Ice Station WØJH 2014
2019 SARA Executive Officers
The Joe Simonet WØTBC Memorial Award
New Radio Gear For Some SARA Members!
Ice Station WØJH 2014
Fitzgerald Crew 2012
2017 SARA Officers
SARA Field Day 2011
Release to Listen Award 2013
OXB Special Install

SARA This Week Aug 14 – Aug 20

Good morning!

Here’s SARA’s happenings this week.


SARA’s Summer in the Parks

This Thursday we will be at Lowell Park in downtown Stillwater. We’ll gather on the north end of the park off Mulberry St. (near P.D. Pappy’s) from ~6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. You will need to bring a lawn chair for this one.

The weekly Eyeball QSO Party is outdoors for the summer months. We will continue to visit different Stillwater-area parks throughout the summer. There will be POTA activations, hands-on radio, POTA portable operating tips and tricks, Mobile Station Show-n-tell, and more possibilities plus a picnic or two. Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights will be a regular location, with the shelter reserved for Aug 25 and Sept 15. Other weeks could see us at Lowell Park in downtown Stillwater, along the St Croix National Wild & Scenic River, along Brown’s Creek State Trail or the Gateway State Trail for “Late Shift” POTA activations.

Heads up: the August 25th session at Valley View Park will feature the Mobile and Portable Show-N-Tell. We’ll also have a picnic supper that night.

September 1st will be at the St. Croix Boom Site Historic Marker for a POTA activation of K-0637 St Croix National Wild and Scenic River.

September 8th will be at Lily Lake Park on Greeley St in Stillwater and the final Summer in the Parks evening will be September 15th at Valley View Park. We will return to the Stillwater Public Library on September 22nd.


SARA POTA Challenge ’22

The Challenge has proven to be a great activity for SARA. Hunters and activators alike are enjoying getting on the air and working POTA parks. New leaderboard will be posted on radioham.org later today.

Activators: be sure to post planned activations on the POTA Scheduled Activations. Activators can also drop a note to the SARA groups.io page to give members advance notice. If you are not on the groups.io, sign up now at https://groups.io/g/StillwaterMNAmateurRadioAssoc.

Be sure to check POTA spots regularly for activations.

The goal of this club activity is to encourage SARA members to get on the air; as a park activator, as a park hunter, or both.

SARA POTA Awards are planned for both activators (most parks, activations, QSOs & park to park) and hunters (most parks, most QSOs). Contacts with all POTA stations count. And it doesn’t get any easier for hunter credits as only the activator needs to submit their activation log. Be sure to sign up for an account at parksontheair.com.

The turnout for the SARA POTA Activity Day Saturday August 13th was severely impacted by the number of folks unable to participate due to illness. Kudos to Brian KB9TBB for holding the torch and going ahead with activations.

The next big SARA POTA activity will be up at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Nov 4 – 6 for the Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Weekend. WØJH will be activating both the state park K-2524 and the Gitchi Gammi State Trail K-8095. And individual operators can get activator credit as well while operating as WØJH.


Call for Monthly Meeting Program Suggestions

September is approaching quickly. SARA resumes our monthly 2nd Saturday meetings on September 10th. I am soliciting ideas/suggestions for the meeting programs for the coming 9 monthly meetings through May 2023. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! I am also looking for a volunteer to take up the yoke of arranging the monthly program. If you are willing to help me and SARA out with this position, please contact me kc0oio2002 at gmail dot com.


Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event

SARA will again be doing the Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event Station from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Nov 4 thru 6, 2022. Initial planning has begun and we will again offer the opportunity for you to operate onsite or from your own home. Any onsite operations will use WØJH and the 1×1 callsign WØF has been secured for use by offsite operators. Watch for more details in the coming weeks.


This week’s SARA activities

SARA’s on-air and virtual activities are a great way to stay connected with others. These activities provide healthy social contact while maintaining personal distancing.

  • “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout August 14
    19:00 Central (00:00 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 (01:00 UTC)
    Due to poor local propagation, the SARA Top Band Crew will QSY (move) to 75m. Look for us AROUND 3.820 to 3.826 MHz (depending on QRM). This change is temporary until the 160m and 75m band conditions change.
    Frequency:  966 LSB +/- QRM AROUND 3.820 to 3.826 MHz (depending on QRM).
    Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
  • SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew Aug 15
    08:15 Central (14:00 UTC)
    Frequency:  3.856 LSB +/- QRM
  • SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Aug 16
    7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
    SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
    The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew
    An HF Afterglow follows with the Top Band Ragchew on 160 meters
  • SARA Summer in the Parks Outdoor Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Aug 18
    6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
    Lowell Park, north end near Mulberry St. (near P.D Pappy’s) Stillwater, MN 55082