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KDØCI’s Radio Newsletter

Volume 4  Number 2  -  Supporting Amateur Radio in Eastern Minnesota & Northwest Wisconsin  -  February 25, 2009

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UPGRADING AND TRAINING UNDERWAY

The New Year in our region has opened a renewed effort to ensure Emergency Preparedness continues to improve. Among the ways this is being done is with the upgrading of operational facilities, and the training of operators.

As part of an effort to improve operations by placing its radio equipment into an area free of surrounding distractions, the location of the Amateur Radio Station at the Mille Lacs Hospital in Onamia was changed recently, and in doing so improved communications operations.

The previous location of the equipment posed several problems, mostly involving use of the station when patients were present. Moving the equipment into a vacant room nearby not only eliminated the distractions, but put it in a more centralized location, thus better facilitating communications with the nearby Main Nurses Station.

Most of the effort in this project was put forth by Keith Vredenburg, KDØFLP, Maintenance Foreman at the hospital. Also assisting in this effort was Father Jim Cashman, KCØEQE, who lives at the adjacent Lake Song Apartments. Father Jim has been a frequent operator of the station and has been lobbying for the change for some time.

Meanwhile in Milaca, efforts to relaunch operating activities from the Public Health Center on Tuesday evenings got underway in earnest. A meeting was held on Monday February 9^th to start the process of scheduling operating dates. For now, the plan is to have an operator at the Public Health Center on the fourth Tuesday of the month, during the Emergency Services and Facilities Session of the Eastern Minnesota Emergency Simplex Net.

In recent months, Don Carlson, NDØM, has been the only operator at the Milaca PHC, manning the station during the Central Minnesota Emergency Hospital Net on the first Wednesday of the month. Now that the facility will once again be open for Tuesday evening operations, the plan is to not only build on that opening, but also to expand the operator base. The focus will be to train licensed operators who normally work at hospitals and public health centers, but do not have any radio equipment or a station of their own.

Tuesday night net operations at Milaca PHC resumed as planned on February 24^th for the first time since the summer of 2007 with Nicole Bathgate, KDØDXI, operating the station.

Kenny Broshofske, KDØCI, was especially pleased to see the Milaca Public Health Center reopened for Tuesday evening net activities. “The opening of this facility on Tuesday evenings demonstrates a commitment that could be a real boost to not only growing the hobby in our region, it could encourage more emergency facilities to do the same. Hopefully this will have a domino effect in triggering other emergency facilities to join our Tuesday evening exercise. The training opportunities for this are wide open.” Story continues on Page 2.

INSIDE THIS SPECIAL SKYWARN ISSUE

UPGRADING FACILITIES AND TRAINING OPERATORS – The story continues on Page 2.

SKYWARN & NWS WEATHER PAGES - Details about a Skywarn Workshop and more on Pages 3, 4, and 5.

ARRL ISSUES MOBILE OPERATIONS POLICY STATEMENT – Details on Page 6.

REGIONAL INFORMATION PAGE – Latest Two Meter Repeater Listings, Emergency, and Net information - Page 7.

EMESNET INFORMATION, REGIONAL AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS – Details on Page 8.

VE TESTING SESSIONS AND UPCOMING HAMFESTS – Information on Page 9.

FLEA MARKET, KDØCI RADIO NEWSLETTER COVERAGE – Details on Page 10.

FROM THE KITCHEN OF KAØAJF – Texas Chili? How about Good Old Fashioned Upper Midwest Chili! Page 11.

LATE BREAKING NEWS, MORA TOWER ORDINANCE, THIS MONTH IN REGIONAL RADIO HISTORY – Page 12.

All this and so much more in this jam packed Special Skywarn issue of the KDØCI Radio Newsletter!

UPGRADING AND TRAINING UNDERWAY – continued from Page 1

The Eastern Minnesota Emergency Simplex Net operates at 146.565 MHz, and on the fourth Tuesday of the month the “Emergency Services Session” normally originates from the Kanabec Hospital in Mora. However, operations from the hospital planned for February 24^th were jeopardized when during long awaited completion of antenna cable repairs took place on February 20^th, a problem was discovered in the antenna. As a result, KDØCI ran the net from his home which does not have quite the same reach in coverage as does the hospital. The signal from the hospital is known to cover most of Eastern Minnesota and parts of Northwest Wisconsin. It is hoped that remaining cable and antenna repairs at the hospital will be completed before the Central Minnesota Emergency Net takes place on Wednesday March 4^th. Meanwhile, Isanti County Public Health reported problems with their station, as their radio is capable of receiving but not transmitting. No additional information is available, but this problem is being looked into further.

SPECIAL SKYWARN ISSUE - NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

SKYWARN WORKSHOP SATURDAY MARCH 28^TH IN ST PAUL

A Skywarn Workshop is scheduled to take place at the University of St Thomas in St Paul on Saturday March 28^th. While this is not a replacement for the regular classes, this annual workshop is a daylong affair featuring what John Wetter of the National Weather Service calls, “enrichment information”.

According to the information posted on its website, the workshop is, “geared for storm spotters, but is open to all. If you are interested in storm spotting and would like to become involved, this workshop is the perfect place for you. If you are a public safety official and would like to hear more about the latest weather technologies that can make your community safer, please join us. If you simply have a fascination for weather and want to learn more about it, you are welcome to attend.”

The objective for the Skywarn workshop is to train, equip, and connect Skywarn volunteers:

TRAIN...   spotters to improve observational skills, reporting accuracy, and personal safety.
EQUIP...   spotters with information about latest tools & technologies that can serve you in your duties.
CONNECT...   Skywarn communities from across the state to build relationships, encourage participation, and attract newcomers to the program.

