MegaFest Cancelled
Due to a compilation of circumstances the PPRAA Board of Directors has reluctantly decided to cancel MegaFest for 2025.
PPRAA and the Jenny and Albert Gersick Foundation will activate USS Pueblo Memorial for Museum Ships Weekend
For information on Museum Ships Weekend event see here. There are now over 80 ships participating in the event.
We will be operating from the USS Pueblo Memorial at the Pueblo Convention Center. We will be in the Bernstein Room and possibly outside. The plan is to have at least three stations on the air and are looking for station operators / loggers. We will be mainly operating from Saturday 7 June from 0700 to early evening. There may also opportunity to operate Friday evening and Sunday. Talk-In will be on the Baculite Mesa repeater: 146.790- CTCSS 88.5 W0PHC
We have arranged for a discount block of rooms at the Courtyard Marriott Pueblo Downtown (connected to the Convention Center). The rate will be $109/night+tax (does not include breakfast). Must book by 16 May. Call 719-542-3200 ext 2 or use the link: Book your group rate for USS Pueblo Museum Ship Weekend Activation.
USS Pueblo Memorial for Museum Ships Weekend
– Contacts with USS Pueblo Memorial N0K QSL to:
PPRAA (USS Pueblo)
PO Box 16521
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-6521
– SASE are appreciated but not required, we will send cards to all confirmed contacts.
Major Events
General Membership meeting (14 May) will be both in-person and virtual
– Location: Golden Corral, 1970 Waynoka Rd, Colorado Springs
The business meeting starts at 7 PM, but get your dinner and beverage of choice and check in any time after 6 PM for a social hour. Club members check your email for info or email to receive the Zoom information.
Museum Ships Weekend Event
– Friday June 6, 1800hrs to Sunday June 8, 2024, 1800hrs
– On Air
– More info here.
Field Day
– Saturday, 28 June 2025 1200 to Sunday, 29 June 2025 1200
– See Field Day tab above
Denver Radio Club Ham Fest
– Sunday August 24, 2025 (0900-1300)
– Adams County Fairgrounds
– Brighton, Colorado
– More info here.
ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention – Hamcon Colorado 2025
– October 23-26, 2025 in Grand Junction, CO.
– More info here.
LARCFest 2025
– Saturday, April 5, 2025 (0900-1300)
– Boulder County Fairgrounds
– Longmont, Colorado
– More info here.
PPRAA 10m Event
– Friday, March 21, 2025 (2000hrs/8pm)
– On Air – 28.350Mhz (USB)
– This is a Technician friendly event. Technicians have SSB privileges from 28.300 to 28.500Mhz
– Get started collecting 10-10 numbers to become a member of Ten-Ten International
– You are not required to be a member of PPRAA or Ten-ten International to participate.
JS8Call Net
– Friday, February 21, 2025
– 2000hrs (8pm)
– Default JS8Call 10-meter frequency (28.078Mhz)
– Add @PPRAA to your call sign group
– Attend the February General Meeting for a HowTo on JS8Call
New Mexico TechFest
– Saturday February 22, 2025 (0800-1700)
– UNM Continuing Education Conference Center in Albuquerque, NM (1634 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102)
– More info here.
The Swapfest
– Sunday February 16, 2025 (0900-1300)
– Adams County Fairgrounds
– Brighton, Colorado
– More info here.
Winter Field Day 2025
– January 25-26, 2025
– Setup Friday afternoon
– PPRAA location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park
– See Winter Field Day Tab
– More info here.
Winter 2025 Hamfest
– Saturday January 18, 2025 (0800-1300)
– Thomas M. McKee 4H Building at The Ranch
– Loveland, Colorado
– More info here.
PPRAA Black Friday Simplex Event
– Join us Friday November 29, 2024 from 8pm – 10pm for our 1st Annual Black Friday Simplex Event.
– What better way to test your new Black Friday radio than to jump on the air and find out who you can hear and talk to. This is an informal event for Amateur Radio Operators in the Pikes Peak Region to have some fun finding out what their simplex capabilities are. We will begin on the 2M National Calling Frequency 146.520MHz and see what happens.
– Depending on how it goes and the interest / capabilities of those participating, we will move to 70cm 446.000, then try some 2M SSB, and perhaps some 2M FT8 & JS8 Call.
– We will be using the CMRG 147.345MHz Repeater (positive offset, CTCSS tone 107.2Hz) for coordination, so listen in to find out who all is participating.
– Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone, and we’ll look forward to hearing you on Black Friday Night.
PPRAA Club Christmas Party
– Wednesday December 11, 2024 (1800 / 6PM)
– Edelweiss Restaurant 34 E Ramona Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905
– This will be in lieu of our normal December Membership Meeting, All club business will be considered at the January 8, 2025 Club Membership Meeting.
