Here is the SARA weekly update!
Technician License Prep Class Week 4
SARA’s Spring Technician License Classes continue with Session 4 Thursday evening, March 12, at the Stillwater Public Library, 224 3rd Street E, Stillwater, MN 55082, from 6:00 PM to 7:50 PM. The SARA VE Team will conduct an Exam Session on Thursday April 30th.
The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 5th Edition is the textbook for the class. You can order a copy direct from the ARRL at https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064 or from Amazon http://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064.
The current Technician Class exam question pool expires June 30, with a new question pool being effective July 1. Now is the time to act, before the question pool expires!
You can still sign up for the class, email Bob WØGAF via email at w0gaf at me dot com
Eyeball QSO Party
The weekly Eyeball QSO Party is at the Stillwater Public Library Conference Room through the 16th of April 2026 and then April 30th, except for 1st Thursdays (Tech Topic Night). The April 23rd session will be at another location due to room availability at the Library that evening.
SARA hosting Metro Skywarn training session March 28
SARA is hosting a Metro Skywarn storm spotter training session on Saturday March 28. This session will be in the Margaret Rivers Room A & B at the Stillwater Public Library beginning at 10:30 AM. Registration for the 3-hr session is required by Metro Skywarn. You can register for this session at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982900251029?aff=oddtdtcreator
Metro Skywarn has 11 remaining training sessions scheduled this spring, 7 in-person and 4 on-line. Can’t attend the March 28 session, check out https://metroskywarn.org/training/ for more options.
1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights “Let’s Talk About…”
1st Thursday Technical Topic Night features a technical presentation and discussion based upon the level of interest in the club and the willingness of someone to prepare and lead the session. The sessions are livestreamed via Zoom for those who choose to join the session virtually; and are recorded and posted to the SARA YouTube channel for future viewing and reference. You can find all the 1st Thursday Topics in the 1st Thursdays Technical Topics playlist.
We are always looking for topic ideas and discussion leaders for future 1TTT nights. If you have a suggestion or are willing to lead a discussion, please let drop me an email at kc0oio2002@gmail.com.
The 1st Thursday Technical Topic Nights are held at the Baytown Township Hall, 4020 McDonald Dr N, Stillwater, MN 55082, beginning at 6:00 PM Central (00:00 UTC).
- Apr 2, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Meshtastic” led by Collin KEØIYN - May 7, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Antenna Analyzers” led by Joe KCØOIO - Aug 6, 2026 1st Thursday Tech Topic Night
“Let’s Talk About … Cloud-based logging with Wavelog led by Collin KEØIYN
Radios in the Park Eyeball QSO Party
Radios in the Parks will return May 14 as we move the Eyeball QSO Party outdoors to various parks in the area. We’ll begin with the annual New Ham Night at Valley View Park on May 14 and continue through Sept 10. Full schedule will be shared as we get closer to May. I am looking for suggestions for parks to visit this summer.
Hands On Ham Radio on World Amateur Radio Day – A Ham Radio Open House April 18
SARA will be hosting a Ham Radio Open House in conjunction with World Amateur Radio Day April 18. The Stillwater Public Library has welcomed this event and will be promoting it on their event calendar for April.
“Celebrate World Amateur Radio Day with a hands-on, drop-in event for all ages on Saturday, April 18, from 11 AM–3 PM on the Library Terrace! Local amateur radio enthusiasts from Stillwater Amateur Radio Association will share how ham radios work, demonstrate different types of equipment, and scan the airwaves so you can actually “see” the radio signals all around us. Visitors will have the chance to listen in and even attempt live connections with people across the U.S. and around the world.
This free, family-friendly event is perfect for curious minds of all ages. SARA members enjoy making radio science accessible and fun, from educational sessions and classes, to operating outdoors in parks, trails, and landmarks, and combine electronics and computers in new, experimental radio research projects. They’ll also share details about their exciting upcoming club project: building and launching a radio balloon 80,000 feet into the atmosphere to travel the globe. Stop by anytime during this interactive afternoon of science and discovery!”
We will be looking for volunteers to help with day’s activities. Brian, KB9TBB has offered to spearhead this event. Planning and promotion will continue at upcoming Eyeball QSO sessions. Please consider joining us plan and execute this wonderful opportunity to promote amateur radio and SARA.
Pico Balloon Club Project Countdown To Launch has begun!
The “Let’s Talk About … Pico Balloons” session, led by Rich ADØSN, has piqued interest of the prospect of building and launching a PICO balloon as a club project.
The members approved this project during the March 14 meeting.
The project will focus on a launch during one of our Radios in the Park Thursday evening session. To achieve that 3 teams are being spun up: Lift team – will manage the balloon prep and gas equations; Electronics team – will assemble and program trackers; and Build Team – will assemble the antennas, power panels and supports for the balloons. Due to the generosity of a few members, components are on hand already for at least two ballons.
Won’t it be fun to track WØJH (“The Flying Ham”) via WSPR and APRS as it circumnavigates the globe, hopefully multiple times?
This week’s SARA activities
- “Sunday Fusion” Digital Voice Hangout Mar 22
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 Evening HF Ragchew
Nightly
20:00 Central (01:00 UTC)
Frequency: 3.813LSB +/- QRM
Alternates: 1.966 MHz +/- QRM (LSB), 21.316 MHz +/- QRM (USB) 50.166 MHz +/- QRM (USB) - SARA Monday Morning 75-meter Ragchew Mar 23
Frequency: 3.856 LSB +/- QRM - Two Meter Tuesday (TMT) Round Robin Ragchew Mar 24
7:00 – ~8:00 pm Central (or until we finish!)
SARA Repeater 147.060+ MHz (DCS/DTCS 026 Normal)1stTuesday of each month is Emergency Power Night – participants are encouraged to operate the stations on emergency power.
The Tuesday evening on-air round robin ragchew, featuring the “Ask the Elmer” segment. The group leaders focus on encouraging any and everyone, especially those new to the airwaves, to join the session via the repeater. - Technician License Prep Class Thursday Mar 26
6:00 PM
Conference Room
Stillwater Public Library
224 3rd Street E, Stillwater, MN 55082 - Eyeball QSO Party Mar 26
6:00 PM
Planning for Hands On Ham Radio on World Amateur Radio Day event Apr 18
Margeret Rivers Room A&B
Stillwater Public Library
224 3rd Street E, Stillwater, MN 55082 - Metro Skywarn Storm Spotter Training Mar 28
10:30 AM
Margeret Rivers Room A&B
Stillwater Public Library
224 3rd Street E, Stillwater, MN 55082
Registration for the 3-hr session is required by Metro Skywarn. You can register for this session at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1982900251029?aff=oddtdtcreator
