SM025 – Seminole Communications Need

Seminole Communications Need

A message from the ARRL Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator, Mark Conklin N7XYO…

2000L 6 MAY 2022    DO NOT SELF DEPLOY

ATTENTION ALL ARES-OK members are on Stand-by –   ARES-OK Districts 11, 5 & 6 should prepare to muster teams if requested, a LIMITED deployment is expected.

The OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT has requested communications support from the ARRL/Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

ARES-OK Leaders (ReginalEC, DistrictEC & CountyEC) are asked to contact their ARES-OK team(s) of volunteers to ensure that they have received this info and are ready to help.

SCOPE:

Provide voice communications between chainsaw and debris removal teams and their base of operations.

Seminole State College (Incident Command – IC)

Located at 2701 Boren Boulevard, Seminole, OK 74868

Voice communications can be via simplex or any available repeater (with permission of repeater owner(s)).

The initial team will need to set up base operations at 

Seminole State College – IC

Provide 1 Mobile Operator to shadow each of the up to SIX chainsaw and debris removal teams.

DURATION: at the direction of ARES-OK Leadership and the OKDEM – Starting Saturday 7 May 2022 then most likely through Tuesday/Wednesday or 10-11 May 2020.

DAILY OPERATIONAL PERIOD:

0730 Local to Darkness (at the direction of OKDEM POC)

NOTE: IC base should be covered by 2-person teams per location in shifts, mobile position should be rotated to allow for breaks.

All volunteers must sign in and out with IC.

Log all traffic on ICS-309 form.

Use ICS-213 for all formal messages.

WHAT TO BRING:

ARES Deployment Vest (Don’t have one?  (Borrow one from a friend – well work on getting a loaner vest or two.)  Wear your ARES-OK vest at all times.

Suitable clothing and work boots for being in a disaster area.

HT RADIO, EXTRA BATTERIES (Radio manual is a good idea).

MOBILE RADIO for Vehicle operations.

Day one bag – always a good idea. Some snacks & water.  ARC/Salvation will provide meals.

Photo ID

ARES ID – don’t have one – don’t panic – make sure you are registered online @ www.ARESOK.org

A copy of your Amateur Radio License

All volunteers willing to help please contact:

Tom Webb WA9AFM/5

tmwebb@cox.net 

Please specify the days and times you are available to help.

Thank you for your service,

Mark Conklin, N7XYO

Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator

Amateur Radio Emergency Service

918.232.8346

n7xyo@arrl.net

Follow me on Twitter @N7XYO

ARRL Oklahoma is On The Web

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…

SM021 – Announcing http://ok.arrl.org/

Greetings, and I hope you are all staying warm and are making the best of the new year. To start the year off, I’d like to introduce the new ARRL Oklahoma section website,  https://ok.arrl.org/. This site houses the OK Section Manager News and publicizes ARRL activity in the entire state. Currently, there are segments for Becoming a Ham, Section Manager News, ARES/SKYWARN, NTS, Clubs, and Hamfests. The goal for this site is to become the place where you can visit or send someone for more amateur radio information anywhere in the state of Oklahoma. 

Be a Ham

Each year hundreds of folks obtain their first Technician license. This tab will help them learn what’s required, show them how, give them training assistance, and show them where they can take a license test. If your club operates an ongoing license test session, make sure we listed it on the license page, and please get in touch with us if you need some changes/additions.

Section Mgr News

The Oklahoma Section Manager newsletters are stored here. So if you missed a past issue or need to catch up on some local information, this is the place to look. 

ARES/SKYWARN

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a service that hams provide during communications emergencies. Here you will find a link to the ARES Oklahoma web page, where you can join, learn, obtain training, and more. 

The National Weather Service’s SKYWARN program is also a good way for hams to get involved with severe weather reporting. This page provides the four different regions of the NWS for the state and how you can get involved from your area.

NTS

The National Traffic System (NTS) is how amateur radio operators pass traffic during ‘blue-sky’ days and during communications emergencies. Every day Oklahoma hams pass traffic via voice, CW, and Winlink. This tab describes the local methods we use to get messages in and out of Oklahoma. You will hear more about NTS in subsequent Section Manager News reports.

