EVARC Events/Announcements
February 22, 2026
Vol. 26, No. 08
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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
March 14, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The February 14th meeting minutes are available Visitors and guests are always welcome to the meeting. |
Next Northeast Nebraska Hamfest - November 21, 2026The Northeast Nebraska Hamfest date was a success. Thanks to everyone that attended this years event, D & L Antennas for supporting our Hamfest, to everyone that rented tables and to our sponsors that provided many of the door prizes.. And thanks to EVARC members for supporting the event and all the hard work that went into making everything work smoothly. Even the testing went well. We had 5 individuals take tests with the results being 1 new Tech, 3 new Generals, and 1 new Extra class license. Mark your calendars for the next Northeast Nebraska Hamfest, Saturday, November 21, 2026. For more information contact Aaron, KT0Q Hope to see you in November! |
Club Dues are due in JanuaryClub dues are due in January. Please send your dues to our club Secretary/Treasurer, Aaron, KT0Q. You can send them via mail or bring them to the next club meeting (January 10). It helps the club establish the annual budget if we get the dues early in the new year. The club address is: EVARC Dues are:
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Pass The Bill - Have You Sent Your Letter Yet?
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACT GETS CRITICAL HEARING On Tuesday, December 16, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (HR 1094) was one of seven bills heard before the Communications & Technology subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce. While there was no direct testimony related to this bill, its inclusion by subcommittee chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC-9th district) was an important step toward moving the bill to a hearing before the full Energy & Commerce committee. HR1094 now has 22 sponsors. ARRL urges all currently licensed Hams—whether ARRL members or not—to send letters to their two U.S. senators and their U.S. House representative using ARRL’s Grassroots Campaign by logging into the website: https://send-a-letter.org/hoa. Simply insert your callsign, and everything will be handled for you from there. Over 100,000 letters of support have been generated, but that represents a small fraction of all U.S. Hams. More are needed! Please encourage club members, other Hams and even GMRS licensees to send letters. |
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Other Information
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Midwest and Nebraska Section NewsThe Midwest Division has released their February Newsletter. You can read on line .The Division has held a series of town hall meeting on Zoom. Recordings of these sessions can be found on the website also. The latest Nebraska Sections news can be found on the Nebraska Section Facebook page or the ARRL Nebraska Section news web page. |
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Special Operating Events
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Test Sessions within 200 miles of
Norfolk, NE
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02/28/2026 - Perry IA Sponsor: Winter RF Fest
Date: Feb 28 2026
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Richard J. Allen
(515) 451-4148
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Perry National Guard Armory
2930 Willis Ave
Pre-reg @ 9AM
Handicapped Accessible
Perry IA 50220-9709
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03/05/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Mar 05 2026
Time: 6:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Christopher W. Evens
(402) 613-3484
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: College View SDA Church
4801 Prescott Ave
Heartland Hall B
Enter E Ent #1 Handicap main
Lincoln NE 68506-5428
Website: https://k0kkv.org/get-your-license/ |
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03/07/2026 - Sioux city, IA 5110 Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Assoc
Date: Mar 07 2026
Time: 10:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Tim T. Jarman
(712) 223-4033
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Downtown Public Library
529 Pierce St
Conference Room
Sioux City IA 51101
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/591123127614974
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03/10/2026 - Sioux Falls SD 57104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Mar 10 2026
Time: 7:00 PM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Willis L. Gravning
(605) 961-8466
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Minnehaha County Emergency Mngt Bldg
608 N Sigler Ave
Sioux Falls SD 57104
Website: https://w0zwy.org/
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03/21/2026 - Huron SD 57350 Sponsor: Huron ARA, Inc.
