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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
November 14, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The October 10 meeting minutes are available Visitors and guests are always welcome to the meeting. |
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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 Information and event sponsors Flier: Hamfest_Flier Tables Reservaction Form: Table Reservation For more information contact Aaron, KT0Q Hope to see you in November! |
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Test SessionNext test session: November 21, 2026 Location: Northeast Nebraska Hamfest (KC Hall) 8:30 AM |
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Looking for Net Control OperatorsThe club is in need of new net control operators. This is an easy was to volunteer for a club activity a few times a year. We have two nets; the Monday night net at 7:30 PM and Thursday night net at 8:00 PM. There is a script avialable that incluseds all the steps required to run a net. Running a local net is a good training ground on the procedures to run a net in case you need to run a net during emergencies or other activities... If you are interested please contact Andy, KF0CSI |
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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] |
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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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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
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11/05/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Nov 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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11/07/2026 - Huron SD 57350 Sponsor: Huron ARA, Inc.
Date: Nov 07 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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11/07/2026 - Sioux City, IA Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Assoc
Date: Nov 07 2026
Time: 10:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Timothy 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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11/10/2026 - Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Nov 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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11/14/2026 - Omaha, NE 68114 Sponsor: AkSarBen Amateur Radio Club
Date: Nov 14 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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11/21/2026 - Kearney, NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Nov 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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11/21/2026 - Norfolk, NE 68701 Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley ARC
Date: Nov 21 2026
Time: 8:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Frank Pruitt
(970) 393-3826
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: CHC Hall
105 W Elm Ave
Norfolk NE 68701-4130
Website: https://qsl.net/evarc/
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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: 10/25/2026 |
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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]
Map: site location
Flier: Hamfest Flier
Table: Table Reservation
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02/27/2027 - HARC Winter RF Fest, Perry, IA 50220 Start Date: 02/27/2027
End Date: 02/27/2027
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: Tim Buenz , KF0LIF
502 Hickory Lane
Jefferson, IA 50129
Phone: 515-370-0072
Email: [email protected]
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Save the Date - Division Conventions and major events for 2027 Feb 12 - 14 - Orlando HamCation April 17 - Ham Radio University May 21 - 23 - Dayton Hamvention
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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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Latest Colvin Grants Assist Youth-Focused DXpeditions
The latest recipients are the upcoming VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island, south of Indonesia — scheduled for this November 16 through December 4 — and the VPØSG expedition to South Georgia Island, in the South Atlantic, planned for March 2027.
"The VK9XY team would like to sincerely thank ARRL granting us the Colvin Award,” said Freedman. “It is only with this collective support from groups like NCDXF, DX Engineering, ARRL, and the community at large that we are able to bring the next generation of radio amateurs right to the bleeding edge of DXpeditioning." The VPØSG team will also include three (on-site) young operators and will be the first amateur radio activation of South Georgia since 2016. (One young operator, Violetta Latham, KN2P, is part of both the VK9XY and VPØSG teams!) In addition to the challenges associated with getting to and operating from a sub-Antarctic island, the team also has to negotiate very strict environmental regulations. According to the team’s website, the group is committed to “operating with the highest possible standards of environmental responsibility” while maximizing the number of unique contacts to give smaller stations a better opportunity to work South Georgia. -... -.- |
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San Diego Balloon Launch Draws in High School StudentsMembers of the Mt. Carmel High School Amateur Radio Club in San Diego, California, used a high-altitude balloon launch October 17 to generate interest among their fellow students and the community in amateur radio, science, technology, engineering and math. Members of the public were encouraged to track the balloon flight in real time using an app called Sondehub-Amateur, which displays telemetry from amateur radio high altitude balloon launches. This flight, which carried the call sign K6GO, belonging to Gayle Olson, a volunteer for the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee and Maxim Society member, flew to an altitude of 17-1/2 miles before the balloon burst and the payload parachuted back to the ground in Julian, California, some 60 miles inland from its launch point on Fiesta Island. The launch was part of the San Diego Repeater Association’s annual “Hamtastic” event, which brings together hams and clubs from throughout the region to get on the air, socialize, and demonstrate amateur radio to the public. The San Diego Repeater Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
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FEMA Study Findings
“FEMA is focused on empowering state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to lead through all phases of emergency management,” said Administrator Cameron Hamilton. “This study makes clear that a one-size-fits-all, federally driven approach will never be as effective as community-led efforts. FEMA will continue to partner with officials at every level of government, empowering them to build local capabilities and invest in resilience efforts.” FEMA sponsored the study to better understand the emergency management landscape. The report finds that local emergency management agencies are critical to our nation’s resilience, but it also finds that those organizations are typically understaffed and underfunded. For decades, many states have relied excessively on federal grants to maintain emergency response capabilities—to their own detriment. To strengthen their resilience against disasters and emergencies, states, tribal nations, territories, and local jurisdictions should consistently invest in their own emergency management capabilities. This study was funded by FEMA and conducted by the Argonne National Laboratory, Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM), the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA), and the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), which also collaborated on the study. In addition to publishing the study’s findings as a report, FEMA worked with the Argonne National Laboratory to launch the National Emergency Management Data Explorer (NEMDEX) tool. This tool is available to help review and analyze the summary information gathered from the local survey component of the study. Community leaders can review the findings to make informed, strategic decisions on investment and capacity building efforts. To view the report and access the NEMDEX tool, please visit the Argonne National Laboratory. -... -.- | |
