Below is the newsletter for March 4, 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.
I would like to thank Chuck, KP4DJT, Clay, WA6LBU and Marv, N5QIM for their contributions this week.
Steven Christy, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
Bob Heil, K9EID – SK
Bob Heil, K9EID, founder of Heil Sound, noted musician, and active amateur radio Podcast host has become SK.
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
Ham Corner
I am going to attempt to address one of most frequently-asked questions of new hams and even more seasoned veterans. What radio should I purchase?
The simple non-answer is the radio that meets your needs and that you can afford. The real question is what does this mean? There are so many options and selecting a radio can be a very personal decision. What is your goal? Are you looking for a 2m only? Would you like a 2m/70cm dual-band? Do you want an HT that is portable or a mobile radio? Maybe you would like to get into HF? There are shack-in-a-box radios that have HF/VHF/UHF all in the same radio. There are so many options it can be daunting.
I will do my best to provide some useful info but just remember these are my opinions. If you ask 15 hams their opinion on this topic, you will likely get 15 different answers.
Many new hams start out with an HT of some sort. When I started out many years ago even old used HTs were quite expensive. Today you can purchase a Baofeng from Amazon for well under $50. It will work but it is a very basic radio and it can be difficult to program without a computer. Many models are also known to have lots of spurious emissions which can be an issue. Just remember you get what you pay for.
If you are looking for an expensive HT, I would look at the Yaesu FT-65 or the Yaesu FT-70. These are both dual-band 2m/70cm HTs that operate on one frequency at a time. They are slightly more expensive than a Baofeng but the quality is much higher.
On the mobile front, Icom and Yaesu each have a couple of mobile radios that would be good options. Icom has the IC-V3500 which is 2m only and also the IC-2730 which is dual band 2m/70cm. The IC-2730 can receive 2 frequencies simultaneously. Yaesu has the FTM-6000 which is dual band but only one frequency at a time. They also have the FTM-200, FTM-300 and FTM-500. These 3 radios are similar with the FTM-500 being their flagship. The FTM-200, FTM-300 and FTM-500 also support the Yaesu System Fusion digital mode. I am mentioning it but I am not covering digital modes this week. I will cover at a later time.
I have found some really good videos that go through a good selection of radios and summarize their features. None of them are all-inclusive but they do give you a good idea of what is available. I am including a few that I think are helpful and are fairly recent.
Again, it is difficult to find agreement on radio recommendations. Everyone has their own opinion but hopefully this points some of you in the right direction. Just remember that we (EARS) are here to help you! If you have any question at all, please contact us so we can help.
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.
Ham Corner – Digital Tech
This week Chuck, KP4DJT, has written the first in a series of articles about AREDN. The AREDN website is arednmesh.org.
AREDN Part One
What is AREDN?
A very good question. In Amateur Radio it means Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network. It is a modern way to communicate using radio rather than the internet, but the tools used in AREDN are those used on the internet. At the technical level it is a mesh of nodes that when setup will link with each other if they have RF visibility with neighbouring nodes.
In Oklahoma we are in the process of building out this network. At this point in time we have nodes in central Oklahoma, Enid, Duncan, Lawton, and all through Potawatomi County. The services offered are e-mail, texting, VoIP, video, video cameras, file transfer, remote access and remote command and control.
This is a map of the active nodes in Oklahoma as seen on the dynamic map, you may visit it at the following URL:
https://meshmap.aredn.mcswain.dev/#
This map also will allow you to view all of the active station on the planet that are interconnected over the network. The dashed lines are tunnels we use them to get folks on the air. Then we start the process of moving them to RF. We have had a lot of growth, we need RF sites to get more folks on line. Below are some pictures of node sites (some future) and gear used in the nodes
This is the equipment box mounted on one of the legs of the tower. The white box is the AREDN router, the rest is to manage the solar panels and battery which is on the ground next to the tower.
This is a future node site. We have been given permission to put node gear on the deck below the cell site. This will give us RF connectivity with OKC and both a launch point for a link northward and also links to the east and west.
The cost of the devices used in the networking part is very reasonable, you can assemble a single antenna station for well under $200. The router in the shack will cost about $57, the antenna to link into the RF network is about $70. the rest is cat5/cat6 weather proof for the tower and perhaps a low cost dumb switch to accommodate more devices on the AREDN lan if you have more than 3.
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 Board Meeting
EARS holds a monthly board meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. The next board meeting is Tuesday, March 12 at 7pm. The meeting is in classroom A at Edmond Fire Station 5. Fire Station 5 is located at 5300 E Covell Rd which is just East of I-35.
We look forward to see you there!
NWS Weather Spotter Training
Thank you to everyone who attended the weather spotter training last Thursday in Guthrie. It was a really good presentation and it was great to see all of you there!
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
Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test – May 11, 2024
The Department of Defense will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD)
Crossband Test, scheduled for May 11, 2024. This annual event is open to all
licensed amateur radio operators and will not impact any public or private
communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken
part in this event, which is an interoperability exercise between hobbyist and
government radio stations.
– The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications
between military communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service
(ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111.
– Military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will
announce the specific ARS frequencies monitored. All times are ZULU (Z), and all
frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless otherwise noted.
