Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Tulsa Community College Radio Club Report

Our group operated both the ARRL EME and SSB Sweepstakes this past month, but poor weather and also Tulsa Community College Amateur Radio Club members a little under the weather caused us not to do as well as last years West Gulf Division winning scores.  

We still had fun with  32,000 points in the EME contest with a 16 foot HB horn built for 23cm, and 19,000 points in ARRL-SS.   Our club activities can be seen on my QRZ page.

We also had another seven students earn their Technician class license this fall semester.

Thanks to Tommy, WD5AGO, for this report.  Can you tell us what YOUR club is doing?

Friday, December 19, 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year #ARRL #hamradio

The year has come and gone.  Christmas is soon to be upon us.

If you are celebrating this season, please do so responsibly.  Remember those who are less fortunate than you.  Encourage one another.  Enjoy your friends and family.

I plan to be on "Red Badges Day" for at least an hour.  Check my twitter account for where and when.

The Section Leadership wishes all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

73

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

ARRL Audio News #ARRL #hamradio

"Does your repeater air ARRL Audio News?

Let us know the call of the repeater, the city and state it is based in
and serves, frequency, and the day and time you air Audio News. We'll
add it to our list of repeaters and might even recognize your repeater
in a broadcast!" 

http://bit.ly/1uGeCkm

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Oklahoma Section
Section Manager: Lloyd Colston, KC5FM
kc5fm@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test date set #ARRL #hamradio

The 2014 ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
will be Saturday, 13 December 2014 (time frame 0900-1500 Local).

This year's SET will different and in years past. Rather than a exercise held in many locations through-out our very wide state. This year's SET will in one location and the workshop will be a combination of training and a table top exercise. If this is successful, next year the SET/workshop will be in another single location (such as OKC).

The first portion of this years SET will be training and the second half of the event will be a table top exercise (actually working the SET and putting to use what we learned). This should be a very productive day - make your plans to attend - see info below on how to sign up.

Where: OSU-Health Sciences at 1111 W 17th street, Tulsa, OK 74107

When: Saturday 13 December 2014, 0900-1500 Local.
            We will break for lunch, the meal will be on your own.

What to being:
- Your copy of the SET documents and forms (which will be posted later this month to ARESOK.org for easy download and printing) please bring a few extra copies of blank forms
- Pencil & pen and note paper (spiral note book or steno book will work)
- 2meter HT and spare battery
- ARES DEPLOYMENT VEST (if you don't have one yet... you're still welcome to attend)

Prior to attending it is suggested that you should have completed NIMS/ICS training courses IS-100.b, IS-200.b, IS-700.a and IS-800.b
Which are all FREE, easy to do and all on-line at http://www.aresok.org/resources.asp#training

This will be a business casual and professional environment. 

We have 50 open seats for this workshop. The focus of this workshop will be primary for ARES-OK Leaders and key team members. It is open to all registers ARES-OK volunteers and will be first come first seated.

We're using VolunteerSpot to organize this workshop - please the 3 easy steps below to sign up for the ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET). 


Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot:  http://vols.pt/xcPbKz
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. 
I Look forward to seeing many of you at this year's ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET) workshop in Tulsa.
Thank you & 73,
Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
918.232.8346
n7xyo@arrl.net
Follow me on Twitter @N7XYO
www.ARESOK.org

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Murrah Memorial Marathon planning special event station #ARRL #hamradio

Planning for the 2015 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, to be held on 26 April, 2015, has begun.

As this will be the 20th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing and the 15th anniversary of the Marathon, we are also planning a special event station.  It will operate from individual stations in OKC during the week leading up to the race (like Route 66 On The Air).  

N5M is the special event call sign for the public safety net control station.  There is also consideration being given to have a station located on the race course on race day. 

Thanks to Thomas Webb, WA9AFM/5Assistant Section Manager, for this update.



Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Tri-State Amateur Radio Group report #ARRL #hamradio


At the monthly meeting of the Tri-State Amateur Radio Group, we discussed how to develop the radio frequency link from the National Weather Service in Norman to the Woodward area.   

Plans are made and the members are beginning to gather parts to put up another repeater and link it to the NWS rf link.  This will make another link to go along with the DStar link that TSARG members use to NWS.

A DStar net has been started on each Monday night at 9 PM.  The net is on those repeaters and DStar users connected to Reflector 52B,  join us soon.  Several check in's from in Okla and in other states also.


Thanks to  Duane, KC5NID for this report

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Swap Meet canceled in Logan County #ARRL #HamRadio


Due to a multitude of reasons the November 22  tailgate has been cancelled.


