Category: Events

Field Day 2017 – Antenna Contest

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Second Annual Field Day Antenna Contest

I am pleased to announce that back by popular demand! We will be hosting the Second Annual Field Day Antenna Contest! Where Terry “The Antenna Whisperer” will be defending his title and hoping to win the new traveling trophy!
The goal of this contest is to inspire creativity in others, and interest them in the wonderful hobby of amateur radio. And of course have fun and win bragging rights for a year!
Ballets and ballet box will be located outside or in the club trailer.

Rules!

1. All antennas must be home-made, but parts for them can be purchased.
2. You can use a stock antenna, as long as you do something to make it “non-standard”, or use it in a way not listed as “recommended” by the manufacturer.
3. Must make at least 1 contact during the field day event hours, or else all votes cast for that antenna will be invalid.
4. Antennas will be judged on design, looks, and/or creativity. Not performance.
5. Each field day attendee (doesn’t have to be a HAM) gets to cast one vote for the most “hammed up” antenna.
6. Participants must write up a short summary on their antenna. Name, inspiration, parts used, any other fun facts.
7. Voting will take place Saturday 12pm to Sunday 9am. Results to follow.

PAUL BUNYAN TOUR OF LAKES BIKE RIDE

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The Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club supported the Paul Bunyan Tour of Lakes Bike Ride on Saturday, June 3, 2017. We operated Net Control and APRS Tracking from the CW Sheriff’s trailer. Thank you to the Sheriff’s Dept. for letting us use their trailer. We had 820+ bike riders this year. We had eleven radio operators working this event. We supported a 35 mile short ride and a 65 mile long ride.

We would like to thank Steve NØCRM, Mitch ADØHJ and Al WØRC for handling Net Control and the APRS tracking; Bob K6RCO, Terry KIØFW, Rick NØSEH and Michael KEØAFZ covered the rest stops and let net control know when they needed to dispatch a SAG wagon to a rider on the route. Roger WØWUG was our Rover. We had six SAG wagons on the routes this year, but only three of them had radio operators. Mark KEØLFQ, Alan AAØAS and Shirley KØDCW were SAG wagon radio operators.

We had beautiful but humid weather for the Bike Tour this year. We did not have any serious injuries or mishaps this year. The root beer floats at the end of the Bike Tour were great!

Thank You to all our radio operators!

Al W0RC and Shirley K0DCW

 

Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes Marathon

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The BAARC worked communications for the Tenth Anniversary of the “Run For The Lakes Marathon” held on Saturday, April 29, 2017. The BAARC has provided communications for all ten years of the Marathon.

Saturday’s activities began at 8:01 AM from the Nisswa Community Center. We had ten radio operators working different locations. Doug WØDWB, Mitch ADØHJ, Roger WØWUG, Charles W5CCL, Carlos NØOHX and Mark KEØLFQ all worked different water stops. Dave KØISZ worked a relay exchange area. Al WØRC worked the start line and was our course rover. Terry KIØFW and Shirley KØDCW worked net control from the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s trailer. Thank You to the sheriff for letting us use their trailer.

We had ~365 runners with no serious injuries and with great running weather.

The RFTL Marathon organizers thank the BAARC radio operators for the excellent job we did again this year.

Thank You!

2017 BAARC Hamfest

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The BAARC hosted another successful Hamfest this year. As in the past it was held at the Brainerd National Guard Armory facility.

We had a fantastic set-up and tear-down crew.

Lyle and Al co-chaired the event and handled much of the planning.

Charles and Kathy took over kitchen duties with help from others.

VE testing was provided again as well.

Dave once again handled the PA and ran the announcements as in the past.

Steve and Mitch went to all the repeater sites on Friday and collected our old repeaters (2 of which were sold!)

And true to form…and a true story… a family of about 8 showed up just as we finished cleaning up and packing things away….they asked if they missed the Ham Fest….Steve asked them if they knew what a Hamfest was… they were looking for the Ham Dinner. (N0CRM)…

Thanks everyone for all the help, I am sure we missed a few names here.