SARA This Week Apr 21 – Apr 27
VE License Test Session April 25
A license exam session by SARA’s Volunteer Examiner team will be held Thursday April 25th in the Town Hall at Boutwells Landing, 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082. This is the entrance on the south side of Boutwells Landing. The test session begins at 6:00 PM. Pre-registration is preferred. Contact Shel NØDRX at n0drx@hotmail.com or call 651-439-1272 to register.
Please refer to the “What to Bring to an Exam Session” before the session and be prepared ahead of the session.
New Ham Night May 16
The annual SARA New Ham Night is coming to Valley View Park Thursday evening May 16. 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
New Ham Night guides newly licensed amateur radio operators to some of the choices and activities found in our unique hobby. There is a New Ham Net conducted on the SARA repeater to help the new folks make that all important first contact. Mark your calendars now!
Radios in the Park returns May 16
SARA’s season of outdoor eyeball QSOs known as Radios in the Park kicks off for 2024 on May 16 with New Ham Night at Valley View Park and continues through Sept 12. We gather in local parks throughout the season. The tentative schedule is:
May 16 Valley View Park, 5421 N Osgood Ave, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
May 23 Browns Creek State Trail 8312 Neal Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082
May 30 Otto Berg Memorial Park 90th Street North & Norell Ave N 55082
June 6 Valley View Park FD Site planning
June 13 TBA
June 20 St. Croix Scenic Overlook Hwy 95, Stillwater, MN 55082
June 27 Valley View Park
July 4 NO SESSION
July 11 Birkmose Park, 329 Front St, Hudson, WI 54016
July 18 Valley View Park
July 25 Lions Levee Park, W 7th Ave, St Paul Park, MN 55071
Aug 1 Otto Berg Memorial Park 90th Street North & Norell Ave N 55082
Aug 8 Valley View Park
Aug 15 TBA
Aug 22 TBA
Aug 29 Valley View Park
Sep 5 St. Croix Boom Site State Wayside, Hwy 95, Stillwater, MN 55082
Sep 12 Browns Creek State Trail 8312 Neal Ave N, Stillwater, MN 55082
MN POTA Day 2024
Minnesota Parks on the Air Day is Saturday June 8, 2024, from 10:00 AM (15:00 UTC) to 6:00 PM CDT (22:00 UTC). Details can be found at mnpota.com. This is a free admission day to MN State Parks.
Activators can register their planned activation(s) and indicate if they are willing to mentor others interested in POTA activating, co-operate, demonstrate, or welcome visitors to their activation.
Activators: we recommend taking some time at the top of the hour to work “local” stations on 40 meters and 80/75 meters. You can grab the MN POTA park-to-parks as well as give the MN/ND/SD/IA/WI/Manitoba/Ontario hunters a chance to work you. Suggested frequencies for PHONE are 7.260 and 3.860.
MN POTA Day builds upon SARA’s POTA Activity Day the previous 2 years. The SARA POTA Activity Day will continue on the same day with a similar schedule as in previous years: 2nd Saturday Breakfast, day of operating in the parks, and dinner to follow at a local establishment in the evening.
This week’s SARA activities
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout Apr 21
19:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
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 Top Band Ragchew
Nightly
20:00 Central (02:00 UTC)
160M on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM
80M on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays: 3.813LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew Apr 22
08:15 Central (13:15 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Apr 23
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. - VE Exam Session Thursday Apr 25
6:00 PM Central
Town Hall at Boutwells Landing
5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Pre-registration: email n0drx@hotmail.com or call 651-439-1272. - SARA Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Apr 25
6:00 PM – 7:50 PM Central
Conference Room
Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd Street, Stillwater