Clubs

There are 40 ARRL affiliated clubs in the state, and you will be able to find one of these clubs here. If you are a club leader and notice that some information needs to be updated, please let us know.

Join ARRL

Here you can link to the ARRL membership benefits page and the page to allow you to join or renew your ARRL membership online. 

Hamfests

Oklahoma has five hamfests (or conventions) annually in Elk City, (Green Country) at Claremore, Oklahoma City, Ardmore, and Enid. In addition, we hold tailgate events in the Pryor and Edmond areas. This tab has links to each event, and you will find the most current information about each event here. If you have some updated information about one of these events, please make sure you contact us.

Contact Us

The contact us section has links to provide contact information for the Oklahoma Section and describes our neighboring regions. Oklahoma, along with Texas, makes up the ARRL West Gulf Division, one of the fifteen national divisions. Links to the WGD and the three Texas sections can be found on this tab. 

Clubs

Amateur radio clubs are the backbone of the hobby. The tremendous local hams have good information, and as Elmers or mentors, they love to share it. Send something that your club is doing well to me n5hzr@arrl.org, and I’ll feature your club in this newsletter, and on the ARRL club newsletter. Most clubs are seeing an increase in new member activity recently. Our Oklahoma Affiliated Club Coordinator, Jim Shideler W5JCS, can help you find a club or help your club become affiliated. We currently have 40 clubs listed at https://ok.arrl.org/clubs/. Look for a club near you, or verify that your club is on the list. Send Jim an email at W5JCS@arrl.net if you need club assistance.

ARRL Oklahoma is On The Web

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…

SM017 – Happy Holidays and 2021 Year-End Summary

‘Tis the Season

The end of the year brings a number of holidays that tend to make the time fly by faster each and every year. So, no matter what you celebrate, all of us that bring you the Oklahoma ARRL experience wish you the best. So, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Thanksgiving, Happy New Year, and all the rest to you and yours from the Oklahoma ARRL section.

And, many thanks from me to the hundreds of volunteers that make this process run smoothly. Without the help of the section leaders, ARES leaders, ARES volunteers, NTS Traffic Handlers, club leaders, hamfest organizers, net control operators, net participants, and others we wouldn’t have been able to make the waves that we have during 2021.

2021 Year-End Summary

The ARRL national organization is defined by the five pillars of public service, advocacy, education, technology, and membership. These tenants are used to define all of the activities that make up the organization’s tasks. Earlier this year I took a look at the five pillars and found that we would be able to support all of them by concentrating on the following five action groups; ARES, NTS, Clubs, Member Communications, and Outreach. Throughout the year each of those groups has had a lot of activity, and some of it is shown here:

ARES – Amateur Radio Emergency Service

  • A new https://aresok.org website was unveiled to support the 800+ ARES members.
  • An ARES OK Fall Summit was held on 10/23/2021 that had 30 ARES members in-person in Norman and 20 more that attended via Zoom and YouTube.
  • We obtained several new Region Emergency Coordinators.
  • We obtained about 20 new county Emergency Coordinators.
  • Email communications were sent to the 800+ ARESOK contacts.

NTS – National Traffic System

  • The National Traffic System in Oklahoma will be highlighted during the month of January. If you are interested in NTS, more information is available at https://ok.arrl.org/nts/
  • HF Phone Nets are still going strong with the following schedule. More information is available at https://ok.arrl.org/ntsnets/
    • Sunday 3900 08:00 local
    • Sunday 3900 16:30 local
    • Daily 7290 AM/PM
  • New Tulsa Superlink UHF Night Net – More information is available at https://ok.arrl.org/ntslocal/
    • Every Thursday 7:00 pm
  • NTSOK Winlink is up and running on HF and VHF – More information is available at https://ok.arrl.org/ntsok/
    • Send NTS messages to message to NTSOK

Clubs

  • The Oklahoma Section Affiliated Club Coordinator – Jim Shideler mailto:W5JCS@arrl.net
  • We created a club leader email list
  • The 39 clubs are listed at https://ok.arrl.org/clubs/
  • A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) club analysis tool is available at https://ok.arrl.org/clubtool/
  • ARRL Club Newsletter started in November from ARRL HQ (first time since 2009). If you have any club information and pictures you would like to share, send them to mailto:clubs@arrl.org.
  • ARRL Club news will start back up in QST as ‘strays’.
  • All club contact information for each club was updated on ARRL.ORG
  • A new national ARRL Club Funding program was announced at the Enid hamfest.