– Limited seats available. Each member can bring one guest.
– First come, first served. Once seats fill up a waiting list will be kept.
PPRAA Technician Class
– Earn your technician’s license to communicate and open a new world of communications
– Starts 15 October 2024
– Tuesday’s and Thursday’s 6:30 pm (1830) to 9:00 pm (2100)
– Class runs approximately 6 weeks (depending on weather)
– 6225 McCandlish Rd Falcon, CO 80831
– Contact Kathy AE0UX 719-338-2640 or Rick KE0GVU 719-351-8218 or email
– You will learn a new way to interconnect with others through the airwaves.
– Class size is limited
285 Tech Connect Radio Club TechFest
– Saturday November 2, 0900-1500
– Bridge Church, 3101 S. Kipling St, Lakewood CO
– Admission fee: $15 payable at the door (cash/checks accepted)
– More info here.
CMRG Annual Meeting
– 26 October 2024, zoom meeting 1000-1200
– More info here.
Duke City Hamfest and Convention
– Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September, 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2024
– Albuquerque, New Mexico
– More info here.
Colorado QSO Party
31 August 2024 – Get on the air! The one day of the year when everyone else will want to contact someone in Colorado. Be that station everyone else is seeking.
PPRAA Picnic and Car Show
– Saturday, August 17, 2024.
– Fountain Creek Regional Park – Pavilion #3
– 1000-1600, food served at 1230.
– Club will provide burgers, brats, chips, drinks.
– Bring a side dish or dessert to share.
– Come early to operate portable from the park.
– Bring your vehicle and show off your mobile installation. Win Prizes!
Dayton Hamvention
– 17-19 May 2024
– Greene County Fairgrounds, Xenia, OH
– More info here
Museum Ships Weekend Event
– Friday May 31, 1800hrs to Sunday June 2, 2024, 1800hrs
– On Air
– More info here.
Friday 31 May – Join us to kick things off with a private movie Screening of Pueblo: A Year of Crises in America – 6:00PM Pueblo Convention Center Bernstein Room. Join us for the event kickoff with a Friday Night Mixer to meet other amateur operators interested in this event. We will then be screening this newly released USS Pueblo documentary to help folks better understand the history of the USS Pueblo what our veterans endured during their captivity in North Korea. (Check out the movie trailer and Learn About this newly released Film by Director – Bill Lowe) If you would like to attend the movie please RSVP at the following link (this helps us provide a count for seating and refreshments):
RSVP
See USS Pueblo for more information on the USS Pueblo history and incident. There may be other activities along the Pueblo Riverwalk when not operating.
Operating shifts will be in one hour blocks. You may sign up for multiple blocks and for consecutive blocks. Due to Convention Center hours our specific operating windows are TBD. Email to and we will email you a link to the sign up schedule. All operators will receive a certificate of participation.
Additional supporting organizations include:
– Pueblo Home of Heroes Association
– The Jenny and Albert Gersick Foundation
If your club would like to contribute to funding this event to help cover expenses (facility rental, QSL card printing and mailing, etc.) please email us.
– QSL to:
PPRAA (USS Pueblo)
PO Box 16521
Colorado Springs, CO 80935-6521
– SASE are appreciated but not required, we will send cards to all confirmed contacts.
Watch this space for updates
World Amateur Radio Day
– Thursday, April 18, 2024
– Radio amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. It was on this day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris
– More info here
POTA Spring Support Your Parks Weekend
– 20-21 April 2024 0900-1600
– Club AF0S park activation
– Location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park (near the Falcon Amphitheater at the very top of the park)
– IMPORTANT – In all Colorado State Parks, a daily pass is required on each vehicle (not each person) entering the park. A single day pass is $10.00 and can only be purchased at the park. Beginning in 2023, the State of Colorado introduced an option to purchase an annual vehicle pass for $29 when renewing your vehicles license plates. If you have missed the window on including the pass with your vehicle registration, and would like to avoid the daily fee every time you visit a park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife still offers an annual vehicle pass for $80.00.
– Please view the map under more info link.
– More info here!
AB2SG Foxhunt
– Saturday, March 30, 2024
– More info here.
Soldering Workshop
– Saturday February 24, 2024 @ 10:00am
– Rick & Kathy Wildman’s Shop
– 6225 McCandlish Road, Falcon CO 80831 (use Peyton for city if using a gps)
– Limit 10
Cheyenne Mountain Repeater Group (CMRG) – Annual Meeting
– Saturday, 28 October 2023
– 1100, Zoom meeting
– Email or for meeting link and passcode.
