Seven Three Newsletter
Amateur Radio Newsletter For January 2018
Welcome to 2018! In this edition of the Seven Three Newsletter we have an interesting article on the sun and it’s ability to dramatically affect things here on earth, a good read for sure. For weekly solar activity follow Space Weater Woman on YouTube. I also added a video from KE0OG about becoming a volunteer examiner, growing the hobby is still very important. As of 2016 the US had 801,424 amateur radio operators so overall it would seem we are sitting in a good place but getting more techs upgraded is always a good thing.
You will notice this newsletter is loaded with Youtube videos, the latest edition of Ham Nation is below along with some other fun little videos to watch.
In February one of the notable contests in our area is the Minnesota QSO Party, Contest runs on the first Saturday of February from1400 through 2359 UTC (8 AM through 5:59 PM CST). The contest rules can be found here, more information on the contest can be found on WA7BNM’s contestcalendar.com.
Now that we are well into winter I hear a lot more people getting on 160 meters.
There are very good reasons why you should not let this fascinating band “slip through your fingers“. The first is propagation. It typically is the last and least likely band to fail under adverse propagation conditions. It is primarily a night time band when it comes to DX due to D-Layer Absorption during the day. At that time, in particular the morning, and at night, it can provide NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) mode propagation for local contacts. In times of local disaster when a repeater is down, this mode can get communications over mountains. 80, 60 and 40 meters can equally be used in NVIS mode propagation, depending of ionosphere conditions, but I’m only concentrating on getting you on 160. Read more on 160 The BWRA club will be starting up there winter net on 160 soon, head over to their website for more information.
If you have news and or information you would like in the newsletter please send your emails to: seventhree @ bcham.org also note that this email is also available on our website found here: https://bcham.org
News From Our Region & Elsewhere
In all likelihood, Someday the sun will knock out the grid
Shortly after sunset on June 18, 2013, a woman drove her minivan onto Brighton Street in Belmont, Massachusetts. Her GPS told her to turn right. But the metallic voice, guided by satellite data, steered her wrong: onto a railroad track. She tried to drive off, but the van got stuck. No sooner had she unbuckled herself and her two kids and ushered them out than a train crumpled her car into a ball of foil. Not long after, someone sent a news story about the incident to space physicist Tamitha Skov. She didn’t just see a GPS acting up. She saw the sun acting up. READ MORE
New All-band SSB/CW Micro BITX Now Available
HFSignals.com now offers the uBITX (micro BITX) HF radio, an all-band QRP rig that operates both sideband and CW, for the truly remarkable price of US$109, postpaid from India. The main board comes assembled and tested. The buyer supplies a chassis and some peripheral parts.
Become a Volunteer Examiner by KE0OG
Yaesu Announcment on the DR-2x
The highlights:
1) DR-2X program continues until June 30, 2018.
2) DR-1X will have a new firmware revision adding DG-ID and DP-ID soon. The repeater will have to be sent to Yaesu USA for this upgrade.
3) DR-1X FR (Factory Reburbished) will be available for $400. These are the trade-in units and will come with 3 year warranty and the DG-ID/DP-ID firmware pre-installed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkHBJL7u3GQ
Ham Nation 332: A Cold & Bright Start to the New Year!
A simple way to get rid of ground loops, LED lights for your ham shack, register for Contest University, George’s memorable projects of 2017 and more!
Regional Ham Radio Events
Hamfest/Convention
The Saint Cloud Amateur Radio Club would like to announce the Cabin Fever Reliever Hamfest at the Saint Cloud Armory.
The event will be January 27th, 2018 from 9am to 12pm!
