we will work with you to find the best fit.
If you are willing to help, please contact us at k5eok@k5eok.org. That will send a message to both myself, Steven, N5ZQ, and Clay, WA6LBU and we will be in touch!
March Siren Test
The next Edmond Siren Test is Saturday, March 2nd. If you are a regular who is unable to help that day or if you would like to be added to the list to help, please send an email to Clay, WA6LBU, at sirens@k5eok.org.
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
Please read the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon info below from Gayland and consider volunteering if you are available.
Registration is open for volunteering for the communications unit that supports the Oklahoma City Marathon. Last year we had more than 70 amateur radio operators supporting the nearly 19,000 runners over a two-day period. Amateurs helped with logistical tasks, such as providing information on locations of the head and rear of the races, supported delivery of ice and water to the various water stops, provided communications at each of the medical stations, gave real-time information to relay team members readying to make their exchanges, and in general provided another set of eyes and ears for the Marathon operations leaders as well as the public safety responders.
The Marathon events we support will be on Saturday April 27th and Sunday April 28th. We’ll need folks on Saturday to support the 5K race, Senior Marathon and Kids Marathon; and then a full contingent of communicators to support the full/half marathons on Sunday.
Register to volunteer for either or both days by going to the Marathon website at https://okcmarathon.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=76852&job_name=Auxiliary%20Communications . When you’re asked for a password or code, enter 20HAM24 ; this takes you directly to our communications section of the volunteer registration. If you have a preferred location to work or preferred hams to partner with, there’s a place for you to enter that as well.
For planning purposes, this year’s pre-event meeting will be on Monday evening, April 22nd, at the Oklahoma City Fire Training Center (more details to come).
Please feel free to share this far and wide among your fellow hams; this event requires as many people as we can provide. And yes, we’ll be making recruiting visits to the various clubs shortly.
Thank you for your participation in last year’s event and we’ll hope to see you this year too!
WX5MOR / Gayland
2024 Auxiliary Communications Unit Leader
gkitch@cityofmoore.com cell 405-834-6304
Field Day 2024
We have hit a bit of a hiccup with our Field Day site. Unfortunately the fire station is not available. We have a possible site that needs to be approved by the board. Once that is done, I will let everyone know.
Regardless of the site, we do need to start our preparations and we will need all of your help in order to be successful. Please consider helping. If you are able to help in any way, please contact myself, Steven, N5ZQ (n5zq@n5zq.us) and let me know!
2024 Green Country Hamfest – April 12th& 13th in Claremore, Oklahoma
Pre-Reregistration is OPEN!
2024 Green Country Hamfest – April 12th& 13th in Claremore, Oklahoma.
Only 30 minutes from Tulsa!
Claremore Expo, 400 Veterans Parkway, Claremore, OK, 74017
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/X9kEa
Talk-in on: 147.09+
Free Parking!!! – Low Cost ON-SITE RV Parking!
Terrific Prizes! Fantastic Forums – Learn something new! See
Flea Market – Great Bargains!
Free Test Table – Check It Before You Buy It!
On-site VE Testing Get or upgrade your license!
Advance admission is $8.00.
Preregistered Tables are $15.00 each.
Commercial booths are $50.00 each.
Tickets are $10.00 at the door.
Tables are $20.00 at the door.
Order early and save!
Online Preregistration Closes
March 31, 2024
Several Commercial Tables remaining
and Flea Market Tables remaining
Children 12 and under are Free!
Friday open to public at 4 PM to 9 PM
Saturday open to public 8 AM to 3 PM
Setup Friday 12:00PM.
Setup at 7:00AM Saturday until 8:00AM.
More info at http://www.greencountryhamfest.org
Space Weather
Space (Solar) Weather is important is impacts our radio communication. While the greatest impact is usually on HF frequencies, it can also impact VHF, UHF and even higher frequencies. The video below comes from a YouTube page that is updated frequently with new space weather reports. I encourage you to watch her channel for updates when you can as it is very educational.
Web Links
Here are a few links to other websites that may be of interest.
- ARRL (American Radio Relay League) – https://arrl.org
- CORA (Central Oklahoma Radio Amateurs) – https://coraok.org
- Ham Holiday (OKC Hamfest) – https://hamholiday.com
- ARRL Oklahoma Section – https://ok.arrl.org
- South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS)
- DMR Info – https://w5nor.org/okdmr/
- They have lots of other good info on their website such as modes of operation, weather/emergency info etc.
- ARES
- ARRL ARES – https://www.arrl.org/ares
- OK ARES – https://aresok.org
Upcoming Events
- EARS Information Net – Every Monday at 8pm
- Technician Class – Starts Tuesday, January 30th at 6:30pm to 8:30pm and runs for 9 weeks
- Skywarn Weather Spotter Training – Thursday, February 29th at 6:30pm – Meridian Technology Center at 3025 S. Division Street in Guthrie
- EARS Licensing Testing – Saturday, March 2nd at 8am – Sign Up on License Testing page
- Edmond Siren Test – Saturday, March 2nd at 11:30am
- Oklahoma QSO Party – March 9-10
- March Board Meeting – Tuesday, March 12th at 7pm at Edmond Fire Station 5, 5300 E Covell
- Stockyards City St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Saturday, March 16th – Signup Form Now Live!
- Green Country Hamfest – April 12th and 13th
- April EARS Dinner – Thursday, April 18th at 6:30pm
- Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon – April 27th and 28th
- All Ham Dinner – May 9th at 6pm at Golden Palace Buffet at 1224 South Air Depot Boulevard
- Ham Holiday – July 26th and 27th
