In This Issue…
- Meeting Saturday: Duane Angles AA5KD – $40 Quan sheng UV-K5(6) Walkie Talkie
- Elmer Nights
- NWS Spotter Training
- 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
Meeting Saturday: Duane Angles AA5KD – $40 Quan sheng UV-K5(6) Walkie Talkie — Menu
Duane Angles AA5KD will discuss the newest ‘inexpensive’ device, the QUANSHENG UV-K5 Walkie Talkie Dual Band 5W Rechargeable Two-Way Radio, this Saturday, March 9, 2024. 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 to the HF band, and I think Duane can even make it wash dishes. Learn about this new radio and how you can make it sing.
SCARS meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month (the 3rd during April for the Green Country Hamfest) at Norman Firehouse #7, 2207 Goddard Ave, Norman, OK, and online via Zoom / YouTube / Telephone. The monthly presentation starts at 9:30 a.m. The club meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Guests are always welcome! Join us on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. for coffee and donuts. To join Zoom, download the Zoom software and click this link at https://w5nor.org/zoom. You can enter using 893 9952 6291 password w5nor. Or, to watch the fun, click the YouTube link at https://w5nor.org/stream …
Elmer Nights — Menu
Each Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, about 25 hams and potential hams meet at the Norman Firehouse #7, 2207 Goddard Ave, Norman, OK, and on the SCARS Zoom channel, https://w5nor.org/zoom/. After all the holiday nonsense, we’re back on a regular “Every Tuesday Night” schedule. In the amateur radio verbiage, an Elmer is a person who mentors or teaches another. This is the place to visit if you have any amateur radio questions. Feel free to bring the equipment you need help with. All are welcome; a license or membership is not required. More detailed information is on the SCARS Elmer Nights page. See you Tuesday!
NWS Spotter Training — Menu
In case you missed this year’s spotter training at the National Weather Center, there are still a few places close to us where you can catch this year’s show.
2024 Spotter Training Schedule
| City | Day | Date | Time | Location | Address | City, State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durant | Mon | Mar 11 | 6:30 PM | Durant Regional Emergency Operations Center | 5861 Cessna Drive | Durant, OK |
| Alva | Tue | Mar 12 | 6:30 PM | Northwest Technology Center | 1801 11th Street | Alva, OK |
| Ardmore | Sat | Mar 16 | 10:00 AM | Ardmore Convention Center | 2401 N. Rockford Rd | Ardmore, OK |
| Quanah | Tue | Mar 19 | 6:30 PM | Quanah High School Cafeteria | 507 W 8th St | Quanah, TX |
| Buffalo | Tue | Mar 26 | 6:30 PM | Buffalo High School Auditorium | 600 SE 2nd Street | Buffalo, OK |
| Webinar 3 | Wed | Mar 27 | 6:30 PM | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/199300112661885527 | ||
| Advanced Webinar | Tue | Apr 2 | 6:30 PM | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4962967225350254173 | ||
For all of the details, visit https://www.weather.gov/oun/spottertalk.
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.
3/2/2024 | 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
- 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
- Discord: Invite Link
- 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.
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
- HAARP Needs Ham Help
- Preparation Underway for Severe Spring Weather
- YLRL Celebrates International Women’s Day with Special Event
- 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 $ARLD009
ARLD009 DX news
ZCZC AE09
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 9 ARLD009
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 29, 2024
To all radio amateurs
SB DX ARL ARLD009
ARLD009 DX news
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
KC1XX, The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and
the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
AZERBAIJAN, 4J. Special event station 4JT0SFR is active from Baku
and has been QRV on 12 meters using CW around 1345z. QSL to home
call.
MALDIVES, 8Q. Sergey, RX3APM is QRV as 8Q7BB from Baa Atoll until
March 8. Activity is holiday style on 80 through 10 meters using CW
and SSB. QSL to home call.
BAHAMAS, C6. Operators N1GN and NE1B are QRV as C6ANM from New
Providence Island, IOTA NA-001, until March 4. Activity is on 80 to
6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4. This includes being an entry
in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via LoTW.
CUBA, CO. Team T42T is QRV until March 4. Activity is on 160 to 6
meters. This includes being an entry in the ARRL International DX
SSB contest. QSL direct to WB2REM.
FRENCH POLYNESIA, FO. Geri, DK8KW is QRV as TX0QRP from Tahiti,
IOTA OC-046, until March 3. Activity is on the HF bands using CW,
and possibly FT8, with QRP power. QSL to home call.
WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS, FW. Operators LZ1GC and LZ5QZ are QRV as
FW8GC and TX8GC, respectively, from Wallis Island, IOTA OC-054,
until March 9. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY,
FT8, and FT4. QSL via LoTW.
