Author: Mark

SM019 – John Stratton N5AUS in Norman This Saturday

Our Oklahoma/Texas ARRL West Gulf Division Director John Stratton N5AUS will be speaking at the South Canadian Amateur Radio Society (SCARS) meeting, in-person this Saturday, January 8th at 9:30 am. Please feel free to join the group in person at their normal meeting location, Firehouse #7 Training Center, 2207 Goddard Ave, Norman, OK. The meeting, and John’s presentation, start at 9:30 am, but people start showing up at 9:00 am to visit before the meeting. You can also join the meeting via Zoom using the https://w5nor.org/zoom/ link, or this will be streamed live on YouTube by clicking the https://w5nor.org/stream/ link. More information is on the Oklahoma Section website at this link. (more…)

SM015 – Ham Scholarships Available

Each year the ARRL Foundation awards scholarships to deserving amateur radio operators from the funds that they manage. West Gulf Division’s own Dr. David Woolweaver K5RAV, President of the ARRL Foundation, says that they issued $550,000 in scholarships last year. He said, “this year, through a generous contribution from Amateur Radio Digital Communications, Inc. (ARDC), they will be issuing 130 scholarships totaling $900,000!” There are twenty $25,000 scholarships, four $15,000, seventeen $10,000 scholarships, nine $5,000 scholarships as well as dozens of $1,000 and $500 scholarships.  Now is the time to act for and Senior in High School or any college (more…)

SM014 – Clubs, Clubs, Clubs, Clubs, Clubs, and Clubs

Amateur radio clubs are the lifeblood of the hobby. You know it, I know it, and now ARRL headquarters knows it. In this issue, we talk about everything club related, including a national ARRL Foundation club funding initiative that was announced here in Oklahoma at the Enid Hamfest for the VERY first time!!!!!!!! If you’re not in a club, find-a-club  http://ok.arrl.org/clubs/, make a club by contacting Jim Shideler  mailto:[email protected], get your club affiliated with ARRL by contacting Mark Kleine  mailto:[email protected], and document past club activities by sharing with ARRL HQ at  mailto:[email protected].   Clubs: ARRL Club Funding West Gulf Division Director (more…)

SM013 – Enid Hamfest

Enid Hamfest 2021 Enid Hamfest Hamfests are just starting to open back up after a year off, and next Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, is the Enid hamfest. This hamfest has vendors from Oklahoma and Kansas and usually has lots of folks with small pieces, parts, and radio/building goodies. This year there are many great forums to visit, as well. In addition, ARRL Division Director John Stratton N5AUS will be here, and Bob Heil K9EID will be joining the OK DX forum via Zoom. Current information is available at https://enidarc.squarespace.com/enidhamfest Location Hoover Building, 300 E. (more…)

SM012 – Severe Weather

Last night’s storm reminded most of the state of Oklahoma that severe weather could happen in any month. Hopefully, all ARES members were paying attention and could assist with the trouble in their county. I want to take this opportunity to do a few things.  Verify your connections. Were you able to contact your local net? Were your batteries charged? Could you locate your radios? Were they still packed with the latest special event gear? (like mine were)Were you able to communicate with others?Have you signed up for the ARES Oklahoma https://ARESOK.org/join/ website? Have you updated your contact information and station information on https://aresok.org/wp-admin/profile.php? Take (more…)

SM011 – Enid Hamfest IS Coming, Ardmore Canceled, & NIGHT, the Movie

Hamfests have been on hold for most of the pandemic, and on September 26th (shortly after my Section Manager News was posted), the Ardmore Hamarama Board of Directors voted to cancel Hamarama 2021. They said that refunds will be processed for the preregistered folks, “momentarily.” So, let’s try this one more time. That leaves one opportunity to enjoy a hamfest in Oklahoma, meet your fellow hams, take an FCC license test, learn some new skills, and buy/sell some ham gear. I just verified with the Enid crowd that they are still ‘on-schedule’ for November 6th! Flea market tables are going (more…)