Ice Station WØJH 2014
2020 S.A.R.A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
2019 SARA Executive Officers
WØJH 2004
2021 W0TBC Memorial Award
SARA Field Day 2011
Kilo Parks Award
2018 WØTBC Memorial Award-NØDRX
2017 SARA Officers
Split Rock 2013

SARA This Week: March 26 – April 2

Technician License Classes continue through April 21

SARA is conducting an 8-week in-person Technician License class on Thursday evenings. Classes are held at the Stillwater Public Library from 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM. The current Technician Class license exam question pool expires June 30, 2022. The textbook is the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 4th Edition, available online from arrl.org, ham radio retailers, and Amazon. This week’s session will be an online session via SARA’s Zoom teleconference room.


SARA VE Session Thursday April 28

The SARA VE team led by Shel NØDRX will be conducting a VE Testing Session Thursday evening April 28th beginning at 6:00 PM. The session will be at Boutwells Landing in Auditorium B. Pre-registration will be required. For more info, contact Shel NØDRX at n0drx at hotmail dot com.

FCC $35 Amateur Application Fee Effective Date will be April 19

The FCC released a Public Notice on March 23, 2022, stating that the amateur radio application fees, including those associated with Form 605 application filings, would become effective on April 19, 2022. The Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose and collect fees is mandated by Congress.

The $35 application fee, when it becomes effective on April 19, will apply to new, modification (upgrade and sequential call sign change), renewal, and vanity call sign applications. The fee will be per application.

Administrative updates, such as a change of name, mailing or email address, will be exempt from fees.

Volunteer Examiner (VE) teams will not have to collect the $35 fee at exam sessions.

Once the FCC application fee takes effect, new and upgrade applicants will pay the $15 exam session fee to the ARRL VE team as usual and pay the $35 application fee directly to the FCC by using the CORES FRN Registration system (CORES – Login).  VEC and VE team licensing procedures will not change.

When the FCC receives the examination information from the VEC, it will email a link with payment instructions to each successful candidate. The candidate will have 10 calendar days, from the date of the application file number being issued, to pay. After the fee is paid, and the FCC has processed an application, examinees will receive a second email from the FCC with a link to their official license. The link will be good for 30 days.


SARA POTA Challenge ’22

The Challenge is underway! Spring is here and warmer weather is ahead. Look for POTA activations by SARA members to increase. 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

February stats on the radioham.org website. 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. 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.


Technical Topic Thursdays

SARA members have exclusive access to the Technical Topic Thursday playlist on SARA’s YouTube Channel. V

The April 7th session may be on “Preparing for Portable Operating” as a group discussion project.

Coming May 5th: Tim Duffy K3LR of DXEngineering for a Tech Topic Thursday on Coax.


SARA’s Summer 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 possibilities plus a picnic or two. 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 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 and Gateway State Trail or nearby MN & WI State Parks for “Late Shift” POTA activations. Watch the SARA This Week bulletins for details each week.


SARA Connections

We offer multiple ways to stay connected with SARA. They include groups.io, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SARA groups.iohttps://groups.io/g/StillwaterMNAmateurRadioAssoc (closed group – SARA Members only)

SARA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/527705810939785

SARA on Instagram: sararadioham

SARA on Twitter: @saraW0JH


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 Mar 27
    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.
    (Note: Bob WØGAF is unavailable, the Host slot is open for this evening’s session. Here’s your chance to step in and guide the group.)
  • SARA Top Band Ragchew
    Nightly
    20:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
    Frequency:  1.966 LSB +/- QRM
    Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
  • SARA Monday Morning Ragchew Mar 28
    08:15 Central (14:00 UTC)
    Frequency:  3.856 LSB +/- QRM
  • SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Mar 29
    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
  • SARA Technician License Class Session 4 Thursday March 31
    Virtual Class Session
    Time: 6:00 PM – 7:50 PM Central
    SARA Zoom Meeting Room
  • SARA Eyeball QSO Party Thursday March 31
    Time: 6:00 PM – 7:50 PM 
    Stillwater Public Library Margret Rivers Room