Radios in the Park 2025
The popular outdoor “Radios in the Park” Eyeball QSO Party series continues through Sept 11. Folks start to gather around 5:30 PM and we wrap up by 8:00 PM every Thursday evening. Note that locations may change due to weather forecasts.
Here is the schedule:
July 17th Autumn Hills Park 5697 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights
(Google Maps Plus code: 25J7+5W Oak Park Heights, Minnesota)
Vertical Antenna Show-N-Test
July 24th St. Croix Boom Site State Wayside Highway 95 north of Stillwater
(Google Maps Plus code: 36P7+2R Stillwater, Minnesota)
POTA site for US-0673 Saint Croix National Wild and Scenic Riverway and US-12395 St. Croix Boom Site Unique Area
July 31st Valley View Park 5421 Osgood Avenue, Oak Park Heights
(Google Maps Plus code: 25JX+35V Oak Park Heights, Minnesota)
Mobile and Portable Show-n-tell
August 7th Baytown Township Hall 4020 McDonald Dr N, Stillwater
(Google Maps Plus code: 2554+4M Stillwater, Minnesota)
1st Thursday Tech Topic Night: “Let’s Talk About … Oscilliscopes”
August 14th Sunfish Lake Park 3554 Kelvin Ave North, Lake Elmo
(Google Maps Plus code: 233W+2F Lake Elmo, Minnesota)
August 21st Valley View Park 5421 Osgood Avenue, Oak Park Heights
(Google Maps Plus code: 25JX+35V Oak Park Heights, Minnesota)
August 28th Brown’s Creek Park 8312 Neal Ave N, Stillwater – trail parking area
(Google Maps Plus code: 35C4+39V Stillwater, Minnesota)
POTA site for Brown’s Creek State Trail US-9386 and/or Brown’s Creek Aquatic Management Area US-10721
Sept 4th Baytown Township Hall 4020 McDonald Dr N, Stillwater
(Google Maps Plus code: 2554+4M Stillwater, Minnesota)
Sept 11th Pioneer Park 515 2nd St N, Stillwater
(Google Maps Plus code: 356R+7J Stillwater, Minnesota)
The full schedule of parks and dates is posted on SARA’s Discord server and published in the April and May issue of Signals from SARA newsletter.
Antenna Show-N-Test July 17
We’ve made the coils, now let’s do a show-n-test of 17-ft whip antenna systems! What’s your set-up for the whip antenna? Want to try different radial/counterpoise configurations! See what works for best performance? There is plenty of room to spread out at Autumn Hills Park. Bring your kit, see other solutions, try different radial or counterpoise options! Don’t have one yet? See what others have done.
If you have an antenna analyzer, bring it along, please! If not, we’ll have some on site.
1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights “Let’s Talk About…”
1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights feature a technical topic presentation and discussion based upon the level of interest in the club and the willingness of someone to prepare and lead the session. The sessions are livestreamed via Zoom for those who choose to join the session virtually and are recorded and posted to the SARA YouTube channel for future viewing and reference.
The 1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights are held at the Baytown Township Hall, 4020 McDonald Dr N, Stillwater, MN 55082, beginning at 6:00 PM.
- August 7 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
Let’s talk about… “Oscilloscopes” led by Dan KEØIYF
This will be a hands-on practical session. Have an oscilloscope but entirely sure when – where – how to use? Bring it along for some hands-on learning. Don’t have one but interested, you’ll be able to “ride along” with a partner.
SARA’s Summer Activities
Look forward to the following SARA activities this summer:
August 9 SARA WØJH Station at “Britfest” Car Show in Hudson
We’ll be promoting amateur radio during the annual “Britfest” Car Show along the St. Croix in Hudson. This will also be a WØJH POTA activation of US-0673 St. Croix National Wild & Scenic River.
The activity will be from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon on Saturday August 9th. The station will be located near the arch at 1st St and Walnut St, while the Britfest car show is on Walnut St in front of Dick’s Bar & Grill. SARA member Buck KA9CWM is one of the organizers of Britfest and will be showing his car. And SARA friend Tom N9ILW will be showing his car(s).
Brian KB9TBB is the lead for this event and Allan KFØMNS is assisting. If you want to join the team, contact Brian via email at brian at schousek dot com.
The SARA POTA Challenge
The latest SARA POTA Challenge 2025 monthly numbers are posted on the radioham.org website. >> CLICK HERE << to view the most recent results for 2025. The May 2025 numbers are now up on the website.
Just a reminder, we are only able to track participation for those with a minimum of 10 Hunter contacts, a limitation placed on the hunter database by POTA.
SARA members who have registered on the POTA website https://parksontheair.com/# (sign up is under the Help/Getting Started tab) are automatically included in the SARA Challenges.
This week’s SARA activities
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout July 13
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
or connect via WIRES-X to the W0JH-Room 63969
System Fusion digital voice hangout to expand use and familiarity with the digital voice capabilities available on the WØJH repeater. - SARA Evening HF Ragchew
Nightly
20:00 Central (01:00 UTC) 813LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 1.966 MHz +/- QRM (LSB), 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew July 14
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew July 15
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)1stTuesday is Emergency Power Night – participants are encouraged to operate the stations on emergency power.
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew, featuring the “Ask the Elmer” segment. The group leaders focus on encouraging any and everyone, especially those new to the airwaves, to join the session via the repeater. - Radios in the Park July 17
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Autumn Hills Park
5697 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights
(Google Maps Plus code: 25J7+5W Oak Park Heights, Minnesota)
Vertical Antenna Show-N-Test
