Current Section Report (September 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.
JARC President AK5J reports that the 2024 ARRL Day in the Park was held on Saturday, October 5 at Lake Trace Park on the Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland. The host club was the Jackson ARC. Ridgeland Parks and Recreation allowed the use of their Recreation Center at the Park which turned out to be an excellent venue. There were approximately forty (40) in attendance which included hams from Jackson, Brandon, Madison, Ridgeland, Clinton, Vicksburg, Hattiesburg, Starkville, Magee, and other towns. K7QI demonstrated his portable QRP station and made several CW contacts. After lunch W5XX gave an update on important ARRL matters followed by many door prizes. Everyone in attendance enjoyed a fun time of fellowship, food and flea market activities, and also enjoyed the beautiful scenery and great weather.
From AG5ND in Starkville: On November 9 from 7AM to 7PM, there will be a repeater contest in Northeast Mississippi. Hosted by the Magnolia ARC in Starkville, the contest (dubbed the Repeater Roundup) will involve 18 repeaters stretching from Oxford to Philadelphia, and Vernon, AL to Grenada. Points are awarded for each QSO, each repeater worked, as well as contacts with YLs or XYLs and youth under the age of 18.
Since all of these repeaters are VHF/UHF and analog, this event will be sort of an “even field” contest. A new ham with an inexpensive Baofeng has the same chance of good scores as an experienced ham with a high-dollar rig. The key to doing well in the Repeater Roundup is initiative and participation.
The event is open to all valid call signs, and no club membership is needed to participate. Full details, instructions, log sheets, and the repeater list can be found on MagARC.org.
From W5VMS. Micah’s Mission School in Vicksburg started an Amateur Radio elective for interested students. The course, which started October 3, will take students through what is needed to attain a Technician license. KG5OVR of the Vicksburg ARC is conducting the classes, which are expected to conclude in February. Following the first class, several of the students took part in a field trip to the W5XX QTH for an in-person look at antennas and radios. They were even able to listen in on the monthly EMCOMM Checkin on the Mississippi Section Phone Net. Although not a Civil Air Patrol activity, many of these students are, or will become, Cadets. At the very least we expect several new Amateur Radio Operators in the near future.
More Mississippi Ham Radio History from ex-pat KD5QCN in Virginia. From the Vicksburg Post on October 2, 1924, ‘Radio enthusiast Frank Guldras of Vicksburg was in contact with the dirigible Shenandoah as it crossed Texas. The Shenandoah, the world’s first helium filled rigid airship, was commissioned by the US Navy in 2023. During flights the dirigible would make contact with Naval Headquarters, government stations, and Ham Radio operators across the United States. The airship crashed in September 2025 while on a goodwill flyover at state fairs.
From W5VMS. The Jackson ARC normally provides communication support for the annual Jackson Walk for Diabetes. However, a schedule change caused the event to run concurrently with the ARRL Day In the Park, also hosted by JARC, on October 5. JARC President AK5J reached out to the Civil Air Patrol’s (CAP’s) Vicksburg Squadron for help. Volunteer Service, one of CAP’s core values, benefits both members and those we serve by positively influencing our communities and making the world a better place for all. Members of both the Vicksburg and Jackson Squadrons provided communication support along the 3-mile trail at strategic locations normally performed by JARC. GMRS simplex radios were used to great effect, with no communication issues. The event took place over roughly a three-hour period, with over 150 walkers in attendance. Unfortunately, Mississippi leads the nation with diabetes. The walk helps educate and support those living with the disease and their families. Participants included adult members KD5SBP, W5VMS, Caleb Roberts, and Chasty Stevens and nine Cadets. The CAP also assisted with location tear-down and packing. The squadrons expect to be invited back next year with possibly an expanded role.
From Project Coordinator KG5YEE. On Saturday, October 12, Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club Members stationed themselves across the Mississippi River Bridge for the annual Over the River Run. The annual event is the main fund raiser for the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation. It is a very popular 5-mile run/walk across the bridge, into Louisiana, and back across to end at the Mississippi Welcome Center. This Race consistently attracts many walkers and runners from across the region. Club members participating were: KG5YEE, KG5OVR, N5JGK, K5IMT, W5WAF, and AF5OQ, and KC5IBO acting as Net Control. In addition, KC5QCN and KI5OFV actually ran in the race with their HT radios. A beautiful sunny Fall morning just enhanced this event.