Member Communication

  • The https://aresok.org site was updated.
  • The https://ok.arrl.org web site was started. This site should be “THE” place to go for amateur radio information in the state. Wanna be hams, new hams, upgrading hams, and curious hams should find something to do here. Look here for clubs, testing sessions, classes, and more.
  • The https://arrlok.blogspot.com, Facebook page, ARRL.org section page, and the Twitter page all receive Section Manager News about every fortnight.
  • Postcards are sent monthly to the following groups of people. More information is available at https://ok.arrl.org/postcards/
    • New FCC license
    • Upgraded FCC license
    • New ARRL member
    • Lapsed ARRL members

Outreach

  • Oklahoma Memorial Marathon Communications
  • Do-Wacka-Do Communications
  • Tour de Tulsa Communications
  • Cycle 66 Bike Communications
  • Tulsa Makers Faire demonstration station
  • Tulsa Channel 8 News report on Hurricane Ida preparations
  • Lots of Field Day Stations and Field Day home stations
  • City of Norman National Night Out demonstration station
  • Westheimer Airport Open House demonstration station
  • NIGHT, the movie – we assisted with a feature movie short
  • ARISS – AMSAT school communication – Tecumseh, OK – K5TMS
  • Emergency Preparedness – Norman Sooner Mall demonstration station
  • Full blown Elk City Hamfest
  • Full blown Enid Hamfest


And, all of this happened during the international pandemic. Next year should allow even more activities.

Summary Numbers


This year in the state of Oklahoma, we welcomed 394 new Technicians, 137 upgraded licensees, and 413 new ARRL Members. This resulted in an increase in ARRL Membership of 87 (+5.1%), to over 1,800. We recently added three new clubs that will be detailed soon!

1,051 postcards were sent to the new hams, upgraded hams, and new ARRL members.

There are currently 832 ARES Oklahoma members.

— See you next year!!!

ARRL Oklahoma is On The Web

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…

SM009 – Rt 66 On-The-Air and the Memorial Marathon Needs You

Each year hundreds of hams make thousands of contacts during the Route 66 On The Air event! It is a yearly contest that is run by the Citrus Belt Amateur Radio Club of San Bernardino, California https://w6jbt.org/?page_id=117. Its goal is to connect radio operators everywhere with stations along the original RT66 stretch. This year they will have 20 fixed stations and two teams roving the famous route using the callsigns W6A through W6V. Oklahoma has over 400 miles of the Mother Road, more than any other state along the route. Oklahoma City is the center point of the journey, and the state has dozens of historic places along the route.

This year Oklahoma will again have three stations operating along the route, at OKC, W6K https://qrz.com/db/w6k, at Stroud, W6J https://qrz.com/db/w6j, and at Tulsa, W6L https://qrz.com/db/w6l.  

Route 66 On-The-Air begins at 0000Z/11 September and continues to 2359Z/19 September.

Radio operators may use phone, CW, or digital.

The Route 66 On The Air Special Event participating stations are likely to be found somewhere in the vicinity of the following frequencies.

Hz80M40M30M20M17M15M12M10M6M
CW3.5337.03310.11014.03318.08021.03324.90028.03350.033
SSB3.8667.266N/A14.26618.16421.36624.96628.46650.166
DIGI.3.5737.07410.13614.07418.10021.07424.91528.074N/A

ALL frequencies shown above can be +/-  due to QRM and other in-use conditions

To sign up as a R66OTA Radio Operator for Oklahoma City, contact Steve Duskin, NE5SD ( ne5sd@arrl.net ) or Tom Webb, WA9AFM/5 ( wa9afm@arrl.net ). Operating sites are available throughout the metro area, including home stations.

To operate as a R66OTA Radio Operator for Stroud, contact Cameron McAntire KC5ZHU ( kc5zhu@arrl.net ). They will be operating from the Stroud City Park that is next to the historic Rock Café, from about 10 am to about 10 pm.

To operate as a R66OTA Radio Operator for Tulsa, you can coordinate your activities with the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club, W5IAS, using the 145.110 repeater.

