In This Issue…
- Rotator Follow-Up
- Technician in a Day – April 1
- OzarkCon – QRP Conference
- SCARS Spring Picnic
- New/Upgraded Hams
- Newsletter News
- Local Hamfests
- Dates To Remember
- Odds and Ends
- SCARS Is On The Web
- Podcast: On The Air
- This Week’s ARRL Letter
- ARRL DX Bulletin
- Podcast: Amateur Radio Newsline
- Podcast: W5KUB Amateur Radio Roundtable
- Podcast: Ham Nation / Ham Radio Workbench
Rotator Follow-Up — Menu
Thanks to Fred Goughler K5LLZ for his excellent presentation on amateur radio “rotators” last week at the March SCARS meeting. Fred gave a great history of the devices and how they are used to position Yagi-Uda antennas for amateur radio use. A copy of Fred’s presentation slides is available at this link, He has been working on rotators for 50 years and stays busy fixing them on a daily basis.
If you need some rotors repaired, feel free to contact Fred via email at k5llz2020@att.net, see him at the local hamfests, or visit him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084562446270.
Technician in a Day – April 1 — Menu
On April 1, 2023 (no foolin'<G>), SCARS will offer our amateur radio technician in a day self-study class. The day will end with a test at 3:30 pm. This class will be held on the third floor of the Norman Public Library, 103 West Acres St, Norman, Oklahoma, 73069. This session will start at 9:00 am. If you know someone who wants their technician license, this session will help them get going. Class seating is limited, so please sign up early at this link!
The self-study session starts at 9:00 am, and the students will work at their own pace on a guided self-study of the amateur radio technician test questions. Students need a study guide containing all technician questions and correct answers before the session. If they already have one, they are welcome to use it.
Lunch will be provided by the South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS), or they may bring their own or go out on their own.
There will be a live demonstration of a working HF long-distance radio system to view/operate during the day, thanks to Lea Greenleaf W5HLG.
The FCC amateur radio test session will start at 3:30 pm. There is no charge for the self-study session, lunch, or amateur radio test session. They must also create a Federal Registration Number (FRN) and preregister for the test session at https://w5nor.org/vereg/. Questions, feel free to respond to the emails you receive. When they have successfully passed their technician test, there is a $35 fee collected by the FCC online a day or so after the test. The amateur radio technician license is valid for ten years.
OzarkCon – QRP Conference — Menu
Four State QRP Group began in 2003 as a regional club encompassing the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. In 2003 Joe Porter WØMQY, Dave Bixler WØCH, Gene Sailsbury NØMQ, and Bart Lawson WØIIT started the OzarkCon conference in Joplin, MO. In 2009 OzarkCon moved to its current venue in Branson, Missouri. Since then, the club has outgrown its original Four State boundaries quickly and has expanded its membership worldwide.
OzarkCon is held in the spring of the year and draws amateur radio enthusiasts from around the U.S. and locations outside the U.S. for two days of QRP-related activities.
OzarkCon will be live in person on Friday, March 31st, and Saturday, April 1st, 2023, at the Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center in Branson, Missouri.
All of the information and online registration is available at http://www.ozarkcon.com/.
Reasons to Participate in the Fun.
✔ Large Dinner Banquet on the first evening
✔ Kit Building hosted by the Four State QRP Group
✔ Dummy Load QSO Party with Prize – work KØN or WQ5RP
✔ Open Music Session pick’n & grin’n, Bluegrass, Country, Western) both nights
✔ Vendor Tables – Kits, Parts, and more…
✔ OzarkCon University
✔ Swapfest Tables
✔ QRP flea market & vendor fair open all day Saturday
✔ Wackey Key Contest with Awards
✔ Homebrew Contest with Awards by Category
✔ Day-long presentations on leading-edge activities or technologies
✔ Drawings for Door Prizes, Door Prizes, and more Door Prizes
✔ Private Breakfast Saturday morning
✔ Branson Attractions and Restaurants
SCARS Spring Picnic — Menu
Special Notice: the April SCARS meeting will be held on the THIRD Saturday of the month, April 15, to allow members to visit the Green Country Hamfest on April 7 & 8, in Claremore, OK.
