EVARC Events/Announcements
February 1, 2026
Vol. 26, No. 05
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EVARC Upcoming Events/Announcements
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Next meeting of the Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio ClubDate: Saturday,
February 14, 2026 Enter the North doors at the main entrance and follow the signs to
the 5/6th grade class rooms The January 10 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 t, everyone that attended this years 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 next year, Saturday, November 21, 2026. For more information contact Aaron, KT0Q Hope to see you next year! |
Club Dues are due in JanuaryClub dues are due in January. Please send your dues to our club Secretary/Treasurer, Aaron, KT0Q. You can send them via mail or bring them to the next club meeting (January 10). It helps the club establish the annual budget if we get the dues early in the new year. The club address is: EVARC Dues are:
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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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Midwest and Nebraska Section NewsThe Midwest Division news can be found on the ARRL Midwest Division web site. .The Division has held a series of town hall meeting on Zoom. Recordings of these sessions can be found on the website also. The latest Nebraska Sections news can be found on the Nebraska Section Facebook page or the ARRL Nebraska Section news web page. |
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Special Operating Events
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Test Sessions within 200 miles of
Norfolk, NE
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02/05/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Feb 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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02/10/2026 - Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Sponsor: Sioux Empire ARC
Date: Feb 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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02/14/2026 - Boone IA 50036 Sponsor: Boone Amateur Radio Klub
Date: Feb 14 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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02/14/2026 - Omaha NE 68114 Sponsor: AkSarBen Amateur Radio Club
Date: Feb 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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02/21/2026 - Huron SD Sponsor: Huron ARA, Inc.
Date: Feb 21 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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02/21/2026 - Kearney NE 68847 Sponsor: Midway ARC
Date: Feb 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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02/21/2026 - Norfolk, NE Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley ARC
Date: Feb 21 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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02/28/2026 - Perry IA Sponsor: Winter RF Fest
Date: Feb 28 2026
Time: 9:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)
Contact: Richard J. Allen
(515) 451-4148
Email: [email protected]
VEC: ARRL/VEC
Location: Perry National Guard Armory
2930 Willis Ave
Pre-reg @ 9AM
Handicapped Accessible
Perry IA 50220-9709
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02/05/2026 - Lincoln NE 68506 Sponsor: Lincoln ARC
Date: Mar 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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03/07/2026 - Sioux city, IA 5110 Sponsor: Sooland Amt Radio Assoc
Date: Mar 07 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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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: 02/01/2026 |
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02/28/2026 - HARC Winter RF Fest, Perry, IA 50220 Start Date: 02/28/2026
End Date: 02/28/2026
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: Robert Colling , KE0STT
707 Prairie St.
Guthrie Center, IA 50115
Phone: 641-740-7526
Email: [email protected]
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03/07/2026 - Southwest Iowa ARC Hamfest Start Date: 03/07/2026
End Date: 03/07/2026
Location: McClelland Town Hall
117 Main Street
McClelland, IA
Website: https://swiradio.org
Sponsor: Southwest Iowa ARC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 442.225 136.5
Public Contact: Derek Roberts , W0TYG
PO Box 327
Minden, IA 51553
Phone: 402-431-2377
Email: [email protected]
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04/11/2026 - Bellevue ARC Spring Clean-up Start Date: 04/11/2026
