Category: Blog

October 2021 All Things HF

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October 2021
All Things HF


More news on Bouvet Island. Another team has thrown their hat into the
ring and this makes DXpedition attempt number 4, with another vessel
since the MV Braveheart was sold and retired from DXpeditions. This
group will be using a sea-going yacht built completely of aluminum. The
vessel is 101-feet long with a displacement of 68 tons. Mainly operating
with sails and wind power, the vessel has a 320 HP diesel engine by John Deer.


The call will be 3YØJ with 12 operators on station for 20 days in the
month of November. There will be no helicopters used for access to
the Island. There are other plans including the use of inflatable boats
along with various systems of landing, hauling and modes of lifting their
equipment up to the operating position. The team will be mostly made up
of Norwegian operators. The NCDXF (Northern California DX
Foundation) has written a check in the amount of $100-thousand to
support the DXpedition…this is going to be the real thing this time
around.


A short note on DX conditions worldwide…there are good conditions
and good opportunities to work good DX. Get on the air and get the
best our hobby has to offer. That’s all for now from my station in
Huntersville to yours, wherever it may be. Get on the air and call CQ,
someone somewhere is listening for your call.


Best 73 es gud DX Bob WQZPE

September 2021 BAARC Secretary’s Report

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THURSDAY-SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 – – 7:00 PM – BAARC MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – Crow Wing County Law Enforcement Center

President: Steve Mott NØCRM
Vice President: Terry May KIØFW
Treasurer: Doug Bergsnev WØDWB
Secretary: Ron Finger KØGOP
Past Presidents: Charles Lane W5CCL, Al Doree WØRC
Director At Large: Lyle Amundson KØLFV
Director of Emergency Communications: John Luce WØWY
Repeater Trustee: Jay Andolshek KAØDYN
Community & Special Events Coordinator: Mark Cross KEØLFQ

Due to a meeting location change, there was no Board Meeting.


Program:

John Luce, WØWY introduced Steve Gilbert and Max Water from Consolidated Telephone Company, Brainerd, MN. The evening program explored the growth and present state of CTC Broadband Internet coverage in Minnesota.

Following, was a virtual tour presentation by John Bowen, KDØCIZ of the newly remodeled Law Enforcement Center and 911 dispatch facility. Bowen also addressed challenges the center has faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business Meeting:

The Club Business Meeting was called to order by Vice President Terry May KIØFW.

  • Lyle Amundson, KØLFV presented the Treasure’s Report, showing all month’s account transactions and balances to date. All bills are current and paid.
  • Lyle and Al Doree, WØRC reported that the new Gull Lake repeater is on the air at 146.955Mhz, TN 141.3, but still in need of additional work for full functionality.
  • There was discussion regarding whether the Club will support the Northland Arboretum’s Haunted Trail event this year. It was decided that Club members can volunteer individually, as desired over the 3-night event.

—Thanks to Al WØRC for taking the minutes notes. Respectfully submitted by Ron KØGOP, Secretary

July 2021 Secretary’s Report

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THURSDAY-JULY 29, 2021 – 5:00 PM – BAARC BOARD MEETING MINUTES – BRAINERD FIRE STATION


President: Steve Mott NØCRM
Vice President: Terry May KIØFW
Treasurer: Doug Bergsnev WØDWB
Secretary: Ron Finger KØGOP
Past Presidents: Charles Lane W5CCL, Al Doree WØRC
Director At Large: Lyle Amundson KØLFV
Director of Emergency Communications: John Luce WØWY
Repeater Trustee: Jay Andolshek KAØDYN
Community & Special Events Coordinator: Mark Cross KEØLFQ


Attendees: Lyle KØLFV, Doug WØDWB, Terry KIØFW, Ron KØGOP, Al WØRC, Charles W5CCL, and Dave KØISZ. The Vice President opened the Board Meeting at 5:05 PM.

Secretary’s Report: 

  • Membership roster: 87 members with 65 paid for 2021 (as of membership meeting close).
  • Minutes: The June 2021 Club Minutes were distributed to the Board and posted to the Club website
  • Website: Web graphics updated for the BAARC Tailgate Hamfest 2021. July article for Bob WØZPE’s “All Things HF was posted.
  • Correspondence: N0TNJ Donation List Compiled 7/20/2021
  • BAARC Letter-Pat Williamson Donation Thank You 7/21/2021
  • BAARC Letter-John Luce Donation Thank You 7/21/2021
  • BAARC Letter-Aaron J Nielsen Donation Thank You 7/21/2021
  • BAARC Letter-Aaron J Nielsen Donation Used Prices Estimate 7/28/2021
  • BAARC Letter-Dave Chandler KØNRI Thank You 7/28/2021
  • Club membership roster and Gmail recipient list were updated to current status.

