SARA This Week: December 6 – December 12
SARA continues to gather daily via on-the air nets and ragchews. We also gather virtually weekly for an Eyeball QSO Party, a Tech Topic Thursday session, and monthly General member and Board meetings. Although we’d love to gather in-person, our current on-air and virtual gathering plan remains the best choice for the health and safety of all our members.
It’s time for your annual membership renewal.
SARA’s online membership application and renewal forms along with an online payment option through PayPal are now live and ready for use. Online membership renewal can be found at radioham.org/sara-
The SARA Dues year runs January 1 through December 31. Annual full membership dues are $20/yr. Associate (non-voting) memberships are available for non-licensed folks and those who chose at $10/yr. Family memberships start at $30/yr for 2 licensed amateurs in the family plus $10/yr for each additional family member. We ask that family members reside at the same address. Family membership renewals and applications are asked to mail your dues payment as payment via Paypal is not offered for that membership option.
Dues payments may also be sent via mail to:
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association
1618 Pine Street West
Stillwater, MN 55082.
Please include your callsign in the Memo for proper tracking in our records.
A SSL certificate has been added to our website to protect your private data. No private data is stored on the website or it’s hosting servers. This ensures that our website protects your personal information when completing the application and renewal processes. Financial transaction security is provided directly via Paypal once you enter Paypal’s payment portal.
Virtual Technical Topic Thursday Session 7:00 PM Dec 10 (0100UTC)
Technical Topic Session coordinator Mike KFØCCL has been working to line up presenters for technical topic sessions. The next virtual Technical Topic Thursday Session (this Thursday Dec 10) will focus on shack electrical considerations: load planning and proper wiring, bonding & grounding, and current NEC electrical codes. The presenter is Dick Johnson KAØPLT from PLT Services. Dick is a continuing education instructor for electricians as well as being a licensed ham. The session will be via the SARA Webex room. Plan to attend this important and informative Tech Topic Thursday session. Watch for your Webex meeting invite.
Mike has set the January topic “Do’s and Don’ts of Shack Setup” and the presenter will be Tom Gillispie WØTFG. Tom set up his first shack at the age of 13, and has done several more over his 55+ years in the hobby.
Mike is working on a couple future sessions that could include a longtime ham and former Navy radio operator with VLF experience; plus a session on using the MFJ-259/269 series of antenna analyzers with the MFJ factory representative.
If you have a suggestion for a technical topic, contact Mike KFØCCL via email at kf0ccl at protonmail dot com.
SARA Virtual Monthly Meeting Saturday 9:00 AM (1500 UTC) Dec 12
The monthly meeting of the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association is this Saturday. The major point of business is nomination of officers for 2021. The offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer are elected annually. There are two 2-yr Director positions alternating for election each year. The term up for election this year will be for 2021-2022.
Erik Westgard, NY9D, rejoins us this month with his presentation on large scale public service events (marathons & cross country ski events) plus the developing mobile mesh network. Technical issues conspired to interfere with Erik’s appearance last month and he’s agreed to give it a go again this month.
The Webex room will open around 8:15 AM (1415 UTC) for “Morning Coffee” socializing and the meeting will start at 9:00 AM (1500 UTC). Monthly meetings are open to all. The SARA Webex room is at https://stillwateramateurradioassociation.my.webex.com/meet/w0jh
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.
- SARA HF Digital Net Sunday Dec 6
Time: 19:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.584.15 Look for the net up 500-1000 Hz +/- on your waterfall.
Mode: RTTY45
- SARA Top Band Ragchew
Nightly
Time: 20:00 Central (02:00 UTC)
Frequency: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM
Alternates:
21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning Ragchew Dec 7
Time: 09:00 Central (14:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - The Lunch Room
Daily (Monday thru Friday)
Time: 12:00 Central
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
– anyone can open the Lunch Room if the usual host is not there. - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Dec 8
Time: 7:00 – ~8:00 pm (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 on 160 meters at 1.966 MHz LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Wednesday Round Robin Ragchew Dec 9
Time: 9:00 PM
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
The Wednesday evening SARA Ragchew on the SARA repeater - SARA Virtual Technical Topic Thursday “Shack Electrical” Thursday Dec 10
Time: 7:00 PM CST (01:00 UTC)
SARA WEBEX virtual meeting room - SARA Virtual Monthly Meeting Saturday Dec 12
Time: 9:00 AM CST (15:00 UTC)
Room opens for “Morning Coffee” about 8:15 AM (14:15 UTC)
SARA Webex virtual meeting room: https://stillwateramateurradioassociation.my.webex.com/meet/w0jh
(Next Friday December 17 there will be a “Happy Holidays” Eyeball QSO Party beginning at 7:30 PM CST (01:30 UTC). Put it on your calendar now, it will be our last virtual gathering of 2020.)