Date: Mar 21 2026
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Lloyd V. Timperley
(605) 352-7896
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Huron City Hall (Boardroom)
239 Wisconsin Ave SW
Use South Door
Huron SD 57350-1915
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03/21/2026 - Kearney, NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Mar 21 2026
Time: 8:00 AM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Michael J. Osterberg
(308) 293-0636
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Buffalo County EOC
1512 Central Ave
Kearney NE 68847-6020
Website: https://w0ky.org/
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04/02/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Apr 02 2026
Time: 6:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Christopher W. Evens
(402) 613-3484
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: College View SDA Church
4801 Prescott Ave
Heartland Hall B
Enter E Ent #1 Handicap main
Lincoln NE 68506-5428
Website: https://k0kkv.org/get-your-license/
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04/11/2026 - Boone IA 50036 Sponsor: Boone Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Apr 11 2026
Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Steven C. Huffman
(515) 230-0459
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Boone Pioneer Senior Center
1112 Story St
Boone IA 50036-2222
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For more testing locations see the ARRL Testing Web page and the W5YI-VEC page Interested in an Online Exams Session? See the Online Exam Session web page -... -.- |
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Hamfests/Conventions/Conferences
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As of: 02/22/2026 |
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02/28/2026 - HARC Winter RF Fest, Perry, IA 50220 Start Date: 02/28/2026
End Date: 02/28/2026
Location: National Guard Armory
2930 Willis Avenue
Perry, IA 50220
Website: http://harciowa.org
Sponsor: Hiawatha Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 145.190 (-) 114.8 tone
Public Contact: Robert Colling , KE0STT
707 Prairie St.
Guthrie Center, IA 50115
Phone: 641-740-7526
Email: [email protected]
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03/07/2026 - Southwest Iowa ARC Hamfest Start Date: 03/07/2026
End Date: 03/07/2026
Location: McClelland Town Hall
117 Main Street
McClelland, IA
Website: https://swiradio.org
Sponsor: Southwest Iowa ARC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 442.225 136.5
Public Contact: Derek Roberts , W0TYG
PO Box 327
Minden, IA 51553
Phone: 402-431-2377
Email: [email protected]
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04/11/2026 - Bellevue ARC Spring Clean-up Start Date: 04/11/2026
End Date: 04/11/2026
Location: Reed Community Center
1200 Lord Blvd.
Bellevue, NE 68005
Website: http://bellevuearc.org
Sponsor: None
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 147.390, 131.8
Public Contact: Dudley Allen , KD0NMD
4509 Anchor Mill Rd.
Papillion, NE 68133
Phone: 402-291-7887
Email: [email protected]
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04/25/2026 - Des Moines IA 50301 - Radio Amateurs Association Hamfest Start Date: 04/25/2026
End Date: 04/25/2026
Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds Elwell Family Food Center
3000 E. Grand
Des Moines, IA 50301
Website: https://dmraa.com/hamfest
Sponsor: Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.940- 114.8
Public Contact: Dean Madsen , N0XR
2013 E. 23rd St.
Des Moines, IA 50317
Phone: 515-770-7437
Email: [email protected]
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05/09/2026 - Lincoln Hamfest/ARRL Nebraska Hamfest Start Date: 05/09/2026
End Date: 05/09/2026
Location: Lincoln NE
Sponsor: Lincoln Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
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05/15/2026 - Dayton Hamvention 2026 Start Date: 05/15/2026
End Date: 05/17/2026
Location: Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center
210 Fairground Road
Xenia, Ohio 45385
Website: https://hamvention.org/
Sponsor: Dayton Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.94 - PL 123.0
Public Contact: https://hamvention.org/contact-us/
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07/11/2026 - 28th Annual Pioneer ARC Flea Market Start Date: 07/11/2026
End Date: 07/11/2026
Location: North Bend City Auditorium
741 North Main Street
North Bend, NE 68649
Website: http://k0sw.org
Sponsor: Pioneer Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 443.900 +5 MHz
Public Contact: Richard Mehaffey , KB0ARZ
230 West 11th Street
North Bend, NE 68649
Phone: 492-719-7342
Email: [email protected]
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10/10/2026 - North Star Radio Convention, ARRL Dakota Division Convention Start Date: 10/10/2026
End Date: 10/10/2026
Location: Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Blvd.
Brooklyn Park, MN
Website: http://northstarradio.org
Sponsor: Minnesota Amateur Radio Consortium
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 146.76 114.8 tone
Public Contact: Dale Henninger , W0DHZ
8579 Brewster Ave
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076-3518
Phone: 612-747-7587
Email: [email protected]
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11/21/2026 - Northeast Nebraska Hamfest, Norfolk, NE 68701 Start Date: 11/21/2025
End Date: 11/21/2025
Location: CHC Hall
105 West Elm Avenue
Norfolk, NE 68701
Website: https://www.qsl.net/evarc
Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.73 (-) 131.8
Public Contact: Aaron Mathis , KT0Q
84282 566th Ave.