PPRAA Ham Radio Go Kit Show and Competition
– Saturday, October 28, 2022
– 1200-1500 (12:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
– Library 21c, “Venue” room, 1175 Chapel Hills Dr, Colorado Springs CO 80920
– Prizes for:
- Smallest/lightest go-kit with greatest capability
- Least expensive go-kit with greatest capability (please bring a component list with prices listed to compete)
- Fun prize: greatest power draw from your batteries
- Fun prize: heaviest go-kit you can carry at a run
– More info here.
PPRAA Winter Workshop
– December 29, 2022
– 1700-1930 hrs
– Library 21C CreateSpace
– Build a tape measure yagi
– materials provided for a fee
– limited seats, sign up info coming soon
PPRAA Fox Hunt
– Sunday, 15 Jan 2023
– Mobile Fox Hunt, Colorado Springs
– 3 foxes will be hidden
– 09:00 net will begin with hunt starting shortly after (147.345 CMRG repeater)
– 13:00 we’ll close up the net and all meet at one of the fox locations to award the prizes – Location will be given over the net
– Please check into the net to register before you start hunting so we can keep track of your time
– Call into the net when you have found a fox. Tell net control you have found fox A, B, or C.
– Prizes:
— Grand prize: fastest to find all 3 foxes
— Second place winner
— “workshop winner” the fastest to find foxes with the tape measure yagi you built in the last PPRAA workshop
— Newest licensed to find the most / fastest
— Youngest to find the most / fastest
– Frequencies:
— Net: GMRG repeater 147.345, + offset, CTCSS 107.2
— Fox A: 147.420
— Fox B: 147.480
— Fox C: 147.540
Fox Hunt Area: click on map for zoom-able version
CMRG Annual Meeting
– 29 October 2022, zoom meeting 1000-1200
– More info here.
Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure
– July 14-19, 2022
– On the Air from Curacao
– Sponsored by PPRAA
– More info here.
Rocky Mountain Ham University
– Course: Applications of Software Defined Radio – 14 May 2022 0830
– More info here
Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test
– 14 May 2022
– Hosted by Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS)
– On the air
– More info here
On Air Events
2025 NFL Draft
– Apr 16-Apr 30, 0000Z-2359Z
– W9D
– De Pere, WI. Green Bay Mike & Key Club. 10-80 meters CW and SSB; 7.030, 7.230 28.060, 28.450 14.030, 14.230 3.555, 3.900. Certificate & QSL. Green Bay Mike & Key Club, 3004 Quarry Park Dr. #10, De Pere, WI 54115. Commemorating 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 0000Z to 2400Z. k9eam@yahoo.com
– Info here.
WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY 2025
– Apr 18, 1300Z-2000Z
– W2JLD
– Rochester, NY. ROC-HAM RADIO NETWORK. ALLSTAR: 2585,47620,531310; ECHOLINK: ROC-HAM CONFERENCE; DMR TGIF Talk Group 2585 20M:14.316, 40M:7.266. Certificate & QSL. JOHN DERYCKE, 85 AMHERST ST #2, Rochester, NY 14607. *******TO GET A QSL CARD PLEASE SEND A S.A.S.E. OR 5$ DONATION TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT DMOTORSPORTS@GMAIL.COM TO COVER POSTAGE AND HANDLING………. *********TO CONFIRM YOUR QSO ON QRZ LOG PLEASE USE THE MODE:VOI AND THE USE FREQ: 446.025 THAT WAY WHEN YOU GO TO CONFIRM OUR INFO WILL MATCH, IF YOU USE SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT I HAVE PUT HERE YOU WILL NOT GET A CONFIRMATION****
– Info here.
Ozark Highlands Nature Center 5th Anniversary
– Apr 19, 1400Z-2300Z
– W5NX
– Springdale, AR. Bella Vista Radio Club. 7.225 14.250 21.300 28.450. QSL. Don Banta, 3407 Diana Street, Springdale, AR 72764.
– Info here.
World Amateur Radio Day
– Apr 19-Apr 20, 1300Z-2359Z
– N6AJ*
– Bakersfield, CA. Terry Godley. 28.425, 14.074; 10 – 40 meters, FT8, SSTV. QSL. Terry Godley, 2701 Fordham Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305. Also participating, W6W, W6A, W6R and W6D.
