Here is your SARA weekly update!
Eyeball QSO Party
The weekly Eyeball QSO Party is at the Stillwater Public Library Conference Room through the 16th of April 2026 (90 days is as far as we can schedule with the library), except for 1st Thursdays (Tech Topic Night). The April 23rd session will be at another location due to room availability at the Library that evening.
Radios in the Parks will return in May as we move the Eyeball QSO Party outdoors to various parks in the area.
Schedule Change: February Monthly Meeting will be Feb. 7
To avoid creating a conflict for time with the Ice Station WØJH this year, the next monthly meeting of the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association has been moved to the 1st Saturday, February 7. Same location and time. This meeting features the annual SARA POTA Challenge Awards Ceremony.
Ice Station WØJH Feb 14 – 16, 2026
WØJH returns to air for the Ice Station WØJH Special Event Saturday Feb 14, Sunday Feb 15, and Monday Feb 16. The cold weather and minimal snow have ensured adequate ice thickness (it’s a little-known fact that sub-zero temps add an inch of ice every night!) to be on the lake this year. This is the eleventh year for the event and occurs over President’s Day weekend.
This year’s event is being led by our host Dave KØAIF and Bob WØGAF. The Special Event operates from Dave’s (and his YL Anne KØVOB) their lake-front property and QTH at 2641 Lake Elmo Avenue North is the location for the event.
Set up each day begins about 9:30 AM and we hope to have the stations on the air around 10:00 AM (16:00 UTC) to 4:00 PM (22:00 UTC) daily. We will operate 2 stations, one from SARA’s nice insulated and heated Eskimo portable shelter on the frozen surface of Lake Elmo and the other from our heated trailer on dry (snowy?) land, across the road, near the big barn and windmill. There is ample, free parking for ~20 vehicles.
The shelter and all gear must be taken down and stowed each evening. Very important after-hours critiquing/networking sessions will be held routinely.
Access to the portable shelter station is not handicap-accessible and can be challenging for able-bodied folks due to the ice. The inland station will operate from SARA’s self-contained communications trailer.
We’re looking forward to having this year’s newly licensed hams and recently upgraded Generals and Extras participate, especially those with little or no HF operating experience. You can learn the “ropes” by watching and logging – then, when you’re ready, you can grab the microphone. There will be plenty of Elmers on hand to gladly assist … plus, they’ll be free to answer any questions. Even if you can’t stay to operate, at least stop by to see our set-ups. We can almost guarantee you’ll come away learning a bit about portable HF operation operating at Special Events!
Interested in Learning/Operating Digital HF? From the SARA cozy trailer, we can operate both digital and SSB modes. An operator and logger, using the Icom IC-7300 transceiver connected to a laptop, will be available for demonstration and hands-on instruction for visitors/onlookers.
Dates / Times / Schedule:
Saturday, 2/14: 9:30 am Setup, operating until ~4:00 pm
Sunday, 2/15: 9:30 am Setup, operating until ~4:00 pm
Monday, 2/16: 9:30 am Setup, operating until ~4:00 pm
Frequencies: 3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360 MHz
Tune +/– 20 kHz if QRM
SSB and digital operation will used
A work party is planned for Saturday Feb 7, following the SARA meeting, to install the stairs down to the ice surface to allow safe access to the frozen lake.
1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights “Let’s Talk About…”
1st Thursday Technical Topic Night features a technical 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 Central (00:00 UTC).
- Feb 5, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Pico Balloons” led by Rich ADØSN - Mar 5, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Logging Workflows” led by Dale WØDHZ - Apr 2, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Meshtastic” led by Collin KEØIYN - May 7, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Antenna Analyzers” led by Joe KCØOIO
This week’s SARA activities
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout Jan 25
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 (02:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.813LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 1.966 MHz +/- QRM (LSB), 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew Jan 26
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Jan 27
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. - Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Jan 29
6:00 PM
Conference Room
Stillwater Public Library
224 3rd St East