Reasons:



1. The venue in which we were holding the event has construction going on which has caused some space issues. The fire department is currently utilizing the space that we were going use for the swap meet.



2. Currently there is a 50 percent chance of rain.



3. And last but not least, it was pointed out to me that November 22 is opening day for deer rifle season and many of you may have other hobbies on your mind.



We will reschedule the event and we will advise the date and time and location of this event with plenty of time for you to make arrangements to be there.



Thanks to Clay, WA6LBU for this information.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test set #ARRL #hamradio

All ARES-Oklahoma participants,
 
The 2014 ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
will be Saturday, 13 December 2014 (time frame 0900-1500 Local).
 
This year's SET will different and in years past. Rather than a exercise held in many locations through-out our very wide state. This year's SET will in one location and the workshop will be a combination of training and a table top exercise. If this is successful, next year the SET/workshop will be in another single location (such as OKC).
 
The first portion of this years SET will be training and the second half of the event will be a table top exercise (actually working the SET and putting to use what we learned). This should be a very productive day - make your plans to attend - see info below on how to sign up.
 
 
When: Saturday 13 December 2014, 0900-1500 Local.
            We will break for lunch, the meal will be on your own.
 
What to being:
- Your copy of the SET documents and forms (which will be posted later this month to ARESOK.org for easy download and printing) please bring a few extra copies of blank forms
- Pencil & pen and note paper (spiral note book or steno book will work)
- 2-meter HT and spare battery
- ARES DEPLOYMENT VEST (if you don't have one yet... you're still welcome to attend)
 
Prior to attending it is suggested that you should have completed NIMS/ICS training courses
IS-100.b, IS-200.b, IS-700.a and IS-800.b
Which are all FREE, easy to do and all on-line at  http://www.aresok.org/resources.asp#training
 
This will be a business casual and professional environment.
 
We have 50 open seats for this workshop. The focus of this workshop will be primary for ARES-OK Leaders and key team members. It is open to all registers ARES-OK volunteers and will be first come first seated.
 
We're using VolunteerSpot to organize this workshop - please the 3 easy steps below to sign up for the ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET).
 
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
 
1) Click this link to see our Sign-Up on VolunteerSpot:  http://vols.pt/xcPbKz
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot.
 
Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone.
 
I Look forward to seeing many of you at this year's ARES-Oklahoma Simulated Emergency Test (SET) workshop in Tulsa.
 
Thank you & 73,
 
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Lawton Ham-Cram Schedule announced #ARRL #hamradio #tweko

According to Ron Grossman, AF5Q, the 2014 - 2015 One day Ham Cram Schedule will be held at the American Red Cross.

All classes are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The $20  pre-registration which is returned if you show up.  The Book is the Ham Radio License Manual, Edition 3, which can be purchased at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or ordered from the American Radio Relay League.

The class dates are:

November 29, 2014
January 10th, 2015
March 14th, 2015
May 16th, 2015
July 18th, 2015
September 5, 2015
November 14th, 2015.

"I can also bring the class to you as well," he said.

Thanks to Ron, AF5Q for this information.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Digital Training in Tulsa #ARRL #hamradio #tweko

Mark your calendars for November 22 from 12:00 noon until 4:30 PM at the Hardesty Regional Library, the Tulsa Digital Radio Club will be conducting an in-depth training session of the FLDIGI software package with a general review of digital modes including:

PSK (including BPSK, QPSK, PSKR)
Contestia
CW
DominoEx
Feld Hell
MFSK
MT-63
Olivia
RTTY
Thor
Throb

Recent tests with PSK on 40m have confirmed 80 mile NVIS contacts with power budgets of as little as 5 watts, making it an excellent narrow-band mode for messages of all types.

There will be hands-on training on the FLDIGI software, along with some demonstrations of its capabilities for messaging and file transfer. We will cover from hardware setup, initial software setup, all the way through good operating practices.

To provide the best learning experience for participants, we have limited the training session to no more than 25 attendees. Please RSVP ASAP to  to reserve your spot.

Thanks to Jeff Scoville, AE5ME for this information.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Oklahoma Section Information #ARRL #hamradio

First, thanks to all the Oklahoma Section for the support of all the Section Leadership during the transition from Kevin, N0IRW as Section Manager to me.  It is going to be a wonderful two years that I serve you.  Thanks to Kevin for handing off thesection in so great shape.

The next hamfest is Ardmore on October 24-25.  That's just a few days away.  I have MY tickets.  How about you?  Please plan to attend the League and ARES forums.  I know Mark, N7XYO has some news for you.

Following that, November 1-2 is the Enid Hamfest.  Jim, W5JCS and Mark will both be there since I have a conflict with Homeland Security training in Oklahoma City that weekend.

