Radio for Anyone Event: May 14

What happens when the power goes out and cell service becomes unreliable?

Most of us depend on smartphones for nearly everything, but during storms, travel in rural areas, or major outages, those systems can quickly become overloaded or unavailable. When that happens, many people rediscover something that has quietly remained reliable for decades: radio. Simple radio systems can allow families, neighbors, and small groups to communicate directly with one another without relying on cell towers or internet service.

The Rusk County Amateur Radio Club is hosting a free community event designed to introduce people to several practical radio communication options that anyone can use. The event, called “Radio for Anyone,” will be a relaxed evening where visitors can see radios in action, talk with experienced users, and learn how different systems work.

Full event information, directions, and details can be found on our event page:

👉 Visit the Radio for Anyone event page

Many people are surprised to learn that there are several radio services available today that are both easy to use and affordable. During the event, RCARC members will demonstrate systems such as Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), and newer LoRa-based mesh communication systems such as Meshtastic and MeshCore. Each option serves a slightly different purpose, and the goal of the evening is to help people understand how they compare and which might be most useful for their situation.

FRS radios are often the easiest place to start. They are license-free, widely available, and commonly used by families, outdoor groups, and event organizers for short-range communication. GMRS radios offer additional capability and flexibility, especially for vehicle use or larger properties, while still remaining approachable for beginners. For those interested in emerging technology, LoRa mesh systems offer a fascinating look at how small, low-power devices can create off-grid messaging networks that work without cellular infrastructure.

While radio is often associated with emergency communication, it also has many everyday uses. Radios are frequently used during camping trips, road travel, large outdoor events, on farms and rural properties, and anywhere cell coverage is limited. In situations where severe weather or power outages disrupt normal communication, they can also provide a dependable way for families and neighbors to stay in touch.

“Most folks don’t realize how many practical radio options there are today,” said Keith Ballow, president of the Rusk County Amateur Radio Club. “You don’t have to be a technical expert. There are radios that are simple, affordable, and can keep families connected when phones or internet service aren’t working.”

The event is designed specifically for people who are curious about radio but may not know where to start. Visitors will be able to walk through display tables staffed by club members, examine radios and equipment up close, and ask questions about how each system works in real-world situations.

“These tools can be helpful in everyday situations, but they can also be valuable during storms, travel, or times when cell coverage isn’t reliable,” said Karen Haverstock, treasurer of the club. “We just want people to see their options and learn how radio can still be a practical way to stay connected.”

The evening will include demonstrations, informal conversation, and time for questions, along with light refreshments.

Event Details

Radio for Anyone

Thursday, May 14
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Rusk County Office of Emergency Management
1515 Whippoorwill
Henderson, TX

✔ Free and open to the public
✔ No experience required
✔ Families welcome

For directions and additional information:

👉 Visit the Radio for Anyone event page

“Sometimes the simplest tools are still the most dependable,” Ballow said. “Radio can help neighbors, families, and communities stay connected when it matters most.”

Building a local Meshtastic network

Several Rusk County Amateur Radio Club members are expanding their capabilities by embracing Meshtastic, an open-source, decentralized communication system. Meshtastic uses LoRa radios to create a mesh network, allowing long-range, off-grid communication for text messaging and data sharing without relying on cellular or internet infrastructure. Best of all, you don't need a ham license to use them although if you have a license, you can use higher power levels.

During a recent club presentation, Keith Ballow (KN5G) explained the key features of Meshtastic. The system runs on ESP32 development boards, among other, which can utilize Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and operates on the LoRa (Long Range) protocol. This robust, low-bandwidth technology has become widely adopted, even being integrated into Amazon’s "Sidewalk" devices. Meshtastic nodes are self-healing and self-developing, making them ideal for building resilient communication networks in areas without reliable infrastructure.

Keith, David and Nathan recently tested a few local nodes, successfully communicating with their homes node from various points around the county, reaching distances of up to 1.88 miles. Keith and David we able to reach closer to 8 miles with higher nodes and larger antennas. The nodes operate at 900 MHz, a band available for unlicensed use. As mentioned earlier, licensed ham operators can unlock higher power levels on this band by disabling encryption.

Meshtastic networks can even connect to the internet, with only one user needing access to extend connectivity across the entire mesh. The technology supports encrypted communication, but for ham operators, the system will automatically turn off encryption to comply with regulations.

For more information about Meshtastic and how to join the local efforts, visit Meshtastic.org or reach out to the Rusk County Amateur Radio Club. You can also learn about the current efforts to keep the 900 MHz band open for amateur use at ARRL.org.

