Release to Listen Award 2013
OXB Special Install
2019 SARA Executive Officers
2018 WØTBC Memorial Award-NØDRX
SARA Work Party 2
Fitzgerald Crew 2012
New Radio Gear For Some SARA Members!
Ice Station WØJH 2014
The Joe Simonet WØTBC Memorial Award
SARA Does Skywarn

SARA This Week: October 25 – October 31

SARA’s in-person activities remain canceled until further notice!

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our in-person activities, including the Eyeball QSO Parties at the Library, monthly meetings at Boutwells Landing and 2nd Saturday breakfasts.

====================================

SARA’s 2020 Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event will be a comprehensive “distributed operating stations” plan. The Special Event will run Friday Nov 6 through Sunday Nov 8. Operating times are planned for 8:00 AM CST (1400 UTC) to 5:59 PM CST(2359 UTC) on Friday and 7:00 AM CST (1300 UTC) to 5:59 PM CST(2359 UTC) on Friday Saturday and Sunday.

This year’s unique operating plan expands our band/mode presence. The SARA callsign WØJH is sought after every November and we will have that callsign in use by Phone stations. The special event callsign WØF will be the CW and Digital modes callsign.

Indeed, it will not be like past years but let’s make the most of it while having fun. We’ve already heard from some of the “regulars” we annually make contact with from Split Rock … stations will be looking for us!

Although we recommend some experience in handling “pile-ups”, we welcome everyone to operate as the special event station. You can choose an operating band and mode slot that is likely to have a slower pace on Phone or work in digital modes such as PSK31 or FT8. All we ask is that you have a logging program capable of exporting to an ADIF so that all the logs can be combined into a central log for QSL confirmations.

If you’re interested and available to operate from your QTH, please register via the online sign-up tool at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CA4AC2BA0FFC43-remembering     Sign up now – there’s plenty of slots available yet.

If you’d like to operate but have questions, please let me or any of the organizers know. (It’s a lot of fun … and not as difficult as you may think!)

The Thursday Nov 5 Topic Night via Webex will focus on Special Event operating tips and techniques, logging and adif export, and any other questions from the operators.

Special virtual “Manhattan Project” Webex gatherings are planned for Friday and Saturday evenings. And we’ll likely have the Webex room open each day for operator kibitzing and camaraderie (like we did for Field Day).

=====================================================================

The Thursday Technical Topic sessions will resume in November, we will do them on a monthly basis. The tech topic model may be altered slightly to leverage our Saturday meeting presentation and follow that up with a deeper dive session the following Thursday evening.

Thursday Technical Topic Suggestions Moderator Date
Digital Modes & FLDIGI Primer KC0OIO TBD
Do’s & Don’ts when setting up your shack TBD TBD
MFJ-259/269 Analyzer Training TBD TBD
Setting up digital voice hotspots TBD TBD
Grounding & Bonding your station TBD TBD
Station Electrical Power considerations TBD TBD
Optional but useful shack accessories TBD TBD
Working DX TBD TBD
CW: Ways and trick to learning, setup paddles, keys, keyers TBD TBD

Many of the topics make excellent group discussion sessions. Some may require a little research. Dig into it a bit and share what you learn. There is no better way to learn a topic than preparing to lead a session. See something of interest or that you have some knowledge and experience, please volunteer to moderate the session. Email me at president at radioham dot org if you are interested in moderating a session. You can also email me with additional topic suggestions.

======================================================================

The SARA Dues year runs January 1 through December 31. Now is the time to renew your membership in the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association. 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.

Dues payments may be sent via mail to: Stillwater Amateur Radio Association, 1618 Pine Street West, Stillwater, MN 55082.

We are working to add electronic membership application/renewal plus online dues payment via Paypal to our radioham.org website. We are adding a security certificate to the website to protect 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. It is anticipated that Paypal payment option will be available by the next SARA monthly meeting.

======================================================================

SARA’s on-air and virtual activities remain a great way to stay connected with others, boosting the overall wellness of all involved. These activities provide healthy social contact while maintaining personal distancing.

Here’s this weeks activities!

1. SARA HF Digital Net Sunday Oct 25
Time: 19:00 Central (00:00 UTC)
Frequency:  3.584.15 USB Look for the net up 500-1000 Hz +/- on your waterfall.
Mode: THOR16

2. SARA Top Band Ragchew
Nightly
Time: 20:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
Frequency:  1.966 LSB +/- QRM
Alternates:
21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB)
50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB)

3. SARA Monday Morning Ragchew Oct 26
Time: 09:00 Central (14:00 UTC)
Frequency:  3.856 LSB +/- QRM

4. 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.

5. SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Oct 27
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

6. SARA Two Meter Wednesday Round Robin Ragchew Oct 28
Time: 9:00 PM
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)
The Wednesday evening SARA Ragchew on the SARA repeater

7.  SARA Virtual Eyeball QSO Party “Halloween Eve’s Spookiest Happy Hour” Oct 30
Bewitching Hour: 7:30 PM CST (00:30 UTC)
SARA WEBEX virtual meeting room
Costume optional

73!