Bob Coxsey, KM5GZ/SK
I am sure many of you are aware that Bob Coxsey, KM5GZ, became a silent key two week ago. I am including the email that I sent to the membership below.
I have the unfortunate task to inform you that Bob Coxsey, KM5GZ, became a silent key on the afternoon of September 15, 2025. Bob was a staple EARS member for many years and he took on any task that was needed or asked of him. Bob was a friend to all and I don’t think he ever met a stranger. He was known to help hams with any questions or issues. It was certainly hard to find a better ham and human being.
Bob will be greatly missed.
73 until we meet again
Donuts for Bob
A group of hams enjoyed a Donuts Run for KM5GZ.
Warm regards,
Melinda – KE5IGK
Edmond Siren Test – Saturday, October 4th
The next monthly Edmond Outdoor Warning Siren Test is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th.
If you’ve been assigned a siren but are unavailable this month, please let Clay (WA6LBU) know as soon as possible.
We are also looking for a few more volunteers to adopt a siren. If you’re able to help or would like to be added to the siren monitoring list, please reach out!
📧 Contact Clay at: sirens@k5eok.org
Thank you for supporting this important community service!
Next EARS VE Test Session – Saturday, October 4th at 9:00 AM
The Edmond Amateur Radio Society will hold its next VE Test Session on Saturday, October 4th at 9:00 AM.
If you—or someone you know—plans to test, please visit the License Testing page and complete the sign-up form. This helps the VE team prepare to accommodate all participants efficiently.
Questions?
Contact Ralph Turner, N5AMR
📧 Email: Raltur47@gmail.com
📞 Phone: (573) 999-4748
We look forward to seeing new and upgrading hams there!
EARS Monthly Training & Mentoring Session – October 14th
The Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS) hosts a monthly Training and Elmer Session before each board meeting. Whether you’re a new ham or a seasoned operator, these sessions provide valuable information and a chance to grow your skills.
📅 Date: Tuesday, October 14
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Edmond Fire Station 5 – 5300 E Covell Rd
August Topic: Radio Operations
Presenter: Gary, AE5GS
We look forward to seeing you there!
John, N5RET
help@k5eok.org
EARS October Board Meeting – October 14th at 7:00 PM
The Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS) holds its monthly board meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 14th at 7:00 PM at Edmond Fire Station 5, located at 5300 E Covell Rd, just east of I-35.
The meeting will be held in the training building down the hill by the tower. The blue pin on the map below marks the exact location.
If you have any trouble finding us, just call on the repeater and we’ll guide you in.
All are welcome—we hope to see you there!
Steven, N5ZQ
Why Space Weather Matters for Radio Operators
Space (solar) weather plays a significant role in radio communication. While its most noticeable effects are often seen on HF bands, solar activity can also impact VHF, UHF, and even higher frequencies under certain conditions.
Understanding space weather helps us better predict band conditions, plan operations, and troubleshoot unusual signal behavior.
Below is a recommended video from a trusted YouTube channel that shares updates on solar activity and space weather about every two weeks. The presenter breaks down complex topics in a way that’s easy to follow and incredibly informative.
📺 Watch the latest space weather report
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to follow her channel. It’s a valuable resource for amateur radio operators at all levels!
Upcoming HF Contests
Here are a few upcoming HF contests to keep an ear out for! These events offer a great opportunity to sharpen your operating skills, test your equipment, and connect with hams across the country—and the world.
For a more comprehensive list, check out the ARRL Contest Corral in QST Magazine, available as a downloadable PDF from the ARRL website.
You can also find up-to-date contest schedules and detailed information at:
🌐 contestcalendar.com
| Collegiate QSO Party | 0000Z, Oct 4 to 2359Z, Oct 5 |
| California QSO Party | 1600Z, Oct 4 to 2200Z, Oct 5 |
| ARRL EME Contest | 0000Z, Oct 11 to 2359Z, Oct 12 |
| Nevada QSO Party | 0300Z, Oct 11 to 2100Z, Oct 12 |
| Arizona QSO Party | 1500Z, Oct 11 to 0500Z, Oct 12 |
| Pennsylvania QSO Party | 1600Z, Oct 11 to 0400Z, Oct 12 and 1300Z-2200Z, Oct 12 |
| South Dakota QSO Party | 1800Z, Oct 11 to 1800Z, Oct 12 |
| New York QSO Party | 1400Z, Oct 18 to 0200Z, Oct 19 |
| Illinois QSO Party | 1700Z, Oct 19 to 0100Z, Oct 20 |
| ARRL School Club Roundup | 1300Z, Oct 20 to 2359Z, Oct 24 |
| CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB | 0000Z, Oct 25 to 2359Z, Oct 26 |
| ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW | 2100Z, Nov 1 to 0300Z, Nov 3 |
| ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB | 2100Z, Nov 15 to 0300Z, Nov 17 |
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
- POTA (Parks on the Air) – https://pota.app
Upcoming Events
- EARS Information Net – Every Monday at 8pm
- Route 66 10m Net on 28.390 – Every Monday Following the Information Net
- EARS Breakfast – Every Saturday at approximately 6:30am at Around The Corner, 11 S. Broadway, Edmond
- EARS Breakfast Net – Every Saturday at 7am on 147.135 and 443.425
- EARS Licensing Testing – Saturday, October 4th – Sign Up on License Testing page
- Edmond Siren Test – Saturday, October 4th at 11:30am – Send email to sirens@k5eok.org
- October Mentoring Session and Training – Tuesday, October 14th at 6pm at Edmond Fire Station 5, 5300 E Covell
- October Board Meeting – Tuesday, October 14th at 7pm at Edmond Fire Station 5, 5300 E Covell
We’d love to feature your original content! If you’ve written—or would like to write—an article, we’d be happy to include it in an upcoming issue of the EARS newsletter.
Steven Christy, N5ZQ
n5zq@n5zq.us