Club elects new 2025 officers

The Rusk County Amateur Radio Club is excited to announce the election of its new slate of officers for the 2025 term. The election took place during the club’s business meeting last week, immediately following the Storm Spotter class at the Rusk County OEM building. These dedicated individuals will officially take office on January 1, 2025, leading the club in promoting amateur radio, education, and public safety.

2025 Officers:

• President: Keith Ballow, KN5G
• Vice-President: Bob Tomlinson, KJ5CF
• Secretary: Nathan Chilton, N5NDC
• Treasurer: Karen Haverstock, KI5GPO

Keith, a past President of the club, will return to the role of President, bringing his experience and leadership. Bob is stepping into the role of Vice-President for the first time as a club officer. Karen, also a past President, will transition to the role of Treasurer, while Nathan continues his valuable service this time as Secretary.

During 2023 and 2024, David Chenault, W5CWT, served as President, Keith as Vice-President, Karen as Secretary, and Nathan as Treasurer. Club appreciates their past leadership and looks forward to an exciting year ahead under the new leadership. 

Storm-spotter class a success!

The Rusk County Amateur Radio Club recently attended a successful storm spotting class at the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) building. Taught by Chris Nuttall, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Shreveport, the class was well attended by both radio club members and local residents. Participants learned essential skills for identifying and reporting severe weather, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail, all of which are crucial for ensuring public safety.

Skywarn class at the Rusk County OEM, October, 2024

Amateur radio operators, or “hams,” play a critical role in storm spotting across Rusk County and beyond. Equipped with their unique communication skills and resources, ham operators act as the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service during severe weather events. By providing real-time, on-the-ground reports from the field, they help the NWS issue timely warnings that can save lives and minimize property damage.

Skywarn, the NWS program for storm spotting, is a volunteer-based effort that trains individuals, including ham radio operators, to recognize and report specific severe weather phenomena. The data gathered by spotters aids meteorologists in issuing and updating weather warnings. Those interested in becoming storm spotters can receive training in areas such as understanding weather patterns, safety during severe events, and how to submit reports. For more information about the Skywarn program and upcoming training sessions, visit the NWS Shreveport Skywarn Information Page.

The club extends its thanks to Chris for sharing his expertise and to the Rusk County OEM for hosting and providing the venue. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about amateur radio’s role in public safety and storm spotting to attend our next meeting or reach out through our website.

Great turnout for ARES Race Support

Nearly a dozen Rusk County, Gregg County and Smith County hams volunteered to support the Resurrection Run 5K/10K this past Saturday. The event was the club's fifth year to support the race which is hosted by the local Ebenezer Baptist Church as a fund raiser for local charities. This year's benefactors included the Henderson Interchurch Ministry (food bank), the Ruck County Legacy House (foster care support) and the Rusk-Panola Child Advocacy Center.

The day began a little chilly (52 F) with a heavy dew settling on everything. But soon the sun came out it turned out to be perfect weather. N5NDC served as net control again with KC5ERV assisting at the HQ station. Everyone else deployed along the race route which took runners across most of the western half of Henderson through both Lake Forest Park and Fair Park. 

This year's race appeared to go off without a hitch with no injuries reported, no emergencies and no lost runners! Thanks again to all who participated!

ARES to support Resurrection Run

We will once again be supporting the annual Resurrection Run this March 23, 2024. The race includes a 10K, 5K and 1K and will start and end at Lake Forest Park. For several years we have supported the race with communication and weather assistance. The race is a low-stress, minimal-equipment-needed event that even first-time operators can assist with. No experience needed! Both Amateur and GRMS operators are welcome to volunteer. Of course, we can use all the volunteers willing to help, so spread the word!

Here's the ICS-201 Event Briefing for Radio Operators. (UPDATED 3/15/24) It has all the details including maps (and links to live maps, dates, times and equipment requirements. The 201 will be updated as needed until the race, so always make sure to check for updates. (The best way is to check the "Prepared" field in the document). Please note, we will also have a 30-minute Zoom briefing the Thursday before the race. 

Here is the ICS-205 so you can program your radios in advance. 

If you can help, please let us know by filling out this form: 2024 Race Volunteer Form

Fox Hunt Henderson draws a crowd!

Several club members as well as a few from LETARC in Longview joined us for a fall Fox Hunt! After a brief orientation and a practice with a 70cm fox in the park, W5CWT headed out to "hide" somewhere in Henderson. 

Soon the hounds were on the trail. Eventually, winding up at the Wylie Elementary School on US-259, just south of town. Wyatt (W5IQE) from Longview was the first to find the fox who was hidden under a traffic cone! 

