|
|
|
EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
|
|
Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
October 10, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The August 8 meeting minutes are available Visitors and guests are always welcome to the meeting. |
|
Test SessionNext test session: November 21, 2026 Location: Northeast Nebraska Hamfest (KC Hall) 8:30 AM |
Northeast Nebraska Hamfest - November 21, 2026Mark your calendars for the next Northeast Nebraska Hamfest, Saturday, November 21, 2026. Doors open at 8:30 AM. Flea Market Flier: Hamfest_Flier Tables Reservaction Form:
Table Reservation For more information contact Aaron, KT0Q Hope to see you in November! |
Pass The Bill - Have You Sent Your Letter Yet?
AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ACT Bipartin Bills - The ARRL grassroots campaign is aimed at securing the passage of federal legislation that would grant Amateur Radio Operators trhe same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles. This campaign follows the reintroduction of the Amateur Radio Emergence Preparedness Act in February 2025. House of Representative bill H.R. 1094 and Senate bill S.459 are designed to prevent restrictive homeowners association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas, even when such antennas are hidden in trees, places in attics, mounted on vehicles or look like flagpoles. You can support this by sending a letter to your Representative and Senator. A few clicks at https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ will send a letter. You can also donate to help pass the bill. For more information see https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation. [Editor Note: None of the Nebraska Representatives or Senators are co-sponsering these bills] |
|
Other Information
|
|
Special Operating Events
-... -.- | |
Test Sessions within 200 miles of
Norfolk, NE
|
|
09/19/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Sep 19 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/
|
|
09/22/2026 - Sheldon, IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: Sep 22 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
|
|
09/26/2026 - Sioux City IA 51106 Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Association
Date: Sep 26 2026
Time: 1:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Timothy T. Jarman
(712) 223-4033
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Morningside Luthern Church
700 South Martha St
Southwest Entrance
Sioux City IA 51106
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/591123127614974
|
|
10/01/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Oct 01, 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/
|
|
10/10/2026 - Boone, IA 50036 Sponsor: Boone Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Oct 10 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
|
|
10/13/2026 - Sioux Falls, SD 567104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Oct 13 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/
|
|
10/17/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Oct 17 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/
|
|
10/20/2026 - Hastings NE 68901 Sponsor: Amateur Radio Assoc. of Nebraska
Date: Oct 20 2026
Time: 6:00 PM (Walk-ins allowed)
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/
|
|
10/27/2026 - Sheldon IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: Oct 27 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
|
|
|
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 -... -.- |
|
Hamfests/Conventions/Conferences
|
|
|
As of: 09/13/2026 |
|
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]
Flier: Sioux City Flier
|
|
10/09/2026 - Spark-Con 2026, ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Sedalia, MO 65301 Start Date: 10/09/2026
End Date: 10/10/2026
Location: Missouri State Fairgrounds (Mathewson Exhibition Center) & (Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall)
2503 W. 16th Street, Sedalia, Missouri 65301
Sedalia, MO 65301
Website: https://spark-con.org/
Sponsor: Sedalia Pettis Amateur Radio Klub
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 147.030 - (179.9) repeater
Public Contact: Bret Kuhns , WØVK
1880 Quisenberry Rd.
Sedalia, MO 65301
Phone: 660-281-6506
Email: [email protected]
|
|
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]
|
|
10/17/2026 - 3900 Club Hamboree, Boone IA 50249 Start Date: 10/17/2026
End Date: 10/17/2026
Location: Boone County Fairgrounds Commercial Exhibit Bldg
1601 Industrial Park Road
Boone, IA 50036
Website: http://3900club.org
Sponsor: 3900 Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.85 tone 114.8