Time to plan ahead. Put this on your calendar. Each spring and fall, SCARS members meet for a picnic at the Denny Ranch. Bring your favorite lawn chair, a side dish, or dessert, and join us for dinner at Denny’s. Typically, folks arrive at about 4:00 pm, and dinner is served at about 5:00 pm. SCARS will provide burgers, hot dogs, hot links, buns, and lemonade.
Bring your favorite portable radio, and feel free to operate from the park-like location.
Denny’s Ranch is at 9400 Banner Rd in Lexington. If you’re coming from the north, head south on Highway 77. About a mile south of Noble, turn left (east) on Cemetary Rd for 2 1/2 miles. Turn right (south) on 84th for 1 mile. Turn left (east) on Banner Rd for about 3/4 mile. Pay attention because Denny’s driveway is about 3′ east of the bridge. Turn right (south) and park by the tree line.
New/Upgraded Hams
Please join the SCARS Exam Team in welcoming the following new amateurs to the air:
Travis, KI5ZON
Christian, KI5ZOO
Raymond, KI5ZOW
Joyce, KI5ZOX
Jordan, KI5ZOY
Paul, KI5ZOZ
Reginald, KI5ZPE
All of whom earned Technician-class licenses at SCARS’ recent “Ham In A Day” session (lead by Alfred, N5VEV), as well as:
Charles, KF4GRO
who upgraded to General class at the 2/2 session.
Congratulations!
Upcoming Exam Sessions: April 1 (Norman Library), April 6, May 4, and June 1 (Firehouse #7).
Dates to Remember — Menu
- SCARS Elmer Nights – Every Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Join us in person at Norman Firehouse #7 – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069 and on Zoom at https://w5nor.org/zoom/.
- SCARS Meeting – April 15, 2023, The City of Moore Emergency Manager, Gayland Kitch WX5MOR, will talk to the club about severe weather operations in Central Oklahoma. The presentation starts at 9:30 am – Join us at Norman Firehouse #7 – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069 and on Zoom at https://w5nor.org/zoom/ or simply watch the fun on YouTube at https://w5nor.org/stream/. All meetings/presentations are recorded, so you can stream them later from the SCARS YouTube channel.
- SCARS April 6, 2023, License Test – 6:30 pm – Norman Firehouse #7 – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069
- Technician In A Day Class – April 1, 2023 – https://w5nor.org/class/
Newsletter News — Menu
This newsletter is announced in several places. Feel free to subscribe the way that suits you best. If you’re an email person, you can subscribe by visiting https://w5nor.org/email. If you’re a Twitter person, visit us at https://w5nor.org/twitter. And each newsletter announcement is posted on the Facebook group at https://w5nor.org/facebook. And if you like to search for this, you can visit the newsletter at https://w5nor.org/newsletter. Any way, you found the newsletter, and we’re glad you made it.
This newsletter should be for and about you. If you have a neat build project to share, an interesting QSO, a new radio review, a new idea, an upcoming event, or a member spotlight, or if you’d like to help produce the newsletter, please email at w5nor@w5nor.org. These don’t have to be polished articles; we’ll edit them as required. Don’t forget a picture or two. Those pictures are worth a thousand words.
Local Hamfests — Menu
Briefly, here’s the list of the upcoming local hamfests. Hamfests are always great places to buy new equipment, sell your underused equipment, and find that great flea market bargain. They are always great places to meet local hams and learn new tricks.
3/31/2023 – 4/1/2023 | Ozark Con – 4 States QRP | Location: Branson, MO
4/7-8/2023 | Green Country Hamfest | Location: Claremore, OK
5/19-21/2023 | Dayton Hamvention | Location: Xenia, OH
7/28-29/2023 | Ham Holiday | Location: OCCC – Oklahoma City, OK
8/12/2023 | Reno County KS Hamfest | Location: Hutchinson, KS
8/25-26/2023 | Joplin Hamfest | Location: Joplin, MO
9/9/2023 | Enid Hamfest | Location: Enid, OK
9/9-10/2023 | Arkansas State Convention | Location: Mena, AR
9/16-18/2023 | Duke City Hamfiesta | Location: Albuquerque, NM
9/24/2023 | Springfield MO Hamfest | Location: Springfield, MO
10/01/2023 | Wichita Area Hamfest | Location: Wichita, KS
10/27-28/2023 | Hamarama Hamfest | Location: Ardmore, OK
3/3/2024 | Elk City Hamfest | Location: Elk City, OK
The ARRL lists all US hamfests if you want to travel. Click here for the ARRL list of those within 250 miles.