By the end of the morning, the entire crew had located the fox. Thanks to Don from LETARC who also did a brief write-up in the LETARC newsletter!

RF exposure: A guide for hams

Amateur radio is fundamentally a safe activity. Yet, concerns about the possible hazards of electromagnetic radiation, including RF energy, are prevalent, especially to those you don't fully understand the science behind the hobby. To address these concerns, the FCC has established limits on RF energy exposure. Notably, since May 3, 2021, amateur radio operators are required to evaluate their stations for compliance with these limits​​.

The ARRL provides essential tools for understanding and adhering to these new requirements:

• RF Exposure Calculator: This tool aids operators in assessing their stations to ensure they meet FCC guidelines​​.
• Educational Materials: The ARRL website hosts a range of educational resources, including FAQs about the FCC's RF exposure rules, the 100th Edition ARRL Handbook's RF safety section, and links to relevant FCC resources​​​​.

When neighbors express concerns about RF exposure, it's crucial to approach these conversations with empathy and factual information. Here are some strategies:

• Educate Yourself: Before engaging in discussions, ensure you're well-informed about RF exposure limits and safety protocols. Utilize ARRL's resources to build your knowledge.
  
  
• Open Dialogue: Invite your neighbors to discuss their concerns. Listen actively and

Local Winlink Node - Explained!

(By Keith, KN5G) As most of you already know the Rusk County Amateur Radio Club has a WinLink, VHF Gateway on the air so that local Amateurs can access the Global WinLink Network and send and receive messages through the International WinLink messaging system.

For the newer club members the Gateway station is located in downtown Henderson at the old Jail Building on the west side of the Court House. The antenna is on the tower there at what is presently the OEM Office, along with the County Commissioner’s repeater.

The Gateway is on 145.010 MHz., and supports both Packet WinLink Sessions and the newer and faster VarAC protocol for VarAC Sessions. The Gateway has a good range and can also be used as a digipeater using the alias HENDER.

There are a handful of us who have VarAC stations set up at our home QTH and we enjoy a good VarAC ragchew with each other from time to time. The VarAC mode allows for unconnected Broadcast from

Field Day 2023 - a great success!

Another great Field Day is in the books--or perhaps more appropriately, in the logs! It was the club's first time to hold Field Day at the Millville Baptist Church. There was a number of reasons that the club chose to try out the church. 

First, the fairly remote location of the church meant there was almost NO electrical noise on the bands. The church is located in the middle of a large section of land recently reclaimed after the closing of a large surface mine. The mine when right around the church and its cemetery. Second, the building (which is no longer used by any church congregation) is still furnished with tables and chairs and even has air conditioning! And third, there are plenty of very tall trees just waiting to hold up the ends of antennas!

Unfortunately, the Field Day crew was a little smaller than normal, mostly due to the severe weather that rolled through the area the night before leaving thousands of people in the area without power. But the crowd the did show up was treated to a couple of surprises including a visit from Steven Lott (KG5VK) the Section Manager for North Texas. Steven was making the rounds of East Texas Field Day sites and squeezed us in between Tyler and Nacogdoches. Also, Luke (a soon-to-be ham!) brought dinner including grilled hamburgers with all the fixin's on top of homemade sourdough buns made by his wife! Delicious!

Keith took the whole group on a sunset tour of the cemetery, noting some very interesting graves. Marty and Kitch kept the bands hot all night long with Kitch alone making dozens of CW contacts. All in all, it was a great event and we look forward to the next time we can light up the bands!

RCARC heads off to the races...AGAIN!

For the fifth year in a row, local radio operators supported the Resurrection Race this year in city of Henderson. The run, organized by a local church, offers runners a 5K, a 10K and a 1K fun run. The race route winds through a number of Henderson neighborhoods and parks. Rusk County ARC club members real-time updates along the race route along with general communication support and weather updates when severe weather threatens (as it did a couple of years ago). 

This year we had nine operators including our a GMRS user which marked the first time we have ever  deployed a GMRS unit in a public service event. The club recently put a GMRS repeater on the air locally and added a handful of club members who only operate GMRS. While our Net Control Operator (KG5IPO) primarily used the club's main ham repeater frequency, the back-up NCO (N5NDC / WREM784) monitored the GMRS repeater to relay reports to main net.

The race had nearly 100  runners on the 5k route and around 20 on the 10K path. Stations were deployed to major race turns where issues could (and have in the past) occurred. After the last runner past the station, the operator would generally redeploy to another point along the route or return to the HQ at the finish line. 

