EARS June 8, 2026 Newsletter

Why Volunteer?

One of the best ways to get more out of amateur radio is to get involved. Whether it’s helping with a public service event like LibertyFest or participating in Field Day, volunteering offers benefits that go far beyond simply lending a hand.

Field Day is one of amateur radio’s most enjoyable annual events. It gives operators the opportunity to get on the air, try new equipment, learn from other hams, and practice emergency communications skills in a relaxed and fun environment. Even if you’re new to amateur radio, Field Day is a great place to learn and gain hands-on experience.

Public service events such as LibertyFest provide another valuable opportunity. By helping with traffic control, logistics, safety, communications, and event coordination, volunteers support the community while demonstrating the value of amateur radio. These events also help build relationships with local organizations and emergency management partners.

Volunteering is also one of the best ways to meet fellow club members. Working together on projects and events creates friendships, builds teamwork, and strengthens our club. Whether you can give a few hours or an entire day, your participation makes a difference.

The next time you see a call for volunteers, consider stepping up. You’ll help support the club and our community while gaining experience, making new friends, and having a great time along the way.

Steven, N5ZQ

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LibertyFest 2026 – Volunteer with EARS

LibertyFest is just around the corner, and we need your help.

Each year, EARS provides communications and volunteer support for several LibertyFest events. These activities are an important public service opportunity for our club and a great way to showcase amateur radio in our community.

Unfortunately, volunteer signups are currently much lower than we need. As of today, we have only 13 volunteers signed up across all LibertyFest events. To properly support the Rodeo, Car Show & ParkFest, Parade, and Fireworks, we need many more people to step forward.

There are opportunities for everyone to help, whether you are a licensed amateur radio operator or not.

Volunteer activities include:

• Rodeo – Traffic control and parking coordination
• Car Show & ParkFest – Logistics support and golf cart shuttle operations
• Parade – Participant check-in, staging, and logistics
• Fireworks – Safety and security support

Event dates include June 26-27 and July 4. Even if you can only help for part of one event, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

LibertyFest is one of the largest community events in Edmond and provides an excellent opportunity for EARS members to serve the community while enjoying a fun and rewarding experience alongside fellow club members.

Please take a moment to sign up today: https://k5eok.org/libertyfest

Thank you for helping make LibertyFest 2026 a success. We can’t do it without you!

Andrew, KF5YEP

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EARS Field Day 2026 Update

Plans are coming together for EARS Field Day 2026, and I wanted to provide an update on where things stand and where we still need help.

This year’s Field Day will be held at the Oklahoma City Gun Club, located at 12465 E Sorghum Mill Rd in Arcadia. We’ll be operating from the pavilion and large open area just inside the main gate. The site gives us plenty of room for antennas and operating positions while providing access to restrooms, water, and AC power for lighting and fans.

Our goal is to operate as a 3A Field Day station with three HF stations and one 6-meter VHF station. We will begin setup between 8:00 and 8:30 AM on Saturday, June 27, and plan to operate continuously from 1:00 PM Saturday until 1:00 PM Sunday.

We’re making good progress on equipment. Antennas are covered, with plans to use the club’s tower trailer with a tri-band beam, a 6-meter beam on a shorter tower, a Buckmaster 160-meter Off-Center Fed Dipole, and a multi-band vertical. This gives us a solid antenna lineup for the event.

We have also secured the use of a large air-conditioned Western Shelter from the Oklahoma County Health Department. This will provide a comfortable operating environment throughout the weekend. Setting up the shelter will require approximately 6–10 volunteers on Saturday morning, so we could use plenty of helping hands during setup.

On the radio side, we are making progress but could still use some help. We currently have access to approximately 2–3 of the radios needed for our planned operation. We would still like to secure one or two additional radios so that we have enough equipment for all stations and at least one spare available while we’re getting everything up and running.

I am also working on picking up the club computers from the EOC and getting them prepared for Field Day logging and operations.

