WX5ASA tower site work

A tower crew added sections to a tower that was damaged in the Ice Storm.

Fred Cramer, K5FW, geared up for Action.

There goes the crown.

Dale Town, N5VX (left), Fred Cramer, K5FW, (center), and Chico Gallegos, AF5IB participated in the event.

Just ONE of the repeaters on Walsh Mountain used by the Altus Skywarn Association.

Is that Steve Grayson, KE5BPL, working on a guy wire?  

Even more photos are at the Altus Skywarn Association Facebook Page.  Thanks to Ron Roman, KD5CYW, for these photos.

QST ALL amateur radio operators in Oklahoma

ARES Oklahoma is seeking nominations for some several District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) leadership positions.

The District Emergency Coordinator (DEC) supervises the efforts of local Emergency Coordinators in the defined district. (See Roles and Responsibilities of the DEC on www.ARESOK.org)

Do you know a fellow amateur operator who would be a good choice for a leader with ARES-OK OR would you like to be a candidate for theses appointments?

Please send your nominations to your regions Zone Emergency Coordinator (ZEC) by logging into  www.ARESOK.org where you will find your ZECs contact information.

Or is you would like to be considered for the position you can directly apply for the position www.ARESOK.org.

I appreciate your help with the selection for these vital leadership positions.

Thank you,


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

Spotter Network

Greetings all,

A quick note about APRS and Spotter Network.

If you go to Spotter Network and sign up for an account (its Free) and then put a !SN!  in your comments string of your APRS  tnc it will cause your position to be posted on a few more maps related to storm spotting  (Radar First & Spotter Network Maps).

Then also consider joining the member group  Altus Skywarn (SW OK)  as I now have that setup and need some more members besides me.

If you have a spotter network account, please consier joining the member group Altus Skywarn.

Thanks for all your help and support.

Steve Grayson  KE5BPL

Joplin Missouri Volunteer Pictures

Members of the Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Service recently served in Joplin, MO at the request of the Salvation Army.

Brian Lee Gnad, KB5TSI, filed this photo after his return.  He is the ARES Tulsa District Emergency Coordinator.


More of the photos are on Facebook.

Oklahoma Online #hamradio Resources

Do you know about these #Oklahoma resources for amateur radio operators?

You found this blog so there's no need to mention it.

Are you aware of:

• ARRL-OK mail reflector?
• OK-Traders mail reflector to list items for sale or trade?
• Oklahoma ARES mail reflector to learn of activations and other information related to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Oklahoma.
• The Oklahoma ARES web page 
• Twitter and Facebook pages
• The ARRL Daily "paper" 

These are just a few of the ways Oklahoma hams are staying connected.

Senator Coburn has issued a response to HR 607

Have you contacted your Federal legislators about this issue?

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-607 will help you
track the bill and determine who your Senate and Congress
representatives are.

Now for Senator Coburn's response:

Thank you for writing me in opposition to the Broadband for First
Responders Act of 2011 (H.R. 607/S. 28). I appreciate your input, and
I am sorry to have kept you waiting on my response for so many months.
As you know, H.R. 607 seeks to award the D block spectrum to law
enforcement and public safety officials, thereby averting a FCC
auction of the spectrum. A similar bill did not pass Congress before
the close of the 111th Congress at the end of 2010.

Before we designate the D block for law enforcement, we must first
ensure that building a dedicated network for public safety within the
existing 24 MHz is not feasible, and that it would be more cost
effective to give away the D block than to auction it off. Congress
should leverage commercial technology and give the private sector
incentives to develop the broadband devices we need for law
enforcement and public safety agencies. Additionally, H.R. 607 and S.
28 both increase, rather than decrease, federal costs and commitments
considerably.

As you point out, this bill would also reallocate certain spectrum to
be auctioned off commercially once certain determinations have been
made. I appreciate hearing from you that amateur radio emergency
communications rely heavily on some of the likely impacted spectrum
and will keep your concerns in mind should this bill be considered by
the Senate.

