SARA This Week: Feb 12 – Feb 18
Here is your SARA update for this week!
Ice Station WØJH Feb 18-20 (President’s Day Weekend)
Ice Station WØJH returns to the frozen surface of Lake Elmo for the 1st time since 2020. As in past years, it will take place at the QTH of our gracious hosts Dave (KØAIF) and Anne (KØVOB); on the NE side of the lake and across Lake Elmo Ave. N.
We’ll be setting up and operating from a portable ice fishing, tent-type shelter and also from our self-contained, enclosed trailer. The heated shelter station will be located on the east side of the lake; the heated trailer station, 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.
Newly licensed hams, especially those with little or no HF operating experience, are encouraged to participate. 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.
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, 2/18: 10:00 am Setup, Operating until ~5:00 pm
Sunday, 2/19: 10:00 am – ~5:00 pm
Monday, 2/20: 10:00 am – ~5:00 pm
Frequencies: 3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360 MHz
:: Tune +/– 20 kHz if QRM
:: SSB and digital operation will used
Watch your inbox for additional info including a location map later this week.
If you can’t join us at the lake, please work us on the air!
SARA Spring Technician License Class begins March 2
Do you know of someone who wants to get into ham radio? One of the best paths into the hobby is through the learning from others. And one of the best places to learn from others is through the Technician License Class offered by SARA.
SARA’s Spring Technician License Class starts March 2 and run 8 weeks through April 20. A VE Exam Session will be April 27. The classes will be at the Stillwater Public Library from 6:00 PM to 7:40 PM. SARA instructors will guide students through the material from the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, preparing them for the 35-question Technician Class license exam.
Start spreading the word that the SARA Technician Class license class is coming. For more info, or to register for the class, contact Bob WØGAF at w0gaf@me.com
SARA POTA Challenge ‘23
The SARA POTA Challenge ’22 Awards Ceremony at the February meeting was great fun. As the anticipation built at the start of the ceremony, our hosts Bob WØGAF and Brian KB9TBB, along with Joe KCØOIO running the technical side, appeared in tuxedos – er, tuxedo t-shirts – at the end of the intro music! This set a lighthearted tone for the morning.
The numbers for 2022 are astonishing! On the Hunter side, totals were 10,499 parks hunted and 17,364 Hunter QSOs. All hunters were recognized as POTA Rangers and received a commemorative POTA Challenge 2022 sticker. We had 36 members recognized as hunters.
In the Leaders category, 3rd place had 310 QSOs, 2nd Place had 348 QSOs, and 1st place had 439 QSOs. In the Legends Category, we had 3 members in the 500-749 QSO range, 6 members in the 750 or more range, and the Top QSO count was 4,242!
Activators has 329 qualified activations, 199 parks activated, and 12,099 activator QSOs. All Activators were recognized as POTA Explorers and received a POTA patch. POTA “Denali” Activator awards for finishing in the top 3 of any of the 3 Activator categories of Qualified Activations, Park Activated, and Activator QSOs went to 4 very active members.
Members have jumped into the 2023 Challenge. January numbers have been compiled. We had 30 hunters and 7 activators busy during the month. And the early forecast for 2023 predicts a nearly 40% increase in hunter QSOs and a 43% increase in activator QSO over 2022.
The Powerpoint presentation from the Awards Ceremony is available in PDF format on SARA’s website at https://radioham.org/?post_type=special_interests&p=11189&preview=true
I have to apologize, due to a snafu that we had to overcome with the room at Boutwells, I was off kilter setting up the Zoom feed and forgot to record the meeting so it will have to reside in our memories. Shel NØDRX did capture photos of the ceremony and those will be shared on the SARA Flickr page in the near future.
The success of the SARA POTA Challenge is beyond my wildest imagination when the idea was born last February 2022. The interest, excitement, and passion generated amongst our members as hunter and activators has been incredible. Members setting personal goals such as Jim KIØB setting out to make 4000 total QSOs with 500 CW QSOs (he had 4242 total QSOS but was just short on the CW QSOs.) Friendly competition amongst members driving them to more and more contacts! Activators studying the POTA entity maps and park boundary maps to determine were to activate next! Members introduced to portable operating! Antenna experimentation and building! There isn’t an Eyeball QSO Session or 2nd Saturday Breakfast these days that doesn’t include talk about POTA activations, hunts, radios, antennas, batteries, logging software and so on. I cannot thank each of the participants enough for making the POTA Challenge so exciting for the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association.
And a very special thanks to Bob Jensen WØGAF and Brian KB9TBB as they continue to do a fantastic job managing the SARA POTA Challenge.
This week’s SARA activities
SARA’s on-air and virtual activities are a great way to stay connected with others.
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout Feb 12
CANCELLED for this week due to the big game!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)
Frequency: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM or 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 Feb 13
08:15 Central (14:15 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Feb 14
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
1st Tuesday is Emergency Power Night – participants are encouraged to operate the stations on emergency power.
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew
New Feature: the “Ask the Elmer” segment
The group leaders will have a renewed focus on encouraging any and everyone, especially those new to the airwaves, to join the session via the repeater. - SARA Board of Directors Virtual Meeting Feb 15
6:30 PM (00:30 UTC)
SARA’s Zoom Teleconference Room - SARA Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Feb 16
6:00 PM to 7:50 PM
Stillwater Public Library Conference Room
224 3rd Street East, Stillwater, MN 55082