ARES Leadership changes noted

There are changes  in  the ARES-Oklahoma senior leadership for the North East Region.  And to especially say Thank You to Floyd Grant NV5N for working as the North East Regional Emergency Coordinator (the area formally known as the ZONE4) for the past several years. Thank you Floyd, your work and time invested in ARES-OK is appreciated.

As of February 24, 2017, following my recommendation and by the appointment of ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager (SM), Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW; I am pleased to announce that Johnny Rentfro N5XQK, has been appointed to the position of North East Regional Emergency Coordinator. The Regional EC is an Assistant-Section Emergency Coordinator and is appointed assist the SEC with matters pertaining to emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service-Oklahoma (ARES-OK) for the North East Region.  Johnny is a current member of the ARRL.

Since 1992 Johnny has been licensed radio amateur and currently holds an Extra Class license. He’s a VE for both W5YI and ARRL. He is an active member with in both the Mayes County Amateur Radio Club and the Rogers County Wireless Association.

He has worked with Washington County Emergency Management and was an Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) for ARES-OK in Washington County, under EC Ann Tierney, WB5SZQ.  He has helped WCEMA is as liaison between the Emergency Operations Center and the local radio station, KWON/KYFM for several years and worked in the EOC as dispatcher and communicating via amateur radio with the NWS.

In late summer of 2015, he formed Ham Rescue. This is an endeavor has him traveling around green country helping ham operators who need a helping hand (or two) with their stations. Such as installing or removing antennas and even helping to improve the operation of their stations.

Since he retired from Conoco Phillips in 2011, after 42 years of service, he's enjoy the opportunities ham radio has brought his way.  

I know each or you will welcome Johnny N5XQK and work hard to support him as together we serve Oklahoma through Amateur Radio.

Thanks to 

Mark Conklin, N7XYO

Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

for this update.

Voice over Internet Protocol net changes

Beginning February 27, the 8:15 PM Oklahoma ARES/ARRL VOIP net will get much larger, with *ten* more ways to participate.

First of all, the net will still be carried on Talkgroup 3140 (OK-State on Brandmeister).  If you've been on the net before with your DMR radio, it will work EXACTLY as before.

We will also be carried on the OklahomaLINK Wires-X room 21733, as we have for the past two weeks.

In addition to the above groups, we will also be available on DMR Brandmeister, D-star, Allstar, Echolink, and multiple Yaesu Fusion modes on the AlabamaLink system:

Yaesu Wires-X Room 28933 Digital

Yaesu Wires-X Room 28953 Analog

YSF Reflector Alabama Link

SRF Reflector Alabama Link

FCS002-02 C4FM

DMR Brandmeister Talkgroup 31010

D-Star Reflector XRF334-B

Allstar Node 44110

Echolink KT4ROY-R

Thanks to Jeff, AE5ME for this update.

Silent Key Antenna Items For Sale

Mosley RV-6 Vertical for 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, and 40 meter bands. Probably could be tuned on 30 meters instead of 40 by using a shorter top tubing section.

Radials (minimum of one for each band) of insulated wire and mounted slightly above ground are not included.

Manufacturer's specs show SWR below 2.0:1 across all bands when installed as prescribed.

2015 new price was $482. This unit is listed for $150.


CDR Ham II rotator and controller. Ham IV now priced at $650. This unit listed for $200.


Cushcraft 11 element, 440 MHz Yagi beam. Needs major clean up but seems to be complete. New price is $120. This unit listed at $10.


10 foot steel mast sections. Light green paint; could stand a bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint. Listed at $5 each. Buy all four for $15.



* * * * * * * * * * *
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 *
* (Since 30 Nov 53) *
* Oklahoma City, OK *
* USAF, Ret'd 61-81 *
** FAA, Ret'd 94-10 *
* * * * * * * * * * *

28th Annual Elk City Hamfest

March 4, 2017 at the Elk City Community Civic Center, 1016 E Airport Industrial Road in Elk City, Oklahoma.

8:00 A. M. - ?????? P. M.

ARRL Testing 1:00 P.M.

Hamburger Supper Friday night!

6:30 pm

Set up Friday Afternoon

(1:30 P.M.)until 9:00 P.M.

No Pre-Register this year!

$5.00 Table

$5.00 Registration fee

Thanks to Earl, N5NEB for this information.

Ham Radio Restrictions for use in Car

Our friends in Arizona and California are encountering legislation impactinng amateur radio, according to Dick, K6VGP and Division Director Richard, N6AA.

Did you know your Section and Division has volunteers who monitor amateur radio legislation in the Oklahoma Legislature?  While the House and Senate have their hands full with a budget crisis, watching is still important.  It's also valuable to know who your State elected officials are.

Tell your legislative liaison thank you when you see them again.

From the Southwest Division ARRL Director 

Regarding use of Ham Radio on the Road

The following is from today's email from our ARRL Director:

FOR THE MONENT WIRED MICROPHONES ARE OK, HAND HELDS ARE NOT ….

Amateurs in California and in several Arizona communities are facing
recently enacted or impending bans on handheld electronic devices while
driving. Here's what we currently know about these laws.