I believe technological innovation and creativity is born from the
private sector, not the federal government. I ultimately would like to
see the private sector, rather than the government, control available
radio spectrum so that they may efficiently maximize its use. Once a
comprehensive study has been completed, Congress will be equipped to
make more informed policy decisions as to how to auction the spectrum,
consistent with the Constitution.

I have been encouraged by the increase in availability and performance
of broadband service to Americans. I am also pleased that the private
sector has seen the huge market demand for faster and more efficient
broadband service and invested $120 billion over the last two years in
broadband infrastructure. I believe the free market will lead to the
most efficient use of available spectrum and that technology and media
companies will adjust to any spectrum conditions they encounter.
I am inclined to support the auction of the D block, rather than the
smaller fragments of spectrum H.R. 607 proposes to auction off,
because it will help ensure the most effective use of precious
spectrum, and raise much-needed revenue to alleviate the federal
budget deficit.

Again, thank you for writing me. If you have any additional concerns,
please feel free to write again. Best wishes!

Sincerely,
Tom A. Coburn, M.D.
United States Senator
TC: cak

N7XYO needs volunteers

#ARESOk is seeking nominations for some key leadership positions within Oklahoma.

The candidates are needed for two Zones - Zones 3 and Zone 6.

The is an Zone Emergency Coordinator (ZEC) is the assistant to the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) for emergency
preparedness. (See Roles and Responsibilities of the ZEC at the end of this e-mail.)

Zone 3 - Oklahoma (OKC Metro Area & area counties)

Zone 6 - South Eastern Oklahoma (South of I-40 / East of HWY-76)


Do you know a fellow amateur operator who would be a good choice for ZEC OR would you like to be a candidate for this appointment?

Please send your nominations, suggestions and feedback to e-mail n7xyo@arrl.net

I would appreciate your help and feedback with the selection for these key leadership position.


Thank you,

73 Mark Conklin N7XYO
Section Emergency Coordinator
ARES Oklahoma
918-232-8346
n7xyo@arrl.net
Twitter @N7XYO

********************************************************************************
Zone Emergency Coordinator (ZEC)
ARRL Field Organization

The ZEC is the assistant to the Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) for emergency
preparedness. The ZEC is appointed by the SEC to take care of all matters
pertaining to emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) on a zone wide basis. The ZEC post is one of top
importance in the section and the individual appointed to it should
devote all possible energy and effort to this one challenging
organizational program for Amateur Radio. There is only one ZEC
appointed in each zone of an ARRL Field Organization.

ZEC qualifications and functions:


Encourage all groups of community amateurs to establish a local
emergency organization.

Advise the SEC on all section emergency policy and planning, including
the development of a zone emergency communications plan.

Cooperate and coordinate with the Section Traffic Manager so that
emergency nets and traffic nets in the section present a united public
service front, particularly in the proper routing of Welfare traffic in
emergency situations. Cooperation and coordination should also be
maintained with other section leadership officials as appropriate,
particularly with the State Government Liaison and Public Information
Coordinator.

Recommend candidates for Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency
Coordinator appointments (and cancellations) to the SEC. At the
SEC's discretion, the ZEC may be directly in charge of making (and
canceling) such appointments.

Promote ARES membership drives, meetings, activities, tests, procedures,
etc., at the section level.

Collect and consolidate Emergency Coordinator (and/or District Emergency
Coordinator) monthly reports and submit monthly progress summaries to
the SEC and ARRL Headquarters. This includes the timely reporting of
emergency and public safety communications rendered in the section for
inclusion in QST.

Maintain contact with other communication services and serve as liaison
at the section level with all agencies served in the public interest,
particularly in connection with state and local government, civil
preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, Salvation
Army, the National Weather Service, and so on. Such contact is
maintained in cooperation with the State Government Liaison.

