Current Section Report (October 2024)
SM: Malcolm Keown, W5XX. Section Website at www.arrlmiss.org. Webmaster: W5UE, ASM: K5BAK, K5DSG, KB5HC, KF8PD, K0UPW, W4WLF, KB5YEE, ACC: W5VMS, PIC: K5RFL, SEC: KC5IMN, ASEC: AA1NA, W5DIX; SGL: AK5J; STM: WV5Q, TC: N5JGK.
AG5ND reports from Starkville. The 9th of November was a beautiful Saturday, a perfect day for driving around North Mississippi and making contacts on some new-to-you repeaters, and that is exactly what a lot of Hams did during the 2024 Repeater Roundup. The Roundup gave Hams the opportunity to program new repeaters into their radios, and meet some new Hams on repeaters that aren’t near their home QTH. Asst. Section Manager K5BAK, had this to say about the event. “I enjoyed the repeater roundup very much. I found the instructions to be perfect; and the score/log sheet made working the contest a breeze. I believe it stirred up activity on all the repeaters, which made it a really fun time. Even people that I didn’t know joined in on the fun, and many nice QSOs were had.”
The repeaters in the Starkville area (the ones near the AG5ND QTH) really “woke up” on the 9th, with many, many QSOs being heard after the 7 AM start time. AD5HM, had these thoughts on the Repeater Roundup . “I had a great time working multiple stations on various repeaters, Andrew said, “I heard more than one Ham comment that they, “didn’t realize I could hit this repeater” and there were many QSOs between Hams, who I have never met or had a QSO with before. I think I met maybe five new Hams during the event.”
AG5ND says the Roundup seemed to be a success, in that it met the stated goals for the event, which were to get more activity on the repeaters, introduce Hams to repeaters they don’t usually use, and get new repeaters programmed into mobile radios. Hams have until Nov. 30 to submit their logs, so the results of the Roundup will be available in December.
MFJ positively reflected on Mississippi to the worldwide Ham community for many years but unfortunately shut down operations in May. Martin has a great front page write up on past MFJ operations in the October 28 Clarion Ledger. Check it out!
Looking for a place to have lunch in the Jackson area? Central Mississippi ARA advises that every Thursday Hams get together for lunch at the Museum Cafe, 1150 Lakeland Dr in Jackson (just off of I-55 at the Ag Museum). A table is reserved. They have good food and good conversation, and all are invited to attend. They usually arrive around 11-11:30am and you can stay as long as you like.
Attached for your information below is the current status (updated from last month) of known upcoming Ham events in and around Mississippi:
- EMCOMM Checkin on 3862, 5:30 PM, Dec 7
- New Years Eve Party, Dec 31, 11 PM, 3862, POC: W5XX
- Capital City Hamfest, Jan 31 – Feb 1, 2025, Trademart, Jackson, POC: AK5J
- Mississippi QSO Party, April 5-6. 2025, POC: W5XX
And on the national level the ARRL digital system has been partially down since Mid-May. As a result, there is no information available on New Hams in Mississippi, Upgrades, or New ARRL Members.
Club Newsletters (Editor): the Meridian ARC Spark Gap (W5MAV), the Mississippi Coast ARA Splatter (N5OCT)
Regret to report the passing of –
WD5BJT of Clermont Harbor. Charlie served 20 years in the US Coast Guard at numerous shore duty stations and at sea in the western Pacific, the Caribbean, and the Gulf Coast. While stationed in Puerto Rico he helped organize a DXpedition to super rare Desecheo Island (KP5). After retirement Charlie was a 911 dispatcher for the Sheriff’s Office in Hancock County and later worked as an agent for Customs and Border protection in Gulfport. Charlie was an active DXer with 320 countries confirmed and an ARRL Card Checker.
WB5HQH of McCall. Gary graduated from LSU and worked for the Louisiana Highway Department, Michael Baker Engineering in Jackson, and Packard Electric in Brookhaven. He retired as computer network administrator/help desk, and because of his extensive professional background in IT, was the ‘go to guy’ in the Brookhaven area for Ham Radio and home computer problems. Although never married, Gary had a huge extended family which he constantly looked after.
HF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Magnolia Section Net 30/1184/6 (KF5BA)
MS Baptist Hams Net 2/8/0 (WF5F) Sunday, 7263 at 4PM
MSPN 31/2624/17 (W5JGW)
Pine Belt ARC 10M Net 4/27/0 (K5TLL)
VHF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Bluff City ARC EMCOMM Net 4/63/0 (WJ5ES)
Capital Area Em Net 4/45/0 (K5XU)
Jackson ARC Net 5/41/0 (K5XU)
NE MS WX Net 4/60/0 (W5BAQ)
Pine Belt ARC 2M Net 4/43/0 (K5TLL)
Pine Belt ARC 2M Simplex Net 1/7/0 (K5TLL)
Vicksburg ARC/MLEN 4/76/0 (KG5YEE)
Digital Net Reports
East MS EMCOMM Net 41/329/40 (K5TCO)
K5FIT WL2K Hybrid Gateway – 153 connections to pass traffic.
MS WL2K Net QNI 95 by 7 stations (K5FIT)
Traffic: WV5Q 66, AE5MI 40, and W5XX 8
PSHR: WV5Q 126, AE5MI 94 and W5XX 73
