Important News!!!
The March 17th National Weather Service Stormspotter training was cancelled by
TAEMA (Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency) just a few days before the scheduled date so we put together a quick replacement program for our regular club meeting at Tulsa University…Back to the Basics! We had about 25 in attendance and we answered questions and discussed topics such as POTA logging programs, DMR, Parks on the Air, a new DMR net, the NanoVna, and the Green Country Hamfest.
We will be doing more Ask the Experts and Back to the Basics meetings in the future.
In case you missed this years’ in person stormspotter training there are 2 opportunities to watch the virtual training on April 2nd and April 6th. Go to the following website, scroll down to April 2026 and click on the **Register Here** link.
https://www.weather.gov/tsa/spotter_training
Unfortunately, I have to say this again…It’s about repeater interference!
Intentional interference on a repeater can lead to the loss of your license, loss of your equipment and a significant fine from the FCC. Intentional interference with a net only adds to the severity of the offense and any threatening comments could even lead to jail time.
Check your equipment and make sure your VOX is off, your microphone and/or speaker mic buttons are working properly and are not stuck in the PTT position. Be careful when using an HT on your belt with or without a speaker mic, make sure you are not activating the PTT when you sit down in your favorite chair or in the car.
Don’t forget about The Repeater Challenge!!! Get on the air!
The Oklahoma City Marathon is coming up on April 25th and 26th and they’re looking for volunteers to man the course. Sign up at https://coraok.org/signup/
The Green Country Hamfest is right around the corner!
This year the hamfest is April 10th and 11th at the Claremore Fairgrounds (same location as last year).
Door greeters are needed! If you can serve just 2 hours at either the front or back doors you’ll be entered into the prize drawing that’s just for door greeters! (The prize has not been determined).
The TARC membership table is another place you can serve! Just as you come in to the hamfest, you’ll find the TARC table where club memberships can be made new or can be re-newed for the 2026-2027 year. Can you take an hour or two and sit down with another club member and take renewals? Yes, you can! Thank you for volunteering your time.
At the February club meeting those in attendance approved $600 for a TARC raffle prize. Bart N5TWB has ordered a Connect Systems DMR/M17 radio and an ICOM IC-2730 mobile dual band radio. You can purchase your raffle tickets at the same time as you pay your yearly club dues at the membership table.
We’re getting closer to Oklahoma’s Parks on the Air Day…
Tony KA5TRO is working on this one. He has been working POTA stations for many months and is very enthusiastic about getting TARC on the air so mark your calendar for April 7th which is POTA Demo day at Haikey Creek Park, 6 PM. The location is at the Field Day site we’ve used the last couple years. If you want to watch and see how they set up their POTA station be there by 6 PM. Even though Haikey Creek is not a State Park they’ll still be making contacts with other stations to show POTA logging and operating techniques. “Park to park!”
April 18th at Keystone State Park Shelter #4 is the real deal! We’ll be out there from
9 AM to 10 PM or until the bands go silent.
You can join the POTA distribution list by going to the TARC website, click on **Divisions** and then drop down to **POTA** or contact Tony KA5TRO.
Just to review…
The following are ideas for club presentations gathered from our members at the January monthly club meeting.
A club Parks on the Air day (we’re already working on this one)
A club fox hunt
An antenna build day (Mark KD5SMF is working on this one)
Working satellites
A Zoom Tech meeting (like Tech Night only over Zoom)
What about DMR? (Look for more info on a TARC DMR net)
Member Spotlight where we show off a club members’ station (How about your station?)
The Basics (for the new hams)
Find an Elmer (we just did an Ask the Experts night with great success)
We are still looking for those club members that can to tow the trailer from its new storage location to wherever it needs to be for an event. Having the trailer in its’ new location and completing some of the current projects means the trailer is available on very short notice if needed and it’ll make operating inside the trailer more efficient and a more pleasurable experience. Can you tow the trailer??? Let us know and we’ll put you to work! Thanks!
Congratulations to Jeff AE5ME…
His article “The Tulsa ARES Winlink Net” was published in the April edition of QST magazine. It’s an interesting article and a must read if you are in to Winlink!
Way to go Jeff!!!
We have some new newsletter articles to read…
New articles this month. An Amateur Radio Emergency Service article and Kelly Baker, Tulsa’s Skywarn Coordinator with the history and mission of the Skywarn program.
In case you missed this years’ in person stormspotter training there are 2 opportunities to watch the virtual training on April 2nd and April 6th. Go to the following website, scroll down to April 2026 and click on the **Register Here** link.
https://www.weather.gov/tsa/spotter_training
Can’t make the monthly meetings?…
We’re Zoom streaming and also recording video of the monthly meetings and posting them on the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club Youtube channel for those unable to attend in person. If you’re interested in learning more please contact Jack W5JHC for info. Thanks Jack!
We’re trying to make DMR great again!!!
