SARA Does Skywarn
2014 SARA Officers
2018 WØTBC Memorial Award-NØDRX
Split Rock Lighthouse 2012
Ice Station WØJH 2014
SARA Field Day 2011
2021 W0TBC Memorial Award
2023 Simonet Memorial Award
2019 SARA Executive Officers
SARA Work Party 1

SARA This Week: May 1 – May 7

The Stillwater Amateur Radio Association is one of the most active amateur radio clubs in Minnesota. SARA has on-air ragchews every day on 160m, Monday mornings on 75m, Tuesday evenings on the SARA repeater; the Eyeball QSO Party on Thursday evenings; activities such as the current SARA POTA Challenge 2022; at least 2 special events each year; online sessions such as Tech Topic Thursday; monthly meetings (Sept thru May) are also livestreamed via Zoom. We maintain the Stillwater 147.060+ DCS 026N System Fusion dual mode repeater with WIRES-X link (W0JH-Room 63969).


SARA Technical Topic Thursday May 5

The May Tech Topic Thursday session this Thursday will feature a discussion on Coax Cable with Tim Duffy K3LR from DX Engineering. Tim will discuss coax cable design, sizes, performance and proper selection for the application.

The session will be a virtual gathering in the SARA teleconference room via Zoom. It will begin at 7:00 PM CDT (00:00Z). The room open at least 15 minutes ahead of time so please arrive early. Here is the meeting link


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

March stats are 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. Word is that a brand new POTA participant has made over 500 contacts in just one month of activations! And he’s on the road again this week!

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.

A SARA POTA activity day is being planned for Saturday June 11. Thunder Bay Brad will be joining us for the fun. The day will begin with the 2nd Saturday Breakfast at Perkins in Stillwater, followed by a POTA activations from some of the POTA entities in our area.


SARA New Ham Night May 12

New Ham Night 2022 will be Thursday May 12 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Valley View Park 5421 Osgood Ave N in Oak Park Heights. If you are a new ham, this is for you! Originally designed for all newly licensed hams, the information presented is helpful for the newly upgraded ham as well.

Get the answers to key questions such as: How Much $$$ Do I Need to Spend? What Should Be My First Radio? What Antenna Should I Use?

Learn how to: Make Your First QSO/Contact; Check into Nets; Use Common Protocols; Use Repeaters; Improve Operating Skills; Operate Simplex; Program Radios; Find Help

You’ll learn “Dos and Don’ts” to help you have more fun communicating.

If you’d like help programing radios, especially handhelds; bring ‘em!

It’s All About Getting On the Air! You’ll learn ways to have more fun when operating from your home, car or portable.

An introduction to the SARA New Ham Resources, a service of our Member Assistance Program, is on tap as well. Technical assistance, operating guidance, and loaner equipment are all components of SARA’s New Ham Resources. The team is led by Brian NØBJE and Mark KEØQQN.


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 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, 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 or the Gateway State Trail, or nearby MN & WI State Parks for “Late Shift” POTA activations. Watch the SARA This Week bulletin 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 May 1
    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)
    Frequency:  1.966 LSB +/- QRM
    Alternates: 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
  • SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew May 2
    08:15 Central (14:00 UTC)
    Frequency:  3.856 LSB +/- QRM
  • SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew May 3
    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 Virtual Technical Topic Thursday May 5
    Time: 7:00 PM (00:00Z)
    “Coax” with Tim Duffy K3LR
    Zoom Meeting – link sent direct to SARA members.