Current Section Report (April 2026)
SM: Malcolm Keown, W5XX. Section Website at www.arrlmiss.org. Webmaster: W5UE, ASM: K5BAK, K5DSG, KB5HC, KF8PD, K0UPW, K5VOK, W4WLF, KB5YEE, PIC: K5RFL, SEC: KC5IMN, ASEC: AA1NA, W5DIX; SGL: AK5J; STM: WV5Q, TC: N5JGK.
* The 2026 Mississippi QSO Party logs are in. Here is a rundown of the top- scores after preliminary checking:
Fixed Station – Single Op (Top Ten): W5XX, KD4VVZ, N5CW, W5LNX, K5LDA, KG5AZL, K5XU, AI5WW, N5PA, WA4CB
Portable Station – Single Op: N5M (K2FF Op), WJ5ES/5
Portable Station: – Multi Op: K5MDX/5, W4XK/5, W5SGL/5
Mobile – K4ZGB/M
MS station working the Most Mississippi Counties – WJ5ES/5 (19)
High Score Digital Station – N5M (K2FF Op)
High Score outside Mississippi: N8II in West Virginia
Looking through the logs, 46 Mississippi stations were on the air in 36 counties (see Planned Activation Map under the MSQP Tab on www.arrlmiss.org)
The final results will be available shortly after more checking.
* From Event Chairman W5UE in Lumberton. Mississippi’s first go at operating W1AW/5 during ARRL’s Year of the Club/WAS250 event is history. During the week of April 1-7, 14 Mississippi hams contributed a total of 4734 QSOs with a very nice balance between the 3 modes, 1190 CW, 2169 SSB and 1375 Digital. WQ5L led the pack with a total of 786 QSOs, followed by KF8PD with 728. Our second week is November 18-24, and we’re hoping to add several more operators. There are plenty of band/mode/slots to go around. There will be more announcements as our date gets closer but feel free to reach out to event coordinator, Randy – W5UE, anytime if you are interested, and I’ll add you to the list.
* From W5PID in Bovina. The Central MS Amateur Radio Association organized their 3rd Saturday Expedition in April at Lake Lincoln State Park. Approximately 20 participants attended, along with several fellow Hams from Louisiana. About 10 different stations were set up, with multiple operators collaborating. The group enjoyed excellent weather, camaraderie, and learning while operating portable radios and promoting Amateur Radio. Additionally, there were great food accommodations from the group’s potluck style offerings. Several Parks on the Air activations were also conducted. Everyone had a fantastic time.
From AK5J in Jackson. Hams from the Jackson Amateur Radio Club and Central Mississippi Amateur Radio Association provided communications for the annual Natchez Trace Century Ride on May 2. There were almost 900 cyclists in this event. Hams were placed at all rest stops and turn around points and reported important information. Hams reported cyclists who were having difficulties and cyclists, who had broken down. They also gave updates as to the where cyclists were on the course. Ridgeland Parks and Recreation, sponsor of the event, was very complimentary of the Hams and stated that the Hams always look after the safety of the riders. Hams participating were K5XU, K5KKD, K5FIT, AK5J, K4FMH, KI5TOL, KG5ZDZ, KJ5ET, KI5TRX, N5KLT, and KC5NJA.
From K5LDA in Meridian. The Annual Collinsville Day is a benefit that is held every year to support Collinsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue. There were 160 vendors setup with all kinds of crafts, specialty food, apparel, and many more goods for sale plus live music. The firemen cooked and served catfish and chicken dinners.
As part of the festivities the Meridian ARC setup special event station W5C to ‘show off’ Ham Radio. W5C made 173 contacts around the country and 7 foreign countries. Several club members and guest Hams operated. Many event attendees stopped by to see what we were doing.
….. and EC Reports from around the State …
From KD5RRG in Carroll County. ARES now has a cross band repeater set up in Washington County which repeats the DARA repeater for more reliable HT and mobile communications. Our MEMA Director for the Delta passed his tech exam and is now KJ5PSN. He is promoting more Ham operators in the Delta.
From KD5KMO in Chickasaw County. We hosted our 2nd monthly meeting after reorganization. We are recruiting new members and also encouraging people to become Hams in our area. Our goal is to have training at our monthly meeting.