Public Contact: Clayton Conard , W0FS
612 Teneyck Ave.
Stratford, IA 50249
Phone: 515-838-2285
Email: [email protected]
|
|
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]
Map: site location
Flier: Hamfest Flier
Table: Table Reservation
|
|
|
For a complete listing of Hamfests go to the ARRL Hamfest Search page -... -.- |
News From the ARRL Letters |
|
Answering the Call
In New York City, amateurs took to the airwaves within minutes of the attacks on the World Trade Center, and emergency nets were active — and busy — for nearly two weeks afterward, with close to 500 hams in total responding to calls for volunteers. In the Washington, DC, area, more than 100 hams answered a call to support the Salvation Army’s volunteer effort at the Pentagon, which was active for a week after the attacks. Amateurs in western Pennsylvania also supported the Salvation Army, providing three linked repeaters for SATERN — the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network — to relay messages between the plane crash site and the regional Salvation Army headquarters in Pittsburgh. Amateur radio received high praise from emergency response officials, including Red Cross communications officer John MacInnes, who told then-ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP (SK), “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the ham radio operators.” Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, noted that “amateur radio performed exactly as it was supposed to … We responded to the need to provide communications where none were available.” [Ed. Note: Details in this article were culled from the November 2001 QST article, “9/11/01: ‘This is Not a Test’ ” by Rick Lindquist, N1RL, and Diane Ortiz, K2DO] -... -.- |
|
Hamvention Names First Woman as General Chair
Everetts has been a Hamvention volunteer since she was first licensed in 1989 and has served as Assistant General Chair for the past two years. She is also a past vice president of DARA. Everetts holds a General-class license and enjoys contesting. Keller is also a contester. He holds an Amateur Extra-class license, regularly volunteers at DARA exam sessions, and serves as a radio operator for the Air Force Marathon. He is an active Hamvention volunteer and is currently Senior Trustee on the DARA board of directors. “Hazel and Steve have both put in the work behind the scenes for years, and it shows,” said Kalter. “Hamvention is in great hands, and we couldn't be more excited to see what they build together for 2027.” The 2027 Dayton Hamvention will be held on May 21-23 at the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio. -... -.- | |
Honoring James Clerk MaxwellIt’s likely there will always be debate over who is the “father” of radio, but there is very little doubt about its “grandfather,” Scottish physicist and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell. Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetic radiation laid the foundation for all modern electronic communication techniques, yet the average person knows little or nothing about him. The community where he is buried hopes to change that, as does the James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society, MMØPMS.
Maxwell died in 1879 and is buried at the kirk, or church, in Parton, Scotland. The Church of Scotland, trying to consolidate its properties, has put Parton Kirk up for sale. The community has been given priority to purchase the building but has a November 1 deadline to raise the roughly $95,000 US needed to do so. According to James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society co-founder Richard Hopkins, MM1BHO, the town has “an ambitious vision to preserve the kirk and develop it as a James Clerk Maxwell Science and Community Centre, celebrating his life and scientific legacy while providing a valuable facility for the local community.” More information is available on the group’s Facebook page or its MMØPMS page on QRZ.com. -... -.- | |
Foxes and Grasshoppers
ARRL ARDF Coordinator Charles Scharlau, NZØI, and Dale Hunt, WB6BYU, were co-directors and course designers. “Courses designed for other terrain had to be replaced, and all four competitions, along with associated model and equipment-check activities, had to fit onto the Skyline map,” explained Scharlau. “The change meant repeated use of the same general terrain and Classic courses that were, for many categories, shorter than the target lengths normally specified in the rules.” The fire was still burning when the competition began. “Fortunately,” said Scharlau, “wildfire and smoke conditions improved enough for the championships to proceed on schedule. The remaining question was whether four competitions compressed onto one relatively compact map could still provide an appropriate championship challenge. The competitors generally thought they did, and the results support that assessment.” Former ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, KØOV, provided an alphabetical list of the winners in each category (broken down by gender, age group, and event/events):
Additional photos and complete results are on the Mt. Hood Orienteering Web site. The ARRL Orienteering Committee maintains information about upcoming events at https://www.arrl.org/radio-orienteering. -... -.- |