WA7BNM Contest Calendar
| February 2018 | |
| Vermont QSO Party | 0000Z, Feb 3 to 2400Z, Feb 4 |
| 10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB | 0001Z, Feb 3 to 2359Z, Feb 4 |
| Black Sea Cup International | 1200Z, Feb 3 to 1159Z, Feb 4 |
| Mexico RTTY International Contest | 1200Z, Feb 3 to 2359Z, Feb 4 |
| Minnesota QSO Party | 1400Z-2400Z, Feb 3 |
| AGCW Straight Key Party | 1600Z-1900Z, Feb 3 |
| British Columbia QSO Party | 1600Z, Feb 3 to 0400Z, Feb 4 |
| North American Sprint, CW | 0000Z-0400Z, Feb 4 |
| CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest | 0000Z, Feb 10 to 2400Z, Feb 11 |
| SARL Field Day Contest | 1000Z, Feb 10 to 1000Z, Feb 11 |
| Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW | 1100Z-1300Z, Feb 10 |
| SKCC Weekend Sprintathon | 1200Z, Feb 10 to 2359Z, Feb 11 |
| Dutch PACC Contest | 1200Z, Feb 10 to 1200Z, Feb 11 |
| FISTS Winter Unlimited Sprint | 1700Z-2100Z, Feb 10 |
| ARRL Inter. DX Contest, CW | 0000Z, Feb 17 to 2400Z, Feb 18 |
| Run for the Bacon QRP Contest | 0200Z-0400Z, Feb 19 |
| AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening | 1900Z-2030Z, Feb 21 |
| CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB | 2200Z, Feb 23 to 2159Z, Feb 25 |
| REF Contest, SSB | 0600Z, Feb 24 to 1800Z, Feb 25 |
| UBA DX Contest, CW | 1300Z, Feb 24 to 1300Z, Feb 25 |
| North American QSO Party, RTTY | 1800Z, Feb 24 to 0600Z, Feb 25 |
| High Speed Club CW Contest | 0900Z-1700Z, Feb 25 |
| SKCC Sprint | 0000Z-0200Z, Feb 28 |
For another great contest calendar: DL2NBY Google Contest Calendar
Brand New Hams
Let us know about new hams: seventhree @ bcham.org
Silent Key Report
Let us know about silent keys: seventhree @ bcham.org
Audio/Podcast:
Practical Amateur Radio Podcast
Northeastern Minnesota
ANOKA COUNTY RADIO CLUB – www.anokaradio.org
ARROWHEAD RADIO AMATEURS CLUB – www.thearac.org
BAKKEN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY – http://www.w0mdt.com
BEARGREASE AMATEUR RADIO COALITION – www.beargreasearc.com
BOUNDARY WATERS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – http://raven.boreal.org/bwarc/
BRAINERD AREA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.brainerdham.org
COURAGE CENTER HANDI-HAMS – www.handiham.org
EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.ecmarc.org
ISANTI COUNTY ARES – www.isantiares.org
ISANTI COUNTY SKYWARN – www.isantiskywarn.com
LAKE COUNTY RACES/ARES – www.n0lcr.org
LAKE SUPERIOR AMATEUR COALITION – www.lsacrepeaters.org
MAGIC REPEATER GROUP – www.magicrepeater.net
MAPLE GROVE RADIO CLUB – www.k0ltc.org
MINNESOTA ARES – www.minnesotaares.org
MORA OPEN REPEATER ASSOCIATION – www.morahamradio.com
NORTHERN LAKES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.northernlakesamateurradioclub.org
SHERBURNE COUNTY ARES – www.shercoares.org
ST CLOUD AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.w0sv.org
STILLWATER AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION – www.radioham.org
ST PAUL RADIO CLUB – www.stpaulradioclub.org
TWIN CITY FM CLUB – www.tcfmc.org
Northwestern Wisconsin
BARRON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION – http://www.bcham.org
TRI COUNTY REPEATER ASSOCIATION – http://tcra.org
BURNETT WASHBURN RADIO ASSOCIATION – http://www.bwra.org
DUNN COUNTY RADIO AMATEURS – http://dunncohams.wix.com/dunn-co-hams
POLK COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION – www.n9xh.org
ST CROIX VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.scvhamradio.com
ST CROIX VALLEY RADIO AMATEURS – sites.google.com/site/stcroixvalleyhamradio/home
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN/SUPERIOR AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.uwsuper.edu
WISCONSIN ARES/RACES – www.wi-aresraces.org/
VHF/UHF NETS
BARRON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION NET