Stanton, NE 68779
Phone: 802-989-9246
Email: mailto:[email protected]
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For a complete listing of Hamfests go to the ARRL Hamfest Search page -... -.- |
News From the ARRL Letters |
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FCC Requires That FRN Contact Information Be Updated Within Ten Days of a Change
Because every FCC licensee—including amateur radio operators—must have an FRN to file applications, this requirement applies to all licensed amateurs. FRN contact information is handled separately and apart from contact information related to a license in the License Manager System. Both records must be kept up-to-date, and each requires a separate update. Until now, no specific deadline existed for updating FRN or license contact information. Instead, the amateur rules at sections 97.21 and 97.23 provide that a license may be suspended or revoked “if FCC correspondence is returned as undeliverable because of an incorrect address/email.” These provisions remain in effect as well as the 10-day deadline applicable to FRN information. If your FRN information is current and has not changed, no immediate action is required, but you must adhere to the 10-day rule for future changes. It is recommended to periodically check both the CORES and License Manager Systems to ensure contact information is accurate, even if no changes have occurred. The new deadline [section 1.8002(b)(2) of the Commission’s Rules] became effective on February 5 as part of a proceeding that was limited to further constraining robocalls. Although the proceeding focused on robocall issues, the 10-day update requirement applies broadly to all FRN holders. On February 6 the FCC confirmed in a Public Notice that the new deadline applies to all FRN holders. The amendment replaces language adopted in 2001 that required FRN holders to keep their contact information up-to-date but had not imposed a deadline for doing so. Numerous requests for clarification from non-robocaller interests led the FCC to issue a Public Notice on February 6 (see also PDF) clarifying that fines imposed on those subject to the robocall rules for not keeping contact information up-to-date do NOT apply to licensees such as radio amateurs, but that the 10-day deadline does apply to all FRN holders. See the following resources for updating FRN and license information. FCC Tutorial on updating FRN information: ARRL information on how to update license information: For assistance, call the FCC FRN Help Desk: (877) 480-3201 (available 8 AM to 6 PM ET). -... -.- |
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Ham Radio Helped During Hawai’i Severe Weather
On February 8 – 9, 2026, severe weather brought high winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, power outages, and hazardous surf conditions across Honolulu and the State of Hawai’i. The National Weather Service predicted that heavy rain, flash flooding, and damaging winds would affect all islands. Officials warned of possible flooding, hazardous travel, and power outages. Both Governor Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued emergency proclamations to mobilize resources and protect public safety. Amateur radio operators were activated inside the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), City and County of Honolulu. Volunteer communicators operators reported in and stood ready to provide backup communications should cellular or internet systems fail. They joined statewide HF nets at 9:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 4:00 PM on 7.090 MHz (LSB) and updated and posted the ICS-205 Communications Plan on HawaiiARES.net for download and offline reference. The storm hit with 70-mph winds, knocked down trees, and dumped 30 inches of rain and mountain snow. Radio traffic remained light, though, as outages were quickly addressed through coordinated efforts between city and state agencies and utility partners. Shelters and volunteers remained ready in case conditions worsened. This wasn’t a drill and amateur radio operators were prepared to move quickly and efficiently. “It was encouraging to work alongside such engaged and supportive leadership from the department management,” said Deputy RACES Program Coordinator Michael Miller, KH6ML. “Their awareness of our role in a larger grey or black sky event ensures the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) remains fully integrated into emergency operations.” Mark Kaku, KH6LT, coordinated amateur radio operations inside the EOC. “Our goal is simple, be ready before we’re needed. We focus on coverage, documentation, and coordination so that if primary systems fail, we can immediately step in.” -... -.- |
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POTA SOTA BOTA