TEMOTU PROVINCE, H40. A large group of operators are QRV as H40WA
from Pigeon Island, IOTA OC-065, until March 7. Activity is on 160
to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8, with five to six stations
active. QSL via M0URX.
HAITI, HH. Yuri, N2TTA will be QRV as HH2AA as a Single Op/Low
Power entry in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via LoTW.
COLOMBIA, HK. Matt, KC1XX will be QRV as 5K4X as a Single Op/Low
Power entry in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via LoTW.
ITALY, I. Special event station IY9MM is QRV until March 31 to
memorialize the experiments conducted by Guglielmo Marconi from the
ship Regina Elena in the port of Augusta. QSL direct to IT9MRM.
GRENADA, J3. Operators ON4MA, ON5NT and ON5TN will be QRV as J38W
from March 2 to 16. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters. QSL via
operators' instructions.
SAINT LUCIA, J6. Dan, W0CN is QRV as J68CN. He will be active as
J62K in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL J68CN via LoTW
and J62K via K9HZ.
HAWAII, KH6. Fred, NA2U is QRV as KH6/NA2U until March 4. He will
be active as KH7M in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via
LoTW.
SABA, ST. EUSTATIUS, PJ5. Janusz, SP9FIH will be QRV as PJ5/SP9FIH
from St. Eustatius, IOTA NA-145, in the ARRL International DX SSB
contest. QSL to home call.
SINT MAARTEN, PJ7. Tom, AA9A will be QRV as PJ7AA from March 2 to
30. Activity will be on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4.
QSL direct to home call.
COSTA RICA, TI. A group of operators will be QRV as TI1T as a Multi
Single/All Band/High Power entry in the ARRL International DX SSB
contest. QSL via LoTW.
BENIN, TY. Operators F5NVF, F5RAV and M0NPT will be QRV as TY5C
from Cotonou from March 2 to 29. Activity will be on the HF bands
using CW, SSB, and FT8. This includes being active on Satellite
QO-100. QSL direct to F5RAV.
BERMUDA, VP9. Les, N1SV is QRV as VP9/N1SV. He will be active as
VP9I in the ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL to home call,
and VP9I to WW3S.
CAMBODIA, XU. Tom, DL7BO and Jose, EA1CS are QRV as XU7GNY until
March 15. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, and FT8.
QSL via DJ6TF.
REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA, Z3. Al, DJ0LZ is QRV as Z36T until
March 25. QSL direct to home call.
CAYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. Operators W9KKN, K6JO and K7ZO will be QRV as
ZF1A as a Multi Single/High Power entry in the ARRL International DX
SSB contest. QSL via LoTW.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International DX SSB Contest,
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Weekly RTTY Test, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC
Sprint Ladder, K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, Wake-Up. QRP CW Sprint, UBA
Spring CW Contest, NSARA 80-Meter Contest, SARL Hamnet 40-Meter
Simulated Emergency Contest and the WAB 3.5 MHz Phone will certainly
keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.
K1USN Slow Speed CW Test, ICWC Medium Speed CW Test, OK1WC Memorial,
RSGB 80-Meter Club Data Championship, Worldwide Sideband Activity
Contest, ARS Spartan CW Sprint, AGCW YL-CW 80-Meter CW Party, 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 and
the UKEICC 80-Meter SSB Contest are on tap for March 4 to 6.
The Novice Rig Roundup runs from March 2 to 10.
Please see March QST, page 78, 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
BREAKING: HAM RADIO LOSES WELL LOVED MENTOR, BOB HEIL, K9EID IS A SILENT KEY
– EXPEDITION ON INDIAN ISLAND DRAWS ATTENTION TO CYCLONE PERILS
– YLS GATHER IN PARKS FOR A POTA PARTY
– ARISS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF HAMS ON THE RADIO IN SPACE
– FUNCUBE TRANSPONDER TO BE SILENT THROUGH MID-MARCH
– VINTAGE RADIO MUSEUM’S HAM SHACK IS BACK ON THE AIR
– SILENT KEY: EMERGENCY RESPONDER NORA RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUEZ, CO8NRR
– LUNAR LANDER STILL FUNCTIONS DESPITE LANDING ISSUES
– NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR
– FCC HONORS PROGRAM SEEKS ENGINEERING APPLICANTS
– OLDER STARLINK SATELLITES MARKED FOR DEORBITING
– WORLD OF DX
– KICKER: PEDESTRIAN MOBILE BECOMES A WALK IN THE PARK
The Amateur Radio Newsline can be found at ARNewsline.org.
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
scarsnewsletter 