Several club members hiked up Bennett Mountain for a SOTA activation! Bennett Mountain is located just west of Sedalia, Colorado and recognized as SOTA Peak WØC/FR-087, rising 8044 ft.

The PRA welcomed Douglas County ARES which provided a SKYWARN training class. 41 club members recieved their SKYWARN Certifications and are now part of the National Weather Service (NWS) severe weather spotting network. SKYWARN spotters are able to report severe weather conditions directly to the NWS, helping their meteorologists issue accurate, timely weather watches and warnings.  

PRA members welcomed the return of the Parking Lot Rodeo, where members were able to display their mobile and portable station setups. This has always been a well attended event. This year was no exception – there were plenty of participants,  and many great setups. So cool to see the variety and innovation on display.

The PRA held a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation at Chatfield State Park (POTA Designator US-1212) on the 9th. Several members participated, getting on the air and making contacts. 

A few photos from April’s club meeting. Our club meetings are always well attended. If you haven’t been, come join us! Watch the calendar for details.

Scot – AEØZF manning the PRA booth at this year’s LARCfest in Boulder. Thanks Scot!

PRA members assisted the Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS) group with a high altitude balloon launch mission. This flight reached an altitude in excess of 80,000 feet. The mission was EOSS 391, a qualification flight for EOSS payloads including N993SS ADS-B, APRS Digipeater, APRS DF beacon and wireless balloon release hardware. Amatuer radio is integral to these missions, tracking location and altitude information, as well as monitoring the descent phase. DMR and FM modes were used by the team while locating the landing site for payload recovery.

Continuing on from our March club meeting, the monthly Elmer Night centered around DMR radios and programming options for Code Plugs. Great stuff!

For our March club meeting, Paul – AC5S provided club members with a detailed presentation covering the DMR Digital Mode. This was well received, as DMR is extremely popular, but can also be somewhat confusing.

We had another full house for our February Elmer meeting! Dan – N2SRK provided attendees with a fantastic presentation on the D-Star digital mode.

One of the things that makes this club truly special is our regular Elmer meetings, where we share valuable insights on all things amateur radio. We’d love for you to join us—the meeting schedule is conveniently listed on our club groups.io page.

We had a great turnout for our February club meeting. Mike – W9CN presented a detailed overview covering the Edge of Space Sciences organization, and how Amateur Radio plays an integral role in their science balloon missions.

Winter Field Day was the perfect backdrop for the PRA to organize an emergency communications exercise event. The club ran multiple comm stations – located across Douglas and Elbert Counties. Station setups included HF, NVIS HF, and Simplex FM capabilities. Club members were encouraged to visit each location, and get on the air. Stations also provided commemorative collector stickers for participants, as well as issuing playing cards for the ‘PRA Poker Run’. All were encouraged to meet up at Fuzzy’s for a post-event debrief luncheon, where the winning poker hands were announced!

For our January club meeting, the PRA welcomed Amanda Alden – K1DDN. Amanda is currently serving as the Colorado Section Manager for the Rocky Mountain Division of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Amanda provided the club with details regarding the ARRL’s “Year of the Club” event. This is a year-long celebration for 2026, emphasizing the vital role amateur radio clubs play in the hobby’s growth, public service, and community involvement. She outlined upcoming activities, which include special programs, operating events, and recognition for club achievements.