SARA This Week Sept 18 – Sept 24
Good morning!
Here’s SARA’s happenings this week.
Eyeball QSO Party moves indoors
SARA’s Summer in the Parks has wrapped a successful 2022 season. With pleasant weather nearly every session we had ample opportunity to break out the radios and antennas and get on the air! Summers in the Park will return in 2023.
The Eyeball QSO Party returns to the Stillwater Public Library on September 22nd. We typically meet in the conference room located on the 3rd floor from 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM. The Library is located at 224 Third St North and parking is available in the Library ramp.
General License Study Class to begin Sept 22.
SARA’s Education & Training team will be conducting a General License study class this fall. Classes will begin on Thursday Sept 22 and will run 8 weeks. The VE Exam Session is planned for Thursday Nov 17. Classes will run from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Classroom space is being arranged at the Stillwater Public Library. If interested, contact Bob Jensen WØGAF at w0gaf@me.com. The class is open to all so spread the word to friends and family.
SARA POTA Challenge ’22
The Challenge has proven to be a great activity for SARA. Hunters and activators alike are enjoying getting on the air and working POTA parks. The Fall season is a great time to visit parks across the region!
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.
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.
SARA POTA Awards are planned for both activators (most parks, activations, QSOs & park to park) and hunters (most QSOs). We have created Legends and Leaders divisions for hunters. The super performing Legends are out in front of the pack and are challenging each other. Those with 500 Hunter QSOs move into the Legends division. That means the Leaders still have a chance to claim top spots in their division. Now is your chance to get back in the running. 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.
The next big SARA POTA activity will be up at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Nov 4 – 6 for the Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Weekend. WØJH will be activating both the state park K-2524 and the Gitchi Gammi State Trail K-8095. And individual operators can get activator credit as well while operating as WØJH.
Bob WØGAF and Brian KB9TBB are leading the SARA POTA Challenge. If you want to join the Challenge, it’s not too late to participate and all of your 2022 POTA QSOs will count; drop them an email to let them know you are taking the challenge.
Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald Special Event
For the 18th consecutive year, SARA will be Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald with a Special Event Station from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park Nov 4 thru 6, 2022. Make plans to participate in this special commemorative event, SARA’s biggest.
We will offer the opportunity for you to participate as part of the group onsite or from your own home. Dave WØOXB reports a good response from members planning to make the trip to Split Rock. There’s still time to respond and the info flyer is attached to this email. The Mariner Motel in Silver Bay is open and taking reservations!
The club’s callsign WØJH will be used exclusively from Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. WØF has been secured for exclusive use by those working from home stations, for any mode, any band, any time. A SignUpGenius page will be created to manage mode/band/time slots for WØF.
More details in the coming weeks.
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 Sept 18
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)
Due to poor local propagation, the SARA Top Band Crew will QSY (move) to 75m. Look for us AROUND 3.820 to 3.826 MHz (depending on QRM). This change is temporary until the 160m and 75m band conditions change.
Frequency: 1.966 LSB +/- QRM AROUND 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 Sept 19
08:15 Central (14:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - SARA Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Sept 20
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 General License Study Class Thursday Sept 22
6:00 PM to 7:50 PM
Margaret Rivers Room B, Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St N, MN 55082 - SARA Eyeball QSO Party Thursday Sep 22
6:00 PM to 7:50 PM
Conference Room, Stillwater Public Library, 224 Third St N, Stillwater, MN 55082