Thursday Evening @ 7 PM – 146.715 MHz, PL 110.9 [KD9EJA Repeater – Barron, WI]
BAKKEN AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY MINWIS NET
Monday Evening @ 7:30 PM – 444.525 MHz FUSION [WØMDT Repeater – Anoka, MN]
BRAINERD AREA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB REPEATER NET
Sunday Evening @ 8 PM – 147.225 MHz [WØUJ Repeater – Brainerd, MN]
BURNETT WASHBURN RADIO ASSOCIATION [FORMERLY NORWESCO ARES/RACES] NET
Every Wednesday @ 8:00 PM – 146.625 MHz, PL 110.9 [N9PHS Repeater – Siren, WI]
CENTRAL MINNESOTA REGION EMERGENCY HOSPITAL NET
First Wednesday of every month @ 1 PM – 147.015 MHz, PL 100.0 [WØSV Repeater – St Cloud, MN]
COOK COUNTY ARES RESPONSE TEAM NET
Every Sunday @ 7:00 PM – 146.655 MHz, PL 151.4 [WØBBN Repeater – Grand Marias, and BWARC Repeaters]
DUNN COUNTY ARES/RACES NET
First Thursday @ 7:00 PM – 146.685 MHz, PL 110.9 [N9QKK Repeater – Menomonie, WI]
EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NET
Every Monday Evening @ 8 PM – 145.330 MHz [KØECM Repeater – Rush City, MN]
EASTERN MINNESOTA EMERGENCY SERVICES NET [EMESNET]
Every Tuesday @ 7 PM – 147.240 MHz, PL 146.2 [KDØCI Repeater – Ogilvie]
MINNESOTA DISTRICT 6 ARES NET
First Thursday of every month @ 12:30 PM – 146.700 MHz, PL 127.3 [WCØHC Repeater – Minneapolis]
EMESNET SIMPLEX TEST
Every Fourth Tuesday immediately following regular EMESNET session – 146.565 MHz Simplex
POLK COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION NET
Monday @ 9 PM – 147.195 MHz [N9XH Repeater – Balsam Lake, WI]
SHERBURNE COUNTY ARES NET
Every Monday @ 7:30 PM – 146.970 MHz [KØCJD Repeater – Elk River, MN]
ST CROIX VALLEY RADIO AMATEURS/ST CROIX ARES/RACES
Every Monday at 7pm 147.330 + 110.9 Hz [N9UPC Repeater – Roberts, WI]
SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA DIGITAL NET
Every Thursday @ 6:30 PM – 147.225 MHz, PL 100 [WØEAS Repeater – Rochester – Use MT63/2L Mode]
TRI COUNTY REPEATER ASSOCIATION NET
Every Thursday @ 8:00 PM – 145.470 MHz, PL 110.9 [N9LIE Repeater – Holcombe, WI]
TWIN CITY FM CLUB 76 SATURDAY SWAP SHOP NET
Every Saturday @ 9:30 AM – 146.760 MHz, PL 114.8 Hz [WØEF Repeater – St Louis Park, MN]
WECOMM ARES/RACES VHF NET
Last Thursday of the Month @ 7 PM – Multiple Linked Repeaters [WE9COM Repeater – Wisconsin]
HF NETS
BADGER WEATHER NET
Daily @ 5 AM – 3984 KHz LSB [Net Manager: W9IXG]
BADGER EMERGENCY NET
Daily @ Noon – 3985 KHz LSB [Net Manager: K9LGU]
MINNESOTA DIGITAL ARES NET
Thursday Evening @ 8:00 PM – 3583.5 KHz [via Olivia 8/500].
MINNESOTA SECTION [CW] NET
Twice Daily: @ 6:30 PM and 9:50 PM – 3568 KHz [Net Manager: KØWPK].
MINNESOTA SECTION PHONE NET
Twice Daily: @ 12 Noon [Net Manager: NØYR] and @ 5:30 PM – 3860 KHz LSB [Net Manager: WOØA].
PICONET ALL DAY WATCH
9 to 11 AM Monday thru Saturday and 4 to 5 PM Monday thru Friday – 3925 KHz LSB [Net Manager: KAØIZA]
WISCONSIN ARES/RACES NET
Sunday Morning @ 8:00 AM – 3967 KHz LSB [Net Manager: WB9WKO]
WISCONSIN SIDEBAND NET
Daily @ 5 PM – 3985 KHz LSB [Net Manager: KB9KEG]
About Seven Three Newsletter
The Seven Three Newsletter is a free, independent Amateur Radio information periodical covering a large portion of Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. It is published and distributed exclusively to amateur radio operators and clubs, public service agencies and officials, and other interested parties.
The mission is to provide balanced coverage of radio related news and information within our coverage area as much as possible in order to keep interested parties throughout the region and elsewhere informed. The extent of coverage depends on input from individuals and clubs throughout the region.
Permission is granted to subscribers to reprint all or portions of this newsletter for distribution to others, and materials herein may be used as long as this newsletter is referenced as the source, or sources noted within the newsletter are credited.
