Join Us for the October EARS Dinner
Good food, great conversation, and plenty of amateur radio stories—it’s time for another EARS club dinner!
Join us on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM at Jo’s Famous Pizza, located at 900 S Kelly Ave, Edmond, OK 73003.
Our bi-monthly dinners are one of the best opportunities to get to know fellow club members outside of meetings and on-the-air activities. Whether you’ve been licensed for years or are brand new to amateur radio, everyone is welcome. Feel free to bring your spouse, family, or a friend who may be interested in learning more about EARS.
Planning to Join Us?
Please RSVP by 11:59 PM tonight (October 12). While RSVPs are not required, they are strongly encouraged and are extremely helpful to both EARS and Jo’s Famous Pizza. Knowing approximately how many guests to expect allows the restaurant to properly plan staffing, seating, and food preparation so they can provide the best possible experience for our group.
When you RSVP, please let us know how many people will be attending in your party.
➡ Visit: https://k5eok.org/ears-bi-monthly-dinners/
Thank you for helping us and the restaurant plan ahead. We hope you’ll join us for a fun evening of fellowship, great food, and amateur radio conversation. We look forward to seeing you there!
Gary, AE5GS
EARS Monthly Elmer Training – October 13 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, October 13
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Edmond Fire Station 5 – 5300 E Covell Rd
Topic: Alternative Methods of Operating CW
Presenter: Clay, WA6LBU
We look forward to seeing you there!
Randy, KG5GOV
help@k5eok.org
EARS Monthly Board Meeting – October 13 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, October 13 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
Club Elections
The club’s election process is underway. Appointed at the September Board meeting, the Nomination Committee has been working to develop a proposed slate of officers and board members.
At the October 13 Board meeting, the committee will present its proposed slate, and members may make additional nominations from the floor. Nominations will close at the end of that meeting, and the completed slate will then be shared with the club.
The election will take place at the November 10 Board and Membership meeting. A minimum of 30 members must attend for the club to elect the slate, so please plan to join us!
Steven, N5ZQ
Texoma Hamarama Returns to Ardmore October 24
One of Oklahoma’s longest-running amateur radio traditions returns this fall! Texoma Hamarama 2026 will be held Saturday, October 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Ardmore Convention Center, 2401 N. Rockford Rd., Ardmore, Oklahoma.
With roots going all the way back to 1948, Texoma Hamarama is a great opportunity to spend a Saturday surrounded by amateur radio. Whether you are looking for equipment, hunting for a bargain, interested in learning something new, or simply want to visit with other hams from around the region, there should be plenty to see and do.
Buy, Sell & Trade
A big part of any hamfest is the flea market, and Hamarama will once again provide plenty of opportunities to browse used radios, accessories, components, antennas, and all of the miscellaneous treasures that tend to follow amateur radio operators around.
If you have equipment of your own that needs a new home, flea market tables are available for $15 when purchased online or $20 at the door.
Commercial vendors will also be on hand. Announced vendors include B&H Sales, formerly Derby Radio Shack, with used radios and amateur radio accessories, along with TheHamStop.com, offering antenna-building and other specialty items.
Forums and License Testing
Educational forums are another important part of Hamarama. The 2026 forum schedule has not yet been announced, but previous years have featured a wide variety of amateur radio topics, including ARES, AUXCOMM, Meshtastic, AllStar, AREDN, digital modes, repeaters, DXing, and more.
The SCARS VE team will also provide free FCC amateur radio license testing at 11:00 a.m. If you know someone who has been thinking about getting licensed, Hamarama could be a great opportunity to bring them along.
There is even an extra incentive for prospective new hams: anyone who passes the exam for their first amateur radio license at Hamarama will receive a refund of their Hamarama admission price or a free Hamarama ticket.
Children under 16 are also admitted free with a paid adult, making this a good opportunity to introduce younger family members to amateur radio.
New for 2026: The Hamarama Super Bundle
A new option for this year’s Hamarama is the $40 Super Bundle, which combines admission and raffle tickets into one discounted package.
Purchased separately, the items included in the bundle have a total value of $50. The online Super Bundle includes:
- One $10 Hamarama admission ticket
- One $20 Icom IC-7610 Super Raffle ticket
- Eleven $2 general raffle tickets
That gives you admission to the hamfest plus chances at several of the biggest prizes of the day while saving $10 compared with purchasing everything separately.
The admission ticket also enters you into the pre-registration drawing for an Icom IC-2730 dual-band mobile radio. The Super Raffle ticket gives you one of only 300 chances to win the Icom IC-7610, and the eleven general raffle tickets can be used for the hourly drawings and the Grand Prize drawing for a Yaesu FTDX10.