Speaking of that, Mark has been putting the word out on the lists about it.  Details can also be found at http://arrlok.blogspot.com/2014/10/auxcomm-coming-to-oklahoma-arrl-hamradio.html and, as of this note, only 16 seats remain.

Please welcome Michael Dean, K5MFD to the mix.  He is the new Public Information Coordinator.  He will also be doing double duty as Legislative Liason.  He has experience working in State Government in Oklahoma and "knows his way" around the Capitol.  Thanks to Eddie, K5EMS for handling that and supporting the Cowboys too boot.

Since Captain Kirk asked Lieutenant Uhura to open hailing channels, these are the preferred methods to reaching your Section Manager.

Email is preferred.  Thanks to Dale, N5VX, Winlink is working at the Emergency Operations Center out here on telnet and RF.  The Navy MARS Winlink accounts also work.

One can usually find KC5FM on Automatic Packet Reporting System.  Messaging works good there too.  I have been known to drop in on the Tulsa area Packet net on Thursday night.  Who said packet is dead?  Drop a packet message to KC5FM and see if the forwarding processes still work and where the account resides where the message came to rest.  

Speaking of APRS, who'd like to try to start an APRS Section net?

Since there's an HF remote base out here, one can expect to hear me more frequently on the Oklahoma Phone Emergency Net and the Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Services Nets on Sunday.  Check into the 7290 Traffic Net and the14300.net groups, if you want to see if someone from Oklahoma is here.  The remote uses Remote Hams software (http://www.remotehams.com).  The League leadership has been invited to use the remote to monitor HF emergency nets they just can't quite hear in Newington.

No surprise that Echolink and Internet Radio Linking Project is in use in the State.  KC5FM is usually connected to the Weather Talk Conference (7203) or IRLP 9219.  Need something from Altus?  Connect and just like on HF, one can move off to a peer-to-peer connection.

Speaking of VOIP efforts, who would like to try to start an Echolink/IRLP Section net?

Please remember Twitter (kc5fm) and Facebook (wx5em) along with https://twitter.com/arrl_OKand https://www.facebook.com/pages/ARRL-Oklahoma for the Section social media effort.  Speaking of the latter, if your club has pictures and news lets share it with the rest of the State.  I care as much about what happens in Kenton as I do in Haworth where six hams reside.  Sadly, there are zero hams in Kenton while seven call Boise City home.

Speaking of social media, http://arrlok.blogspot.com/ has been in operation for a number of months.  It's updated at least weekly with a tidbit from around the State that is also tweeted.  One can follow it on email.

There you have it!  Some plans and thanks to those who have helped and continue to help the Oklahoma Section stand tall and proud.  

73 de Lloyd, KC5FM

Monday, October 27, 2014

Northeast Hospital Tests #ARRL #hamradio


The Tulsa County ARES meeting and Hospital Net test will be on November 1. This is the twice yearly test we conduct with the hospitals and medical facilities in the county in concert with the Medical Reserve Corp and the Medical Emergency Response Center. 


Participating hospitals are equipped with a dual band transceiver and an outside antenna. We also review the procedure manual onsite to ensure it is in place and up to date. The MRC coordinator has been preparing updated manuals for every hospital to be delivered with this test. 



Local area ARES members are also encouraged to participate in the meeting even if you don't deploy to a hospital for the test. We will be discussing the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) that is set for December 13



If you would like to volunteer and participate in the hospital test please send an email or visit the Tulsa County ARES Facebook group. 



Thank you for supporting our community, 



ARES Emergency Coordinator, Tulsa County 

Friday, October 24, 2014

Packet Net Report #ARRL #hamradio

Each Monday night folks in Oklahoma join a packet net centered around Branson, MO.  As one can see below, there's activity from around the Nation.  For more information reach out to K.O., N0KFQ.

Connect to the PCL Packet Net in Branson, Missouri...

   For VHF Radio Users:
      Using 145.01, connect to PACNET.
      Using 145.09, connect to PACNET.

   For AXIP Network Users:
      At any AXIP or BPQ32 Packet node, look for and connect
      to PACNET.

   For Outpost or Winpack Telnet Users:
      Using TelNet, connect to n0kfq.dyndns.org Port 8010.
      When connected, enter "I" then select "PCL"

   For Internet users:
      Using your Internet Browser, connect to:
      http://n0kfq.dyndns.org:8015/Node/Terminal.html?pcl


Last night the PCL Packet Net had 10 check-ins...