Zone Emergency Coordinators are encouraged to earn certification
from the ARRL "Intro to EmComm, EC-001" Course

All ARES Oklahoma officers are also expected to complete
ICS-700.A,
ICS-100.B,
ICS-200.B, and
ICS-800.B
FEMA training. All existing ARES members must complete this training
before 12/1/2007. All new applicants have one year from the time of
application to become part of ARES Oklahoma to complete this training.


Recruitment of new hams and League members is an integral part of the
job of every League appointee. Appointees should take advantage of every
opportunity to recruit a new ham or member to foster growth of Field
Organization programs, and our abilities to serve the public.

Requirements: Full ARRL membership; FCC Technician class amateur radio
license or higher.

N7XYO encourages preparedness

The following article was from PoliceOne.com and the intended audience was law enforcement officers.  However - much of the information could apply to ARES volunteers responding to assist served agencies during an emergency.



73

Mark Conklin N7XYO SEC

ARES Oklahoma

918-232-8346



*********************************************************************




As reports of the crisis in Japan continue to dominate the news, we're reminded that mass disasters of various types can happen anywhere, anytime. Obviously, it's critical that you and your agency candidly evaluate your level of preparedness for such an event from a professional perspective, but perhaps just as important is evaluating your family's level of preparedness.

If a mass disaster hits, you'll be called away for who knows how long and you'll need to stay focused in order to perform safely and effectively. Your attention will need to be on your job, not on concerns about your family and whether they know what to do. In the event of a crisis, do you and they feel confident that they're ready to self sufficiently function without your direction and involvement? Have you discussed things like evacuation plans and routes, emergency survival tactics, things to expect and avoid in a mass emergency involving public panic, things to do and not do in the event of water, power and/or communications loss, who best to call for help when you can't be there, discussion of the roles each family member would play in the event of an emergency (for example, that the older kids will take responsibility for the younger kids while mom or dad does whatever needs to be done).

I live in earthquake country and need to be prepared for the unexpected natural disaster at any moment in time. It just so happens that twice a year when we change the clocks for daylight savings  not only do I change the batteries in my smoke alarms, but I also tear apart and put back together again my family's earthquake kit. I make sure the clothes set aside for my son will still fit him six months from now, and the cans of food have expiration dates more than six months out. I also review with my wife our out-of-state emergency phone numbers, our primary rally points and action plans, as well as contingencies for the safety and welfare of our son at his school.

You may live in Tornado Alley, or along the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico (where hurricane season runs from June through November). Or you may live near the many thousands of miles of underground natural gas pipelines that, when they go they really go. Wherever you are, let the disaster in Japan serve as an impetus to speak with your family about this stuff, because when a mass disaster event happens in your area, you're almost certainly going to be serving in your role as a public safety officer, not a dad, a mom, a son, or a daughter.

You'll rest much easier knowing that they'll know what to do.

New SEC writes

With my recent appointment to Section Emergency Coordinator that brought on another changes with in ARES-OK.

Ben Joplin WB5VST will be stepping up to the ZEC position for Zone 4&5.

Ben is a long time amateur operator and very good hand in the field. Ben has worked many hours in both trainning and on deployments during communications emergencies. He was on site at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma when evacuees came up for the gulf area during hurricane Kartina. He is proficent in may diffrent operating modes and is not affraid to jump in there and try something new.

Ben has been a long time member of the Tulsa Repeater Org. and has serves as a club officer several times. With in the last few years Ben retires from the IT and communications dept of AEP/PSO.


Plus - Jay Eimer AD5PE is steping up and has accepted appointment to the EC for Rogers County in Zone 5, District 1. Jay is another long time amateur with lots of experience with emergencey communications to bring to the table.

Thank you for both Ben and Jay... with our good amateurs volunteering to help lead, and build ARES Oklahoma we can not make it happen.

Thank you,

73 Mark Conklin N7XYO
SEC
ARES Oklahoma
918-232-8346

N7XYO appointed Section Emergency Coordinator

We have a change in the section cabinet.

