What do you want to do???
In last month’s Presidents QST I highlighted some of the club members and their accomplishments over the last couple of years. How they’ve contributed their time, talent, experiences and love for the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club and this hobby of ours!
I’m happy to say that we’ve filled a few of those club positions, but we’re still short.
Here are those club positions again that we’re looking for…and a few others!
Tuesday net logger (or back up logger to give Dave K5TZS a break once in awhile.)
Tuesday Net Control Operator during the Tuesday club meeting nights.
This would give Dirk W4IPD a break once in awhile too.
Back up Secretary and Historian. (Andrew’s doing a fantastic job, but no backup!)
A backup person or persons to help Jack with Field Day planning.
We have a Route 66 on the Air Coordinator with Daryl N5NYT (Thanks Daryl!).
He could use some help too!
In addition to that we’re also looking for Event Coordinators to help with other events
such as Winter Field Day, the club Christmas Party, MakerFair, Green Country
Hamfest, etc.
As of now, Jack W5JHC is the only one that can livestream and record the Tech
Nights and club meetings. Do you know audio and video? Jack could use a backup.
We’d love to have a Training/Mentor Coordinator.
We’re also open to any other position that you can think of that you’d like to help with.
Thanks in advance for your support. Give it a try and if you don’t like it, try something else. Just jump in and support your club!
Did you work the Sooner Sprint???
On June 20th a new event for TARC was kicked off. The Sooner Sprint. Our own club member Mike KI5EGH has been working on this one for several months. Here’s what it’s all about from Mike…
The Sooner Sprint is a friendly, low-pressure amateur radio contest designed to welcome both new and experienced operators into a fast, enjoyable operating format. The rules are intentionally lightweight: simple exchanges, relaxed CW speeds, and clear, easy-to-submit log structure. Operators across Oklahoma and beyond work stations on all HF bands (except WARC bands) using CW, SSB or digital modes – although FT4 and FT8 are excluded. Weekly one-hour CW sprints on Thursday evenings help operators sharpen their skills and contribute to quarterly rankings, while the main annual event runs a full 12 hours and encourages broad participation from individuals and clubs alike.
Scoring emphasizes accessibility and operator choice. Every QSO counts for one point, with multipliers based on power level and mode – QRP and CW operators earn the highest bonuses. Oklahoma stations provide their county, while non-Oklahoma stations send their state, province, or DX entity, making county-hunting a fun part of the event. Logs are submitted in ADIF format within 15 days, and participants can earn digital certificates like the ones below and bragging rights in categories such as most Oklahoma contacts or most counties worked.
QSL cards will be issued as well.
The Sooner Sprint blends structure with flexibility, creating a contest atmosphere that’s competitive enough to be exciting but welcoming enough for anyone to jump in and enjoy.
Why not give it a try.
Got more questions? Contact Mike KI5EGH at ki5egh@yahoo.com.
Well…that was June and unfortunately, band conditions were really bad on the 20th and even though I tried calling CQ for 2 hours I was only able contact 8 stations, and of those 8 only one was a 5/9. If you made any contacts please send your log to
Mike at KI5EGH@yahoo.com. You may just win a certificate.
We’ll be doing another Sooner Sprint in the late fall timeframe.
Field Day is over…
This is another premier event for the Tulsa Amateur Radio Club at Haikey Creek Park. In spite of the standing water and the warm (not hot) weather, it was an excellent day and propagation was pretty good.
Throughout the day we had about 60 club members and visitors come by and see the different demonstrations that were happening there. Let me count the ways…
Winlink demo, VHF and HF – Paul WB5ANX
ARES table – Paul WB5ANX and Bart N5TWB
The ARES go bag challenge. Attending the demonstration was about 15 people with 6 go bags examined, torn apart, looked through and observed. The ARES team will be updating and standardizing the comms go bag list on the w5ias.com website.
We had 2 FT8 stations running in the trailer – Jeff AE5ME and Jack W5JHC
Our CW station was going good – Ky KY5VAR and Mike KI5EGH
Our super GOTA ham was Ann K5AEB. She even got a channel 6 reporter on the air as well as a member of the Tulsa County Emergency Management team.
And yes, I was interviewed by that reporter and the story aired on Saturday night.
Another FT8 station was manned by Gregg W5GGW.
One of the go boxes was put to use by April KI5JIJ (a new ham) She’s come a long way in a very short period of time and really excited to see her progress!
A special thank you goes to David K5TZS for keeping us all safe and hydrated!
If I missed anyone that helped make this Field Day one of the best in a long time, my apologies and thank you!
Do you have a vehicle that can tow a trailer…
We are still looking for those club members that can tow the Comm 1 trailer from its new storage location near 101st and Riverside Drive 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!
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. We would also like to start recording the TARC Tech Night presentations. We have all the recording equipment and Jack can give you some quick instructions.
If you’re interested in learning more please contact Jack W5JHC for info. Thanks Jack! (we’d really like to have a back up person in case Jack is unavailable to do what he does so well.)
We’re trying to make DMR great again!!!
There is a new DMR hangout talkgroup and it’s called Local 9 (talk group 31402).
It includes eastern Oklahoma DMR repeaters so if you’re in any of those areas served 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.
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!
2026 is the Year of Readiness…
and if you are willing to spend some time completing a self-paced training course and getting an Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC) badge that gives you access to the places where amateur radio operators can help with communications during emergencies, you can join the other ARES Volunteers in Tulsa County. 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 7:00 PM at TU.
- Monthly meeting – 3rd Tuesday of each month 7:00 PM at TU.
- Weekly TARC Net on the Superlink System, Tuesdays at 8 PM
- CW Net, Mondays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM on 7.037 +/- QRM
We also have Member Spotlight…
We’re all proud of our stations, whether VHF/UHF and/or HF, we all like talking about our home or portable stations. 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