ARRL Oklahoma

“Aviation will save this country someday, and I know no politician is going to do it. Wish we could get our Presidential candidates to travel by plane, but there is no back platform to make the speeches from and there is no plane big enough to carry all their “yes” men.” - November 6, 1932 #UShistory and #OKhistory moment from @RealWillRogers

#OKfire #Skywarn

Route 66 on the Air Special Event Station Starts — September 12, 2026 #ARRL @arrlok #hamradio W6J, W6K, and W6L are special event call signs for use in the Great State of Oklahoma.  The calls are registered and administered for the western, central, and eastern parts of the state and are available to all Amateur Clubs and Hams in the area who wish to activate a Special Event Station for Route 66’s 100-year Celebration. To get involved in being a transmitting station, contact: W6J – Western OK – Gary Woodrow aa5gw.gary@gmail.com W6K – Central OK – NE5SD.Steve@gmail.com 0r TMWebb@cox.net or sensei_Kyle@yahoo.com W6L – Eastern OK – Daryl Reimer N5NYT darylrreimer@gmail.com Those who “join the team” will receive a commemorative pair of poker chips, as shown here. Sign up, make some contacts, and turn in your log! You’ll get a nifty token. For the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road, we’re looking for 100 operators on the W6J, W6K, and W6L teams. Send your email today! Otherwise, get on the air – and contact the other stations… Purpose of Route 66 On the Air The purpose of the event is to commemorate the history of the “Mother Road” connecting the east and west United States.  Through stories, songs, and TV shows, the highway came to symbolize the spirit of the freedom of the open road, inspiring many to see America. Route 66, established on November 11th 1926, as part of the U.S. Highway System, stretched approximately 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, passing through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Known as the “Main Street of America” and later dubbed the “Mother Road” by John Steinbeck in his 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, it became an iconic symbol of American mobility and opportunity. Although much of the original Highway 66 has been rerouted into a fast-moving interstate bypassing many of the small towns and interests of this nation, we take the week of September 12,  2026 through September 20, 2026 to remember and celebrate and share the enthusiasm and memories that Highway 66 represented in its time… and even still today. 25 Special Event Stations under the 1×1 call sign have been set up to commemorate this event. W6J is managed by the West Central Oklahoma ARC, W6K is managed by Steve Duskin NE5SD in OKC, and W6L is managed by TARC – W5IAS for all of Northeast Oklahoma.  Hams all over the world will be on the air that week, remembering, making contacts, and having conversations celebrating the freedom and opportunities that Route 66 represents. Route 66 Stations On the Air W6J: ELK CITY, OK West Central OK Amateur Radio Club sites.google.com/view/wcoarc W6K: OKLAHOMA CITY,OK     W6K OKLAHOMA CITY – Steve Duskin NE5SD W6L: TULSA,OK      TULSA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB –  w5ias.com 📷

@OKForestService #SitRep Red Flag Warning in effect today beginning midday through the evening hours in far northwestern and western-tier counties due to the potential for dry lightning during the late afternoon and evening hours. Wildfires occurring in the vicinity of thunderstorms may be subjected to outflow winds prompting erratic fire behavior including rapid acceleration of fire spread and abrupt changes in spread direction. Elevated fire weather is expected across the western half of Oklahoma today with excessive heat and continued dry conditions. Please avoid all outdoor activities that may spark a wildfire today! Firefighters: • Hydrate early and often. • Anticipate problematic fire behavior including torching and spotting. • Ensure all resources identify escape routes to safety zones. • Avoid frontal attack on moving wildfires. • Take a minute to make a plan rather than making a plan each minute. To view the full Situation Report, please follow this link: bit.ly/oksitrep #okwx #okfire

This is why #hamradio in #Skywarn remains important. The scanner listeners still listen for information. From Jack Prindle on Facebook. facebook.com/share/p/1D6b1fH… I would think that last night’s storm would educate Elected officials and Public Safety Officials of the dangers of the growing trend to encrypt all Public Safety Radio Communications. Not only does encrypting all public safety radio reduce the general populations knowledge of the rigors faced by first responders and reduce its ability to use as a recruitment tool for future First responders but also reduces the general public’s knowledge of what is happening when natural disasters hit. When the Tornado warning sounded in the early morning hours last night, I headed to the basement and tuned into the local news weather team on TV, Turned the scanner on to listen to the local public Safety Radio activity currently not encrypted, and the Amateur Radio Skywarn net on 146.88, and local hams reporting weather conditions in Northern Kentucky on 146.790. With combining the input from all these resources, I was able to plot the path of the tornado and realize it traveled north and east of me keeping me out of harms path. Listening to the Police and fire units and the report of damage gives an immediate picture of where the storms and problems are and what to do to avoid being a casualty to the situation. Had these radio channels been encrypted the general population would not have the immediate knowledge of up-to-date information transmitted over the radio and received in real time. In these situations that can make the difference between life and death. Hopefully the elected officials, and public safety officials will realize the importance of leaving the primary dispatch channels in the clear providing citizens with the ability to have this information in real time, with no delay. Everyone agrees that Tactical channels like drug operations, SWAT etc. should be encrypted but the importance of keeping the main operational channels in the clear can save lives, and increase the value of the work all our first responders do by educating every one of the rigors of their job.

#OKwx #Tulsa #Skywarn

#OKwx #TXwx #Skywarn

Emergency communications professional and ARRL Life Member Ross Merlin, WA2WDT, passed away on May 3, 2026. He was 67 years old. silentkeyhq.com/main.php?p=b… Before he became a government employee, Merlin was involved in radio communications professionally with the National Disaster Medical Services (NDMS). Within the federal government, he held many positions, including FEMA National Emergency Radio System (FNARS) manager; FEMA Spectrum Manager and Department of Homeland Security Frequency Manager. Merlin was also on the board of the Amateur Radio Safety Foundation (ARSFI), which funds and operates Winlink and helped to build a substantial Winlink network on government radio channels which is still active today. #hamradio #ARRL #EmComm

In 1905, a large, violent F5 tornado cut an erratic path 40 miles long and between one half and 1 mile wide through extreme Southwest Oklahoma. Of the 97 fatalities, 87 occurred in the small town of Snyder, located about midway between Altus and Fort Sill. Around 250 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed, and many were swept from their foundations. The tornado's roar was reportedly heard 12 miles away. Thanks to @NWSWichita for this #OKwx history reminder #Skywarn