There is a new DMR hangout talkgroup and it’s called Local 2. It includes the Keetonville, Tulsa Central, Leonard and Mounds DMR repeaters so if you’re in any of those areas you should be able to do DMR. Give it a try…ya’ know the Repeater Challenge works just as well on DMR as it does on any other repeater.
We’re also looking at starting a DMR net so keep your ears open for that in the not too distant future.
There is a new Winlink Gateway in town!!!
Jeff AE5ME, as part of his Ask the Experts presentation explained that there is a new Winlink gateway near downtown Tulsa and it’s designated as AE5ME-10 which will work with Vara FM and Packet. Not to be confused with AE5ME-13 which is at Jeff’s home in south Broken Arrow. The frequency is 145.030. Give it a try!
Looking to give back to the community?
Looking to have some fun playing radio and hanging out with other hams while serving your community? You found the right place!
Key Ways Hams Give Back
- Emergency Communications (EmComm): When cellular and power networks fail, hams provide vital communication, as highlighted by this YouTube video. They work with organizations like ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) to support emergency management and first responders.
- Public Service Events: Hams provide communications for community events such as bike-a-thons, parades, and marathons, say ARES.
- Technical Support and Mentoring: Experienced hams assist in training, building stations, and mentoring newcomers through licensing exams, notes the ARRL.
- Community Education: Clubs, such as the Valley Radio Club, often build educational stations (e.g., at science centers) to teach the public about radio technology, as discussed in this YouTube video.
- Safety Services: Hams serve as severe weather spotters, providing immediate reporting to agencies like Skywarn and the National Weather Service.
ARES is always in need of volunteers, but to participate you must complete a self-paced training course and it’s recommended that you get an Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) badge that gives you access to the places where amateur radio operators can help with communications during emergencies. OKMRC badges are FEMA-approved and therefore involve a background check. ARES involves volunteer training, ARES nets, hospital nets, and Simulated Emergency Tests, but operating practice comes in the form of bike rides, Field Days and other events that you can participate in anytime.
Contact Paul WB5ANX at paulhteel@gmail.com, Bart N5TWB at bjpick@cox.net or Mark WA5MA at wa5ma.mark@gmail.com if you’d like to learn more or sign up to be an ARES Volunteer!
If you’re already an ARES Volunteer…
YOU should be checking in to the ARES Net every Thursday at 8:00 PM on the designated repeater. We’re doing some cool things on the net and you need to be a part of it for training purposes, working equipment verification and learning communications protocols and procedures. Keep an eye out for upcoming comms checks by e mail, text and over the air.
We’re starting a new program for the registered ARES Volunteers. It’s the ARES Active/Inactive program.
An ARES Volunteer is considered active if they have;
- Checked in to at least one or more Tulsa County ARES nets
per month and,
- Attended at least one training event per calendar quarter
(when scheduled) and,
- Attended one exercise or deployment per calendar quarter
(when scheduled).
If there are not any approved training sessions, exercises, or deployments in a calendar quarter that will not count against your status.
What if you’re on the Inactive list??? It means that you’re on the secondary resource list because you don’t have the training that those on the Active list have and it could also result in your being removed from the ARES volunteer database. We really do want everyone on the Active list!
The Tulsa County ARES Net uses the following frequencies:
Weeks 1 – 3 on 145.170 (PL 88.5)
Weeks 4 – 5 on the Superlink Repeater System 443.850 (PL88.5) in Tulsa.
Check the W5IAS.com website on the Repeaters dropdown for system frequencies.
Here are the upcoming TARC activities…
- Tech Night – 1st Tuesday of each month. This month it’s at Haikey Creek Park for POTA Demo. Be there by 6 PM to watch the set up.
- Monthly meeting – 3rd Tuesday of each month. 7:00 PM at TU.
Paul WB5ANX discusses upcoming bike rides and Kelly Baker Skywarn Coordinator discusses the Skywarn program and Tulsa ham radio.
- Weekly TARC Net on the Superlink System, Tuesdays at 8 PM
- CW Net, Mondays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM on 7.037 +/- QRM
- NCO training, ARES training – TBD in 2026
We also have Member Spotlight…
Member Spotlight is now a part of our monthly meetings. At the October meeting we invited Ben WB5VST to come and show off his home and mobile stations. If you want to see an incredible, fully functional station, check it out video link on our website or Facebook page.
Want to show and tell your station or your love for a particular part of ham radio? Contact Ky KY5VAR and let him know. He’ll get you scheduled. He’s also starting a “show me your shack” presentation, so take some pictures and show us your ham shack!!!
Every month is a contest month…
Go to ARRL.com, click Contest Calendar, scroll to Contest Corral, click on the month you want to check. Try POTA or SOTA! Call CQ! Go to a local park, grab one of the club go boxes, throw up a wire and get on the air!
Prepare now! The weather will soon be good enough to get outside!
Be safe, Be a good friend, Get on the air!
Mark WA5MA
President – Tulsa Amateur Radio Club