The biggest need right now is people. Field Day is a team effort, and we’ll need volunteers throughout the weekend to help with setup, operating, logging, hospitality, and tear-down on Sunday afternoon. Whether you can help for an hour or stay for the entire event, your participation will help make Field Day a success.

There is a volunteer sign-up form at the bottom of the Field Day page on the EARS website. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and let us know how you can help. This will give us a better idea of where we have coverage and where we need additional volunteers.

I appreciate everyone’s support and look forward to seeing you at Field Day.

Matthew, KJ5JSL
Field Day Coordinator
fieldday@k5eok.org

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EARS Monthly Training & Mentoring Session – June 9th at 6:00 PM

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, June 9th
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Edmond Fire Station 5 – 5300 E Covell Rd

Topic: Slack Usage for EARS
Presenter: Steven, N5ZQ

We look forward to seeing you there!

Randy, KG5GOV
help@k5eok.org

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EARS Monthly Board Meeting – June 9th 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 be Tuesday, June 9th 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, located down the hill near 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 be happy to guide you in.

All are welcome—we hope to see you there!

Steven, N5ZQ

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Ham Holiday 2026 Returns with a New Home

One of Oklahoma’s premier amateur radio events is just around the corner. Ham Holiday 2026 will take place July 24–25 and, for the first time, will be held at the Cleveland County Event Center in Norman. The new venue offers easier access, ample parking, more food options, and a more convenient layout for attendees.

Ham Holiday has been a tradition for Oklahoma radio amateurs since 1974 and serves as the ARRL Oklahoma State Convention. Whether you’re a longtime ham, a newly licensed operator, or simply interested in learning more about amateur radio, Ham Holiday offers something for everyone.

Attendees can browse vendor exhibits, explore the flea market, attend educational forums, meet fellow operators, and take advantage of free amateur radio license testing. Testing begins Saturday at 12:30 PM, making Ham Holiday a great opportunity for those looking to earn their first license or upgrade to a higher class. New operators who pass their first amateur radio exam at the event can even receive a refund of their Ham Holiday admission ticket.

This year’s event also features several exciting prize opportunities. The Super Raffle includes an Icom IC-7610 HF/50 MHz transceiver valued at more than $4,000, while the Grand Prize drawing features a Yaesu FTDX10 HF/50 MHz transceiver. Those who pre-register before July 17 will also be entered for a chance to win an Icom IC-2730 dual-band mobile radio.

In addition to the exhibits and prizes, attendees can enjoy a full schedule of forums covering emergency communications, ARES, DMR, Meshtastic, mesh networking, repeater operations, and other topics of interest to today’s amateur radio operators.

The event will be open Friday from noon until 7:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM. A talk-in repeater on 147.060 MHz (141.3 Hz tone) will be available to assist travelers arriving at the hamfest.

If you’ve never attended Ham Holiday before, this is an excellent opportunity to experience one of the region’s largest amateur radio gatherings. Mark your calendar, invite a friend, and plan to spend a day immersed in amateur radio fellowship, learning, and fun.

For tickets, schedules, and additional information, visit HamHoliday.com.

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Did you know?

Hams Once Mapped a Meteor Shower

Before sophisticated weather radar existed, amateur radio operators helped scientists study meteor showers by listening for brief signal reflections off meteor trails in the upper atmosphere. By comparing reports from multiple stations, researchers could estimate meteor activity and even map meteor shower peaks.

Many hams still use “meteor scatter” communication today, bouncing signals off ionized meteor trails to make contacts hundreds of miles away on VHF frequencies.

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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!

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Upcoming 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

ARRL June VHF Contest	1800Z, Jun 13 to 0259Z, Jun 15
West Virginia QSO Party	1600Z, Jun 20 to 0400Z, Jun 21
ARRL Kids Day	1800Z-2359Z, Jun 20
ARRL Field Day	1800Z, Jun 27 to 2100Z, Jun 28

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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

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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