Monday, October 20, 2014:
 1.  KB0WSA   Billie    Branson, Mo
 2.  KC5FM    Lloyd     Altus, Ok
 3.  WX1DER   Daryl     Little Rock, Ar
 4.  N0KFQ    K.O.      Branson, Mo
 5.  KB0SON   Roger     Austin, Mn
 6.  KB2VXA   Warren    Pt Pleasant Beach, Nj
 7.  AE5ME    Jeff      Broken Arrow, Ok
 8.  N0DST    Tom       Ft Pierce, Fl
 9.  N0FIB    Gary      Waco, Tx   (Winlink)
10.  KB0OFD   Gary      Forsyth, Mo  (P-Mail)



Discussion included "upcoming events in Oklahoma","problems with 1270-X in
Little Rock","key stuck in ignition switch","Punxatawney Phil","time change
is approaching","camshaft position sensor","writing more packet messages",
"leaves falling in Missouri","calculator fun","FLDIGI","housewarming party",
"VOIPwx net","algebraic formula for calculator fun" and "N6ILC and W0ERE".
Net lasted about an hour and 15 minutes. Really a great net.. if you missed
it, you missed a good one...



Ten years ago the PCL Packet Net had 0 check-ins...
Monday, October 18, 2004:



The BBS was down for about a week recovering from a nearby lightning strike.
The computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse along with two tnc's and two two-
meter radios had to be replaced and all BBS software had to be re-installed
and re-started, and the Operating System was changed from DOS to Windows.



Join us in the PCL Packet Net any Monday night at 7 p.m. Central...




73,  K.O.  n0kfq






Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Channel Nine Tower #ARRL #hamradio


 Channel 9 antenna is being taken down, the complete tower will come down over the next couple of weeks

Thanks to Michael Dean, K5MFD for this information.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Please remember the Enid Hamfest coming soon #ARRL #hamradio

2014 ENID HAMFEST
Saturday, November 1, 2014

305 East OxfordGarfield County Fairgrounds (Hoover Building)
Doors open the general public at 8:00 a.m.
Free Parking
Free Food
Admission $2.00 (Kids 12 and under FREE)
Over 100 tables $3 for a table. Pre-order at Enidarc.org
ARRL forum

Friday, October 10, 2014

AuxComm coming to Oklahoma! #ARRL #hamradio

Oklahoma Amateur Radio Operators,

The Office of Emergency Communications/Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (OEC/ICTAP) is offering Auxiliary Communications Workshop (AUXCOMM) workshop training course.

There will be NO COST to you for he workshop. The workshop will be November 1 & 2, and will be all day sessions. YOU MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS.

The workshop will be held at the Mustang Fire Department in Mustang, OK

Prerequisites for attendance are:

-Completion of IS-100.b IS-200.b IS-700.a and IS-800.b prior to the workshop.
-An active FCC amateur radio license.
-Past experience in auxiliary emergency communications.
-A desire to work with COMLs in a NIMS/ICS environment (ARES-OK follows NIMS/ICS protocols and when deployed report to the events COML)

You are on your own for meals and lodging.

 PLEASE SEE THE ANNOUNCMENT BELOW MY SIGNATURE BLOCK AND READ THE LINK.

Enjoy the training and 73,

Mark Conklin, N7XYO
Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service
918.232.8346
n7xyo@arrl.net
Follow me on Twitter @N7XYO
 


************ ANNOUNCEMENT ***********

The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security has officially scheduled an Auxiliary Communications Workshop as part of the Office of Emergency Communications/Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program (OEC/ICTAP).  The course will take place November 1-2, 2014 and registration is now open. There are a total of 30 seats available and registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

For additional details about the class, including prerequisite information as well as registration instructions, please visit the course webpage via the link below.  Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. 

http://www.ok.gov/homeland/courses/training_event_detail.php?event_id=1011

Respectfully, 
Kayla McCleery
Interoperable Technical Assistant
Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
405-425-7275  Office
405-425-7295  Fax
kmccleer@dps.state.ok.us

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Newsletters online #ARRL #HamRadio

Did you know you can read other club newsletters online?

The South Canadian Amateur Radio Society has their newsletter here.  It is edited by Gary, WB5ULK.

If your club has an online newsletter, drop a link into the comments for others to see.


Friday, October 3, 2014

What happens when your Big Stick goes away?

End of An Era: KWTV To Take Down Historic Broadcast Tower - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |: "By the fall of 1954, we reached the widest coverage of any station in the southwest with the view from the top reaching a 60-mile horizon."

Which brings us to the question "What happens to your repeater when the Big Stick goes away?".

For example, radio operators looking for new repeater location.  That news was replicated months ago in the New Mexico section.

What are your options?