The operation was a success and race organizers were very appreciative of the group's service. "We couldn't do this race without you all," said Kayla Tillison, the race coordinator. "When all these runners are out on the route, your group's minute-by-minute updates gives us real peace of mind."

 

 

Choking out RFI on an EFHW antenna

(By Keith / KN5G) While the new End Fed, Half-Wave antenna has worked well on the HF bands I did notice that it had some RFI coming back into the shack and causing some issues with the USB cable’s signal between the computer and the radio. The EFHW antenna is an unbalanced antenna so it is normal to see some RF coming back down the outside shield of the coax towards the shack. 

The fix is a Common Mode Current Choke in the coax before it gets to the radio.

You can buy a CMC Choke but they are kind of expensive considering what they are made of and how simple they are to make. 

Here is one I built with a 240-43 Toroid core wrapped with 12 turns of RG58 coax. I need to put it in a box and solder the coax to the PL-259 connectors.

You can see from the VNA sweep that it has -36.4 dB of attenuation at the bottom of the 40 meter band which is pretty good. If I am not mistaken a 240-31 mix core would provide more attenuation on the higher bands, 20 meters - 10 meters.

Hopefully this will take care of the RFI issue I was seeing with the EFHW antenna.

TV station covers storm preparation

KLTV, Channel 7 did a nice little story on preparing for East Texas storms last week in advance of expected severe weather. The story included interviews with Office of Emergency Management Staff as well as a couple of Rusk County ARC club members. Michael and David spoke specifically about hams and GMRS users who serve a storm spotters. Not a storm spotter? Visit a club meeting to find out more!

Here's a link to the online version of the story: https://www.kltv.com/2023/03/02/rusk-county-emergency-managers-storm-spotters-prepare-severe-weather/

Get storm spotter training online!

Amateur radio operators play a critical role in providing emergency communications during severe weather events. We help keep communities safe by relaying important information about storm conditions and damage to the National Weather Service (NWS) and emergency management officials. One way operators can prepare for storm spotting is by participating in SKYWARN, a volunteer program that helps keep communities safe during severe weather.

SKYWARN was developed by the NWS to improve the accuracy and timeliness of severe weather warnings. SKYWARN spotters are volunteers who report severe weather to their local NWS office. Although not all spotters are ham radio operators, many of them are. They provide real-time, ground-level observations of severe weather conditions, such as hail, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. This information is then used by the NWS to issue more accurate and timely warnings, ultimately saving lives and reducing property damage.

The Rusk County ARC often partners with the Rusk County Office of Emergency Management to host in-person SKYWARN training in Henderson. Another way to become a SKYWARN spotter is through online training which covers the basics of storm spotting, including identifying severe weather,

March meeting...Learn to WiSPeR!

Join us for our monthly meeting for March on Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7 p.m. for a special presentation on WSPR. This digital mode has been around for a few years, is super easy to set up and can provide some amazing data with just a few milliwatts of power. 

Nathan (N5NDC) will lead the presentation with all the ins and outs of WSPR and how you can join in on the fun, probably with the equipment you already have. We will meet at our regular location at the South Main Church of Christ, 402 S. Main Street, Henderson, TX. See you there!

Learn about Repeaters! (GMRS + HAM)

Walkie-talkies may be good when the power goes out or cell service is down, but they only work a relatively short distance, despite what the retail package may say. So how can you stay in contact when you are miles aways from each other or surrounded by tall East Texas pine trees? Repeaters are the answer. And now they are available to GMRS users - a relatively new type of radio that is both inexpensive and easy to start using.

The Rusk County Amateur Radio Club will host a special presentation on “Repeaters” this Thursday evening during their regular monthly meeting. Participants can learn how repeaters work, what kind of radio to use and how to find repeaters available right here in Henderson, Tyler and Longview. 

“Learning how to use a ham radio or a GMRS repeater is a great way to be prepared for the worst,” said David Chenault, a member of the Rusk County ARC. “Almost anyone can take advantage of these systems that groups and individuals maintain at no cost to users.”

In addition to helping people stay in touch with each other, repeaters--both GMRS and ham--are often used to report severe weather during storms and hurricanes.

The presentation Thursday evening is just one in a series of topics specifically of interest to GMRS users. Chenault says people wanting to use GMRS radios need to get an FCC license. He adds that the good news is the license fee is only $35 and is valid for 10 years. Best of all, almost anyone can get one because there is no test to take like there is for ham radio licenses.

The program is free and open to the public. It begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 9,  at the meeting room at the South Main Church of Christ, 401 S. Main, in Henderson. 

