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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
May 16, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms NOTE: Meeting date is one week later than normal so members can attend the ARRL Nebraska State Convention on May 9 in Lincoln The April 11th 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 the 2025 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! |
Fox Hunt PlannedWith May comes spring flowers and an EVARC Fox Hunt. The date is set for May 23, 2026. We will meet at the First Christian Church at 9:00 AM and depart from there. Bring your Fox Hunt equipment and your best technique to this first event of t he season. The Fox has honed his transmission capability and has been trained to stay in one place this time around. Hope to see you all there |
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EVARC Test Session - May 23The club will be hosting a test session on May 23, at the Norfolk Public Library, Room B. Testing will start at 1:30 PM. Here is a chance to upgrade your license or to obtain your first ham radio license. Please read the items you will need to bring to take a test |
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Meeting date changeAt the March meeting the club voted to change the meeting dates for the May and July meetings May 9th moved to May 16 so members can attend the Nebraska
state hamfest on May 9 Please update your calendars! |
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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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Special Operating Events
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Test Sessions within 200 miles of
Norfolk, NE
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04/21/2026 - Hastings NE 68901 Sponsor: Amateur Radio Assoc. of Nebraska
Date: Apr 21 2026
Time: 6:00 PM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Allen D. Harpham
(402) 469-4550
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Adams County EOC Building
2965 S Baltimore
Hastings NE 68901
Website: https://www.w0wwv.org/cms/
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04/25/2026 - Des Moines IA 50318 Sponsor: DMRAA Hamfest
Date: Apr 25 2026
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Richard J. Allen
(515) 795-2162
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Iowa State Fairgrounds - Elwell Center
E 30th St and E University Ave
Registration @ 9AM!
Handicapped Accessible
Des Moines IA 50318-9999
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04/28/2026 - Sheldon, IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: Apr 28 2026
Time: 6:00 PM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Delmar E. Spronk
(712) 348-0804
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Northwest Iowa Comm college (NCC)
603 W Park St
Bldg C Rm 305
Sheldon IA 51201-1060
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05/07/2026 - Lincoln, NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: May 07 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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05/09/2026 - Omaha NE 68114 Sponsor: AkSarBen Amateur Radio Club
Date: May 09 2026
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Michael J. Gallagher
(402) 661-9859
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services Building
10629 Burt Cir
Omaha NE 68114-2059
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05/12/2026 - Sioux Falls 57104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: May 12 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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05/16/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: May 16 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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05/23/2026 - Norfolk, NE 68701 Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley ARC
Date: May 23 2026
Time: 1:30 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: John L 'Monty'. Wilson
(402) 750-0771
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Norfolk Public Library
308 W Prospect Ave, Rm B
Norfolk NE 68701-4138
Website: https://qsl.net/evarc/
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05/23/2026 - Sioux City IA 51101 Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Assoc
Date: May 23 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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05/26/2026 - Sheldon IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: May 26 2026
Time: 6:00 PM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Delmar E. Spronk
(712) 348-0804
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Northwest Iowa Comm college (NCC)
603 W Park St
Bldg C Rm 305
Sheldon IA 51201-1060
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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: 04/19/2026 |
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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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04/25/2026 - Kansas City Regional Hambash Start Date: 04/25/2026
End Date: 04/25/2026
Location: Raytown High School
6019 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Raytown, MO
Website: //https:k0gq.com/hambash
Sponsor: Raytown Amateur Radio Club, K0GQ
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 145.170
Public Contact: Jeremiah Griffith , K0GQ
314 S. Crane St.
Independence, MO 64050
Phone: 816-384-4231
Email: [email protected]
Flier: https://www.k0gq.com/Hambash 2026 Flyer RevA.01.pdf
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05/09/2026 - ARRL Nebrask State Convention Start Date: 05/09/2026
End Date: 05/09/2026
Location: Sandhills Global Event Center
4100 N. 84th St.
Lincoln, NE 68501
Website: http://www.lincolnhamfest.org
Sponsor: Lincoln Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 146.760 -
Public Contact: Ed Holloway , K0RPT
8310 Sandalwood Dr.
Lincoln, NE 68510
Phone: 402-326-1139
Email: [email protected]
Flier: https://www.lincolnhamfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026_ARRL_Nebraska_Convention.pdf
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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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07/25/2026 - ARRL South Dakota State Convention Start Date: 07/25/2026