Amateur Radio Delivers in Major Emergency Communications ExerciseWhen the ground moves, seconds count—and when standard telecommunications collapse, emergency management depends on ground-truth reports from operators already in the field. During the 2026 Great ShakeOut exercise, amateur radio operators across the country and around the globe came together, joining forces as a dedicated community to demonstrate why auxiliary communications remain a vital lifeline for disaster response and seismic science. The 2026 exercise was designed and managed end-to-end by ARES LAX Northeast and the Emcomm Training Organization (ETO), led by Oliver Dully, K6OLI, and Bob Tykulsker, KM6SO, in direct operational alignment with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Major elements included:
The response was swift, disciplined, and massive. As the operational window headed into its final weekend, the USGS event portal had received over 670 direct “Did You Feel It?” (DYFI) reports originated by amateur radio operators. More than 610 individual participants mobilized across 43 US states and 11 countries, routing well over 1,100 digital DYFI, Preparedness Survey, and Quiz messages via Winlink Express Telnet, Packet, PACTOR, and VARA protocols. Scientific Utility Meets Tactical Rigor Unlike routine check-in nets, the 2026 ShakeOut demanded end-to-end data precision. Using standardized Winlink templates, hams compiled simulated seismic intensity reports—quantifying shaking levels, damage observations, and building performance—and transmitted them directly into the USGS scientific pipeline. Beyond raw volume, the exercise provided valuable data-hygiene insights, highlighting key areas like geocoding consistency between street addresses and coordinate pairs that will inform future template refinements and operator training. This joint drill validated that amateur radio is not merely a backup voice channel; it is an agile, zero-infrastructure data pipeline capable of feeding mission-critical ground truth into national emergency dashboards when commercial internet and cellular systems go dark. In addition to Winlink reporting, local voice and data nets managed real-time check-ins and check-outs across participating regions. For example, the regional SoCal ShakeOut net, co-hosted by San Diego ARES and ARES LAX, logged 43 active participants, while numerous other local groups operated dedicated ShakeOut nets to handle regional traffic and coordinate ground team reports. Proven Knowledge and Deep Preparedness Alongside seismic reports, participants tackled an earthquake science and preparedness quiz as part of an extensive all-hazards preparedness audit:
These figures challenge the misconception that disaster exercises are merely hobbyist drills. They prove that participating amateur radio operators are well-equipped, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in community resilience. Looking Ahead With the operational submission window now closed, final figures and post-exercise maps will be consolidated and shared across regional teams. The data gathered from the ShakeOut scenario demonstrates that effective disaster response begins at home and extends into our communities. Moving forward, operators and community members alike are urged to strengthen personal, family, and neighborhood preparedness—ensuring household safety and local resilience while continuing to serve as a vital ground-truth reporting network for the USGS during major seismic events. Detailed map dashboards, participation breakdowns, and exercise resources remain available at https://www.emcomm-training.org/Winlink_Thursdays.html and laxnortheast.org/exercises/shakeout. — Oliver Dully, K6OLI (DEC, ARES LAX Northeast), and Bob Tykulsker, KM6SO (ETO) -... -.- | |
In Brief...The ARRL Solar Report October 23 2026
The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre predicts mostly normal HF propagation conditions worldwide. The W3LPL Propagation Forecast from the Daily DX is predicting a dropoff in DX openings on 10 and 12 meters as the active sunspot region rotates away from Earth and the solar cycle continues its decline. However, good conditions are expected to continue on 15, 17, and 20 meters, with the lower HF bands (30, 40 and 80 meters) providing excellent long distance nighttime propagation. This weekend is the CQ World Wide SSB DX Contest (0000Z October 24 through 2359 Z October 25). It’s often said that this contest makes its own propagation, most likely because there are stations active to take advantage of unanticipated openings, even on the higher HF bands. So keep listening for calls from faraway stations. Predicted 10.7-centimeter solar flux: Oct 22-23, 100; Oct 24-26, 95; Oct 27, 100; Oct 28-29, 105. (Source: NOAA SWPC) Share your reports and observations. Send your tips, questions, or comments to [email protected]. For more information concerning shortwave radio propagation, see http://www.arrl.org/propagation and the ARRL Technical Information Service web page at, http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signalss. For an explanation of numbers used in this bulletin, see http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere . Information and tutorials on propagation can be found at, http://k9la.us/ . A propagation bulletin archive is available. 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..
Two
upcoming DXpeditions with a focus on young operators are the latest
recipients of Colvin grants from ARRL. The grants, funded by an
endowment established by noted DXpeditioner Lloyd Colvin, W6KG (SK),
are intended to support amateur radio projects that promote
international goodwill in the field of DX. 
Ten
of the 12 VK9XY operators are under age 26, and the team leader is
ARRL Education and Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML,
already a veteran DXpeditioner at age 22. But the truly unique
aspect of this expedition are plans for up to 40 young hams to
operate the station remotely from various parts of the world, using
an internet-linked “rig in a box,” or RIB. 
ARRL
has a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The agency and its partners
released a new study that provides key insights into challenges
faced by emergency managers across the nation. The “Emergency
Management Organizational Structures, Staffing, and Capacity Study”
confirms that the country’s emergency management system is strongest
when it is locally led, state managed, and federally supported. The
study surveyed over 1,700 emergency management officials nationwide
and found that local and state agencies are best positioned to
understand and address the unique needs of their communities. 
The
active sunspot region that has been giving us improved propagation over
the past several days will be rotating away from Earth’s view today, but
conditions on most of the HF amateur bands should remain pretty decent
in the days ahead, as the 10.7-centimeter radio flux remains right
around 100. However, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) says
the geomagnetic field could become unsettled to active heading into the
weekend as a negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (CHHSS)
heads toward Earth. 