Handiham Program 58th Anniversary QSO Party
– Apr 25-Apr 27, 1900Z-1900Z
– W0ZSW & W0EQO
– Minneapolis, MN. Handiham Radio Club & Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota. 28.050 CW & 28.350 SSB 21.050 CW & 21.350 SSB 14.050 CW & 14.250 SSB 7.050 CW & 7.200 SSB. QSL. Handiham Program, 3915 Golden Valley Road, Mail Route 78446, Minneapolis, MN 55422. In honor of the Handiham Program’s 58th Anniversary, the Handiham Radio Club and the Handiham Radio Club of Minnesota are sponsoring a QSO Party. The object is for Handiham members to work as many stations as possible during the 48-hour operating period. We also will use this opportunity to promote and give more details about the Handiham Program and the Handiham Radio Clubs for those who are interested. We will be active on all amateur bands and modes to make contacts including digital and VOIP modes. The exchange is simply name and state, province, or county. Stations will be using their own call signs in addition to the club call signs. Please listen for stations calling CQ Handiham 58, and give us a contact!
– Info here.
Marconi Day Event
– Apr 26, 1300Z-2030Z
– W2GSB
– Babylon, NY. GREAT SOUTH BAY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB . 28.340 21.250 14.246 7.245. Certificate. W2GSB GSBAC, PO Box 1356, Babylon, NY 11704. Operating from the Babylon Village Historical Society Museum for Marconi Day, which was the home of the Marconi School for radio operators 3 stations using CW SSB FT8
– Info here.
2024 Megafest Raffle Winners
– A big thanks to all attendees and vendors who turned out to support us this year and welcome us back to Monument. Thanks to CMRG and RT Systems for their prize donations.
Congratulations to this years raffle winners:
- Grand Prize: HF Go Kit (Icom IC-705/Backback/Chameleon Antenna) (with RT Systems programming kit) – Joshua Moore, WG6C
- Second Prize: Icom IC-52A VHF/UHF Dual Band D-Star Transceiver (with RT Systems programming kit) (Donated by CMRG) – Hans Post, KF0LAX
- Third Prize: Icom ID-5100A Dual Band Mobile (with RT Systems programming kit) – Jay Burnham, KB0MPF
- Fourth Prize: LDG AT-1000ProII Antenna Tuner – Dean Buckhouse, KB0VVA
- Fifth Prize: Yaesu FTM-300R Mobile Transceiver (with RT Systems programming kit) – Rob Roller, N7LV
- Sixth Prize: Icom ID-50A Handheld Transceiver (with RT Systems programming kit) – Chuck Lucas, WG5X
- Seventh Prize: Anytone AT-D878UVII-Plus DMR Handheld (with RT Systems programming kit) – Jim Gibson, KS4F
- Eighth Prize: Powerwerx Pwrbox-10 Mini Portable Power Box – Michael Scott, KF0LWE
- Ninth Prize: Yaeu FT-70DR Dual Band Handheld Transceiver (with RT Systems programming kit) – Kathy Wildmand, AE0UX
- Tenth Prize: Samlex SEC-1235M Power Supply w/meter – Jonathan Cotten, AG5HV
- Eleventh Prize: Zum Radio Mini 1.3 Mini UHF Hotspot – Phebe Swope, K1PCS
- Twelfth Prize: Powerwerx Powerpole Case 150 Piece assorted – Jeremy Broin, KF0PVI
(7/27/24)
Winter Workshop 2022
– On Thursday, Dec. 29, PPRAA conducted a hands-on workshop to build tape measure yagi antennas.
PPRAA 2022 Field Day
Summary Report
Double Fox Hunt
– On Saturday, Oct. 2, several PPRAA fox hunters used their radio direction-finding skills to track down two fox transmitters nestled in the foothills of northwest Colorado Springs. Kyle, KD0TRD, was the fox, and picked two locations with great views of the city. The weather was warm and sunny, and made this a great fall outdoor activity. Thanks to all participants for making this a fun event!
– Congratulations to Derek, K0ATV (right), for being the first fox hunter to locate both transmitters. He picked an SDRPlay receiver as his first-place prize, and here he receives the PPRAA fox hunt trophy from the previous champion fox hunter, Derek, N0DCW (left).
PPRAA World Amateur Radio Day Fox Hunt”
– In celebration of World Amateur Radio Day on April 18, the PPRAA hosted a fox hunt across the north side of Colorado Springs.
– The “fox,” Jason (K0WTF), was soon found transmitting from Fox Run Park. The first team to find him was Derek (N0DCW) and his friend Jerry (soon-to-be-licensed), who found the fox in 19 minutes.
– Many finishers showed off hand-built Yagi antennas, a variety of attenuators, and triangulation techniques. Participants from Colorado Connections and Rocky Mountain Ham provided a display of their radio direction finding van, complete with a doppler tracking station.
– Thanks to Jason (K0WTF) for his work as the fox and net control, and Cheyenne Mountain Repeater Group for the use of their 147.345 repeater for the socializing net.
DRT Says “Thank You!” to PPRAA
– The DRT thank you letter to PPRAA can be read here.
(11/21/05)
