KDØCL
West Bloomington 147.090+ Tone: None Central Bloomington Analog/Fusion 443.175+ DCS: 165
Solar Eclipse QSO Party Grid Maps
Grid map of the continental US, showing the eclipse path. Image credit: Bill Mitchell (CC-BY).
With the solar eclipse QSO party coming up, here are grid maps for the continental US which you can use to track stations you have heard during the eclipse: 8.5″x11″, 11″x17″.
ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest
This coming weekend is the ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest. Taking place on the VHF, UHF, and microwave bands, all licensed US amateurs have full privileges for frequencies in this contest. Most of the action will take place on weak-signal modes (single sideband, Morse code, and various digital modes), but there is still room to play on FM!
All it takes to get started is a dual-band FM handheld. Under the rules of the contest, you can coordinate contacts (i.e. plan frequency, mode, and time with another station) via internet, cell phone, or other amateur band. For FM on 70 cm, set your radio to 446.000 MHz and make sure that the radio is set to simplex (no repeater offset). You will also need to know your 6-digit gridsquare.
If you’re interested in getting into VHF/UHF contesting, there are two guides under the Membership | Resources tab. One is a two-page quick-start guide to VHF/UHF contests, and the other is a more comprehensive introduction to the subject.
With FM contesting, it helps to target a specific time to get on. I’d encourage everyone to try to be on from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM local (2100-2130z) on Saturday, and 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM local (1700-1730z) on Sunday. I hope to hear you on the air, and don’t forget to submit your log after the contest!
Civilian Conservation Corps On-The-Air weekend
The fourth annual Civilian Conservation Corps On-The-Air weekend will be held the second full weekend in August, 12 and 13, 2017. The event will start Saturday at 14:00z (10:00am EDT) and run until Sunday 21:00z (5:00 pm EDT). The Civilian Conservation Corps came into being in the spring of 1933. Its goal was twofold: to provide needed economic relief to families suffering from the effects of the Great Depression and to protect and develop the natural resources of the United States. As radio played a big part in how the camps communicated with each other, we want to honor the contribution that “The Boys” of the corps made to our country by putting the sites of the CCC camps back on the air. We would encourage you to activate the actual location of one of the camps however, if it is no longer accessible or you cannot get permission to set up on the site, you may operate from one of the project sites the camp worked on. Many state and local parks have buildings that were constructed by the “CCC Boys” and would make a suitable place to not only honor them but also promote amateur radio at the same time. For more information see our website www.qsl.net/ccc or contact KG8JK via email: ccc@qsl.net .
Excellent Field Day Article in Richfield Newspaper
Field Day 2017 was a great success. Those who missed it should plan to be attend in 2018. Those who were there are already making plans to make next year an even bigger event. Andrew Wig, of the Sun Current, wrote a fine article on our activation at the Richfield Community Center.
http://current.mnsun.com/2017/07/06/radio-operators-have-fun-prepare-for-the-worst/
December 5th Holiday Party at Davanni’s
The Bloomington Amateur Radio Association and Bloomington AUXCOMM, in association with Richfield Radio Club, invite you to a holiday party to close the year 2017.
Davanni’s 8605 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420
Tuesday December 5th
Come one come all to a dinner party to tell stories and share photos of the past year.
The party starts at 6:30 P.M. Order your food, at the counter, and proceed to the party room.
You do not need to purchase food to attend.
Any licensed (or wants to be licensed) amateur radio operator is invited.
There is no meeting at Bloomington Civic Plaza tonight
No Meeting November 2017
November 7th is general election day in Bloomington Minnesota
The Haeg conference room is used by the election committee this evening.
Voting information can be found on the City of Bloomington website
An informal gathering will take place at Starbucks on the corner of 98th Street and Lyndale Avenue 7-9 P.M.
Meeting October 3rd at 7:30 P.M.
This month we have a very interesting presentation lined up: Jack
Burris (K6JEB) will be talking with us, via the internet, about
kite-hoisted antennas for portable operation. For portable operators
who spend time in windy areas that don’t have many trees, kites offer
a great way to get wire antennas in the air—even a full-size
quarter-wave vertical for 160 m!
Enter Bloomington Civic Plaza via the police (South) entrance. Call on the 147.09+ repeater for admission.
We gather on the second floor in the Haeg conference room.
Next Meeting Tuesday September 5th at 7:30 P.M.
This month’s presentation is from Dave Fugleberg WØZF
VHF contest rover on the bands 50 MHz and up!
Stations around the country are getting ready to participate in the ARRL September VHF contest. Dave will talk about his rover station and give you some tips about how you can get in on the fun.
We open the fall season with our first meeting on Tuesday September 5th at 7:30 P.M.
Enter Bloomington Civic Plaza via the police (South) entrance. Call on the 147.09+ repeater for admission.
We gather on the second floor in the Haeg conference room.
Amateur Radio Operator Recognition Days Minnesota
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has proclaimed June 24 and 25, 2017 as Amateur Radio Operator Recognition Days in the State Of Minnesota
2017 Amateur Radio Operator Recognition Days
Click the link above to see the full document
Build A Yagi Antenna party photos
Thanks to Bill and Dan for a fun night building antennas you can use right away.
Don’t forget to bring them to field day for the transmitter fox hunt.