Treasurer’s Report:

  • The Treasurer’s report was distributed to the board and presented by the Treasurer, showing all month’s account transactions and balances to date. All bills are current and paid.

Membership Meeting Programs: 

  • The Vice President reviewed the possible Club programs for 2021. There will be no formal Club meetings in August in lieu of the Club picnic.

Digital and Emergency Communications:

  • CWC EOC: no report
  • ARRL: no report
  • SKYWARN: Al WØRC presented updated protocols for using the new NWS chat rooms. Alternate path to NWS-Duluth for severe weather reporting is through their toll free phone number.
  • ARES Central MN Regional Hospital Net: This VHF net occurs at 1PM on the first Wednesday of the month on the Saint Cloud 147.015 repeater. Al WØRC and other members installed a 440 crossband link at one the Hi-rise repeater sites for better local access to the St. Cloud repeater. It is working well and can be accessed for check-ins on 434.0 MHz simplex.

Upcoming BAARC Events

  • Club Storage Container workday: Saturday, July 31; signup sheet at July 29th Club meeting.
  • Tailgate Hamfest: This outdoor event has proved a good option to sustain Club income from sales of donated equipment. We will again plan to host this at the CWC Fairgrounds on Saturday, August 14, 9AM – 1PM.
  • BAARC Picnic: Lum Park, Brainerd, August 21, 11AM. Bring a lunch and beverage; no Fox Hunt this year.

Repeater Trustee & Technical Support

  • Jay KAØDYN has accepted the post of Club Repeater Trustee, and be the official point of contact for the Club repeaters. Jay is also included as a voting member of the Executive Board, per Club Bylaws and Constitution.
  • Interested members are also sought for re-establishing a Club Technology Committee to plan and manage current needs and plan for future technical development Lyle will ask former members for suggestions.

Old Business:

  • Generator purchase: Lyle KØLFV reported that the new Club generator is on order and should arrive August 4-5.
  • The Board will act as the nominations committee for the November, 2021 Club election. Interested members are invited to contact any Board member for consideration.

New Business:

  • Lyle suggested several areas to improve our Club’s appeal to visitors. Among these were the appointment of on or more members to serve as greeters to welcome and make visitors and new members feel welcome.
  • Al WØRC would like to find another Club member(s) to assume the role of Refreshment Coordinator, a job he and Shirley KØDCW has handled for several years. This would involve bringing coffee, soft drinks and cookies to the membership meetings to be reimbursed by the treasurer.
  • The board discussed the recent addition of a group recital of “The Pledge of Allegiance”. It was noted that some recent attendees and visitors expressed surprise that this had been added. After polling each board member, several opinions were considered as to whether this was a plus or minus for Club attendance and it’s appropriateness at a meeting for a diverse group of amateur radio hobbyists. Following a period of spirited discussion the Board voted not to continue this element for our monthly meeting openings.

The Board Meeting was adjourned at 6:12 PM.

THURSDAY-JULY 29, 2021 – 7:00 PM – BAARC MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – BRAINERD FIRE STATION

Several door prizes were awarded.

18 members and guests enjoyed an interesting presentation by member Tom KDØMOM on his berry farm and a HAM’s efforts to use technology in his battle with hungry wildlife!

Members Colleen WØYIV and Gus WØYJC Christensen graciously volunteered to take on the role of both Club Greeters and Refreshment Coordinators.

—Respectfully submitted by Ron KØGOP, Secretary

All Things HF – September 2021

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September 09, 2021
All Things HF


Is the third time really a charm? Apparently not for the DXpedition team attempting to activate Bouvet Island. Their transportation via ship to their final destination, the MV Braveheart is being sold by its owner who has cancelled all future engagements. This very sought after ATNO has once again been pulled, disappointing the DX folks worldwide.
On the brighter side of the news, band conditions continue to improve as we move closer to the Autumnal Equinox with good worldwide DX, especially for those who are seeking first time DXCC. This is a good time for those of you seeking to work the world of DX to get going, as there are abundant opportunities on the ever-improving bands for all modes of HF radio communications.
Where were you on that awful day 9/11? I remember the day vividly as I was working a station in Argentina who informed me that his TV was showing a fire in the World Trade Center building–a vary large fire. We closed our QSO in order to get to the news of that tragic day. The world changed forever that infamous day…9/11
That’s all for now from my station in Huntersville to your station wherever it may be. Good HF conditions are returning, so sit down at your station and call CQ because someone somewhere is listening for your call. Don’t disappoint them.


Best 73 es gud DX
Bob WØZPE