Just a quick update to let you know that I got the key for the West Pavilion. YES!!! We are on-line to our JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) scout support on Saturday the 17th. If you volunteered to participate please show as scheduled.
Remember, this Sunday (October 18) will be another Radio In the Park. We will start setting up about 11am and stay until dark. Listen for the callsign K5USA. Going to try to talk with members of the OMIK radio club on 14.295 mhz. While we are at it, we will try to muster a satellite contact too. In addition to all that is already on the agenda, we hope to work with members of the Viking Radio Club from our local Eisenhower Middle school, and help get them organized for next weeks School Club Round-up!
HELP WANTED!!!
When Radio-In-the Park started some 13 months ago, it was just a loose plan. First, find a public location frequented by kids, and then provide an opportunity for young minds to explore amateur radio. Be consistent and be persistent!
It took a while, but we finally figured out that we were packing too much stuff into the park. We had: APRS, Rig Blaster, HF, VHF, UHF, laptop computer, long wire antenna, Buddy Pole, Banner, VHF/UHF antennas, solar array, wind generator, batteries…very heavy batteries…tables, chairs and a couple of pop-up shelters, yes – too much stuff. We were ready for Field Day, every month, or so we thought. The truth is we weren’t ready for Field Day or anything else! All it took was one quick Oklahoma pop-up down-pour to prove it!
Bob, KC5EIU, Mike, WD5USA and Paul, KC5CYY decided to re-think the best position, whether it be right at the entrance or under the city-provided pavilion. With plenty of shade (and overhead cover from rain!), AC-power, picnic tables, and benches with plenty of open room to erect and guy almost any antenna – yes, the pavilion won! Above, Bob, KC5EIU, Jayce, Mike, WD5USA and Paul, KC5CYY.
The most noticeable advantage of the pavilion was how fast we could set up the stations, a significant improvement. Everything is carted to the pavilion in one trip, another benefit. We keep it simple. HF, VHF/UHF radios, power supply, extension cord, two camouflage poles that are guyed and used to support a three foot extendable pole to 31 feet, a neatly coiled 20 meter vertical wire antenna, a banner, and our recently added “HELP WANTED” sign, and the entire pavilion is reserved for our use. Requests to share the space are almost always honored, and are generally for 
birthday parties – of course we always have balloons to contribute! Naturally, most of the birthday parties at the park are for kids.
Above, Jim, N5UJB, notes the relevance of the “Help Wanted” sign. He commented that if there are not enough engineers in America, we will just import them from India! Jim may be right, but we should be investing in the minds of American kids and develop our own engineers! Put down that Wii and Game-Boy, and pick up a microphone!
We had a special visitor from the Viking Radio Club of Eisenhower Middle School; sixth grader, Chris, was present with his grandfather. Chris is a regular on the local VHF morning net at school. The Viking member took advantage of the great conditions, and got on the radio and was able to make several contacts. Those distant operators referred to Chris as a “young fellow”. Every operator was respectful of his youth and allowed him the opportunity to talk, even though most were in “contest mode”, seeking contacts! Chris talked to a teacher during the “Washington Salmon Run”. He didn’t hesitate for a second, and proudly professed his membership in the Viking Radio Club to her.
Left, Bill, AD5NK works with Chris as they check the SWR on a 40-meter ham stick.
Sandy brought her son Tanner and his cousin Dakota out for the day, mostly just to check us out. Both boys helped set up the 20-meter vertical, and got a chance to get on the VHF repeaters for a while. Both expressed they had a good time and wanted to visit again. Sandy may prove to be a regular at our future events. We received a lot of nice compliments about that 20-wire antenna.
Viking members work together, to improve their amateur radio skills. Currently, all members are working on perfecting the phonetic alphabet, and are encouraged to spell their name phonetically. Reports from the classroom indicate that nearly every member can recite their name and the club call-sign, KF5CRF, phonetically. Other skills and activities include: CW (Morse code), designing a QSL card, preparing for the upcoming SCR (School Club Round-Up), and studying for their Technician Class license.
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Above, Bob shares information with Dakota and Tanner. His donation of time and energy contributes greatly to the success of the Radio In the Park program. When it comes to being able to engage kids – they don’t come any better than KC5EIU!
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Above, Bob and recent Technician operator Jaron, discuss antenna lengths. Jaron recently assembled a 40-meter CW kit and is anxious to try it out. Jaron’s goal after graduating from MIT – work at CERN!
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KC5CYY and Viking member, Chris increase the antenna height, by adding camouflage poles to the bottom of the stack.
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Dakota makes a contact while Chris assists as a peer teacher.
