K0USA
Market-to-Market Relay 2020
- Details
- Category: Community Service
This year the Market-To-Market Relay will be held on Saturday October 3rd. The organizers know what a great job we do of looking after the runners and are looking forward to working with the area hams again. To accomodate social distancing guidelines, the year the route will be a bit shorter. This will allow there to be a bigger gap between the groups of runner, so fewer people will be at each exchange point. The new locations are below.
The M2M Relay Starts in Bellevue at the Beardmore Event Center and finishes in Lincoln at the Haymarket District 68.1 miles later. Teams of 7 members run 3 stages per person. Each stage is 3 to 5 miles long. The course follows trails, paved streets and gravel back roads of Nebraska.
Our job is to keep track of when the runners arrive at each stage and when the last runner has departed and relay that information to Net Control. If minor medical assistance is needed we can summon the medical personnel who be available at every other exchange point. Omaha area hams cover the first half and the Lincoln area hams pick up when the race crosses the river at exchange point 9. Both Net Controls will be in contact with the event organizers to relay how well the race is going and of any issues that have been relayed via the hams. Mobiles and handhelds are usable, depending on your location. - Cross band repeat is definately something that might give you reliable communications.
FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees
- Details
- Category: Club News
Amateur radio licensees would pay a $50 fee for each amateur radio license application if the FCC adopts rules it proposed this week. Included in the FCC’s fee proposal are applications for new licenses, renewal and upgrades to existing licenses, and vanity call sign requests. Excluded are applications for administrative updates, such as changes of address, and annual regulatory fees.
The FCC proposal is contained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in MD Docket 20-270, which was adopted to implement portions of the “Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services Act” of 2018 — the so-called “Ray Baum’s Act.”
The Act requires that the FCC switch from a Congressionally-mandated fee structure to a cost-based system of assessment. In its NPRM, the FCC proposed application fees for a broad range of services that use the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), including the Amateur Radio Service that had been excluded by an earlier statute. The 2018 statute excludes the Amateur Service from annual regulatory fees, but not from application fees.
Read more: FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees
Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) will be held this year on October 16, 17, and 18.
- Details
- Category: General Information
Register online as an individual or as a group. Jamboree on the Air is the largest Scouting event in the world. In a typical year, more than 1 million Scouts participate in JOTA, with over 11,000 stations operated by 20,000+ young radio amateurs from 150+ countries around the world. JOTA details are available on the K2BSA website. The website menu will direct users to additional supporting information. K2BSA's Jim Wilson, K5ND, says many locations are already offering virtual radio merit badge classes "and no doubt will be using similar approaches for Jamboree on the Air."
Jamboree on the Air is the largest Scouting event in the world. In a typical year more than 1 million Scouts participate with over 11,000 stations operated by 20,000+ amateur radio operators in operation from 150+ countries around the world.
Meeting Location And Test Session Updates
- Details
- Category: Club News
Due to the COVID-19 virus the Red Cross has closed it's doors to outside groups using their facilities. (and as of 6/18/2020 - this is still in effect) This is only temporary but will impact AARC club meetings and of course the License Exam Sessions for at least a few weeks. There are also the guidelines set by the Federal Government as well as the Douglas County Health Department that we do not gather in large groups. When this changes we will be able to meet again. Stay Tuned for updates
If you are looking for license test information - Until further notice all of our VE sessions are appointment only NO WALK INS! - please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for current status and locations of the Test Sessions This site will be updated as information is made available to the web master.
