Ham Club to the Rescue

My husband, Bill KE5VKB, and I (Cindy Downes K5CED) are fairly new hams and have been wanting to get on HF and do some DXing, but our vertical antenna in the attic just wasn't doing the job. We could hear everyone else, but no one could hear us. Bill is legally blind, so our ham club friends came to the rescue.


Thanks to Guy WB5MXO, Cathy WB5MXP, Dan W5BM, and John KN5UPS, as well as Ray KE5WGA, Wayne KW5M and Joe N5TEX, we're now able to get on HF. Dan, John, Ray, Joe and Wayne did some troubleshooting on our Yaesu 857 radio and our old vertical antenna.


Guy and Cathy installed the G5RV antenna.

We hooked one end of the wire to a tree behind my house; the other end around a roof vent. The ladder line hangs above our porch and hooks to coax which goes through the window into our shack. You can see part of the ladder line of the antenna in this photo.

    

After we got it set up, Guy contacted NC and Canada. Then I got on and made contacts to PA, AZ, and OH. I also heard Hawaii, but wasn't able to get through the pileup. All the stations we talked to said our signal was S9+. It was amazing!

This was truly a team effort and one well appreciated. This is a ham radio club at its best. 

'ShakeOut' Drill Puts Quake Preparedness to the Test #OKARES

On February 7, 2012, beginning at 10:15 a.m.* CST Amateur Radio Emergency Service-Oklahoma will be calling a radio HF net on 7260 kHz a in participation with the 2012 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut!

More than one million people across nine states will participate in the 2012 Great Central U.S. ShakeOut!

During this drill “Drop, Cover and Hold On” - Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes

Then, get up, dust off and ALL radio amateurs in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennesse, Mississippi & Alabama are requested to check in to the HF net on 7260 kHz and participate with ARES.

Following the KISS principal this net will be a CHECK IN ONLY net only. Check in with your call sign and location.  No traffic will be handled by this net.  The net will open at 10:15 a.m.* CST on 7260 kHz and run no more than one hour.

The Net Control Stations will be Joe N5TEX and Jack KB5KKT.

Good Luck, 

Mark Conklin, N7XYO

Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator
Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Good Morning Viking Parents and Friends of the Viking Radio Club

Clifton Harper KE5YZB continuously tells the young Vikings that amateur radio will open doors for them.  By listing your amateur radio association on your college application, it may be the one reason your application is selected above all the rest.  Such was the case described by 12 year old Sh’Kyra, KF5NNT after she followed that advice, but not for a college application.  

KF5NNT is in several honor classes, amateur radio club, and participates in pageants.  At a recent pageant competition the selection process was tight, really tight.  As part of the application process, Sh’Kyra took Mr. Harper’s instruction to heart and listed amateur radio as an activity.  As the pageant continued Sh’Kyra was asked about amateur radio and her involvement.  Sh’Kyra explained that in amateur radio we talk to people, build antennas, learn about electronics, safety, and patience and use a lot of math.  When asked what was the farthest distance she talked? She proudly replied “ITALY”!  The judges observed and listened in silence, and soon announced Sh’Kyra’s selection.  

Sh’Kyra has been in the radio club for over a year, starting her amateur radio career as a shy very soft spoken participant, always willing to try, always willing to learn, always willing to take criticism and advice.  She has developed a “radio” voice that easily fills the classroom (and hallway).  Now Sk’Kyra the oldest of 3 siblings, finds herself coaching and correcting her peers.  This same confidence while speaking to peers and seniors certainly added to her presence in the eyes of the judges as she answered those questions.  Congratulation Sh’Kyra and thank you for representing amateur radio during your pageants.  Yes, put amateur radio on those application.  Amateur radio is fun, challenging and requires self study but continues to help open the door of opportunity, just ask KF5NNT.

We are heading back to the classroom!  Listen for K5USA/KF5CRF this Saturday February 4, 2012, from about 1 pm until 4 pm central time.  Find us about 14.295 MHz +- operating from the school station.   

Follow K5USA on twitter and receive 1 tweet informing you of the active frequency.
Have a great weekend and as always, please stop in and tell the young Vikings about your school, club, museum, ship, troop or yourself.   Repeat visitors always cause renewed excitement.  


Thanks to KC5CYY for this report.