Officially known as WWBOTA — Worldwide Bunkers on the Air — it is an amateur radio activity open to amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners everywhere. Similar to its counterparts, radio amateurs ‘activate’ historic bunker locations around the world with portable and mobile operations. Bunkers are fortified shelters, usually underground, used for protection against attacks and for storage of military goods. Hunters and chasers can have QSOs with those activating stations and can collect special ‘bunker reference’ numbers. Awards for activating and hunting bunkers are available but you can get involved by just making a QSO or shortwave listening. There are 20 member countries in the BOTA program so far, with two new countries added in February as membership continues to grow. USBOTA joined WWBOTA on January 7, 2026. Most bunker operations center on 40- and 20-meter SSB, but other bands are increasingly popular, including the higher HF bands, VHF, and above. CW, FT8 and other modes are also popular, including SSB, FT4, RTTY, PSK, and SSTV. “CQ Bunkers on the Air” is the official calling signal and USBOTA offers three awards: • Activator - Lifetime Award There will be USBOTA National Awards coming in March 2026. A lot of history is involved with BOTA activations from inside, outside and nearby. For more information, visit WWBOTA – Worldwide Bunkers on the Air. -... -.- |
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3YØK DXpedition Back on Track
In an earlier statement on the 3YØK website, the team leadership explained that “Our vessel requires additional maintenance to ensure it is fully prepared for the demanding voyage to one of the most remote and challenging locations on Earth.” The announcement added that “While this delay is disappointing, the safety of our team remains our highest priority. The adjustment does not change the overall strategy of the DXpedition, which has been carefully planned over the past three years.” Gallo says the ship will head out soon and that arrival time will be weather-dependent. Updates will be posted on the expedition website, www.3y0k.com. -... -.- |
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In Brief...ARRL Solar Report February 19, 2026 A large filament eruption beyond the southwest limb was seen in SDO and SUVI imagery starting approximately February 18. It was associated with a Type II radio sweep that began on February 18 with an estimated shock velocity of 310 km/s. The eruption was first visible in coronagraph imagery on February 18 but initial analysis indicates no Earth-directed component. Solar activity is forecast to be at low levels, with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2/minor-moderate) flares through February 20. Solar wind parameters continued to reflect the waning influence of a positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (+ CH HSS). Solar wind speed followed a general declining trend, decreasing from an initial peak near 600 km/s to approximately 500 km/s by the end of the reporting period. The solar wind environment is expected to remain enhanced through February 20 due to continued but weakening CH HSS influences. The 10.7-centimeter flux: February 19 – 20, 110; February 21, 105: February 22,120; February 23, 130; February 24, 135; February 15, 130. Predicted sunspots: February 19, 120; February 20, 116; February 21, 125; February 22, 112; February 23, 131; February 24, 108; February 25, 135. For more information concerning radio propagation, visitt the ARRL Technical Information Service, read A Quick Guide to HF Propagation Using Solar Indices, and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.. Other Items
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Education and Training
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CLOSING ITEMSThe EVARC weekly net meets every Monday evening at 7:30 PM on the club 2 meter repeater (146.73 - ). Check-in to the net to hear an update on activities of other club members, announcements of local interest, and any late breaking information. Everyone is welcome to check in. The DMR net meets every Thursday evening at 8:00 PM on the club DMR repeater (446.200 +) Nebraska Talk Group 3131 . Check-in for general discussion and a weekly trivia question. Want to try your hand as Net Control? Contact Andy, KF0CSI. ... -.- |
The purpose of this
newsletter is to provide information to local hams with items of interest.
It is compiled from local, regional, and national sources. Created by Monty Wilson, NRØA.
Contact the Webmaster with
comments or questions..
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ARRL
reports that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted changes
to its rules to require that every holder of an FCC Registration Number
(FRN) update their contact information in the
While
most of the contiguous US states were experiencing severe winter
weather over the past two weeks, Honolulu, Hawai’i had a different
kind of severe weather and amateur radio was ready. 
You
have probably heard about POTA - Parks on the Air®, and SOTA -
Summits on the Air. Well, now there’s BOTA, Bunkers on the Air!! 
The
latest DXpedition to Bouvet Island, 3YØK, is back on track after a
2-week delay for mechanical repairs to its ship, the Argus. Team
Media Manager James Gallo, KB2FMH, confirmed reports from earlier
this week that the ship had arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, and
was being loaded with the expedition’s equipment. The team of 24
operators includes 22-year-old Max Freedman, N4ML, an ARRL staff
member. 
Solar
activity returned to low levels this past week. The strongest event
of the period was a C1.8 flare on February 17 from region 4374. This
region was also responsible for a C1.4 flare on February 18. The
only other flare of note was a C1.1 flare on February 17 from an
unnumbered plage region near S05E85. Region 4374 exhibited minor
decay through the dissipation of its trailing spots. Regions 4375
and 4377 were largely unchanged in area and complexity. 