In SEC/DEC/EC Reports from around the state …
AB6Z reports from Pearl River County that ARES activated for Hurricane Francine which directly impacted Pearl River County. ARES passed four emergency messages dealing with Tornados to three other EOCs. Twelve ARES Members of Pearl River ARES participated in the activation. No HF propagation. All coms were via VHF simplex and repeaters (Ozone Club and Pearl River Emergency Amateur League repeaters).
KG5SQZ reports that Central MS ARES has begun exploring VARAC for EMCOMM. Although we are in the preliminary stages, it seems to have features that will make it a valuable tool for us. As we begin to become more familiar with it, we will begin incorporating it into our training nets.
From Lowndes County K5TCO reports that ARES uses FLDIGI every morning to pass tropical, solar, and weather reports, and radiograms. They meet in person every Thursday where anyone interested can attend.
N5MIS reports from Pontotoc County they had a get together at the Fly Wheel Festival in Houston in memory of Bobby Sanderson KA5ICO and found out that Bobby’s son has got his Fathers callsign now which was good news. Bennett, Bobby’s son, is now KA5ICO he lives near Hattiesburg. We got to talk with Bennett, and he is planning on upgrading to a general license soon.
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, Nov 7
- Repeater Roundup, Nov 9, see https://magarc.org, POC: AG5ND
- 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.
SEC/DEC Reports for September 2024: KC5IMN (SEC), AG5ND (Golden Triangle), KD4VVZ (Gulf Coast), W5VMS (West Central MS), KF5WVJ (Northwest MS).
EC Reports for September: WJ5ES (Adams), AE5FK (Walthall), NI5I (Perry), N5MIS (Pontotoc), AG5ND (Oktibbeha), KG5OVS (Leake), AA5SG (Jones), KG5SQZ (Hinds), K5TCO (Lowndes), W5VMS (Warren/Claiborne), KF5WVJ (DeSoto), KD4VVZ (George), AB6Z (Pearl River).
Welcome to K5BAK as ASM for the Golden Triangle.
KB5YEE has been MSPN Flower Chairman for fourteen years and now retires. Thanks, John! Upon his retirement John notes that K5VOK, in Clinton, has volunteered to take over.
Club Newsletters (Editor): the Meridian ARC Spark Gap (W5MAV), the Mississippi Coast ARA Splatter (N5OCT)
HF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Magnolia Section Net 12/1232/8 (KF5BA)
MS Baptist Hams Net 5/29/0 (WF5F) Sunday, 7263 at 4PM
MSPN 30/2613/13 (W5JGW)
Pine Belt ARC 10M Net 5/31/0 (K5TLL)
VHF Net Reports – sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager)
Bluff City ARC EMCOMM Net 5/81/1 (WJ5ES)
Capital Area Em Net 5/61/0 (K5XU)
Central MS ARES 8/199/0 (KG5SQZ)
Chickasaw/Choctaw ARES Net 4/43/0 (N5MIS)
DeSoto County Info and Training Net 5/85/0 (KF5WVJ) 1 Skywarn Net
George County ARES 4/52/0 (KD4VVZ)
Jackson ARC Net 4/33/0 (K5XU)
Lowndes County ARC 4/35/9 (K5TCO)
Mississippi Coast ARA 4/109/0 (N5GQ)
Oktibbeha County ARES 5/7/0 (AG5ND)
Pearl River ARES Net 4/42/0 (AB6Z) 1 Em Net, 1 Skywarn Net
Pine Belt ARC 2M Net 5/66/0 (K5TLL)
Pine Belt ARC 2M Simplex Net 1/8/0 (K5TLL)
Pontotoc ARES Skywarn 4/33/0 (N5MIS)
South Central MS ARES Net 4/72/0 (AA5SG)
Vicksburg ARC/MLEN 5/112/0 (KG5YEE)
Walthall County ARES 4/52/0 (AE5FK)
Digital Net Reports
Central Mississippi ARES Digital Net 4/37/35 (KI5JCL)
(2 VHF nets and 2 HF nets)
East MS EMCOMM Net 30/320/169 (K5TCO)
K5FIT WL2K Hybrid Gateway – 159 connections to pass traffic.
MS WL2K Net QNI 101 by 6 stations (K5FIT)
Traffic: WV5Q 118, AE5MI 40, and W5XX 4
PSHR: WV5Q 178, AE5MI 160 and W5XX 72