 

All invited for fun and fellowship!

Winter Field Day is at the end of January and promises to be another fun operating event. Of course, it's also a great social event where everyone gets to hang out around the campfire and enjoy some chili! (See a past Winter Field Day)

Keith has graciously offered his Deer Camp just up the road at the site. While it would definitely be described as "roughing it" by most, the deer camp does boast a small metal building with carport-style canopy to provide shelter from the elements. There is no commercial power or running water (and no bathrooms) but there are battery operated lights, a propane heater, a campfire and an amazing set of stars in the night sky! The road from the County Road to the camp is also a little rough. A high-clearance vehicle, like a truck, is recommended. However, don't let you car stop you from coming. Someone will be able to meet you at the gate if needed. 

We'll have two radios setup; one for voice and one for CW along with multiple antennas. There's be lots of food and fellowship as well! We'll have chili and hotdogs, snacks and more. Although not required, feel free to bring something with you to add to the feast. 

Everyone needs to bring their own lawn chair. If you come early enough and would like to fish there is a pond with catfish and lots of roads and trails if you are up to a hike through the woods. Remember, there are no restroom facilities so plan according. Bring a friend and hope to see you there!

Date: January 28th & 29, 2023
Time: Come & Go. Well meet there around 10 am to set up. (The contest starts at 1pm and lasts 24 hours unless we decide to give up early and go home.)
Location: Keith’s (KN5G) Deer Camp 32.174470, -94.735544 (Map)
(The deer camp is on the west side of county road 222, between FM 3135 and State HI way 43, northeast of Henderson, Texas.)

A very Merry Christmas to all!

The club hosted it's annual Christmas Party Saturday at noon and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! The party was catered from Tia Juanita's Fish Camp and guests tore through the chicken and steak fajitas. 

It was very interesting to listen to the variety of conversation around the tables while people visited and enjoyed the meal. Very few of them involved ham radio! After eating, several folks got a chance to tour Lion's Stadium as a small bonus.

Merry Christmas to all and keep the radios on!

FREE: "Radio for Everyone" program

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who attended our program! The turnout was tremendous. Anyone who would like more information about GMRS, please contact the club.

(Original post) The next club meeting will be a first for the RCARC! We will have a presentation called, "Radio for Everyone" detailing the variety of options available for someone new to the radio world.

Recent changes by the FCC have lowered the hurdles to get a radio license, especially a General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) license. This means that practically everyone can get and begin using a GMRS radio for a variety for purposes. 

GMRS radio are very popular among Jeep enthusiasts and other hiking, off-roading and overlanding groups. Some off-road parks even require the vehicle to be equipped with a GMRS radio. GMRS is also useful for emergency communications situations or for community response teams like CERT and SKYWARN. 

Join us Thursday, September 8, 2022 for a special program to learn how GMRS can help you and your family prepare for the unexpected or enjoy the outdoors. The program is free and hosted by the RCARC. It will be held in the Multi-purpose Building (or Community Room) at the South Main Church of Christ, 402 South Main, Henderson, Tx. Parking is available on the Van Buren side of the building. 

KI5GPN (Gary Jarvis): SK

The club is saddened by the passing of one of our most enthusiastic members: Gary, KI5GPN. Gary lost his battle to cancer a few weeks ago and his memorial service was held last week. Below is his obituary. A loyal friend and a compassionate ham, Gary will be deeply missed. 

-------------------------

Mr. Gary Jarvis, 78, passed away on May 15, 2022 in Palestine, TX after losing his battle with cancer.

Gary was born in Henderson, TX to the late AJ and Evon (Rogers) Jarvis on August 20, 1943 and was a graduate of Henderson High School. Always trying to find a new adventure, he joined the United States Air Force in November 1961 and continued traveling the world as a Merchant Marine before retiring in 2003 as a Chief Engineer for Tidewater. In his spare time, he enjoyed two-way radios, boating, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Dwight Jarvis, and step-father Les Tolbirt.

He is survived by his wife, Betsy of Raleigh, NC; five children, Michelle of Huntsville, TX, Gary Jr. of Houston, TX, William of Montgomery, TX, Julie of Bentonville, AR, and Jillian of Durham, NC; siblings, Phillip and wife Debbie of Brazoria, TX, Patricia and husband Larry of Sugar Land, TX, and William and wife Stephanie of Pecan Grove, TX; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and many friends.

Graveside services for Mr. Jarvis were held on Friday, June 3, 2022 at Rusk County Memorial Gardens at 11:00 AM with Chuck Swindell officiating.