Below is the newsletter for June 17, 2024. I could use some help with the newsletter so we can keep sending a newsletter out weekly. I was out camping last week so a newsletter was not published.
I am trying to include original articles and I could use some help. If you can write an article or even if you have a suggestion for an article, please let me know!
Steven Christy, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
Field Day 2024
Field Day 2024 is this weekend, June 22-23, from 1pm CDT Saturday to 1pm CDT Sunday. It will be held at the Edmond Masonic Lodge which is located at 1026 North Blvd, Edmond, OK 73034.
We will be operating 4A with 3 phone (voice) and digital stations, 1 CW and digital station and 1 VHF station. The tower trailer will be on site with a tri-band (10m, 15m, 20m) beam and a dipole. There will be an additional multi-band dipole, multi-band vertical and a 6m antenna.
Logging and digital modes will be handled by the club computers which will be connected via a network. The plan is to connect our computer network to the AREDN network for time syncing services. Keeping the computer clocks in sync is very important for some of the digital modes. If you have been reading the AREDN articles in this newsletter, this will be a way you can see the technology in action and be able to ask any questions you have!
The entire operation will be powered via large lithium batteries with an on-demand generator. The batteries can be topped off during the daytime hours so we can run most of the night off of just the batteries. That will help keep the noise down. Last year we were able to run nearly all night just on battery power.
The Field Day rules allow for several way to get bonus points. One of those is sending an NTS message to the section manager. This message has to leave the Field Day site via RF. Since AREDN is amateur radio RF, we plan to send the message through Winlink on AREDN unless we have issues in which case we can send the message out through Winlink via HF or VHF.
Here is the schedule of Field Day 2024 Events:
Saturday, June 22nd
8:30am – Meet at the Edmond Masonic Lodge to start set up
9am – Start set up no later than 9am so we can finish before it gets too hot
12pm – Plan to complete final testing of radios, antennas and computers
1pm – Field Day Begins!
4pm – 10m Antenna Building Activity – This activity is currently tentative. Stay tuned for more information
6pm – Field Day Dinner – Please RSVP on the Field Day Dinner page ASAP so we can get an accurate head count.
Sunday, June 23rd
1pm – Field Day Ends
1:01pm – Field Day tear down begins – We need as much help as possible getting Field Day torn down and packed up. Please help if you can!
If Saturday, June 22nd is forecast to be really hot, we will move the meet-up time from 8:30am to 8am so we can start set up no later than 8:30am. This is to make sure we can get the outside work done before it gets too hot.
We will need operators for all 24 hours. Even if you only have limited HF experience, please come operate if at all possible. It is a great way to get experience and we will be there to help!
Please make plans to help with Field Day if you are able. More hands makes for light work for everyone. You can visit the Field Day 2024 page for this same info and indicate how you can help!
Steven, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
Field Day Dinner
Randy, KG5GOV, and Kari, K5LST, worked on a plan for the dinner. They proposed a lasagna dinner which was approved by the board. The best part is that there is no cost for dinner! The club is handling the cost. I hope that a large number of our member can join us at 6pm on Saturday, June 22nd for dinner!
If you are planning to attend the dinner, please complete the RSVP form on the Field Day Dinner page ASAP so we can make sure to have enough food for everyone! The last day to RSVP is Thursday!
Steven, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
Ham Holiday – July 26-27, 2024!
Preregistration for Ham Holiday 2024 continues!!!
Ham Holiday 2024 will be on Friday, July 26th and Saturday, July 27th at the Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC).
The Ham Holiday 2024 website for preregistration is: https://hamholiday.com/tix/
The preregistration prize is a Buddipole “Buddistick Pro” portable antenna and the grand prize for Ham Holiday 2024 is a Yaesu FT-710 AESS HF/50 MHz SDR Transceiver with matching speaker.
The special drawing prize is a Yaesu FT-710 FIELD HF/50 MHz SDR Transceiver package. The package includes a DX Commander vertical antenna, TekPower TP30SW power supply, coax, a Vibroplex SRacer key, along with other accessories. Only 300 special drawing tickets will be sold. Special drawing tickets are $20/ticket.
There will also be a Royal Order Of The Wouff Hong ceremony on Friday evening. Stay tuned for further details on vendors, programs, seminars, and hourly prizes.
Tom, WA9AFM
Tickets Available Now – Click To Get Yours Today
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!
LibertyFest
The LibertyFest events are coming up starting on June 14th and culminating with the fireworks celebration on July 4th. EARS has been helping with these events for many years and this year is no exception. LibertyFest is an entirely volunteer organization and EARS plays a large role especially with the parade and fireworks.
Below are the LibertyFest events in which help is needed:
- Rodeo Day 1 – Friday, June 28, 4:00pm to 11:00pm
- Car Show and Park Fest – Saturday, June 29, 6:30am to 2:30pm
- We need 5 golf cart drivers in addition to other volunteers for this event
- Rodeo Day 2 – Saturday, June 29, 4:00pm to 11:00pm
- Parade – Thursday, July 4, 6:00am to 12:00pm
- Fireworks – Thursday, July 4, 5:00pm to 11:00pm
As you can see, we need quite a number of volunteers to help LibertyFest happen. If you are able to help, please visit the LibertyFest page and fill out the form. It is not too early to volunteer!
All of the information on LibertyFest can be found on the LibertyFest website.
Wouff Hong Scenery Storage
Due to a change in circumstances, OCAPA must vacate its’ storage unit by 1 July. OCAPA had enjoyed use of the unit at no charge for several years. However, the owner now has other plans.
All of the OCAPA equipment has been moved. The only thing remaining is the scenery for the Royal Order Of The Wouff Hong ceremony. The scenery is not OCAPA property, but was stored in their unit as a courtesy. An area roughly 6′ by 12′ would be needed, height is not a problem.
A location in the OKC Metro is preferred. If you have space in an out building, garage, or storage unit, please let me know and we can come to an agreement.
Thomas Webb
WA9AFM/5
Asst. Section Manager
Oklahoma Section
American Radio Relay League
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 about every 2 weeks 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
- Winlink – https://winlink.org
- AREDN – arednmesh.org
Upcoming Events
- EARS Information Net – Every Monday at 8pm
- Field Day – June 22nd – June 23rd at Edmond Masonic Lodge at 1026 North Blvd, Edmond
- LibertyFest Rodeo Day 1 – Friday, June 28 – Volunteer on the LibertyFest Page
- LibertyFest Car Show and Park Fest – Saturday, June 29 – Volunteer on the LibertyFest Page
- LibertyFest Rodeo Day 2 – Saturday, June 29 – Volunteer on the LibertyFest Page
- LibertyFest Parade – Thursday, July 4 – Volunteer on the LibertyFest Page
- LibertyFest Fireworks – Thursday, July 4 – Volunteer on the LibertyFest Page
- EARS Licensing Testing – Saturday, July 6th at 8am – Sign Up on License Testing page
- Edmond Siren Test – Saturday, July 6th at 11:30am
- July Board Meeting – Tuesday, July 9th at 7pm at Edmond Fire Station 5, 5300 E Covell
- Ham Holiday – July 26th and 27th
