Seven Three Newsletter
Amateur Radio Newsletter For October 2017
Welcome again to the Seven Three Amateur Radio Newsletter! We received some very positive feedback from the last newsletter and it’s greatly appreciated. I’d like to start right off with reminding our readers that this newsletter is a community newsletter, if you have something to share please do so. Articles, news, information, basically anything amateur radio related can be published on here and you can email us links and updates as well.
First off, in the in the News from our region & elsewhere you will find news stories related to amateur radio and the recent natural disasters. These stories really highlight the importance of communications and have helped to promote our hobby. Ham’s have been critical in these disasters and with more coverage in the media maybe that will spark more interest in amateur radio.
Radio Related App
One things I have started playing with is a Disaster Prediction App. It give live notifications of solar flares and much more. I’m more interested in watching the space weather part but it’s a very interesting app. This app is $2.99 in the app stores, Google Play and iTunes Store. The app developers web site is QuakeWatch.net with much more information if you are interested.
Open Web RX (SDR)
Have you played with software defined radio? If not it’s really a growing area where online stations are popping up all over the globe. There is a list of stations here that are really fun to play with. The one I have been playing with is Open Web RX, it’s pretty impressive. Hak 5 has a YouTube video on Open Web RX worth checking out.
Screen Shot of the Web Interface
Yaesu DR-2X
In September Yaesu started shipping their new DR-2X System Fusion repeaters. Considering the amount of Fusion repeaters in the surrounding areas it’s something that we feel compelled to put in the newsletter. In Minnesota there are 45 Fusion repeaters and in Wisconsin there are 34 System Fusion repeaters listed on Repeaterbook.com. That’s a impressive amount of repeaters for a relatively new repeater system and I won’t even get into the MINWIS system hosted by the W0MDT group. That said the release of the second edition of their repeater has left a few people scrambling to understand what all it can and can’t do. There has been a lot of conversations around connecting external controllers to the new repeater. As of right now I am being told that it is possible and I personally have talked to Bob at SCOM and he sounded very optimistic about being able to connect into the repeater. We have decided to work with SCOM on this with them and hope to be able to report back on connecting a controller to the DR-2X repeaters.
The second issue that Yaesu is going to have to move on at some point is some sort of digital tone. We share a frequency with a repeater in St. Cloud, MN and on digital we can hear it on C4FM digital when the band is open. If I understand it correctly this is an issue that needs to be addressed on the radios when programing in a repeater. I’ve heard repeater councils are looking to make coordination holders put on a digital access tone/code but there is really not a good option for this as of yet.
At this point I’ll hold off on anymore because we just don’t know the answers. To say it was a rough launch of this repeater is a bit of an under statement but once again, we just don’t have all the information to relay at this time. Fusion is a great system providing mixed mode coverage so we hope this all gets worked out in the end and I believe it will be. Hopefully in next months newsletter we will someone else write something up on the new features. Stay tuned.
News From Our Region & Elsewhere
Using HAM Radio during natural disasters
ELKHART — It’s unlikely we’ll see many strong earthquakes here. But when things like tornadoes touch down some areas have few options for contacting others.
There’s a group of people who can communicate despite the lack of connection. This way of communicating has been around since 1914.
FULL STORY: http://wsbt.com/news/local/using-ham-radio-during-natural-disasters
Pasco Co. needs ham radio operators
NEW PORT RICHEY (FOX 13) – Pasco County put out a call late Saturday for volunteers with a specific skill set and technical equipment to help with the response to Hurricane Irma.
Pasco County says it needs 20 volunteers who know how to operate ham radios to assist with Hurricane Irma response efforts.
FULL STORY: http://www.fox13news.com/weather/tropics/irma-local-coverage/pasco-co-needs-ham-radio-operators
Long Island Ham Radio Operator Helps Relay Messages From Hurricane Victims In Puerto Rico
COPIAGUE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — With Puerto Rico’s telecommunications down, frantic friends and relatives are unable to reach loved ones on the island following Hurricane Maria.
FULL STORY: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/09/22/ham-radio-hurricane-maria/
Regional Ham Radio Events
Last Chance Tailgate
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
Start Date: 10/07/2017
End Date: 10/07/2017
Location: West Medicine Lake Community Club
1705 Forestview Lane North
Plymouth, MN
Website: http://tcfmc.org
Sponsor: Twin City FM Club (TCFMC)
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 146.76 (PL 114.8)
Public Contact: Paul Ramey , WGØG
2847 County Road G Glenwood City, WI 54013
Phone: 612-747-1244
Email: wg0g@arrl.net
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/last-chance-tailgate-1
12th ANNUAL CENTRAL WISCONSIN SWAPFEST
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
Start Date: 10/14/2017
End Date: 10/14/2017
Location: Colby Lions Pavilion
103 West Adams Street
Colby, WI 54421
Sponsor: Black River Amateur Radio Association
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Talk-In: 147.150 (PL 114.8)
Public Contact: Bob Braun , KB9BLV
167 North Front Street Dorchester, WI 54425
Phone: 715-654-5552
Email: kb9blv@yahoo.com
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/12th-annual-central-wisconsin-swapfest
Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference
HAMFEST/CONVENTION
Start Date: 10/21/2017
End Date: 10/21/2017
Location: McMillan Memorial Library
490 East Grand Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Website: http://www.wi-aresraces.org/
Sponsor: WECOMM, LTD
Type: ARRL Convention
Talk-In: 146.790 (PL 114.8)
Public Contact: Mark Rasmussen , N9MEA
1310 Crescent Drive Wausau, WI 54401
Phone: 715-675-4872
Email: markandlisarasmussen@charter.net
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wisconsin-ares-races-conference-3
Brand New Hams
Let us know about new hams: seventhree @ bcham.org
Silent Key Report
KA9YLR Bryan Hyllested Rice Lake, WI 7-27-2017
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]
ISANTI COUNTY SKYWARN NET
Every Tuesday @ 8:30 PM – 145.210 MHz, PL 114.8 [NØGEF Repeater – Crown]
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.