End Date: 07/25/2026
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church
3801 E. 26th St.
Sioux Falls, SD 57101
Website: http://w0zwy.org
Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 146.895 MHz PL 146.2 Hz
Public Contact: Willis Gravning , KE0Z
4321 S. Arden Cir.
Sioux Falls, SD 57103
Phone: 605-310-5276
Email: [email protected]
Flier: https://w0zwy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-HamFest-flyer-Rev-2.pdf
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09/26/2026 - Sioux City Hamfest Start Date: 09/26/2026
End Date: 09/26/2026
Location: Morningside Lutheran Church (lower gym)
700 So. Martha St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
Website: http://sc97net.net/SARA.html
Sponsor: Sooland Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.970 tone: 110.9
Public Contact: TIM JARMAN , K0UX
1420 Hiawatha Trail
Sioux City, IA 51104
Phone: 712-223-4033
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: 11/21/2026
End Date: 11/21/2026
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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Below-Average Hurricane Season Predicted for 2026An initial prediction for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season suggests slightly fewer storms than average, due to the anticipated development of El Niño conditions in the coming months. The forecast from Colorado State University predicts 13 named storms — just below the average of 14.4 — of which six are expected to gain hurricane strength and two are likely to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). According to the researchers, El Niño is a climate pattern in which warmer-than-normal water temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific increase westerly winds into the Caribbean and eastern Atlantic. This results in greater wind shear that inhibits hurricane formation and strengthening. The forecast also predicts a 20% chance of a major hurricane making landfall along the US Gulf coast this year, along with a 15% chance of a major hurricane hitting the Atlantic coast. Accuweather has its own early forecast, similar but less specific, predicting 11-16 named storms, including 4-7 hurricanes and 2-4 major hurricanes. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is expected to release its initial predictions for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season in mid-May. Assessing tropical storm-related hazards inland will be easier this year with enhancements to NHC’s frequently-used “cone” maps, which will now show watches and warnings inland as well as along the coasts. Many tropical storms and hurricanes cause significant damage after coming ashore.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) groups in all hurricane-prone areas are advised to remain vigilant regardless of the forecasts. ARRL Emergency Communications and Field Services Director Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, noted that the watchword at the recent National Hurricane Conference (at which he was a presenter) was, "It only takes one bad storm to be a bad year." ARRL has memoranda of understanding to work cooperatively with a variety of governmental and non-governmental agencies that are active in response to hurricanes and other disasters. -... -.- |
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Helping NASA Track Artemis II’s Orion SpacecraftThe University of Pittsburgh’s Panther Amateur Radio Club (PARC) had a unique opportunity last week...helping NASA track Artemis II’s Orion spacecraft on its mission to the moon and back! Faculty advisor Juan Manfredi, NAØB, said the club responded to a request from NASA to submit a proposal. “We submitted our proposal in September 2025 and were notified in November that our proposal was accepted,” said Manfredi. “But the real challenge was just beginning and we needed to gather the equipment, test it, and make sure we could make contact.”
For their part, the club’s members needed to find and track a carrier signal from the spacecraft. Usually, a 9-meter dish antenna would be needed, but with help from the university’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), they were able to purchase a 1.2-meter dish and a software-defined radio (SDR). Manfredi said there were two final challenges. “Because of our location, we needed to be on the roof of our building between 4 and 6 AM every day. And, because we are located in the Northern Hemisphere, we only had about a 20-degree window to acquire the signal.” In all, five club members took turns and were able to acquire the spacecraft signal on the second and fourth days of the mission. The information was recorded and is still being analyzed. For the club members, what was their reaction to this opportunity? “Fantastic!” said Manfredi. “Twenty years from now, they may not remember who taught them calculus but will remember cold nights and mornings at 4:00 AM on the roof tracking a spacecraft.” The PARC is 111 years old and received its first experimental license, 8YI, in 1915. It is an ARRL Affiliated Club. -... -.- |
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Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Next MonthThe Department of Defense will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test on May 9, 2026. This annual event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators and will not impact any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have taken part in this event, which is an interoperability exercise between amateur and government radio stations. The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communication between military communicators and radio amateurs as authorized in 47 CFR 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly controlled exercise scenario. Military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will announce the specific amateur radio frequencies monitored. All times are in UTC and all frequencies are upper sideband (USB) unless otherwise noted. An AFD message will be transmitted with the Military Standard (MIL-STD) Serial PSK waveform (M110) followed by MIL-STD Wide Shift FSK (850 Hz RTTY) as described in MILSTD 188-110A/B. Technical information. The AFD Defense Message will be sent at 1400Z and 2000Z on the frequencies designated as follows:
QSL cards and other information are available via the Army MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) website. -... -.- |
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In Brief...ARRL Solar Report April 16, 2026 There are currently four numbered regions on the visible disk. Region 4416 remains the largest group by area but exhibited signs of structural weakening, including flux submergence and a slight decay of its intermediary pores. Region 4419 was the most complex group on the disk and showed flux emergence, growth, and divergence within its intermediary spots, leading to the development of a mixed-polarity gamma configuration. Region 4418 is trending toward plage with only two small bipolar pores remaining and Region 4415 remained stable. CMEs observed in coronagraph imagery were determined to be directed away from Earth. Solar activity is expected to be at low to very low levels, with a slight chance for M-flares (R1-R2/minor-moderate) through April 17. Solar wind parameters reflected waning coronal hole high speed stream influences toward a nominal regime. Solar wind speeds underwent a gradual, albeit erratic, decline from early-period highs near 420 km/s, to stabilize around 375 km/s by the end of the reporting period. The phi angle was predominantly oriented in a positive (away from the Sun) direction. Solar wind parameters are expected to remain primarily near nominal levels through April 16. Significant enhancements are anticipated on April 17 with the onset of a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) that will precede the arrival of a negative polarity high-speed stream (-CH HSS). The 10.7-centimeter flux: April 16, 105; April 17 - 19, 110; April 20, 120; April 21, 130; April 22, 140. Predicated sunspots: April 16, 109; April 17, 104; April 18, 115; April 19, 101; April 20, 119; April 21, 95; April 22, 124. 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..
Solar
activity was at very low levels with only isolated B-class flaring,
mostly from Region 4416. 