The $40 bundle is available online. If Super Bundles are still available at the door, the package will include 10 general raffle tickets instead of 11, making advance purchase the better deal.
Plenty of Radios to Win
Even if you don’t purchase the Super Bundle, there are several ways to get in on the prize drawings.
The 2026 Grand Prize is a Yaesu FTDX10, with the drawing scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Those who purchase their admission tickets before October 17 will also be entered into the pre-registration drawing for an Icom IC-2730 dual-band mobile radio.
For those looking for an even bigger prize, the $20 Super Raffle features an Icom IC-7610 HF/50 MHz transceivervalued at more than $3,500. Only 300 Super Raffle tickets will be sold, and you do not have to be present to win the IC-7610.
Hourly prize drawings will begin at 9:00 a.m., with attendees required to be present to win those prizes. There will also be a separate non-ham prize drawing for a 40-inch flat-screen television.
Make a Day of It
Food and refreshments will be available on site beginning at 7:00 a.m., with coffee, donuts, breakfast burritos, drinks, and several lunch options planned.
For those coming from the Oklahoma City and Edmond area, Ardmore is close enough to make Hamarama an easy day trip. It can be a fun opportunity to get a group of club members together, make the drive south, browse the tables, sit in on a forum or two, and catch up with fellow hams from across Oklahoma and North Texas.
Texoma Hamarama 2026
Saturday, October 24, 2026
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Ardmore Convention Center
2401 N. Rockford Rd., Ardmore, OK 73401
Advance admission tickets are $2 less than admission at the door, with the pre-registration discount ending at midnight on October 17. Admission tickets, the new Super Bundle, raffle tickets, Super Raffle tickets, flea market tables, and other options can be purchased online at hamarama.org/tix.
If you haven’t been to Hamarama before—or haven’t made the trip in a few years—consider putting October 24 on your calendar. It should be a great day of amateur radio, equipment, learning, and fellowship with hams from throughout the region.
Thank You, Cycle 66 Volunteers!
Cycle 66 was a tremendous success, and we extend our sincere thanks to every EARS member and amateur radio operator who volunteered.
Our communications team contributed more than 300 volunteer hours while supporting over 700 riders across more than 50 miles of roadway between Edmond and Stroud. Nearly 170 cyclists completed the new 100-mile route in celebration of the Route 66 Centennial.
Volunteers arrived before sunrise, traveled to locations throughout the course, and remained at their posts for hours to watch over riders—most of whom they had never met. Their preparation, attentiveness, and willingness to serve made a real difference.
That difference was especially clear during a serious accident near Aid Station 4. Volunteers provided immediate aid and administered Narcan to an unresponsive driver, reviving the person before emergency medical personnel arrived. Amateur radio also helped coordinate the response and keep event officials informed. In another incident, a report of a missing rider received an immediate response, and the rider was located within minutes.
These outcomes demonstrate why trained volunteers and reliable communications are so important. With hundreds of riders spread across a long course, our operators provided the eyes, ears, and communications links needed to address problems quickly.
We also appreciate everyone who participated in the post-event discussion and shared suggestions for improvement. The lessons learned this year will help strengthen planning, communications, volunteer assignments, and coordination with public-safety agencies for Cycle 66 in 2027.
Whether this was your first Cycle 66 or one of many, thank you for giving up your Sunday, representing amateur radio so well, and helping make the event safer for everyone involved. EARS could not provide this valuable community service without you.
Thank you for an outstanding job, and we hope you will join us again next year!
Andrew, KF5YEP
Did you know?
A Coast-to-Coast Relay in 1917
In January 1917, 18-year-old amateur radio operator Willis Corwin helped relay Morse code messages across the United States. Two weeks later, he took part in a two-way relay: a message traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast, and a reply made it back in just 80 minutes.
Read more about Willis Corwin’s story.
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
| New York QSO Party | 1400Z, Oct 17 to 0200Z, Oct 18 |
| Illinois QSO Party | 1700Z, Oct 18 to 0100Z, Oct 19 |
| ARRL EME Contest | 0000Z, Oct 31 to 2359Z, Nov 1 |
| North American SSB Sprint Contest | 0000Z-0400Z, Nov 1 |
| ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW | 2100Z, Nov 7 to 0300Z, Nov 9 |
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: 2nd Tuesday Monthly - Location: Edmond Fire Training Center
- Repeats: 2nd Tuesday Monthly - Location: Edmond Fire Training Center
- Location: Jo's Famous Pizza
- Repeats: Every Saturday - Location: Around The Corner
- Repeats: Every Saturday
- Location: Ardmore Convention Center
- Repeats: 1st Saturday Monthly - Location: Edmond Public Safety Center – Matt Terry Hall
- Repeats: 1st Saturday Monthly
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