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Viking member, Rondy brought a huge amount of excitement to 8th hour, when most of the Vikings meet to work on amateur radio skills. Rondy made a contact with a ham in Jamaica! Again, the distant operator was in contest mode, but took the time to talk with Rondy, and offered to talk with all eight students present. Excitement for learning about amateur radio at the Middle School continues to grow.
One of my friends found out about the enrichment program of the Radio-In-the Park, and just between you and me- there may be some horsing around at our next little event. But, let’s keep that our little secret! YOUR NEXT RIP — OCTOBER 18th! Always be listening to those young voices!
73 — KC5CYY
October 5th, 2009 in
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WHEN THE WINDS BLOW! — Go Fly a Kite
Every Radio In the Park (RIP) event brings learning opportunities about people and amateur rad
io. After several months of observations, we finally concluded that more kids are in the park on Sundays verses Saturdays. Consider that many families are probably involved with activities on Saturday, such as youth sports or shopping, so of course the park would have more youths on Sundays. With this new information, we moved the RIP to the 3rd Sunday of the month from about 11am until 5pm.
By being consistent in locating the RIP at KIDS ZONE we are starting to see benefits too. Kids are now approaching us, making our task so much easier! Although many are a bit too young to consider the potential of amateur radio seriously, there are some positives. Many have an older sister, brother or friend – say between 8 – 12 years old; and at that age, amateur radio is a whole lot of fun! Such was the case when a bi-lingual 1st grader named Emily, ventured by to say “Gutentag”, bringing her older friend, Zoey, age 10, who later brought her friend Anna, also 10. Neither, Zoey or Anna had any initial desire to talk on the radio, but both would eventually make a radio contact, thanks so much to a young man in Walters, Oklahoma, Nic, KE5VMO, standing-by and ready to answer a call from K5USA. (You can’t see them, but if you note the streamers tied to the antennas, they are attached to secret weapons, balloons. If kids are involved, and you want to have fun, make it look like you are about to have a birthday party and have plenty of balloons! Above, Kashauna (10) talks with NIC in Walters, OK.
Nic discussed how he uses amateur radio almost daily to talk to his grandfather in North Carolina using IRLP. In short order he tried to give Zoey a front row seat as he called his Grandfather via IRLP. Nic asked Zoey to try to make a contact on the HF and she agreed to give it a try. Zoey attempted to make an HF contact, but the bands had already changed on us.
Hams — please listen vigilantly on the 146.91, 147.36 or 445.075 repeaters. PLEASE, answer when you hear the CQ call from K5USA. Above, caught this candid moment with Dale AF5AF and Bob KC5EIU getting things organized. The temperatures would later warm up considerably and the winds would subside, as the park filled with youngsters. Bob, Dale and Mike WD5USA are untiring in their desire and ability to work with the kids to support the Radio In the Park project. Amazingly, regardless of the wind or the chill in the air, they thank me for putting this together. The truth is Bob, Dale and Mike inspire this author and to them, I say thank you!
Look for your next RIP on Sunday February 15th from about 11am until 5pm. The RIP mission remains rock solid. Provide an opportunity to young minds to explore technology and its potential using Amateur Radio.
You’re Never too OLD Young
Did you know that amateur radio operators can talk directly to astronauts orbiting in the International Space Station (ISS)? Mr. Milton Simpson, WB5YZD we will be conducting entry level amateur radio technician classes starting January 17th at the Lawton Technology Center. With this license, you could be talking to astronauts as they orbit overhead. Mr. Simpson has been conducting these fun classes for several years and has achieved an enviable record of successful course completion and testing. Classes will be held for a total of 6 Saturdays beginning at 9am and ending about noon.
Starting back in June with an annual Field Day event, local amateurs have been making the public more aware of the potential educational opportunities that amateur radio can bring to young minds. Amateur radio provides an enriching experience in Math, Physics, Geometry, Electronics, weather and other sciences; pre-wiring young minds towards hi-tech educational and career paths. Since Field Day, amateurs have been hosting Radio In The Park, a monthly public event held at Kids Zone.
Above, Mr. Bob Roundtree, KC5EIU uses buzzer toys to focus the attention of these Park Lane elementary students. Although the requirement for Morse code has been eliminated, Bob uses these toys to capture their imagination while he teaches them to tap out their name using “code” in about 10 minutes. With a radio and a world map, these students literally traveled the world.
All ages are welcome to participate, and there are no age restrictions for licenses. Classes are free and available to anyone interested. There is a nominal charge for the cost of study materials. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Simpson at 580.353.0932 or Paul Goulet, 580.483.4022.
