EVARC Events/Announcements
July 05, 2026
Vol. 26, No. 26
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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
July 18, 2026 NOTE: The date has changed from the 2nd Saturday to the 3rd Saturday Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The June 13 meeting minutes are available Visitors and guests are always welcome to the meeting. |
2026 Field Day is in the bagField Day 2026 was a success again this year. We had 4 transmitters set up and running during the event. That included club equipment, and Fred, K0FJW, Frank, KF0ODS, and Gene, W0GLF. We had the club beam set up along with two "G5RV" dipoles, and a vertical. A number of contacts were made throughout the event. Exact numbers are not known yet, but will be reported after the logs have been reviewed and a final report put together.
There was food aplenty for people working on setting up the stations, and we had a great dinner, with a banquet of pulled pork (thanks Fred), baked beans (a-la Frank), numerous salads (thanks to Sonja and others), and cookies and watermelon for desert. Initially we found the bands to be noisy making contacts difficult, but toward late afternoon, the noise level dropped and contacts became easier to make. Contact were made mainly on 10, 15, and 20 meter bands but a few were made on 40 also. Overall, a fun event for everyone. Thanks again to Shane, KE0APG and Jennifer for hosting the club at their QTH. More pictures and details will be in a future report. |
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! |
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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07/14/2026 - Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Jul 14 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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07/18/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Jul 18 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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07/18/2026 - Prescott IA 50859 Sponsor: SWIARA
Date: Jul 18 2026
Time: 10:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Richard J. Allen
(515) 451-4148
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Williamson Legion Hall
SWIARA HamFest
1120 Sycamore Ave
Prescott IA 50859-8060
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07/25/2026 - Sioux Falls SD 57103 Sponsor: ARRL South Dakota Convention
Date: Jul 25 2026
Time: 9:30 AM (No Walk-ins / Register or Call ahead)
Contact: Willis L. Gravning
(605) 961-8466
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: West Minster Presbyterian Church
3801 E 26th St
Sioux Falls SD 57103-4113
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07/28/2026 - Sheldon IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: Jul 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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08/08/2026 - Boone IA 50036 Sponsor: Boone Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Aug 08 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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08/08/2026 - Omaha NE 68114 Sponsor: AkSarBen Amateur Radio Club
Date: Aug 08 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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08/11/2026 - Sioux Falls SD Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Aug 11 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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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: 07/05/2026 |
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07/11/2026 - 28th Annual Pioneer ARC Flea Market, North Bend, NE 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]
Flier: http://k0sw.org/fleamarket.pdf
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07/18/2026 - Southwest Iowa ARA Ham Fest, Prescott, IA 50859
Start Date: 07/18/2026 |
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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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08/22/2026 - Huntsville Hamfest, ARRL National Convention Start Date: 08/22/2026
End Date: 08/23/2026
Location: Von Braun Center South Hall
700 Monroe St. SW
Huntsville, AL 35801
Website: http://hamfest.org
Sponsor: Huntsville Hamfest, Inc.
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 146.94 - PL 100 Hz
Public Contact: Mark Brown , N4BCD
631 Lynchburg Hwy
Huntsville, TN 37359
Phone: 256-503-8887
Email: [email protected]
More Info: https://www.arrl.org/news/registration-is-open-for-the-2026-arrl-national-convention-in-huntsville
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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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10/09/2026 - 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/index.htm
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]
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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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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]
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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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ARRL Field Day 2026 Concludes, But the Global Chatter Isn't OverAs a reminder, entries must be postmarked or submitted via web app at field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php by Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Late entries cannot be accepted. To see if your entry has been received check field-day.arrl.org/fdentriesrcvd.php. If your entry is missing any required document or bonus point proof, the status will be listed as "pending." Participants may upload additional documentation to the entry for up to 30 days after the entry deadline. As of July 2, 2026, 2448 entries have been received. Social media has been inundated with photos and stories. The SPA Amateur Radio Association in Arizona had a good turnout and coverage by the local newspaper. Check out the activity and the coverage here. The Dalton Amateur Radio Club, W4DRC, in Whitfield County, Georgia, had a big day for Field Day. Their event was filled with great food, fellowship, and the enjoyment of operating multiple stations. One of the highlights was welcoming visitors who stopped by to learn more about amateur radio, Field Day, and the club’s activities. Several members of Whitfield County ARES were in attendance, along with ARRL Georgia Section Manager Hank Blackwood, K4HYJ. The Dalton Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club. It was a great day of promoting amateur radio and the entire club had time to pose for a group photo.
