Help Someone Discover Amateur Radio This Fall
One of the best ways to grow our hobby is simply by inviting someone to become part of it.
Registration is now open for the Edmond Amateur Radio Society’s Fall 2026 Technician License Course, and we encourage every club member to help spread the word. If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, coworker, or someone you’ve met at Field Day or another club event who has shown an interest in amateur radio, this is the perfect opportunity to invite them to get licensed.
If you’re reading this newsletter and aren’t yet licensed, we’d love to have you join us as well. Whether your interests are emergency communications, public service, storm spotting, contesting, Parks on the Air, digital modes, satellites, electronics, or simply talking with people around the world, the Technician license is the first step into a hobby with something for everyone.
Our 10-week online Technician License Course begins Wednesday, August 26, and meets each Wednesday from 6:30–8:30 p.m. via Zoom. The course is completely free, with experienced volunteer instructors guiding students through the current FCC Technician question pool and answering questions along the way. Classes are recorded, so registered students can review any session they miss.
Enrollment is limited to 20 students, so early registration is encouraged.
Students will need their own copy of the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, 6th Edition, which covers the 2026–2030 Technician question pool. After completing the course, students can take the 35-question FCC Technician examination offered by our local ARRL Volunteer Examiner team or another VE team in the Oklahoma City area.
If you know someone who has been thinking about getting their license, now is a great time to encourage them to take the next step. A personal invitation from a fellow amateur radio operator is often all it takes to introduce someone to a hobby they’ll enjoy for years to come.
For more information or to register, visit the technician license class page or email class@k5eok.org. A flyer is available below to share with others.
Harvey,W0HGJ
Edmond Outdoor Warning Siren Test – Volunteers Needed for August 1
Our next monthly Edmond Outdoor Warning Siren Test will take place on Saturday, August 1. This is an important public service activity that helps verify the operation of the city’s outdoor warning sirens while providing valuable feedback to Edmond Emergency Management.
At the moment, 9 sirens are still uncovered for the August test. If you’ve ever considered helping with this project, now is a great opportunity. Monitoring a siren is simple—you’ll be assigned a location, observe the test, and report whether the siren operated correctly. It only takes a few minutes of your time each month, but the information you provide helps ensure these critical warning systems are ready when they’re needed most.
If you’ve already been assigned a siren but will be unavailable for the August test, please let Clay, WA6LBU, know as soon as possible so we can arrange coverage.
We’re also always looking for additional volunteers to adopt a siren on a long-term basis or to join our list of backup monitors. Having a few extra volunteers makes it much easier to cover vacations, work schedules, and other conflicts throughout the year.
If you can help cover one of the remaining sirens on Saturday, August 1, or if you’d like to be added to the siren monitoring team, please contact Clay at:
Thank you to everyone who volunteers their time each month. Your participation helps ensure Edmond’s outdoor warning system is tested thoroughly and remains ready to serve our community when severe weather threatens.
Clay, WA6LBU
Next EARS VE Test Session – Saturday, August 1st at 9:00 AM
The Edmond Amateur Radio Society will hold its next VE Test Session on Saturday, August 1st 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!
Join Us for the August Logan County ARES Meeting
Our next Logan County ARES meeting will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 9:00 AM at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office Training Center, 219 S. Broad St., Guthrie, OK.
Whether you’re a long-time ARES member, newly licensed, or simply interested in learning more about emergency communications, we invite you to join us. Our meetings are a great opportunity to connect with fellow amateur radio operators, discuss upcoming activities, share ideas, and stay informed about what is happening in Logan County ARES.
Emergency communications is built on preparation, training, and relationships. Regular meetings help ensure we’re ready to serve our communities when we’re needed most while also providing a chance to learn new skills and enjoy the fellowship of other radio amateurs.
If you’ve been thinking about getting involved with ARES or have questions about emergency communications, this is a great meeting to attend. Visitors are always welcome, and no prior ARES experience is required.
Meeting Details
- Date: Saturday, August 8
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Location: Logan County Sheriff’s Office Training Center
219 S. Broad St.
Guthrie, OK
We look forward to seeing you there!
Steven, N5ZQ
EARS Monthly Elmer Training – August 11th 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, August 11th
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Edmond Fire Station 5 – 5300 E Covell Rd
Topic: 3D Printing for Ham Radio
Presenter: John, N5YZA
We look forward to seeing you there!
