SCARS News February 13, 2024

/ February 13, 2024

In This Issue…

NWS Storm Spotter Training — Menu

The National Weather Service has scheduled their 2024 Storm Spotter Training for the Norman area on next Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. This will happen at the National Weather Center Auditorium, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, OK. This is a great way to learn how severe weather happens in our area. You do not have to pre-register. You do not have to be a spotter. You simply need to show up at the NWC and learn about our weather patterns. If you wish to be listed as a SkyWarn authorized spotter in Cleveland County, you must attend one of these training classes every 24 months.

The National Weather Service also have classes all over the region and even a few online. Their calendar is available at the OUN Spotter Talk page at https://www.weather.gov/oun/spottertalk.

See you there!

Cleveland County SkyWarn Operations Plan — Menu

As severe storm season approaches, now is a good time to review the Cleveland County SkyWarn Operations Plan. As Gayland Kitch WX5MOR stated in last week’s SCARS meeting there are some minimum reporting requirements we should be aware of during net operation. This list should be reviewed and kept so you can recall them when the net happens.

  • Hail – 1-inch minimum. Quarter size or greater.
  • Wind – Greater than 58 MPH / 50 knots.
  • Tornado on the ground.
  • Funnel Cloud.
  • Rotating Wall Cloud.
  • Persistent Wall Cloud.
  • Rainfall, 1 inch or more per hour.
  • Flash Flooding.
  • Other items, as requested.

We do not ask, nor do we encourage people to chase or go mobile during severe weather operations. With over 1,000 hams in Cleveland County, and hundreds that are active during the storms, you are a better source of information when you are at your home location.

For more information on the local SkyWarn operation, you can reveiw our SkyWarn page. And if you would like more information about the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) you can visit our ARES page to see all of the training opportunities to help you learn how the service works.

SCARS Events Page — Menu

As discussed in the SCARS meeting, we have a lot of activities scheduled for 2024. You can learn more about these activities and refer back to them throughout the year at https://w5nor.org/events/. Get involved, stay involved!

See you there!

Elmer Nights — Menu

In the amateur radio world, an Elmer is someone who helps another amateur learn about the hobby. At SCARS, we have an ongoing Elmer program and actively work to help each other. Join us each Tuesday, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, at Norman’s Fire House #7, 2207 Goddard Ave, Norman, OK, or by using Zoom. Load up the Zoom software, and then click this link at https://w5nor.org/zoom. You can join using 893 9952 6291 password w5nor. If you have a question and you can’t, won’t, or are too polite<G> to ask it, feel free to drop it in the chat. We’ll ask it for you!

Bring your problems. Bring your questions. Sit and watch what happens. Bring your expertise. We typically have 30-40 folks in the building, and online. There’s always something going on!

Next Tuesday, February 20, 2024 is the annual NWS training and while a number of us will be at that meeting, Elmer Night will still keep rolling along, so feel free to come visit one of those activities.

FCC License Testing

Please join the SCARS Exam Team
in congratulating the following operators:

Monty Dyer, KF5ZPA – Upgraded to General
Patrick Wright, KJ5EHA – New General
Donald Hudgins, KJ5EHB – New Technician

Upcoming Exam Sessions: March 7, April 4, and May 2.

Dates to Remember — Menu

  • SCARS Elmer Nights – In-person Elmer Night is held every Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Join us in person at Norman Firehouse #7 Emergency Operations Center – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069 and on Zoom at https://w5nor.org/zoom/.
  • SCARS Meeting – Saturday, March 9, 2024. Duane Angles AA5KD will discuss the newest ‘inexpensive’ device, the QUANSHENG UV-K5 Walkie Talkie Dual Band 5W Rechargeable Two-Way Radio. This little handheld transmitting computer seems like it can do it all. There are alternate firmware packages that have unlocked tons of features. It transmits on VHF, UHF, and 1296. It can handle AM and FM. It also can listen in the HF band and I think Duane can even make it wash dishes. This meeting will be held at 9:30 am in the Norman Firehouse #7 Training Center – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069, on Zoom at https://w5nor.org/zoom/ and on YouTube at https://w5nor.org/stream/. The doors will open at 9:00 a.m., and the presentation starts at 9:30 a.m.
  • SCARS license testing, March 7, 2024, – 6:30 p.m. – at Norman Firehouse #7 Training Center – 2207 Goddard – Norman, OK 73069.

