EVARC Events/Announcements
July 26, 2026
Vol. 26, No. 29
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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
August 8, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The July 18 meeting minutes are available Visitors and guests are always welcome to the meeting. |
2026 Field Day resultsThe report for Field Day 2026 has been submitted to the ARRL. Look for the published results in the November 2026 issue of QST. We earned 444 total points. This includes 52 digital and 33 phone contacts. We also got additional points for running no mre than 100 watts, youth participation, safety officer, and entry being submitted electronically. We submitted the report under category 4A - commercial, i.e. a club station operating using commercial power. Thanks to club members for making this years event a success and to Club President, Shane and his wife Jessica for letting us set up at his QTH.
More pictures and information are here |
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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07/28/2026 - 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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08/06/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Aug 06 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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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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08/15/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Aug 15 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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08/18/2026 - Hastings NE 68901 Sponsor: Amateur Radio Assoc. of Nebraska
Date: Aug 18 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/
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08/22/2026 - Norfolk, NE 68701Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley ARC Date: Aug 22 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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08/22/2026 - Sioux city, IA 51101 Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Assoc
Date: Aug 22 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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08/25/2026 - Sheldon IA 51201 Sponsor: NIARC
Date: Aug 25 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: 07/26/2026 |
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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/
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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AHOY! Amateur Radio at the Locks
The event is the annual celebration of engineering marvels, maritime heritage, and community spirit at one of the world’s busiest lock systems. Michigan’s amateur radio operators were on air with special event station W8S to showcase ham radio to visitors from across the region, but hams also played a public service role. Led by Auxiliary Communicator (AUXC) and Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) volunteers from Chippewa, Luce, and Delta Counties, plus hams from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the team delivered strong communications support throughout the day. Three staffers from the National Weather Service Office in Gaylord, Michigan, attended and helped provide a great training opportunity while demonstrating how agencies can work together at these types of events. Setup began early on June 25, with full operations running from an early-morning briefing through late-afternoon shutdown. Hams also managed radio distributions, MyMich Hospital trailer operations, Michigan State Police Command Vehicle rotations, reliable links using local repeaters, the county simplex frequency 146.54, a mix of VHF and HF, and even a mini Starlink deployment for backup connectivity.
The Eastern Upper Peninsula Amateur Radio Club, an ARRL Affiliated Club, operated W8S and gave the public a firsthand look at amateur radio in action, connecting with hams worldwide while highlighting how the hobby supports community events and emergency preparedness. “This annual tradition continues to build strong partnerships between local clubs, AUXC teams, and event organizers including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said Bob Sterner, KBØBS, ARRL Chippewa County Emergency Coordinator. Volunteers who were instrumental in making the event happen included: Cody Ames, KJ7SYX; Robert Donaldson, W8SSM; Dave Erickson, W9TRC; Kay Erickson, N8ØFF; Brent MacMillan, K8OTL/VE3ØTL; Tanya Procknow, W8TON; Lou Stempek, N8LØU; Bob Sterner, KBØBS; Roger VanDamme, KB8PLR; and many more from both sides of the border. -... -.- |
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New ARRL 10-Band DXCC Award
The new award celebrates the accomplishment of having confirmed at least 100 DXCC entities on each of the following bands: 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, and 6 meters (excludes 60 meters). Eligibility is based on the total QSLs reflected in your ARRL Logbook of The World® (LoTW®) account. No additional contacts are required beyond those needed to qualify for DXCC on each individual band. If your DXCC credits are not already visible in LoTW, you must first link your DXCC and LoTW profiles by requesting a credit merge from the ARRL Awards Desk. Applicants simply complete and submit a DXCC Item Order Form to order the 10-Band DXCC plaque after self-verifying the qualification requirements in LoTW. Complete details are available at www.arrl.org/10-band-dxcc. The 10-Band DXCC Award challenges participants in the DXCC program to establish station capabilities and operator skills for dealing with myriad band conditions in pursuing DXCC across all 10 bands. "Completing DXCC on every HF band is an extraordinary achievement that reflects dedication, skill, and years of commitment to amateur radio," said ARRL Radiosport and Regulatory Affairs Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. During last week’s ARRL Board of Directors meeting, Second Vice President Rick Niswander, K7GM, learned that he is among the few Board members who qualify for the new award. “I never set out to earn an award like this,” said Niswander. “I simply enjoy the challenge of working DX, no matter the band. Perseverance can result in an accomplishment that represents years of operating.” Like the 5-Band DXCC plaque, the new 10-Band DXCC plaque comes as a handsome wooden frame with a ceramic, blue-embellished tile inlay. The plaque is USD $95 plus shipping and handling. The new award complements ARRL's family of DXCC recognitions, which celebrate accomplishments by band, mode, and overall DXCC totals. More information about eligibility and award ordering is available on the ARRL 10-Band DXCC Award web page. Last year, ARRL introduced the DXCC Trident Award, recognizing operators who have confirmed 100 or more DXCC Award countries (entities) on all three operating modes—phone, CW, and digital. Like the new 10-Band DXCC Award, the Trident Award celebrates a significant operating milestone and offers another way for DXers to commemorate their accomplishments within the prestigious DX Century Club – DXCC. -... -.- |
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DXer and DXpeditioner Kan Mizoguchi, JA1BK, Silent Key
First licensed in 1952, Mizoguchi became involved in the creation of IARU Region 3, which covers most of Asia and the Pacific, and served as a Director from 1968 to 1975. His interest in DXing included both chasing and being the DX, and he is credited with identifying new entities and helping put them on the air for the first time. Some of those places include the Marquesas, the Australs, the Chesterfield Islands, Ducie Island, and Swain’s Island. Mizoguchi built a competitive DXing station and achieved success as a DXer, reflected in his award achievements in the ARRL DX Century Club – DXCC. He reached 383 countries in the Mixed DXCC category, 382 on phone (within the top ten in the world), and 354 on CW. He was on the Top of the Honor Roll with all 340 current entities on Mixed, Phone, and CW. He is perhaps best known for his impressive total of 271 countries on the 6-meter band – 8th place in the world and 1st in Asia.
