Category: Blog

All Things HF: January 2019

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No matter how you slice it or how you dice it, we Ham radio operators are all about communicating. We communicate using various modes such as SSB, CW, Digital or perhaps modes yet to be developed used to communicate with robots, even a chat now and then with extraterrestrial beings.  Mostly we communicate with others in this interesting avocation of ours, others like ourselves. We have an art called ‘conversation’ and lets face it, not everyone has the ability to sit behind a mic to spend hours conversing intelligently with perfect strangers.
Marcia and I were at Applebee’s in Baxter waiting to be seated for lunch along with several others when I noticed most of the people were holding smart phones as their thumbs moved over a virtual keyboard at warp speed. My very first reaction was ‘there’s a lot of carpel tunnel in the making’ but they were communicating with a device that was not eyeball to eyeball and the thought that they were losing some of the art of conversation occurred to me as the communications were all digital.
After being seated I once again looked around the restaurant to notice almost every table had at least one, sometimes more still moving their thumbs at warp speed over a virtual keyboard. Hardly anyone was in a conversation at the tables and including…the bar, that were in an eyeball to eyeball encounter. I quietly wondered how the texting by the folks at the bar would look like after a few drinks. Anyway, the point is that you and I use a medium called Ham radio which is far too cumbersome to sit on the table or even the bar so we do our ‘thing’ at home or on occasion we’ll take our stations afield to operate portable. Sadly the cycle 24 minimum has a strangle hold on our band conditions making most DX off limits so I find myself calling CQ fully expecting an interesting fulfilling QSO to answer my call on the other end.
That’s about it from my QTH in Huntersville for this month so let remind you to sit at your station, call CQ because someone somewhere is listening for your call. Don’t disappoint them. I hope to see you next month…
Best 73 es gud DX from my station to yours…Bob/WØZPE

All Things HF: February 2019

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I detest the word ‘Amateur’ and its multiple meanings. The word ‘Amateur’ is both a noun and an adjective depending how it is used. How about this…as a synonym its usually associated with one or more of the following descriptions: incompetent, inept, bungler, useless, botched, crude and so it goes on and on.
If asked, I reply, I’m a Ham Radio Operator plus I’m good at what I do. So are the rest of you license holders. We’re good, we’re talented and we’re there when we are needed to provide our expertise in the event of disasters. We can communicate with other Hams around the corner, across this country, and even across the oceans of the world to far away exotic places with skills that make us Ham Radio Operators…not Amateurs.
Remember all of you Ham Radio Operators to sit at your stations to call CQ to other talented Ham Radio Operators who are anxiously waiting to QSO with you…don’t disappoint them. So long from my station in Huntersville to your Ham Radio Station wherever it may be.
Best 73 es gud DX from Bob Feuer WØZPE

FEBRUARY 2019 BAARC SECRETARY’S REPORT

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THURSDAY-FEBRUARY 28, 2019 – 4:00 PM – BAARC BOARD MEETING MINUTES – BRAINERD FIRE STATION

President: Steve Mott NØCRM
Vice President: John Luce WØWY
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: Dave Schuldheisz KØISZ
Repeater Trustee: Mitch Ahrenstorff ADØHJ
Community & Special Events Coordinator: Mark Cross KEØLFQ

Attendees: Lyle KØLFV, John WØWY, Ron KØGOP, Al WØRC, Shirley KØDCW, Mitch ADØHJ, Mark KEØLFQ and Roger WØWUG. The Vice President opened the Board Meeting at 405 PM.

Secretary’s Report: 

  • Membership roster: 75 members with 33 unpaid for 2019. The Club roster can be found on the Club website under the“Resources/Members Only”  Current paid members can request an individual password for access via the “Contact Us” form.
  • Minutes: The January 2019 Executive Board and Membership Meeting minutes were posted to the“Baarcer” area.
  • Correspondence: None.
  • Documents: Updated Club membership roster and Gmail contacts database.
  • Membership ID’s: No new Club ID’s.
  • Club Website: New banner graphics for April “Brainerd Hamfest”.
  • Motion to accept: Al WØRC, SecondJohn WØWY,  

Treasurer’s Report: The Vice President presented a synopsis in lieu of the Treasurer’s report.