– The following stations will be making two-way radiotelephone contacts with
stations in the ARS between the time periods listed on the frequencies listed in
Kilohertz below:
= AAC / BARROW ARMY RESERVE CENTER, KY (USB + RTTY)/ [1100Z – 2259Z]
4011.0 kHz USB / 5,346.5 kHz USB / 6,968.5 kHz USB/ 13,963.5 kHz USB/
18,254.0 kHz USB = AAN / U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND, CO (USB + RTTY) [1300Z – 2100Z]
6,970.5 kHz USB/ 14,550.5 kHz USB/
= AAZ / FT HUACHUCA, AZ [1500Z – 2359Z]
7,645.0 kHz USB/ 14,579.0 kHz USB/ 18,211.0 kHz USB = AFM4NPD / NAVAL SUPPORT
ACTIVITY MID-SOUTH, MILLINGTON, TN [1200Z – 2200Z]
4,575.0 kHz USB/ 7,540.0 kHz USB/ 13,993.0 kHz USB = AGA0WJ/ NAS WHIDBEY
ISLAND OAK HARBOR, WA (USB + RTTY) [1600Z – 2200Z]
5,403.5 kHz USB/ 7,431.5 kHz USB/ 13,528.5 kHz USB/ 18,272.5 kHz USB = AGA2SY
/ HANCOCK FIELD, NY [1200Z – 2000Z]
4,540.0 kHz USB/ 7,473.5 kHz USB/ 15,807.0 kHz USB/ 19,955.0 kHz USB/
20,740.0 kHz USB / 27,736.0 kHz USB = AGA5SC / SCOTT AFB, IL [1600Z – 2300Z]
5,186.0 kHz USB/ 7,938.0 kHz USB /14,832.0 kHz USB/ 27,736.0 kHz USB = AGA5TR
/ TRAVIS AFB, CA [1700Z – 2359Z]
7,329.0 kHz USB /14,411.0 kHz USB/ 20,873.0 kHz USB/ 27,877.0 kHz USB =
GRIFFIN1 / 193rd RTI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD BETHANY BEACH, DE [1300Z – 1800Z]
7,533.5 kHz USB /14,441.5 kHz USB /18,293.0 kHz USB
= NAF / NEWPORT NAVAL RADIO STATION MUSEUM NEWPORT, RI (USB + CW) 1400Z – 2300Z
7,498.5 kHz USB 14,463.5 kHz USB = NBGC/ USS HORNET AMATEUR RADIO CLUB ABLEMEDA,
CA (USB + CW) 1500Z – 0000Z 7362.5 kHz USB 14,375 kHz USB 21,886 kHz USB 27,860
kHz USB = NEPM / USS IOWA BB 61 LOS ANGELES, CA (USB + RTTY +CW) [1400Z – 2300Z]
7,469.0 kHz USB /14,667.0 kHz USB/ 18,444.0 kHz USB//21,856.0 kHz USB /
21,918.0 kHz USB = NIIW / USS MIDWAY CV-41 SAN DIEGO, CA (USB + CW + RTTY)
[11May 0001Z-0400Z]
[11May 1400Z-12May 0300Z ] 4,010.0 kHz USB/ 5,371.5 kHz USB/ 7,455.4 kHz USB/
14,476.0 kHz USB / 18,060.0 kHz USB
= NMC1/ US COAST GUARD BASE ALAMEDA, CA (USB + RTTY) [1700Z – 2359Z]
7,3530.0 kHz USB/ 14,461.0 kHz USB
= NSS / US NAVAL ACADEMY ANNAPOLIS, MD (USB + CW) [11May 1300Z – 12May 0200Z]
4,038.5 kHz USB/ 5,330.5 kHz USB/ 7,533.5 kHz USB/ 9,447.0 kHz USB/ 14,487.0
kHz USB = NWKJ / USS YORKTOWN PATRIOTS POINT, SC [1400Z – 2300Z]
4,027.0 kHz USB/ 7,360.0 kHz USB/ 14,438.5 kHz USB/ 3,325.0 kHz USB 6,913.0
kHz USB
9,988.5 kHz USB/ 13,974.0 kHz USB
= WAR / PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC (USB + CW + RTTY) [1200Z – 2400Z]
4018.0 kHz USB/ 5,357.0 kHz USB/ 7,305.0 kHz USB/ 14,383.5 kHz USB/ 20,997.0
kHz USB//
For additional information & QSL card input , go to
https://www.usarmymars.org/events BT
DLARC Preserves Meaningful Record of Ham Radio Evolution
Earlier this month, the Digital Library of Amateur Radio & Communications (DLARC) made publicly available over 300 episodes of Ham Radio & More, a radio show about amateur radio broadcast from 1991 through 1997. By preserving this historic collection (the first radio show devoted to ham radio on the commercial radio band), the ham radio community’s invaluable insights and discussions remain accessible to present and future enthusiasts.
More info about the project can be found here: https://blog.archive.org/2024/01/30/ham-radio-and-more/.
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
- AREDN – arednmesh.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
- 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!
- Logan County ARES Meeting – Saturday, March 23rd at 9am – 219 S. Broad St in Guthrie
- EARS Licensing Testing – Saturday, April 6th at 8am – Sign Up on License Testing page
- Edmond Siren Test – Saturday, April 6th at 11:30am
- 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