In California, Assembly Bill 1785 took effect on January 1 of this
year. Now included in Section 23123.5 of the Vehicle Code, this law
provides that "a person shall not drive a motor vehicle while holding
and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless
communications device unless the wireless telephone or electronic
wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured
to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation, and it is used in
that manner while driving . . . For the purposes of this section,
"electronic wireless communications device" includes, but is not
limited to, a broadband personal communication device, a specialized
mobile radio device, a handheld device or laptop computer with mobile
data access, a pager, or a two-way messaging device." 

Whether intentionally or unintentionally vague, interpretations of this
language have ranged  from applying to all mobile communications (a
traffic court commissioner speaking to a radio club) to excluding
mobile radios (a CHP spokesperson in Orange County). One of our ARRL
Volunteer Counsel attorneys spoke with a staff member of the Assembly
Transportation Committee, which introduced the bill. The staffer told
him that the law was intended to apply to smartphones and similar
broadband devices, not to Amateur Radio or other radio communication
services. Another Volunteer Counsel attorney is attempting to get aclarifying statement to that effect entered into the official record.

Meanwhile, CHP in Sacramento has provided guidance to the Los Angeles
County Sheriff's office that wired microphones permissible but
handheld radios are not. Until the law is amended or clarified, it
might be prudent for California Hams to avoid wielding a handheld while
driving.

THE REMAINDER OF THE LETTER REFERS TO ARIZONA ONLY

In December, the Town of Oro Valley (in Pima County), Arizona adopted a
"hands-free" ordinance that states, "No person shall, except as
otherwise provided in this ordinance, use a mobile telephone or
portable electronic device while operating a motor vehicle upon a
street or highway, unless that device is specifically designed or
configured to allow hands-free listening and talking and used in that
manner while operating a motor vehicle." The ordinance defines "hands
free" as the "use of a mobile telephone or portable electronic device
without the use of either hand by employing an internal feature of, or
an attachment to, the device." Like the new California law, this one
was ostensibly targeting smartphones and the like, but its lack of
clear definitions or specific exclusions has Amateurs concerned. The
town has provided for a warning-only period of a few months during
which mobile radio operators can make their case if stopped. (Source:
Oro Valley Web site)

A similar bill was passed earlier in 2016 in the City of San Luis (in
Yuma County) but has not led to any enforcement cases to date.

On January 10, the Tucson City Council approved in concept a law
similar to Oro Valley's, and the final language is expected any time
now. The stated purpose was to enable better enforcement of the
city's four-year- old ban on texting while driving, and it appears
that the implementation will be as a secondary offense, one for which
you can be cited only of you are already being stopped for another
offense such as speeding. (Source: Tucson News Now.)

Tucson Amateurs are contacting their council members to request
inclusion of appropriate exemption or exclusion language.

It is worth noting that an overly broad mobile-communications ordinance
enacted in Coconino County, Arizona in 2014 was amended after pressure
from both Amateurs and commercial trucking interests, according to
Section Manager Robert Spencer KE8DM.

In Dave Sumner's editorial devoted to this subject in February 2012
QST, he noted that "Safety must be our number one concern. Guiding a
motor vehicle is an awesome responsibility. Radio amateurs have been
operating mobile for decades without being perceived as a threat to
public safety, but if there is ever any doubt in your mind about your
ability to discharge that responsibility you should either pull off the
road (if it is safe to do so) or turn off the radio." I encourage you
to read the full editorial.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Southwestern Division
Director: Richard J Norton, N6AA
n6aa@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers and 73,

Sent from my 

Retina Macbook Pro

Dick

K6VGP, System Mogul

Dick@McKay.org

Okmulgee County Meet and Greet

All Ham Operators are Welcome and Invited to a Ham Radio Meet and Greet at the Okmulgee County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

We have some new amateur radio operators in Okmulgee County and we would like to have everyone (both seasoned & new hams) come by for morning of coffee and conversation.

And before you know it storm season will be here in Oklahoma. So, we thought it would also be great opportunity for members of the Okmulgee County SkyWarn Association WX5OKM also join in the conversations.

Following a short presentation there will be a tour of the communications room in the EOC – which of course is equipped with amateur radio gear. 

Who: Okmulgee County Amateur Radio Operators

What: HAM RADIO MEET & GREET

When: Saturday 11 Feb 2017 at 9:00 AM

Where: Okmulgee County EOC, 110 N. Alabama Ave, Okmulgee.

Talk in: we will monitor 147.225 pl88.5 repeater

So please, come join us… we look forward to seeing everyone there.

Thank you,

Mark Conklin, N7XYO

Deputy Director

Okmulgee County Emergency Management

Planning your hamfest attendance

Each year folks plan their holiday and vacation travel.  Some plan the hamfest attendance experience to their favorite event in order to find their bargains in new and used equipment or have those "eye-ball QSOs".

Helping with that effort, the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Calendar comes in handy.  One can search the Section, Division,

In fact, the first hamfest in the Oklahoma Section is coming soon.

Where and when is your favorite hamfest?

Why do you attend hamfests?