Friday, November 30, 2012

Good results in Lawton

Eisenhower Middle School teacher and Viking Radio Club Trustee Clifton Harper KE5YZB reports the follow results from today’s test session.

Congratulations to Lily KF5PBL on her upgrade to General.
The following students passed their Technician test:
seventh grade students Jada, Lexley, Kerson, Jonathon 
eighth grade students Logan, Jessup, Kristopher and Kolby.
Harper teaches an elective class offered to seventh and eighth graders titled World Wide Communications Class. He uses amateur radio as a teaching vehicle to reinforce fundamentals in science, technology, electronics and math.  Students are encouraged to get a license but earning a license is not a course requirement or course creditable milestone.   ARRL text books are purchased by the Viking Radio Club. Students receive scholarships for the cost of study materials and testing fees.  Licensed students may purchase a new dual band HT at half price, about $50 dollars.
Students regularly participate in amateur radio activities such as the School Club Roundup held in October and February.  Harper sponsors several amateur radio activities that take place during non-school hours.  Harper makes sure that students have access to operating activities outside of school times, such as the November Sweepstakes.  On Saturday’s when the weather permits, Harper will set up a station at a local park and operate a community outreach station K5USA with other volunteers.  Students also participate in community activities that involve amateur radio such as the recent International Festival.  Several students have participated as operators during Museum Ships Weekend. Operating from inside the USS Batfish Submarine as WW2SUB or outside in view of the USS Oklahoma Memorial WW2OK.
The Viking Radio Club, KF5CRF, was mentioned in the September 2012 QST and a feature story of the Monitor Times in the winter of 2011.  The number of licensed middle school students is currently 24. Harper has about 80 students in three classes of seventh and eighth grade students and about 15 sixth grade students that frequently participate in various amateur radio activities.
Congratulations to Mr. Harper and all the recent upgrades and new licensees.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Admore Test Session

David Bond, KF5CMR, reports a Technician licensing test review followed by a test session for all levels of Amateur license will be held November 29.  

The Technician review will begin at 6 pm and the testing session will start around 7:30 pm  at the University Center of Southern Oklahoma (formerly known as the Ardmore Higher Education Center).  

The cost of the test is $15.00.  If you have any questions you can e-mail or call/text Bond at 817-368-5548.



Thursday, November 15, 2012

Oklahoma Section News November/December 2012 from Kevin, N0IRW


Hello Oklahoma Section!!


I hope everyone is doing well.  2012 is fast winding down.  We have reached the end of the hamfest season in Oklahoma and I can say that it was GREAT!!  Good turnouts and lots of stuff trading owners.  We had one hamfest be revived on a new date with a new location and in 2013 another will join its ranks.  I would like to thank everyone that works so hard to put these events on so that we can go have a good time.  There are  pics at the bottom of the page from the last couple of fests.


Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) was a big success in the section with a number of stations set up and both boy and girl scouts served.  Join us next year for an even better Jamboree On The Air!  If you need information on this event, contact Mark Hamblin AE5MH at ae5mh@arrl.net. 


The Viking Radio Club in Lawton had an interesting event recently.  One young lady Kelsee KF5RRG celebrated her 17th birthday on HF on November 3rd.  She attempted to contact all 50 states on that day.  I haven’t heard the final results yet, but the last email I got that afternoon, she only had 3 to go.  I’ll post the results when I get them.


I hope all of you participated in our political process this year. Whether your person won or lost, it’s important we participate in the discourse and vote. Speaking of politics, Eddie Manley, K5EMS, is working on getting 2 bills authored for the 2013 Oklahoma Legislature.  One is to make some small changes in our PRB-1 language that is currently on the books to make the burden of proof of a decision on antennas or support structures fall on the municipality and not the amateur.


The other bill is our first step into CC&R’s territory.  It will be an emergency generator bill.  To allow emergency backup generators in subdivisions with restrictive covenents.  We will let you know if and when we get these authored to allow you to get your local legislator on board with the bills.