Randy, KG5GOV
help@k5eok.org
EARS Monthly Board Meeting – August 11th 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, August 11th 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
Join Us for the August EARS Dinner
Take a break from the radios for an evening of great food and even better conversation at our next Edmond Amateur Radio Society dinner!
We’ll be meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Interurban, located at 1301 E Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK 73034. Whether you’re a long-time member, recently licensed, or just interested in learning more about amateur radio, you’re welcome to join us.
Our club dinners are a great opportunity to get to know fellow members, talk about current projects, compare equipment, share operating experiences, and simply enjoy spending time with others who share an interest in amateur radio. It’s a relaxed, informal evening with no agenda—just good food and good company.
To help us prepare, please take a moment to RSVP and let us know how many people will be in your party. This helps us provide Interurban with an approximate head count so they can better accommodate our group.
If you’ve been meaning to get more involved with EARS, this is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to do it. We hope you’ll make plans to join us on Thursday, August 20, at 6:00 PM at Interurban, 1301 E Danforth Rd, Edmond, OK 73034.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank You for Supporting Ham Holiday 2026
A big thank you to everyone from EARS who made the trip to Ham Holiday 2026! It was great to see so many familiar faces throughout the weekend supporting one of our region’s premier amateur radio events.
Whether you attended to browse the flea market, visit vendors, attend forums, catch up with old friends, or simply enjoy spending time with fellow amateur radio operators, your participation helps make events like Ham Holiday a success. Hamfests are an important part of our hobby, bringing together operators from across Oklahoma and neighboring states to learn, share ideas, discover new equipment, and strengthen the amateur radio community.
I enjoyed seeing so many EARS members there, and it was a great reminder of how active and engaged our club continues to be. The event was well organized, attendance appeared strong, and there was a great atmosphere throughout the weekend.
If you weren’t able to make it this year, I hope you’ll consider joining us next year. Ham Holiday is always a fun event and a great opportunity to reconnect with friends, meet new operators, and celebrate everything that makes amateur radio such a rewarding hobby.
Thanks again to everyone who attended and represented EARS so well. I’m already looking forward to Ham Holiday 2027!
Steven, N5ZQ
Did you know?
The familiar CQ call used by radio operators doesn’t actually stand for anything. It originated in the 19th-century telegraph era as a shorthand meaning “calling any station.” When wireless radio replaced telegraph wires, the tradition carried over and remains one of amateur radio’s most recognized calls today.
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 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
| 10-10 Int. Summer Contest, SSB | 0001Z, Aug 1 to 2359Z, Aug 2 |
| North American QSO Party, CW | 1800Z, Aug 1 to 0559Z, Aug 2 |
| ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest | 1800Z, Aug 1 to 1800Z, Aug 2 |
| ARRL EME Contest | 0000Z, Aug 8 to 2359Z, Aug 9 |
| Maryland-DC QSO Party | 1400Z, Aug 8 to 0400Z, Aug 9 |
| Kentucky State Parks on the Air | 1400Z-2200Z, Aug 8 |
| North American QSO Party, SSB | 1800Z, Aug 15 to 0559Z, Aug 16 |
| ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY | 1800Z-2359Z, Aug 16 |
| Hawaii QSO Party | 1600Z, Aug 22 to 0200Z, Aug 24 |
| Ohio QSO Party | 1600Z, Aug 22 to 0400Z, Aug 23 |
| U.S. Islands QSO Party | 1200Z, Aug 29 to 0300Z, Aug 30 |
| World Wide Digi DX Contest | 1200Z, Aug 29 to 1200Z, Aug 30 |
| Kansas QSO Party | 1400Z, Aug 29 to 0200Z, Aug 30 and 1400Z-2000Z, Aug 30 |
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
- Repeats: Every Monday
- Repeats: Every Monday
- Repeats: Every Saturday - Location: Around The Corner
- Repeats: Every Saturday
- Repeats: 1st Saturday Monthly - Location: Edmond Public Safety Center – Matt Terry Hall
- Repeats: 1st Saturday Monthly
- Location: Logan County Sheriff's Office Training Room
- Repeats: 2nd Tuesday Monthly - Location: Edmond Fire Training Center
- Repeats: 2nd Tuesday Monthly - Location: Edmond Fire Training Center
- Location: Interurban
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