Good luck and see if you can work ’em all!

Communications for the OKC Memorial Marathon

The coordinator of the amateur radio operators for the OKC Memorial Marathon, Mike Rockey KE5EQC, reports that he currently has three-quarters of the required hams signed up. He has 79 volunteers signed up so far, and he needs about 110. We’re about 3 1/2 weeks out from the October 3rd event. It is probably hard to think about standing out at a medical tent or other location in this heat. But this year, it may even be jacket weather in the first part of October.

Dates/Time: 

  • Sunday, October 3rd, on-site at 6:00 AM and finish around 3:00 or 3:30 ish.
  • The pre-brief meeting will be on September 20th at 7:00 PM at the OKC Fire Training Center, 850 N. Portland Ave. in Oklahoma City (73107). Note new date and location!!!

Register Online:

Any licensed amateur radio operator can assist. Each year hams from all over the state converge to help with this grand event. You can register online at https://www.cuetoems.com/ocmm_2021/Volunteer.aspx?code=PSC2021.

Clubs

Amateur radio clubs are the backbone of the hobby. The tremendous local hams have good information, and as Elmers or mentors love to share it. Send something that your club is doing well to me n5hzr@arrl.org, and I’ll feature your club in this newsletter. Most clubs have seen an increase in new member activity during the pandemic. Our Oklahoma Affiliated Club Coordinator, Jim Shideler W5JCS, can help you find a club or help your club become affiliated. We currently have 38 clubs listed at https://aresok.org/clubs. Look for a club near you, or verify that your club is on the list. Send Jim an email at W5JCS@arrl.net if you need club assistance.

You can find ARRL Oklahoma Section all over the web at:

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…

SM008 – Tailgates and Missing Trailer

As the summer rolls along, there are a couple of amateur radio tailgate events on the schedule. These tailgate meetings are a good place to visit with other hams, ask a bunch of questions, answer a bunch of questions, and buy, sell, and swap ham equipment.

Edmond Tailgate Meeting

According to the host, Jerry Sams N5KNU, this will probably be the last Edmond Tailgate event of the year. This is a free event, bring your own tailgate, table, and chair. Take all of your trash.

  • Saturday, Aug. 21 7:30-noon

It is held at 332 West 33rd, Edmond, OK, just behind the R.L. Williams Co. building. Look for the 90′ tall Edmond water tower, and you’ll be there.

Green Country TAILGATE SWAP MEET

Saturday, September 11, 2021

Opens at 8 AM and it closes at 3 PM.

To be held at the EAST parking lot at:

Asbury United Methodist Church,

6767 South Mingo Road,

TULSA, Oklahoma.

Some prizes will be raffled,

Tailgate or bring your own table and chair,

Admission is FREE!

FOOD TRUCKS

VE TESTING

SPECIAL EVENT STATION

Missing Joplin Emergency Communications Trailer

ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator, Mark Conklin, N7XYO, posted the following info regarding stolen Amateur Radio Equipment.

Watch out for this stuff!

On August 1st, 2021, the Joplin ARC trailer was stolen and all items were removed. Four complete stations and a generator were removed. The trailer was recovered. We are asking hams to watch for these items appearing at flea markets, pawnshops, and other venues.

A Google search for pawn shops in your area will list those nearby so you can contact them.

These items are hot. Don’t wait, pass this list around. Thanks!

Please notify the police and us should you locate them.

wb0iyc@joplin-arc.com

’73 — Jim

Joplin ARC Trailer contents – including Serial Numbers

  • Stolen items from JARC TRAILER on Sunday August 1st.
  • Portable Generator Honda EU2000iA1 08P57-Z07-OOS
  • Transceiver Yaesu FT-2800M 9L941758
  • Transceiver Icom IC-9100 2002766
  • Transceiver Icom IC-7410 2003004
  • Power Supply MFJ MFJ-4230MV 159003081 FRC12
  • Power Supply MFJ MFJ-4230MV 159003084FRC12
  • Transceiver KENWOOD TS-440 w/voice option
  • POWER SUPPLY KENWOOD PS-30 1011369
  • 30ft Free-Standing Tower Texas Tower 4-30 4SFX30FT Alum (has a yellow metal pivot base attached)
  • Rotor & control cable Yaesu G450
  • Multi-Band Beam Mosley Ant-Mini-32-A 2 element n/a
  • Two 12/3 x 100ft extension cords
  • 3 Pop up tents
  • Tool Chest
  • Toolbag with small electrical tools and Xcelite colored socket drivers
  • Dipole 40 meter
  • Portable multiband trap dipoles
  • Coaxial cables