Odds and Ends — Menu
- All those links
- SignalServer.Okiefrog.net – RF Path prediction
- ARES Memory Settings (Red Box at the bottom of the page)
- Collector and Emitter Archive
- YLRL (Young Ladies Radio League)
- Real-time Solar Weather
- SCARS Officers / Minutes
- HF Net List
- Norman VHF Repeaters audio stream
- ARRL Outgoing QSL Service
- Announced DX Operations
- D-Star stuff
- Real-time lightning data
- Oklahoma ARES Voice Over IP Net
SCARS Is On The Web — Menu
- Homepage: W5NOR.ORG
- Hamvention Club of the Year: W5NOR.org/hvclub
- News and Updates: SCARS Newsletter
- Repeater Resources: SCARS Repeater
- Oklahoma DMR Resources: OKDMR
- Facebook: SCARS Facebook
- Twitter: W5NOR
- Email: w5nor@w5nor.org
News, links, repeater info, hamfests, licensing, and more are linked from the menu sidebar at the SCARS Homepage – W5NOR.ORG!
Podcast: On The Air — Menu
The On the Air podcast is a companion to the bi-monthly On the Air magazine (an ARRL membership benefit) and takes a deeper dive into select features and projects. Each month, host Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY, offers additional resources, techniques, and hints to help you get the most from the magazine’s content.
How to Be On the Air All Year with VOTA
ARRL has designated 2023 “The Year of the Volunteers” to shed light on the work of the hundreds of volunteers who make ARRL and amateur radio what it is. We’ve got a year-long on-air event to go with it – Volunteers On the Air, or VOTA, is already taking the bands by storm, just two months into the fun. In this episode, we talk to ARRL Director of Operations Bob Naumann, W5OV, and ARRL Radiosport Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, about rules, awards, special activations, and all things VOTA.
The “On The Air” podcast homepage is available by clicking here.
ARRL Letter & Audio News — Menu
- ARRL International DX Contest a Success
- 2023 Ulrich L. Rohde Award Call for Papers
- Amateur Radio Digital Communications Awards $420,000 to the FreeDV Project
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief…
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL DX Bulletin — Menu
SB DX @ ARL $ARLD010
ARLD010 DX news
ZCZC AE10
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 10 ARLD010
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT March 9, 2023
To all radio amateurs
SB DX ARL ARLD010
ARLD010 DX news
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the
ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
MONACO, 3A. Lorenzo, 3A2OG is a new amateur radio operator and has
been active while testing various HF antennas. He is interested in
using QRP and in portable operations. QSL direct.
GHANA, 9G. Alan, G3XAQ is QRV as 9G5XA until March 14. Activity is
on the HF bands using only CW. This includes being an entry in the
RSGB Commonwealth Contest. QSL direct to home call.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6. Special event station A60AP is QRV until
August 31 to commemorate the Astronaut Program. Look for special
event stations A60AP/0 to A60AP/14 to also be active during the
event. QSL via operators' instructions.
CAPE VERDE, D4. Luca, HB9OBD is QRV as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA
AF-086, until April 5. Activity is holiday style on 40, 20, 15, and
10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via EB7DX.
COMOROS, D6. Hiro, JF1OCQ is QRV as D67AA until March 22. Activity
is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, FT8, and FT4. QSL direct to home
call.
PHILIPPINES, DU. Jacek, SP5APW is QRV as DU1/SP5APW until March 14
from the Luzon Coastal Islands, IOTA OC-244. Activity is on 40 to
10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.
CROZET ISLAND, FT/W. Thierry, FT8WW will be QRV from March 13 to
16. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via F6EXV.
GUERNSEY, GU. Operators M0UNN and G4DIY are QRV as MP7DX until
March 13. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via
G4DIY.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Operators WB2REM, KE2D, VO1IDX, and K4LT
are QRV as HD8M from Santa Cruz, IOTA SA-004, until March 11.
Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. QSL
direct to WB2REM.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HI. Members of the Loma del Toro DX Club will
be QRV as HI0LT from Isla Cabras, IOTA NA-122, from March 12 to 19.
Activity will be on 160 to 2 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and
FT4. QSL via EB7DX.
MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1. Take, JG8NQJ will be QRV as JG8NQJ/JD1
beginning March 15, and expects to be here for two months while on
work assignment. Activity will be in his spare time on the HF bands
using mainly CW with some FT8. QSL direct to JA8CJY.
OGASAWARA, JD1. Stations JD1BOI and JD1BON are QRV from Chichijima
Island, IOTA AS-031, until March 24. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters
using RTTY, FT8, and FT4. QSL via LoTW.
SURINAME, PZ. Harrie, PA3EHS is QRV as PZ5HS from Para until March
25. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB, JT6, and FT8. QSL via
PA3EHS.
MALI, TZ. Ulmar, DK1CE is QRV as TZ1CE until March 16. Activity is
on the HF bands using SSB and FT8 in DXpedition mode. QSL via
DK1CE.
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Pete, G0TLE is QRV as V4/G0TLE from St.
Kitts, IOTA NA-104, until March 17. Activity is holiday style on 40
to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL direct to home call.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. John, N9EAJ is QRV as VP5/N9EAJ from
Grand Turk, IOTA NA-003, until March 22. Activity is on the HF
bands using mostly SSB with some CW. He will make a side trip to
the Columbus Landfall National Park for a Parks on The Air
activation. QSL to home call.
INDIA, VU. Special event station AT2G20 is QRV from Gurugram until
June 2 to promote greater international cooperation through amateur
radio in conjunction with the G20 summit being held in New Delhi on
September 9 and 10. QSL via operator's instructions.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The Stew Perry Topband CW Challenge,
North American RTTY Sprint, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox
Hunt, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, YB DX RTTY
Contest, SARL Field Day Contest, RSGB Commonwealth Contest, SKCC
Weekend CW Sprintathon, EA PSK63 Contest, South America 10 Meter
Contest, DIG QSO Party, AGCW QRP CW Contest, Oklahoma QSO Party,
TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest, Idaho QSO Party, UBA Spring 2-Meter
Contest and the FIRAC HF Contest are all scheduled for this upcoming
weekend.
The Wisconsin QSO Party, 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint,
K1USN Slow Speed Test, OK1WC Memorial, Worldwide Sideband Activity
Contest, ICWC Medium Speed Test, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone
Weekly Test, A1Club AWT, CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest,
Mini-Test 40, Mini-Test 80 and the RSGB 80-Meter Club CW
Championship are on tap for March 13 to 15.
Please see March QST, page 71, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest web
sites for details.
NNNN
/EX
The latest ARRL DX Bulletin is always at the top here — ARRL DX Bulletin
Amateur Radio Newsline — Menu
– GRANT WILL ADVANCE FREEDV HF TECHNOLOGY
– COMPETITION FOCUSES ON VISION FOR HAM RADIO’S FUTURE
– TRIO OF HAMS ARRIVE ON BOARD THE ISS
– HAMS IN DELAWARE MOBILIZE FOR SURPRISE WEATHER DRILL
– NEW CW NET IN IRELAND ATTRACTS ‘NERVOUS NOVICES’
– FCC NOMINEE WON’T PURSUE CONFIRMATION
– EX-AGENCY OFFICIALS PRESS TO KEEP AM RADIO IN CARS
– DAMAGE TOPPLES VITAL NEBRASKA COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
– ‘ROVER’ CATEGORY ADDED TO VIRGINIA QSO PARTY
– CB RADIO MARKET GROWS FOR FM MODE
– WORLD OF DX
– KICKER: FINDING FAMILY, EIGHT DECADES LATER
– IN SEARCH OF ‘YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR’
The Amateur Radio Newsline can be found at ARNewsline.org.
W5KUB – Amateur Radio Roundtable Video
Big show tonight. Our guest tonight is Eric Guth 4Z1UG, the founder of the QSO Radio Podcast. Tonight we will talk about the upcoming Ham Radio Expo
The W5KUB YouTube channel link is here: W5KUB YouTube.
Ham Nation / Ham Radio Workbench — Menu
These two podcasts are published bi-weekly, so we alternate them in this space.
HRWB 174 – Building an 18650 Battery Tester with Rick KC6UFT and Marcel AI6MS
The recent Ham Nation episodes are linked right here Ham Nation.
The most recent Ham Radio Workbench episodes are linked right here Ham Radio Workbench.
73 de Mark N5HZR
scarsnewsletter 