Elmer Nights

In the amateur radio world, an Elmer is someone who helps another amateur learn about the hobby. At SCARS, we have an ongoing Elmer program and actively work to help each other. Join us each Tuesday, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, at Norman’s Fire House #7, 2207 Goddard Ave, Norman, OK, or by using Zoom. Load up the Zoom software, and then click this link at https://w5nor.org/zoom. You can join using 893 9952 6291 password w5nor. If you have a question and you can’t, won’t, or are too polite<G> to ask it, feel free to drop it in the chat. We’ll ask it for you!

You can also join by telephone by calling 346-248-7799. This is a TOLL call. Long-distance charges to Houston will apply (unless your phone plan covers long-distance calls). Use meeting number 893 9952 6291#, press # for participant number, and password 806721#.

Get-On-The-Air

The Cleveland County ARES and the SCARS Gossip nets operate during this time, and you can check in from the building. You can get on the air with some help from our Elmers. If you suffer from mic-fright, we can help you to make that first contact.

Program Your Radios

Do you have issues programming or operating your radio? These new digital radios require a lot of new skills before you can even receive your first transmission.

Operate Our Radios

Elmer nights are a great place to make your first, or next, HF contact. Trying out a new operating mode will let you learn quickly. This station currently has three radios and antennas for 70 cm, 2 m, 6 m, 10 m, 15 m, 20 m, 40 m, and 80 m up and running. Bring your own radio, and we’ll help you set it up and get you on the air. Test equipment is available, and we can make sure your gear is working properly.

Want to be an Elmer?

We need Elmers. You don’t need to be an expert. You only need to enjoy amateur radio and be willing to share your skills with new hams while learning some more skills in the process. This is a great place to operate a station and share your knowledge with the growing local amateur community. Most of our Elmers end up learning more than the newbies! Show up next Tuesday night, or contact Ed Hatch AG5DV or Mark Kleine N5HZR to get involved.

Typical Topics

Here are a few of the typical topics that walk through the door:

  • Antenna construction
  • APRS
  • Building radios
  • Contesting
  • Digital Hotspots
  • DMR
  • D-Star
  • FT8
  • Linux
  • Micro BitX Kit Radio
  • Morse Code
  • Raspberry Pi for Amateur Radio
  • RTL-SDR hacking (GNU Radio Companion)
  • Soldering
  • WSPR

Thanks

Thanks to all that have helped, and those that will continue to make this a great success.

Special thanks to N5AZQ, AG5DB, K0DKR, AG5DV, AE5F, W5HLG, N5HZR, KK5IO, KE5JZN, W6KPR, N5KUK, KA5KXW, W5LHG, WA5LTM, AG5PQ, N5SOF, WG5T, W5UBI, KD5UGO, WB5ULK, N5UWY, K8WGE, KD5ZLG, and KD5ZYD.