Current Section Report (January 2025)
SM: Malcolm Keown, W5XX. Section Website at www.arrlmiss.org. Webmaster: W5UE, ASM: K5BAK, KB5HC, KF8PD, K0UPW, K5VOK, W4WLF, KB5YEE, ACC: W5VMS, PIC: K5RFL, SEC: KC5IMN, ASEC: AA1NA, W5DIX; SGL: AK5J; TC: N5JGK.
From Hamfest Chairman AK5J: The 2025 Capital City Hamfest and Mississippi ARRL Convention was held on January 31 and February 1, 2025, at the Trade Mart Building at the fairgrounds in Jackson, The Hamfest was sponsored by the Jackson ARC with Hams from the Central Mississippi ARA. the Vicksburg ARC, and the Scott County ARC Club assisting with the event. Records show that more than 150 tables were reserved for vendors in the flea market with a crowd of more than 700 attending the Hamfest. The event was dedicated to the memories of KC5LK and K5ERB.
Representatives from the ARRL were K5UZ, Director, Delta Division and W5XX, Mississippi Section Manager. AE5SK was in charge of the VE test session which resulted in four new Technicians, three upgrades to General and three upgrades to Extra. The Grand Prize was won by of NC5Y of Petal.
Forums presented were: Civil Air Patrol Capabilities and Missions by W5VMS, RACES by K5FIT, ARES by KC5IMN, ARRL by K5UZ and W5XX, Digital Mobile Radio by KD4VVZ, and the Mississippi Nets by KF5BA and W5JGW.
Hams who participated in the setup or worked at the Hamfest included the following: K5XU, K5KKD, K5TDD, AE5SK, AK5J, K5MPM, W5XX, N5JGK, W5TWZ, AC5Z, KG5ZDZ, KJ5ET, KI5URY, N5WDG, N5KLT, KI5TOL, KI5TRX, W5DBM, KG5OVR, AD7KJ, KC5IBO, KG5YEE, KJ5JRK, KJ5JRN, KC5NJA, and KF5YGG. (It takes a lot of Hams to make this a successful event!)
PIO N5OCT reports that the Jackson County ARA held their Winter Field Day on January 25 at the soccer sports area next to Jackson County Animal Shelter in Jackson County. Those participating were W5DUI, W5SMN, KJ5HND, WF5W, KG5VXY, KX4RM, AE5MU, and WG5GK. And from the Meridian area, KJ5AHO operated QRP and made 101 QSOs mostly PSK.
From Project Coordinator KG5TEE: The Vicksburg ARC handled radio communications for the second annual “Laces for Love 5K/10K Race.” This is a fund raiser for the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary organization with proceeds going to fund various projects benefiting the children of Vicksburg and Warren County. The race spread through the streets of downtown Vicksburg starting and ending on Washington Street. Radio operators that participated were: KG5OVR, N5JGK, KC5IBO, K5IMT, KG5YEE, W5WAF, N5ZNN, and W5VMS with assistance from his Civil Air Patrol cadets.
From the Virginia desk KC5QCN notes that Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., have reintroduced the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which would give Amateur Radio operators the right to install amateur radio antennas and serve their communities. (February 6).
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, Mar 6
- Columbus Hamfest, March 22, POC: AD5DO
- Mississippi QSO Party, April 5-6. POC: W5XX
- MS Parks on the Air, April 12, POC: WF5W
- ARRL Field Day, June 28-29, See ARRL Website
As you are aware, the ARRL Information System was hacked in May 2024. As a result, there has been no information since then on Mississippi New Hams, Upgrades, or new ARRL Members. The system is now partially restored, and the following information was received on New Mississippi Hams in January:
KI5JFB, Ryan – Columbus; KI5JFK, Mark – Gautier; KJ5JHB, Kennethe – Columbia; KI5JHE, Gregory – Poplarville; KI5JID, Bobby – Olive Branch; KI5JIU, Williaam – Madison; KJ5JJU, Jonathan – Carriere; KI5JKE, Kenneth – Houston; KJ5JKU, Mark – Picayune.
What to do with this list? Club Officers and members, if you see a local on this list that you are not familiar with, locate and ask them to visit your next club meeting. If needed, ask W5XX for contact information and also ask if they need help getting on the air.
Welcome to K5VOK as ASM and WB5SKM as EC for Choctaw County.
Club Newsletters (Editor): the Meridian ARC Spark Gap (W5MAV), and the Mississippi Coast ARA Splatter (N5OCT)
Regret to report on the passing of the following Mississippi Hams:
W5VPX of Union. Dick was an active person in many areas. In addition to being a founding member of Hudson Chapel Church in 1937, he was an accomplished musician, skilled brick mason, and patriarch of a family of 63 direct descendants. After being discharged from the Army in 1946 he studied for and passed his Ham Radio exam and was very active on the air until his passing in late 2024. We will surely miss hearing Whiskey Five Victor Papa Xray checking into the nets.
K5RWB of Jackson. Bob was involved in everything. In addition to serving in the Army Guard for 30 years, Bob was a charter member of the Byrum Volunteer Fire Department and was active in Red Cross Disaster Services, the Civil Air Patrol, and a member of Wahabi Shire where he was active in supporting the Shriner’s Burn Center in Shreveport. In his professional life Bob was a photographer with WJTV, PIO for the Jackson Fire Department, and EMT with AMR. He also was very active member of Lakeshore Baptist Church and later Griffith Memorial Baptist Church. When not involved in all of these activities he was on the air as K5RWB and an active member of the Jackson ARC and the Central MS ARA.
W5MR of Ellisville. Mike was a nineteen-year employee at Masonite in Information Technology. He enjoyed working DX and contesting.
N5DRR of Ridgeland. Elton was a graduate of Mississippi State and began his career as a Physics teacher in Huntsville before starting a 46-year career in the Planning Division of MDOT. Elton was very active in supporting community events in Ridgeland as well as being a long-time serving member of First Baptist Jackson and later First Baptist Ridgeland.
N5ATF of Beaumont. Milt moved to Greene County and started a farm after he and his family left the Coast after Katrina.
HF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Magnolia Section Net 31/1241/11 (KF5BA)
MS Baptist Hams Net 4/16/0 (WF5F) Sunday, 7263 at 4PM
MS Section Phone Net 31/2632/13 (W5JGW)
Pine Belt ARC 10M Net 4/17/0 (K5TLL)
VHF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Bluff City Em Net 4/70/0 (WJ5ES)
Calhoun-Chickasaw ARES Net 4/36/0 (KI5IKJ)
Capital Area Em Net 4/37/0 (K5XU)
Jackson ARC Net 4/30/0 (K5XU)
Lowndes County ARC 4/27/0 (K5TCO)
MS Coast ARA 4/103/0 (N5GQ)
Northeast Mississippi Skywarn 4/45/0 (W5BAQ)
Pine Belt ARC Em Net 4/42/0 (K5TLL)
Pine Belt ARC 2M Simplex Net 1/8/0 (K5TLL)
Vicksburg ARC/MLEN 4/82/0 (KG5YEE)
Digital Net Reports
Central Mississippi ARES Digital Net 5/36/35 (KI5JCL)
(2 VHF nets and 3 HF nets)
K5FIT WL2K Hybrid Gateway – 178 connections to pass traffic.
MS WL2K Net QNI 64 by 6 stations (K5FIT)
Traffic: WV5Q 73, AE5MI 26, and W5XX 3
PSHR: WV5Q 133, AE5MI 86 and W5XX 70.