One would be more digital resources such as EcholinkIRLP, and Allstar.  Another solution would be MORE repeaters scattered about on the same frequency with different tones, ex. 146.79 in Oklahoma City and Edmond.

The cost, either way, will go up.



What are you doing today to plan for the day the Big Stick goes away?

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

"If you can find a better car, buy it"

Lee Iacocca said, more than once, "If you can find a better car, buy it."



Lets apply this to amateur radio for a moment.



Lets apply this to the American Radio Relay League.



Can you find a better "National Association for Amateur Radio"?



Does this other organization offer insurance for its members, representation before the Federal Communications Commission, an office in Washington, DC, friendly staff at Newington who answer phone calls and emails?



You have found a better National organization?



Do TELL!  What organization is it?



If not, then join the League.

Friday, September 26, 2014

H.R. 4969 update from N3KN #ARRL #hamradio



I would like to bring you up to date on H.R. 4969, but first I want to thank you for your help and that of the members in your Sections.  If you will be doing newsletters or other communications with your members in the next few weeks, please let them know that their efforts are important and appreciated. The official list of cosponsors can be found, sorted alphabetically, at

Congress had very few days in session in September, but we added 30 co-sponsors to the official list during that time. ARRL Directors Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, and Dick Isely, W9GIG, went to Washington in September to visit Congressional offices, as did President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD.  Dozens of offices were visited.  Meanwhile, in the home districts, ARRL elected officials, appointed officials, and members met with Congressmen and their staffs to urge co-sponsorship.  Members all over the country phoned local Congressional offices and sent e-mails via Congressmen’s web pages.  Members also sent postal letters via ARRL HQ, some of them generated at Amateur Radio conventions.  This all-member effort is how we went from 17 co-sponsors on August 1 to 47 on September 18.

We have e-mail and oral commitments from more than half a dozen additional Congressmen to become co-sponsors of H.R. 4969.  Members of Congress can become co-sponsors only when Congress is in session, not during a recess.  Because Congress packed up and went home to campaign on September 19, some Representatives didn’t have time to get their co-sponsorship made official before the recess.   There will be follow-up with the offices of those Congressmen to make sure their co-sponsorship shows up on the official list as soon as possible after Congress reconvenes in November.

What about ARRL members who wrote, e-mailed, and phoned their Congressmen, but the Representatives haven’t become co-sponsors?  Was this time and effort wasted?  Absolutely not.  At the very least, these Congressional offices now know that Amateur Radio exists in their districts and that Amateurs have interests which deserve notice.  A lot of politics is based on relationships.  Contacts made with members of Congress about H.R. 4969 contribute to establishing relationships that can be maintained and enhanced in the future.  Does your Congressman know how Amateur Radio makes your district a safer place to live if disasters occur?  Does your Congressman know how Amateurs in your district introduce young people to hands-on experience of how wireless communications work, laying the foundation for careers?  Realistically, we won’t get support for H.R. 4969 from every member of Congress who is contacted by Amateurs.  What we certainly can do is to build relationships that will serve our interests – and the public interest – if not right now, then in the future.

Members whose Congressmen have become co-sponsors are encouraged to thank their Representatives by phone, e-mail, or postal mail.  It’s good manners and good relationship-building strategy.  Members can also seek out opportunities during the present recess to make the case for the bill at local offices and events. In short:  Keep on!

73, Kay N3KN

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Technician class offered #ARRL #HamRadio

The Mid-Del amateur radio club will be hosting a Technician class at 6:30-8:30 pm on October 6, 13, and 20. 

They will do the testing for the technician class on the 20th. They will be on Monday evenings. 

On the 27th of October they will have a advancement testing. $15 dollars for the test. 

For more information, contact W5DRO for more information.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Plano Balloon Festival Special Event - K5P #ARRL #hamradio


The station will be set up directly across the street from the Balloon Festival launch site and is hosted by the First United Methodist Church, 3160 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, Texas. Both clubs will be actively participating in the joint effort, making contacts across the country and around the world, as well as showcasing  amateur radio to the public.

We plan to have 2 stations operating onsite from 2 PM (CDT) / 1900 UTC on Friday until 2 PM (CDT) / 1900 UTC Sunday (Operations will cease at night between 10pm-8am CDT/ 0300-1300 UTC) and we plan to operate on or near the following frequencies:

SSB:
40 meters - 7.255 +/- QRM
20 meters - 14.260+/- QRM
17 meters - 18.145+/- QRM
15 meters - 21.315 +/- QRM


Limited activity from home stations before and after the event is also possible. A special QSL card is available with SASE. Check the K5P site on qrz.com for details.

Thanks to Stan NW5Q for this report.

News from the American Radio Relay League