Hamfests for first half of 2013


 Saturday, February 2            Tri-State Amateur Radio Group Hamfest & Computer Show – 8am to 2pm – Mooreland Community Center
Saturday, March 2                        Elk City Hamfest – 8am to 2pm – Elk City Community                                                             Center
Fri./Sat., March 8 & 9            Green Country Hamfest - Claremore Convention Center


This will be the last section news until January 2013.  So, I would like to wish all of you in the section a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  See you around the corner in 2013!


73,


Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW
Oklahoma Section Manager

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Winter Awareness Day is November 14, 2012

Governor Fallin advised some winter weather preparedness tips when she
declared Winter Weather Awareness Day in Oklahoma.

Have A Plan:

• Discuss with your family what to do if a winter storm watch or
warning is issued.
• Ensure your family knows meeting places and phone numbers of other
family members in case they are separated when a winter storm hits.
• Know what to do if basic services such as water, gas, electricity or
telephones are cut off for an extended period of time.
• Understand the hazards of wind chill. Cold temperatures are even
more dangerous, and potentially deadly, when combined with strong
winds. The lower the temperature and stronger the wind, the more at
risk you are.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly. Make
sure they are prepared.
• Plan to bring pets inside during winter weather. Move livestock to
sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
• Install and check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Let faucets drip to avoid freezing and know how to shut off water
valves if necessary.
• Have an alternate heating method such as fireplace or wood or coal
burning stove. Always be cautious using a portable space heater.
• Have your car winterized before winter storm season. Keep your gas
tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
• Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary insulate
walls and attic. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills.
• Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of
old newspapers. Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out
moisture.
• Never heat a home with an oven if the electricity goes out

Make A Kit:

• Windshield scraper, de-icer, snow shovel and small broom for ice and
snow removal.
• A cell phone with charger and a battery powered radio.
• Several blankets or sleeping bags.
• Mittens, they are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth
when they touch each other.
• Rain gear, warm coats and extra sets of dry clothing, mittens, socks
and a cap.
• Non-perishable snacks like dried fruit, nuts and other high energy
"munchies."
• Several bottles of water. Eating snow will lower your body
temperature. If necessary, melt it first.
• Sand or cat litter for generating traction under wheels and a set of
tire chains or traction mats.
• Jumper cables, flashlight with extra batteries, first aid kit and
brightly colored cloth to tie to antenna if you get stranded.
Stay Informed:

• Know what National Weather Service winter storm and blizzard watches
and warnings mean.
• A winter storm watch is a message indicating a winter storm is
possible in your area.
• A winter storm warning indicates a winter storm is occurring winter
storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area and could threaten
life and property.
• A winter weather advisory means winter weather conditions are
expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous,
especially to motorists.
• A frost/freeze warning means below freezing temperatures are expected.
• Ice storms usually bring heavy accumulations of ice that can bring
down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and
communication towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for
days while the utility company works to repair the extensive damage.
• A blizzard warning means sustained winds or frequent gusts to 35 mph
or greater and considerable falling or blowing snow is expected to
prevail for a period of three hours or longer.
• Depend on your NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio, along with local
radio and television stations, for weather reports.

Be Cautious with Alternative Heat Sources:

Never use generators, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline or
charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage. They produce
carbon monoxide which is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that
kills more than 500 people every year. Use extra caution when using
space heaters.

• Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if
they are properly vented.
• Do not place a space heater within 3 feet of anything that may catch
on fire, such as drapes, furniture, or bedding, and never cover your
space heater.
• Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
• Never leave children unattended near a space heater.
• Do keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher on hand in case of emergency.
• Protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning by installing a
battery-operated carbon monoxide detector and never using generators,
grills, camp stoves or similar devices indoors.

Follow the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management at:

www.facebook.com/OklahomaDepartmentofEmergencyManagement or www.twitter.com/okem

News from the American Radio Relay League