|
In Brief...The ARRL Solar Report September 8, 2026Propagation guru Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, says that, while conditions on 12 and 10 meters will pick up as they always do in the fall, F2 propagation on those bands will decline thereafter, with only sporadic E during the summer months as a possible saving grace. On the other hand, the lower bands — 160, 80, and 40 meters — should be good going forward, and 20 and 17 meters will be the mainstays of daylight HF propagation. Luetzelschwab made these observations during an August 23 World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF)-sponsored webinar “Solar Topics — Where We’re Headed.” He said data suggest that Cycle 24, the current solar cycle, will bottom out in 2020, and advised that radio amateurs may need to lower their expectations on the higher bands (and 6 meters) looking beyond that. “I think the only conclusion we can make with some confidence is that we are headed for some small cycles,” he told his audience. He cited various evidence related to the Sun’s polar fields — which appear to be decreasing in strength, A index trends, and cosmic ray data to support his assertion. Luetzelschwab cautioned, however, that past performance does not necessarily predict future performance. “There seems to be a good correlation between how long a solar minimum is and the next solar cycle,” said Luetzelschwab. “The longer you spend at solar minimum, the smaller the next cycle.” He observed that hams active since the 1950s and 1960s have experienced short inter-cycle solar minimums of approximately 2 years, until the one between Cycle 23 and Cycle 24, which lasted about 4 years. He also allowed that the science is not fully understood, and that some things appearing to be patterns may just be coincidences. On the other hand, he said, it looks like the downward trend of disappearing sunspots has leveled off, suggesting that Cycle 25 may see a lower smoothed sunspot number as opposed to zero or near-zero sunspots. Counting those sunspots can be a subjective business. “That’s a tough job,” he said of the task, noting that it appears observer bias also has been a factor over the years, affecting historical sunspot data. “We now have new corrected data that are believed to be more accurate.” Luetzelschwab’s article “The New Sunspot Numbers,” appearing in the October issue of QST, will discuss the new sunspot numbers. Luetzelschwab cited historical sunspot cycle data going back centuries — including the “Maunder Minimum” of zero and near-zero sunspots between the years 1645 and 1715 and a later, less-drastic “Dalton Minimum.” He pointed out that over the last 11,000 years, 19 notable grand maximums — including Cycle 19 and the cycles around it — and 27 notable grand minimums were recorded. “We’re likely to have more of both grand maximums and grand minimums in the future,” he predicted. The current system of numbering sunspot cycles begins with Cycle 1 in the mid-18th century. “We don’t fully understand the process inside the Sun that makes solar cycles,” Luetzelschwab said. “Thus, you should exercise caution with statements seen in the news.” Other Items
-... -.- |
|
Education and Training
| |
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..
Twenty-five
years ago tomorrow, September 11, 2001, the United States came under
attack from Al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked passenger planes and
flew them into buildings in New York City and Washington, DC, as
well as a field in western Pennsylvania when passengers fought back.
Communications infrastructure sagged under the weight of destruction
in some places and overwhelming usage in others. Amateur radio
operators answered the call, not only in New York and Washington,
but around the country with ARES® and RACES teams going on alert to
provide backup communications as needed. 
The
Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) has named Hazel Everetts, N8PTL,
as General Chair of the 2027 Dayton Hamvention®. She is the first woman
to hold the top spot in Hamvention’s 75-year history. The DARA board of
directors also named Steve Keller, AE8AT, as Assistant General Chair,
according to board spokesman Michael Kalter, W8CI. 
Competitive
amateur radio direction-finding, also known as ARDF or foxhunting,
is difficult in its own right, but it gets even more challenging
when you add in a forest fire near your course. This year’s combined
USA national and International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 ARDF
championship was held last month in the Mt. Hood National Forest in
Oregon, hosted by Mt. Hood Orienteering. The original plans called
for separate courses in different areas for each of the four events:
Sprint, Foxoring (which mixes foxhunting with orienteering), 2-meter
Classic,
and
80-meter Classic. But those plans were disrupted by a forest fire,
dubbed the Grasshopper Fire, that threatened two of the four areas
planned for competition. Less than a week before the competitors
started arriving, organizers got permission from the US Forest
Service to consolidate all four courses in a single area, the
Skyline Sno-Park. 