Charles Goodson, KC5UEG has decided to take a step back from the duties as the Section Emergency Coordinator. Charles will become an Assistant SEC working with some folks in the North Texas Section on some FEMA contacts.

I am pleased to announce that Mark Conklin, N7XYO will be replacing Charles as the SEC. Mark has a lot of experience as a Zone EC for the Tulsa and Northeastern portion of the state. I look forward to working with Mark in his new position. I would also like to say a big thank you to Charles for 3 years of service to the section as the SEC.

So, again, as of now Mark Conklin, N7XYO is the new Oklahoma SEC. Congratulations Mark and thank you as well.

73,

Kevin O'Dell N0IRW
Oklahoma Section Manager

Skywarn and Amateur Radio

Mike Corey, W5MPC, the Emergency Preparedness Manager for the American Radio Relay League,  spoke at the National Severe Weather Workshop in Norman.

This annual event brings amateur radio enthusiasts, emergency managers, weather professionals and amateurs to learn new skills, tips, and information related to severe weather.

During his talk, he described the League, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the League's Field Organization.

"The ARRL supports the Skywarn program", said Corey and cited the Memorandum of Understanding between the League and the National Weather Service.

Storm Spotting and Amateur Radio is a new book from the League.

"We look out for ALL amateur radio operators, whether they are a member or not," he said.

The Field Operations helps gather reports and helps with after action reports.

"Look at the ARRL as a resource," said Corey, who mentioned the number of ways the League can help, including QST.

Corey encourages all amateur radio operators to register for ARES, get trained and stay trained, get connected with your Section leadership, and get involved.

Corey fielded a Twitter question about changes in the ARES program.

"Major changes don't come easy," he replied.

Smaller changes will happen from time to time.  "We are aware of the interest in modernizing ARES," he said.

Corey fielded a question about reallocation and mentioned the need to comment on HR-607.

Oklahoma ARES Nets

At http://www.aresok.org/okAresNets.asp, one can find a list of Oklahoma Amateur Radio Emergency Service nets.

These nets are a central point for training, preparing, and fellowship in the Oklahoma radio community.

Before there was Twitter and Facebook, hams checked into nets.  After getting on the roster, the ham would check into the net at a regularly scheduled time.

Should one miss the net, especially on an extended period of time, and, if they were not heard on the air later in the day, week, or month, one could expect a phone call or at least an inquiry on the radio about their welfare.

In northwest Oklahoma, on Wednesday night at 9:30, the ARES net is on K5GUD-R Echolink repeater and the next night on W5OKT-R there's a net as well.

On Thursday night at 7, the southwest Oklahoma ARES net is on 146.91 repeater linked to 145.39.

In northeast Oklahoma, the W5IAS system has a net and the bunch on the Mayes County repeater conducts a net on the 147.06 repeater with sufficient range to anchor down much of that corner of the State.

On 3.900 mHz, the Oklahoma ARES net meets Sunday afternoon at 3:30. It is a roll call net but new stations are added all the time.

Take some time to find your local radio net.  They are an easy place to meet local folks, test your radio equipment, arrange a schedule for another band, find that social network with friendly members who are interested in the hobby and helping.

Oklahoma Section News Update

From Section Manager Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, here's your update of
Oklahoma Section activity:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I hope you all made it through the food and festivities without
gaining more than a new piece of ham gear......if not, you will have
the chance to get that piece of gear soon.

Upcoming Hamfests

February 5th – Ada Hamfest
March 5th – Elk City Hamfest
March 11th & 12th – Green Country Hamfest

I will be in attendance at all 3 of these events and having a League
Forum at each. I look forward to seeing you there.
 
The National Weather Service Severe Weather Workshop is the first week
in March. Mike Corey, the head of Emergency Communications and
Preparedness at HQ will be in attendance all week. I will be there
part of the time along with the SEC and a few others helping Mike man
the booth. If you are in attendance, make sure you drop by and say
HI!