End Date: 04/11/2026
Location: Reed Community Center
1200 Lord Blvd.
Bellevue, NE 68005
Website: http://bellevuearc.org
Sponsor: None
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 147.390, 131.8
Public Contact: Dudley Allen , KD0NMD
4509 Anchor Mill Rd.
Papillion, NE 68133
Phone: 402-291-7887
Email: [email protected]
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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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05/09/2026 - Lincoln Hamfest/ARRL Nebraska Hamfest Start Date: 05/09/2026
End Date: 05/09/2026
Location: Lincoln NE
Sponsor: Lincoln Amateur Radio Club
Type: ARRL Hamfest
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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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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: 11/21/2025
End Date: 11/21/2025
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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Student Coding Competition is Underway with $25,000 Award
The competition centers on building a useful, accessible FCC exam preparation app for iOS devices. The app must support Technician, General, and Extra Class license exams and use the official NCVEC question pools. Judging will focus on usability, clarity, stability, and code quality — qualities that ensure the finished product can serve as a dependable study resource for current and future radio amateurs. Eligibility is limited to ARRL members aged 21 or younger who hold a US amateur radio license, competing individually or in teams of up to three. ARRL membership is free for full-time students, making participation accessible to students already active in amateur radio and those newly licensed. Parents, educators, and ARRL members involved in radio clubs, VE teams, and youth outreach are encouraged to share this opportunity with students who have an interest in software development or STEM learning. Project submissions will be accepted between February 1 and March 31, 2026, with source code and documentation submitted online. Winning entries will receive national recognition, with total awards of up to $25,000 authorized by the ARRL Board of Directors. While pre-registration is optional, it is recommended to receive competition updates and reminders. Complete information is available at coding.arrl.org. -... -.- |
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Register Now for HamSCI 2026, Hosted by ARRL
The weekend will feature oral and poster presentations, invited tutorials, and sessions designed to be accessible to both newcomers and experienced researchers. A Saturday evening banquet will include a keynote address by astrophysicist Marc Kuchner, NASA’s Citizen Science Officer. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour ARRL Headquarters, including the ARRL Laboratory, the W1HQ Radio Laboratory, and W1AW – the Hiram P. Maxim Memorial Station, with opportunities to get on the air. Amateur radio operators, educators, students, engineers, and citizen scientists are all encouraged to participate. A call for abstracts for presentations and posters is open through February 1, 2026, and registration is now available. While the workshop is planned primarily as an in-person event, a virtual attendance option is expected to be announced closer to the date. Additional details, including registration and abstract submission information, are available at hamsci.org/hamsci2026. -... -.- |
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In Brief...ARRL Solar Report January 29, 2026
Solar wind parameters reflected a solar sector boundary crossing followed by the likely onset of high speed stream (HSS) conditions. On January 27, phi angle switched into a negative sector. Solar wind speed began to increase after January 28 to around 610 km/s. Enhancements in the solar wind environment are expected through January 31 under negative polarity coronal hole high speed streams (CH HSS) influences. The 10.7-centimeter flux: January 29, 135; January 30, 130; January 31 – February 1, 120; February 2, 130; February 3 – 4, 140; February 5, 130. Predicted Sunspots: January 29, 122; January 30, 117; January 31, 128; February 1, 113, February 2, 110; February 3, 137; February 4, 151. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit 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..
ARRL
is asking members to help encourage licensed youth in their communities
to participate in the ARRL Student Coding Competition, an initiative
focused on developing practical resources for the Amateur Radio Service.
The competition, which began January 1, 2026, challenges young amateurs
to create a mobile application that ARRL will use as a long-term
learning resource.
ARRL
will host the 9th annual Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI)
Workshop on March 14 – 15, 2026, with primary activities held at
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain,
Connecticut, and additional events at ARRL Headquarters in
Newington. The international workshop brings together radio
amateurs, scientists, educators, and students to explore how amateur
radio serves as a practical tool for scientific research and citizen
science. 
Organized
by the HamSCI community, the 2026 workshop carries the theme
“Discovering Science Through Ham Radio.” Presentations and
discussions will highlight real-world research enabled by amateur
radio, including ionospheric and space weather studies, meteor
scatter propagation, radio-based sensing technologies, and the
growing use of Personal Space Weather Stations. The program
emphasizes how these efforts not only advance scientific
understanding, but also directly inform and improve amateur radio
operating and technology. 
Solar
activity continued at low levels this week. Low level C-class flares
were observed from Regions 4342 and 4353. The majority of the
regions were either stable or in decay. New Regions 4359, 4360, and
4361 emerged on the disk and were numbered. No Earth-directed
coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed. The forecast calls for
solar activity to remain at low levels with a chance for M-class
flares (R1 - R2, minor-moderate) through January 31. 