New Radio Gear For Some SARA Members!
2014 SARA Officers
Fitzgerald Crew 2011
Kilo Parks Award
2018 WØTBC Memorial Award-NØDRX
May 14th Fox Hunt! What Fun!
Split Rock 2013
SARA Work Party 1
2019 SARA Executive Officers
Split Rock Lighthouse 2012

SARA This Week Feb 20 – Feb 26

IMPORTANT NOTICE

In-person meetings of SARA are suspended through the end of February as the current COVID surge winds down. This includes the weekly Eyeball QSO Party at the Stillwater Public Library, 2nd Saturday Breakfast, and the February 12 Monthly Meeting.

The February monthly meeting will be a virtual session via our WEBEX video conference room. Virtual Eyeball QSO Parties will be held on Thursday Feb 10, virtual Manhattan Project Fri Feb 25, Tech Topic Thursday Mar 3, and virtual board meeting Thursday Feb 17. Virtual meeting details can be found in the “This Week’s SARA Activities” section below.

In-person activities are set to resume in March. SARA’s Spring Technician Class begins March 3 at the Stillwater Public Library. The weekly Eyeball QSO Party is planned to return March 10, also at the Library. And the March 2nd Saturday Breakfast at Perkins and the monthly meeting at Boutwells Landing are on track to resume March 12.

SARA holds on-air ragchews every day of the week.

Ice-olation Station WØJH Continues Feb 20 – 21

The Ice-olation Station WØJH is in full operation mode this weekend. Using the “Distributed Operating System” (DOS) format, Saturday was a productive day with contacts made across 80-40-20 and 15 in Phone, CW and Digital modes. There is still time to join the fun. Each operator is scheduled to participate from their own QTH. Each Op will have selected agreed upon time(s) when and where they can operate. Each Op must operate in accordance with their license class and use the club’s call sign, WØJH. We will have multiple stations simultaneously using the same call sign, operating on different bands.

When, Where & What

  • Days: Feb. 19, 20, 21 (Saturday – Monday)
  • Times: 0800 – 1759 local; 1400 – 2359 UTC (some variations depending on mode & band)
  • Bands/Frequencies: Anywhere (Published: 80m (3.860), 40m (7.260), 20m (14.260), 15m (21.360))
  • Modes: SSB, CW & Digital

SARA POTA Challenge ’22

The Challenge is underway! We’ve already had activators out there. And hunting parks doesn’t get any easier than it is. I’ve heard one member has made it a personal goal to work at least one POTA activation as a hunter each day.  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. 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.

Bob WØGAF and Brian KB9TBB are leading the team putting together the SARA POTA Challenge. If you are planning to participate, drop them an email to let them know you are taking the challenge.

Coming in May: SARA in the Parks

Starting May 12, the weekly Eyeball QSO Party moves outdoors for the summer months. We will visit different Stillwater-area parks throughout the summer with Eyeball QSOs, POTA activiations, hands-on radio, POTA portable operating tips and tricks, Mobile Station Show-n-tell, and more possibilties. Valley View Park in Oak Park Heights will be a regular location, on the schedule for May 12 (New Ham Night), June 2, June 23, July 14, Aug 4, Aug 25 and Sept 25. Other weeks could see us at Lowell Park in downtown Stillwater along the St Croix National Wild & Scenic River, Afton State Park, along Brown’s Creek State Trail and Gateway State Trail for “Late Shift” POTA activations. Watch the SARA This Week bulletins for details each week.

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 Feb 20
    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
    Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
  • SARA Monday Morning Ragchew Feb 21
    09:00 Central (15:00 UTC)
    Frequency:  3.856 LSB +/- QRM
  • The Lunch Room – Informal Ragchew
    Daily (Monday thru Friday)
    12:00 Central
    SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
    – anyone can open the Lunch Room
  • SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Feb 22
    Time: 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
  • Ice-olation Station WØJH Feb 20, and 21
    Time: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central (14:00 to 00:00 UTC)
    While the majority of our contacts are expected to be on SSB, where we intend to be ~3.860, 7.260, 14.260, and 21.360 + or – depending upon band conditions; we also hope to have significant digital activity primarily on FT8 and hopefully some on CW as well. Look for us on 17 and 10 meters if band conditions permit.
  • Ice-olation Station WØJH Virtual Warming House and Afterglow Feb 20 & 21
    Time: 7:00 PM Central (01:00 UTC) each night
    The evening wrap-up and afterglow from the day’s Special Event station operations.
  • SARA Virtual Eyeball QSO Party “Manhattan Project” Friday Feb 25
    Time: 7:30 PM Central  (00:30 UTC)