Here are some upcoming events to put on your calendar:
- CMARA, 3rd Saturday, May 16, The Quarry, Brandon, POC: N5CMA
- CMARA at Flowood Family Fest, May 16, 3-8PM, POC: N5CMA
- Jackson County ARA/Shuckers Baseball, May 22, Biloxi, POC:WG5GK
- EMCOMM Checkin, June 4, 3862, 6 PM, POC: W5XX
- ARRL Field Day, June 26-27, see www.arrl.org
- W1AW/5 Second visit to Mississippi, Nov 18-24, POC: W5UE
- 2027 Capital City Hamfest, Trade Mart, Jan 29-30, POC: AK5J
….. and SEC/DEC/EC Reports from around the state: KC5IMN (SEC), K5DSC (Newton), AE5FK (Walthall), NI5I (Perry), KD5KMO (Chickasaw), KG5RRF (AEC)(Carroll), AD5SG (Jones), KB5SZJ (Lauderdale/Clarke), KJ5V (Oktibbeha), KC5VCB (AEC)(Stone), KD4VVZ (George)
Welcome to the following new Hams in Mississippi in April:
KJ5PLD, Landon – Picayune; KJ5PJE, Charles – Hernando; KJ5PJS, Matthew – Florence; KJ5PLA, Simon – Collins;
KJ5PMH, Tedd – Flowood; KJ5PMV, David – Starkville; KJ5PMP, Dylan – Carriere; KJ5PNW, Amy – Carriere; KJ5PPI, Nathanael – Steens; KJ5PSK, Paul – Mantachie; KJ5PSN, Jason – Itta Bena; KJ5PSP, Hatley – Hernando.
Congratulations to the following upgrades in April:
KI5AVN, Brandon – Brandon; K5BHW, Harry – Philadelphia; KJ5MQT, Autumn – Jackson; KJ5OCU, Devrice – Starkville; KI5OWY, Hans – Saucier; KJ5PFE, Charles – Hernando; KJ5PPI, Nathanael – Steens.
Welcome to the following new ARRL Members in April:
WD6BCY, Gary – Corinth; KJ5NDF, Chris – Brookhaven; KI5OWY, Hans – Saucier; KJ5PDC, Hans – Brandon; KJ5PJE, Charles – Hernando; WA8UIL, Laura – Hernando.
The ARRL Membership in Mississippi as of May 1, 2026, was 773 down 9 from last month.
Thanks for the following Membership Renewals in April: KG5JDS, Joe – Pontotoc, K7KSC, Stephen- McHenry; WW5O, Clyde – Brandon; KO5S, Craig – Moss Point; AI5SL, John – Laurel; KE5WFG, David – Laurel; KI5ZQZ, Steve – Fulton.
Club Newsletters (Editor): the Meridian ARC Spark Gap (W5MAV), the Mississippi Coast ARA Splatter (N5OCT)
HF Net Reports for April – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Magnolia Net 30/1113/7 (KF5BA)
MS Baptist Hams Net 3/16/0 (WF5F) Sunday, 7263 at 4PM
MSPN 30/2279/ 9 (W5JGW)
Pine Belt ARA 10M Net 4/20/0 (K5TLL)
VHF Net Reports for April – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Capital Area Em Net 4/50/0 (K5XU)
Chickasaw County ARES 4/16/0 (KD5KMO)
Delta ARES Em Net 2/19/0 (KG5RRG) 1 SkyWarn Net, 1 Em Net
Chickasaw/Calhoun County ARES Net 4/25/0 (KI5LKJ)
George County ARES Net 4/56/0 (KD4VVZ)
Jackson ARC Net 4/46/0 (K5XU)
Lowndes County ARES Net 4/27/0 (K5TCO)
Meridian ARES Em Net 4/24/0 (KB5SZJ) 1 Skywarn Net, 1 Em Net
Mississippi Coast ARC 4/102/0 (N5GQ)
NE MS WX Net 4/52/0 (W5BAQ)
Pine Belt ARC 2M Em Training Net 4/41/0 (K5TLL)
Pine Belt ARC Simplex 2M Net 1/6/0 (K5TLL)
South Central MS ARES Net 5/48/0 (AD5SG)
Stone County ARES Net 2/19/0 (KC5VCB)
Vicksburg ARC/MLEN 4/76/0 (KG5YEE)
Walthall County ARES Team Net 5/53/0 (AE5FK) 1 Em Net
W5YD Monday Night Net 4/24/0 (KJ5V)
Digital Net Reports for April
East MS Em Com Team 29/235/0 (K5TCO)
K5FIT WL2K Hybrid Gateway – 195 connections to pass traffic.
MS WL2K Net QNI 66 by 5 stations (K5FIT)
NE MS DMR Net – QNI 531 (KI5LKJ)
Traffic: WV5Q 36, AE5MI 23, W5XX 2
PSHR: WV5Q 108, AE5MI 88, W5XX 74