Membership Meeting Programs: 

  • The Vice President reviewed recent and future Club programs and events.
  • March 28: “Forestview High Altitude Balloon Class presentation” by students and teachers
  • April 25: “Slow Scan TV (SSTV)” demonstration by Al WØRC
  • May 23: “BAARC Spring Dinner” at American Legion, Nisswa
  • June 20: “Field Day 2019 Prep”

Recent / Upcoming Events: The following events were discussed:

Brainerd Area Hamfest

NWS Duluth “SKYWARN Spotter Class”

  • Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Crow Wing County Land Services Building, Brainerd, MN
  • The training will include: a brief introduction to the National Weather Service (NWS), the different types of hazardous weather and how to safely observe them, the categories of severe weather to report, and how to send those reports to the NWS.

Brainerd Jaycees “Run For The Lakes” Marathon

  • Saturday, April 27, 2019, Nisswa, MN
  • Event Chair needed.
  • John will contact John Bowen to verify the operation and use of the Sheriff’s comm trailer.

Paul Bunyan Cyclists “Tour of the Lakes” Bike Ride

  • Saturday, June 1, 2019, Downtown Brainerd
  • Event Chair needed.
  • Traffic congestion is anticipated in the downtown area. Net control could use the CWC Sheriff’s van near the CTY garage and operators stage along the route.
  • John will contact John Bowen to verify the operation and use of the Sheriff’s comm trailer.

Digital & Emergency Communications: 

  • John reported that the 2019 SKYWARN planning meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 30 at Hermantown. A small group of interested Club members usually attends in a single vehicle for this annual severe WX season planning event.
  • Al reported that the 2 principal operators that have maintained the LSAC repeater system are stepping back from their longtime duty and exploring the transition of those duties to the Lake County ARES group.
  • Discussed was the possible removal of the unused Echolink and Packet systems from the 145.130 MHz High-Rise repeater site. This would vacate some space in the cramped top floor utility area. Although the old Packet email system is no longer used as it was in it’s pre-internet heyday, it could find a new life if converted to a Winlink node for possible future use with the NWS SKYWARN system.

Old Business: 

Repeater Sites: Mitch reported on MN Repeater Council approval for the new Club UHF pair of 443.925 MHz. This was a previous Club pair used for a portable UHF repeater in the old Club trailer, and now slated for use with a new Fusion Digital repeater installation at the Gull Lake site.

  • Gull Lake:
    • No new items.
  • Crosby:
    • No new items.
  • Crow Wing Power:
    • No new items.
  • Cross Lake:
    • No new items.
  • High-rise Site:
    • No new items.

New Business:

  • Lyle talked about the need for listing the whereabouts of the Club items and equipment held at various members/officers locations. In the event of an unplanned absence, it would be helpful to know the location of these assets if needed.
  • Everyone holding assets for the Club is requested to inventory their items into a simple list and forward to Lyle and the Board.

The Board Meeting was adjourned at 4:55 PM.

 

THURSDAY-FEBRUARY 28, 2019 – 7:00 PM – BAARC MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – BRAINERD FIRE STATION

The Vice President called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Following the business meeting reports and break, several presentations were made:

  • “FMS Balloon Launch” & “Dog Sled Race” event reports by AL WØRC
  • “System Fusion Digital Radio Communications Demo & Display” by Mitch ADØHJ

–Respectfully submitted by Ron KØGOP, Secretary

31st Annual Mid Minnesota 150 Dogsled race

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On a very crisp Saturday morning (February 9, 2019), a group of amateur radio operators from the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club (BAARC), along with a large number of other volunteers helped Mid Minnesota 150 Dogsled race.

Al Doree W0RC and Shirley KC0DCW once again chaired the event and provided coordination of the event.

Once again we were able to partner with the Crow Wing County Sheriff to help with net control communications.

The following is list of operators and locations.

Net Control: Shirley KØDCW and Terry KIØFW

Locations:

A – John WØWY / Alan AAØAS– Start Line – Outing

B – Al WØRC – South shore & Lawrence Lake Rd

C – Mark KEØLFQ / Nancy – Hwy. 58 Crossing

D – Steve NØCRM – Pikus Road & Power Line

F – Ron KØGOP – North Windy Lake & Hwy 57

G – Doug WØDWB – Tee on Hwy 57 & Hwy 20 (318th St.)

H – Hwy 57 & SOO Line Trail

I – Leon KEØAFY – SOO Line Trail (88th Ave. NE) & Hwy 200

J – John WØWY / Alan AAØAS – Finish Line in Remer