Mizoguchi was a frequent presenter at DX conventions and was inducted into the CQ DX Hall of Fame in 1987. Bill Kennamer, K5FUV, who retired from the ARRL staff in 2000, wrote: "I first met Kan over 30 years ago, and we had a close friendship over many of those years. We operated several DXpeditions and attended several conventions together. He was behind many of the major DXpeditions over the years, giving strong financial support, and he was a strong financial supporter of ARRL. He gave all of us ‘new ones’ at various times over the years, and he will be missed." Mizoguchi earned an engineering degree from Tokyo University in the early 1950s and started a company with the rights to import all semiconductor manufacturing machinery in Japan. He retired from that company at age 60 and gave the company to his employees. He then started a one-man engineering design firm called Kan Technosonics, which operated for several years. Mizoguchi is survived by his wife Reiko and daughter Keiko. Thanks to Dave Patton, KW9A, for the information in this article. -... -.- |
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In Brief...ARRL Solar Report July 23, 2026 Region 4493 continued to undergo consolidation in its leading and trailing spots, but showed signs of new flux emergence in its intermediate area during the early hours of the reporting period. Region 4494 developed new, simple spots, but remained uni-polar. The remaining two numbered active regions were relatively stable and quiet. A filament eruption NW of Region 4493 on July 21 was modeled and assessed to be at least partially Earth-directed. While modeling efforts suggest that a bulk of the material should pass north and ahead of Earth’s orbit, this is low confidence given the faintness of this event in Sun-Earth line-focused coronagraph imagery and compounded by likely interaction with the coronal hole in the vicinity of the source location. Additional M-class flare activity (R1-R2 radio blackouts) is likely through July 25 primarily due to the flare potential currently exhibited by AR 4493. Solar wind parameters were mildly enhanced under a sustained negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) regime and a possible secondary Co-rotating Interaction Region (CIR). Solar wind speeds were roughly between 400 and 482 km/s. The current regime is expected to largely continue through July 25. Additional enhancements are possible beginning late on July 23 due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on July 20, with stronger enhancements arriving by early on July 24 with the arrival of the aforementioned CME event from July 21. The 10.7-centimeter flux: July 23 - 24, 130; July 25 - 26, 125; July 27, 120; July 28 – 29, 118; July 30, 115. Predicted sunspot numbers: July 23, 100; July 24, 93; July 25, 106; July 26, 88; July 27, 110; July 28, 81; July 29, 115. 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..
Soo Locks Engineers Day was held on June 25, 2026, at the locks
in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and amateur radio was woven into it. 
Key highlights from the field included smooth setup and testing
of radios, coordinated personnel movements between the special
events tent, command vehicles, and hospital trailer, and strong
participation from both experienced AUXC operators and eager
newcomers. 
ARRL
has introduced the new 10-Band DXCC Award plaque, recognizing radio
amateurs who have achieved DXCC on all ten HF amateur bands from 160
through 6 meters. 
Kiyoshi
“Kan” Mizoguchi, JA1BK, a well-known DXer, DXpeditioner, CQ DX Hall
of Fame member, and former Director of the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) Region 3, passed away in May 2026 at the age of
93. He was a member of the ARRL Maxim Society at the Fellow Class.
Mizoguchi also reached 3,252 countries in the popular DXCC
Challenge – 9th in the world. As he gained interest in the
Challenge, Mizoguchi began chasing down missing confirmations from
his old logs and learned that many other stations’ logs had been
discarded or lost. He sought a way to try to save some logs,
especially those from unique or rare operations, and, in 2014,
funded the
Solar
activity continued at moderate levels as Region 4493 produced an
M3.6 flare on July 22, which was the largest event of the period and
was associated with a 10.7-centimeter radio burst of 200 solar flux
units (sfu). Additionally, 4493 produced a C3.4 flare on July 22,
which was associated with another 10.7-cm radio burst of 150 sfu. 