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. 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. No matter how you found the newsletter, 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 excellent flea market bargain. They are always great places to meet local hams and learn new tricks.

3/3/2024 | Elk City Hamfest | Location: Elk City, OK
4/6-7/2024 | Green Country Hamfest | Location: Claremore, OK
4/7/2024 | Ozark Con – 4 States QRP | Location: Branson, MO
5/18-20/2024 | Dayton Hamvention | Location: Xenia, OH
7/27-28/2024 | Ham Holiday | Location: OCCC – Oklahoma City, OK
8/11/2024 | Reno County KS Hamfest | Location: Hutchinson, KS
8/24-25/2024 | Joplin Hamfest | Location: Joplin, MO
9/8/2024 | Enid Hamfest | Location: Enid, OK
9/8-9/2024 | Arkansas State Convention | Location: Mena, AR
9/15-17/2024 | Duke City Hamfiesta | Location: Albuquerque, NM
10/05/2024 | Wichita Area Hamfest | Location: Wichita, KS
10/26/2024 | Hamarama Hamfest | Location: Ardmore, OK
1/5/2025 | Checotah | Location: Checotah, 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

SCARS Is On The Web — Menu

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.

Audio Link

Maintaining a “Junk Box”

Maintaining a “junk box” — a collection of odds and ends that can be used in future projects and repairs — is a time-honored practice among hams. Every ham radio junk box has to start somewhere, though. The cover story of the January/February 2024 issue of On the Air, “A Fine Mess: Starting Your Junk Box,” by Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ, offers advice about how to do just that. The January 2024 episode of the On the Air podcast digs deeper by going on location to the workshop of W1AW, ARRL’s Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station. Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, welcomes us into this working space to show us some real-life junk boxes and discuss how they come in handy. 

The “On The Air” podcast homepage is available by clicking here.

ARRL Letter & Audio News — Menu

ARRL Audio News

The current ARRL letter is available by clicking here.

ARRL Audio News Information is available by clicking here.

ARRL DX Bulletin — Menu

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD006
ARLD006 DX news

ZCZC AE06
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 6 ARLD006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 8, 2024
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD006
ARLD006 DX news

This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by
W2GD, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and
the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.

GEORGIA, 4L. Alex, K6VHF will be QRV as 4L/K6VHF from Rustavi from
February 10 to 18. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW,
SSB, RTTY, and FT8. QSL direct to home call.

MADAGASCAR, 5R. Eric, F6ICX is QRV as 5R8IC from Sainte-Marie
Island, IOTA AF-090, until March 31. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters
using mainly CW. This includes being active on Satellite QO-100.
QSL to home call.

SAMOA, 5W. Operators YT1AD, YU3AA, UA9OLY, and RC9O will be QRV as
5W8A, 5W0AA, 5W0LY, and 5W0RC, respectively, from February 10 to 19.
Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL to home calls.

UGANDA, 5X. Alan, G3XAQ and Don, G3XTT will be QRV as 5X1XA from
February 12 to 20. Activity will be on the HF bands using only CW.
This includes being an entry in the upcoming ARRL International DX
CW contest. QSL direct to G3SWH.

YEMEN, 7O. Vlad, OK2WX is QRV as 7O2WX from Socotra Island, IOTA
AF-028, until February 12. Activity is on 160, 80, and 40 meters.
QSL via IZ8CCW.

LESOTHO, 7P. Pista, HA5AO is QRV as 7P8AO until February 19.
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8. QSL via
LoTW.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 9Y. Special event station 9Y24C will be QRV
from February 10 to 13 for the National Carnival Celebration in
Trinidad and Tobago 2024. Activity will be on various bands and
modes. QSL via LoTW.

TONGA, A3. Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR will be QRV as A31DK and A31DL,
respectively, from Nuku’alofa, IOTA OC-049, from February 15 to 27.
Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via LoTW.

CHINA, BY. Zhang, BH4FSK plans to be QRV as B5/BH4FSK from Daishan
Island, IOTA AS-137, from February 13 to 15. Activity will be on 80
to 10 meters, including 6 meters, using QRP power. QSL to home
call.

JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLAND, CE0. A large group of operators will be QRV
as CB0ZA and CB0ZEW from Robinson Crusoe Island, IOTA SA-001, from
February 10 to 24. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters, including
60 meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8 in DXpedition mode. QSL via
N2OO.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ. Members of the Saudi Arabia Radio Society will be
QRV with special event stations 7Z1WRD, 8Z1WRD, and HZ1WRD from
February 11 to 13 to commemorate World Radio Day. QSL via
operators’ instructions.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. Livio, IZ3BUR is QRV as J52EC. Activity is in
his spare time mostly on 10 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home
call.

ARUBA, P4. John, W2GD will be QRV as P44W from Santa Cruz from
February 12 to 20. Activity will be on all bands, with an emphasis
on 30, 17, and 12 meters, using CW as time permits. This includes
being a Single Op/All Band entry in the upcoming ARRL International
DX CW contest. QSL via N2MM.

PALAU, T8. Nobu, JA0JHQ will be QRV as T88PB from Koror Island,
IOTA OC-009, from February 12 to 15. QSL direct to home call.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Chuck, KG9N is QRV as V26CV from Antigua,
IOTA NA-100, until February 20. Activity is on various bands using
CW and SSB. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX
RTTY contest and the upcoming ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL
to home call.

NAMIBIA, V5. Frank, DL7ATA is QRV as V5/DL7ATA until March 23.
Activity is on the HF bands using SSB in his evening hours. QSL to
home call.

BERMUDA, VP9. Darrell, AB2E will be QRV as AB2E/VP9 from February
14 to 19. Activity is on the HF bands using mainly CW with some
FT8, and with a focus on 30, 17, and 12 meters. This includes being
active as VP9I in the upcoming ARRL International DX CW contest.
QSL to home call and VP9I via WW3S.

VIET NAM, XV. BJ, WA7WJR will be QRV as XV9WJR from February 12 to
22 from the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere and the Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu
Nature Reserves. Activity will be holiday style on 20, 17, 15, 12,
and 10 meters using CW, SSB, and various digital modes. QSL direct
to home call.

VANUATU, YJ. Takio, JH3QFL and Mamoru, JH3VAA are QRV as YJ0AA and
YJ0MN, respectively, until February 11. Activity is on the HF bands
using mostly FT8, and on Satellite IO-117. QSL via LoTW.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, RSGB 1.8
MHz CW Contest, NCCC FT4 Sprint, Weekly RTTY Test, QRP 80-Meter CW
Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, FISTS
Saturday CW Sprint, Asia-Pacific Spring CW Sprint, SKCC Weekend CW
Sprintathon, KCJ Topband Contest, Dutch PACC Contest, OMISS QSO
Party and the Balkan HF Contest will keep contesters busy this
upcoming weekend.

The K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday
Sprint, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial, Worldwide
Sideband Activity Contest, PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint, NAQCC CW
Sprint, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Weekly Test, A1Club AWT,
CWops Test, VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mini-Test 40 CW, Mini-Test
80 CW, DARC FT4 Contest and the RSGB 80-Meter Club Data Championship
are on tap for February 12 to 14.

The ARRL School Club Roundup runs from February 12 to 16.

Please see February QST, page 76, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest
websites for details.
NNNN
/EX

The latest ARRL DX Bulletin is always at the top here — ARRL DX Bulletin

Amateur Radio Newsline — Menu

– THIEVES DESTROY RADIO TOWER IN ALABAMA
– SILENT KEY: TOP DXER, CONTESTER SLAVKO CELARC, S57DX
– A BOOST FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS’ CUBESATS
– FAREWELL TO CUBESAT AO-92
– CHANGES TO UK LICENSES BEGIN THIS MONTH
– RIDING RADIO’S ROAD TO PLUTO’S DISCOVERY
– INT’L YL GROUP PLANS EVENT AT CZECH CONTEST STATION
– NORTH BENGAL HAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT AT MAJOR FESTIVAL
– EXPLORING SILICON VALLEY’S AMATEUR ROOTS
– WORLD OF DX
– KICKER: AMATEUR RADIO PUT A SONG IN HIS HEART

SCRIPT

AUDIO

The Amateur Radio Newsline can be found at ARNewsline.org.

W5KUB – Amateur Radio Roundtable Video

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.

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

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