The Saturday spotter training will be well attended I'm
sure……..however some of us will be in Elk City that day………..

Viking Radio Club News – This group in Lawton is really doing some
great stuff for the kids in the area getting them turned on to
wireless communication. If you can find a way to support them, please
do.


Good Morning Viking Parents and supporters of the Viking Radio Club, KF5CRF
On Thursday we met with the Eisenhower Middle School Viking Radio Club
and presented a UTUBE video developed by KF5BOC. The young looking
Astronaut Col. Wheelock from aboard the International Space Station
(ISS) did an excellent job of both a tour and an amateur radio
demonstration. http://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2010/12/nasa-amateur-radio-video-from-iss/

We did not have time to view the entire presentation, and this is
certainly a rare look into the ISS and worth viewing.. Several
Vikings were surprised to learn that amateur radio was aboard the ISS.
Some were even more surprised to learn that they can begin using
satellites with their very 1st license. Col. Wheelock's presentation
has proven to be a great lead-in as we begin to discuss amateur radio
and satellites.

It's great that so many amateurs are supporting the Viking effort as
they tune in to listen and make contact with the students during their
Saturday Amateur Radio Outreach Events from their local Kid's Zone
Park here in Lawton, OK, USA. Thank you for your continued support
and assistance.

This Saturday we are expecting temperatures in the high 50s with lots
of bright warm sunshine. Yes, you can get sunburn in the winter time.
Expect K5USA to begin setting up about 11am and operate until about
4pm (CST) (or 5pm if the temperature stays warm enough). The best
place to find the Vikings will be around 14.325 MHz +- 10 but we have
gone as low as about 14.280 MHz, looking for a clear frequency. If
you chime in, expect to be asked to support the upcoming School Club
Round-up held in February.

During the 2010 Fall SCR the Vikings racked some great school contacts and several foreign country contacts including Italy, Denmark, Argentina and a ship in the Pacific Ocean.  Most contacts were made using an antenna that consisted of $13 worth of wire stuck up 31' in the air. The Vikings are again looking
forward to talking with several schools from around the country.
 
Testing: Clifton Harper KE5YZB has arranged for a test session on
Thursday January 20th beginning about 4pm. Parents, students should
have a photo ID and their social security card/number with them.

Prior to the test, students will have a chance to experience Echolink,
a hybrid of amateur radio and Internet. Hopefully the K8DAR Boys and
Girls of Menominee, MI club will he "on the air" and we can make a
contact.

Good luck to Isaiah, Tasia, William, Rosetta, Sh'Kira, Laura, Marcos
and Itzel, KF5JAZ, who will be testing for General Class Operator, or
as Itzel puts it, "my generals". Everyone should keep studying,
especially over the weekend. Schools will be closed on Monday, in
celebration of MLK day, and temperatures will be in the 60s and that
means … Look for K5USA on Monday, January 17th as we will do a repeat
Outreach Event between 11am and 4 or 5pm CST. For Vikings that can
not participating at the park, invest in some study time. As they
have all learned, becoming an amateur radio operator is not easy and
requires some serious study time.

Books Presented To University Ham Clubs

On November 15th, your Section Manager presented a Set of Books to the
Oklahoma State University Amateur Radio Club (W5YJ). The set consisted
of a 2011 Handbook, Antenna Book, Operating Manual and Technician
License Manual. The books were presented to the club as a way of
showing League support for the organization. The books are to be kept
in the shack and used by the club members as needed.

I was accompanied by Assistant Section Manager, Jim Shideler, W5JCS.
We had a great time talking with the club members about the clubs
history and some of their current needs and plans.

Then on December 4th, I presented a set of the same books to the
Oklahoma University Amateur Radio Club (W5TC). This presentation was
mad at their station location on the observation deck of the National
Weather Center in Norman. Again, I enjoyed chatting with the students
and some members of the SCARS club that were present.

The books were presented by the Oklahoma Section with help from ARRL
Headquarters.