Nick Charboneau, his dad Bill, and young son Tanner visited the WDØCT Rochester DX and Contest Club Field Day event in Kasson, Minnesota. Nick and Tanner are not yet hams, but Tanner was on the air thanks to club member WØBM "Pat" Cahill. Here’s a link to photos and videos of their visit Field Day 2026 - Google Photos. Visit Field Day Soapbox for more stories and photos. -... -.- |
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2026 YOTA Americas Camp a Success
YOTA-Americas Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, said the kids enjoyed an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW, on board the ISS, as well as a surprise in-person visit from ISS Payload Communications Manager Penny Pettigrew and others from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center Payload Operations team. Meanwhile on Earth, campers sent up a balloon to near-space, topping out at 93,500 feet as it transmitted as W4Y-11 on the Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS). The balloon carried a successful biological experiment from Xavier University and a radiation experiment using Polaroid film. Two pico balloons were also launched. At the camp’s opening ceremony, there were presentations from two Guidance, Navigation, and Control spacecraft engineers: 2013 Newsline Young Ham of the Year Padraig Lysandrou, KC9UUS, and ARISS Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO. Campers also had time to sharpen their kit-building skills and get acquainted with how to go on youth-focused DXpeditions, operate satellites, and better use the DX clusters to earn DXCC. They also operated special event station W4Y and visited the US Space & Rocket Center and the SIGNALS museum of communications technology. The week ended with an intercultural evening where everyone could "Meet the DX" and share foods and souvenirs from their home QTH. A video of the camp is available on YouTube Playlist along with a Photo Album. -... -.- |
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Navigating an HOA and Returning to Amateur Radio and Field Day! Fred Johnson, K6FRD, is an amateur radio operator in Riverside,
California. Like many hams, he lives in an HOA-controlled
neighborhood. For Johnson, finding practical, low-visibility,
antenna solutions has become part of the fun over the years.
“For years I struggled to enjoy HF because, like many amateurs in an HOA, towers and conventional outdoor antennas simply aren't an option,” said Johnson. “I tried several radios over the years, but without an effective antenna I rarely heard much activity and had very limited success making contacts. A few weeks ago, I decided to stop chasing radios and instead focus on building the best stealth antenna I could.” Johnson said that after returning to HF last year, he enjoyed experimenting with antennas, portable operating, FT8, and station design to see what's possible from a suburban backyard. “The result is a simple 145-foot horizontal loop made from 14 AWG THHN wire, mounted on stainless cup hooks around the top of my backyard fences about six feet above the ground. The wire is insulated from the hooks with short pieces of clear vinyl tubing and is fed with a 4:1 current balun and approximately 25 feet of RG-8X coax. I also added ferrite chokes at both the antenna and radio ends of the feed line to help minimize common-mode current and noise.” “The results have honestly exceeded my expectations,” he said. “My noise floor is typically only S1 to S2, allowing me to hear stations I would have completely missed before.” ARRL Field Day 2026 gave Johnson a chance to operate entirely on battery power using his IC-7300 and his new antenna, making contacts on 10, 15, and 20 meters. Since installing the loop, he has worked 39 states, 24 countries, and stations throughout Japan, Hawaii, Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, South America, and across North America—all from his HOA backyard! Johnson went on to say he hopes that sharing his successes, and the occasional lessons learned along the way, encourages other operators, especially those with HOA restrictions, to get on the air and enjoy this amazing hobby. Johnson has created a Google photo album with all of the photos of his antenna design: photos.app.goo.gl/qeF1eToA4q7cAj5PA Editor’s note: Thanks to Fred Johnson, K6FRD, for sharing his story, his HOA-proof antenna, and his effort to return to amateur radio and Field Day! -... -.- |
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In Brief...ARRL Solar Report July 2, 2026 An earlier flare from this region, M1.3 accompanied by a 1N H-alpha flare which peaked late July 1, appears to have been associated with dimming and a coronal mass ejection (CME) first identified in CCOR-1 imagery. Initial analysis suggests the CME has an Earth-directed component, although the speed derived from the available imagery was only 300-450 km/s. Further analysis is needed to increase confidence. Flux emergence and some consolidation around the leader and trailer spots was observed in Region 4479 during the period. Region 4478 produced an M8.5/2b flare on July 1 following occasional C-class flaring. This region also exhibited flux emergence in the intermediate spots and around the leader spot. Finally, Region 4480 was quiescent although some intermediate spots developed. Solar activity is likely to decrease to moderate levels (R1-R2, minor-moderate) with a slight chance for X-class flares (R3-strong), particularly from Region 4479. Solar wind parameters were enhanced with CME passage. Solar wind speeds have ranged from approximately 360 - 425 km/s. The CME from June 30 is expected to arrive early on July 3, bringing disturbed solar wind conditions that are expected to last into July 4. There is enough uncertainty around the CME timing that an arrival mid-to-late on July 2 is possible. The 10.7-centimeter flux: July 2, 137; July 3, 132; July 4, 141; July 5, 128; July 6, 144; July 7, 122; July 8, 148. Predicted sunspots: July 2, 100; July 3, 93; July 4, 106; July 5, 88: July 6, 110; July 7, 81; July 8, 114. 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..
The
2026 Youth on the Air-Americas camp, held in Huntsville, Alabama
June 14 – 19, welcomed 35 campers from 17 states and 3 countries
(USA, Mexico, and Argentina), between the ages of 15 and 25, to
experience a week of hands-on, peer-led, ham radio learning,
community building, and fun! 
A
series of M-class flares — all from Region 4479 — pushed solar
activity to high levels this week. The largest of the flares was an
M3.5 on July 1. 