Clubs

Amateur radio clubs are the backbone of the hobby. The tremendous local hams have good information, and as Elmers or mentors love to share it. Send something that your club is doing well to me n5hzr@arrl.org, and I’ll feature your club in this newsletter. Most clubs have seen an increase in new member activity during the pandemic. Our Oklahoma Affiliated Club Coordinator, Jim Shideler W5JCS, can help you find a club or help your club become affiliated. We currently have 38 clubs listed at https://aresok.org/clubs. Look for a club near you, or verify that your club is on the list. Send Jim an email at W5JCS@arrl.net if you need club assistance.

You can find ARRL Oklahoma Section all over the web at:

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…

SM006 – The Card is in the Mail / Memorial Marathon

Amateur radio operators have used QSL cards to confirm their contacts for decades. And, while the use of paper QSL cards has diminished in recent years, this week, hundreds of postcards will arrive in the mailboxes of hams all over the state of Oklahoma. Cards have been sent to hams that recently obtained their first amateur radio license, upgraded their ticket, joined ARRL, or had their ARRL membership lapse since December 1st, 2020.

When I obtained my amateur radio license at the end of solar cycle 21, a few vendors sent welcome mailings to newly minted hams. After checking the mailbox every day for the 6+ weeks it took to receive my FCC license, I was thrilled to see that others had recognized my achievement. In addition, they offered their services for QSL cards, radio information, or newsletters. I hope these cards will trigger that same feeling when they peer in their mailbox.

Please feel free to send me any comments that you have or hear about these cards to n5hzr@arrl.org. I’d like to know that others receive the same joy I had when putting these together and dropping them in the mailbox!

I hope these cards will spark some conversations about ARRL Oklahoma, and I’ll keep sending these out monthly to keep in touch with new licenses, upgrades, and ARRL membership changes.

ARRL Membership

If you are not currently a member, this would be an excellent time to join the ARRL. You can join online or print an application at  https://arrl.org/join/. Maybe it’s time to ask a friend if they are a member?

As a reminder, here is a summary of some of the…

ARRL Benefits

And, for all of you current members, thanks for being a part of the group. When’s your renewal?

Communications for the OKC Memorial Marathon

The coordinator of the amateur radio operators for the OKC Memorial Marathon, Mike Rockey KE5EQC, reports that he currently has half of the required hams signed up. He has 54 volunteers signed up so far, and he needs about 110. We’re about 2 1/2 months out from the October 3rd event, and it is probably hard to think about standing out at a medical tent or other location in this heat. But this year, it may even be jacket weather in the first part of October.

DATES/TIME:

  • Sunday, October 3rd, on-site at 6:00 AM and finish around 3:00 or 3:30 ish.
  • The pre-brief meeting will be on September 21st at 7:00 PM at Integris Baptist Hospital near NW Expressway and Portland.

REGISTER ONLINE:

Any licensed amateur radio operator can assist. Each year hams from all over the state converge to help with this grand event. You can register online at https://www.cuetoems.com/ocmm_2021/Volunteer.aspx?code=PSC2021.

Clubs

Amateur radio clubs are the backbone of the hobby. The tremendous local hams have good information, and as Elmers or mentors love to share it. Send something that your club is doing well to me n5hzr@arrl.org, and I’ll feature your club in this newsletter. Most clubs have seen an increase in new member activity during the pandemic. Our Oklahoma Affiliated Club Coordinator, Jim Shideler W5JCS, can help you find a club or help your club become affiliated. We currently have 38 clubs listed at  https://aresok.org/clubs. Look for a club near you, or verify that your club is on the list. Send Jim an email at W5JCS@arrl.net if you need club assistance.

You can find ARRL Oklahoma Section all over the web at:

JOIN/RENEW ARRL NOW —  http://arrl.org/join/

73, de N5HZR — Stand by, more follows…