The website goes on to say that if you are new to the spotter community, please be sure to also attend a Spotter Certification class near you! A list of upcoming Skywarn Spotter Training Seminars, including the Monday March 9^th 2009 Seminar at the High School Auditorium in Ogilvie, are listed on Page 4.

More information about the Skywarn Workshop is available on line at http://www.mnskywarnworkshop.org/

REGIONAL NOAA WEATHER RADIO - A VERY VALUABLE SERVICE

With the severe weather season nearly upon us, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated NOAA Weather Radio on hand in your home. It not only keeps you informed – it can be a life saver.

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts weather information from regional National Weather Service Offices to remote transmitters within their service areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Both Duluth and Minneapolis/Chanhassen NWS Offices have several transmitter sites scattered across the region which broadcast weather information specific to the transmitter’s coverage area.

A listing of NOAA Weather Radio Stations is on Page 5. It lists each individual station, station frequency and location, and the approximate coverage area it serves. Some counties are served by more than one station, so look carefully at the listings to see which station or stations best serve your area. In a few cases, there is some overlap in coverage between Duluth and Minneapolis. There are also instances where Duluth or Minneapolis stations might serve a given area better because of topography, or on those occasions when atmospheric inversions cause reception problems.

Included in the listings are the SAME [Specific Alert Message Encoders] codes for each county, or portions of larger counties where more than one SAME code is necessary. These SAME codes can be programmed into many of the newer Weather Radios and, when properly programmed, alert you at any time of severe weather taking place within the specific SAME code area.

More information regarding NOAA Weather Radio is available on line at http://www.weather.gov/nwr/

While common household VHF Scanners are designed to receive weather radio broadcasts, radio’s designed specifically for weather radio broadcasts are highly recommended. Many Amateur Radios are also equipped with Weather Radio receiving capabilities, enabling Spotters to monitor NOAA Weather Stations while engaged in spotter activities.

Weather radios may be purchased at radio and television outlets, hardware and appliance stores, and other retailers. It’s a purchase that, if made, could one day save your life.

SPECIAL “SKYWARN” SESSION OF TUESDAY EVENING NET PLANNED

A special “Skywarn” session of the Eastern Minnesota Emergency Simplex Net is scheduled for the Tuesday March 31^st net session. It is the first such session in the history of the net, and will encourage participation by Skywarn Spotters across the region.

The purpose of this session is to determine how effectively spotters can transmit weather information to net control for relay to the National Weather Service via simplex. If any of the repeater systems were to fail during severe weather outbreaks, simplex operations may have to be relied on to fill in the void.

The Eastern Minnesota Emergency Simplex Net operates every Tuesday evening at 7 PM on 146.565 Mhz.

FROM ARRL HEADQUARTERS –

ARRL Executive Committee Issues Mobile Amateur Radio Operation Policy Statement

ARRL Bulletin 11, from ARRL Headquarters, Newington Connecticut, February 3, 2009

To all radio amateurs

On January 30, at the instruction of the Board of Directors at its January 2009 meeting, the ARRL Executive Committee adopted a policy statement on mobile Amateur Radio operations. The statement addresses the growing number of proposed state and local laws and ordinances regulating the use of cellular telephone and text messaging, inadvertently affecting Amateur Radio mobile communications.

In its statement, the Executive Committee urges state and municipal legislators to limit the scope of their proposals, limiting them to devices such as full duplex wireless telephones and related hand-held or portable equipment. Alternately, it suggests that licensed Amateur Radio operation be listed specifically as an exclusion to the proposed regulations.

"At the start of each new session, you see a flurry of this type of proposal in state legislatures across the country," said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND.

As of February 1, 2009, Henderson said that the ARRL is aware of proposals in 11 states: Georgia, Hawaii Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming, as well as several local city or town proposals.

"These proposals are usually intended to regulate cellular telephone and text messaging by drivers as a matter of safety but, when they are written in very broad terms, can include Amateur Radio mobile operations in the 'net' they cast," Henderson continued. "The Executive Committee's policy statement gives a good, concise background of the role the Amateur Service plays in public safety and service communications. It also highlights the differences between communications conducted by cellular telephone and those using Amateur Radio. Finally, the statement offers some suggested statutory language for state motor vehicle codes which would protect Amateur Radio mobile operation."

The ARRL recognizes that driver inattention is a leading cause of automobile accidents. The policy statement raises the fact that cell phones utilize full duplex communications -- where the user is talking and listening simultaneously. The Executive Committee statement says "Two-way radio use is dissimilar from full-duplex cellular telephone communications because the operator spends little time actually transmitting; the time spent listening is more similar

to, and arguably less distracting than listening to a broadcast radio, CD or MP3 player. There are no distinctions to be made between or among Amateur Radio, public safety land mobile, private land mobile or citizen's radio in terms of driver distraction. All are distinguishable from mobile cellular telephone communications in this respect."

The ARRL Policy Statement also recognizes the responsibility of the amateur community to conduct its activities in a manner that does not create unsafe operation of their motor vehicle. "Safety has to be a top concern at all times," Henderson concluded.

The ARRL Policy Statement can be found on the web at,

http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/MobileAmateurRadioPolicyStatement.pdf.

NEW NETS ON THE AMATEUR AIRWAVES

Two new Amateur Radio nets have recently hit the regional airwaves.

What could be described as a CW Net for Beginners was launched recently on the 80 meter HF Band. The session is on the air Saturday mornings between 9 and 11 AM [or thereabouts] on 3.570 Mhz. If you’d like to pound a key, it’s a good place to be! Among the participants are KCØYBX, KAØCSW and KCØVNK.

Also, a new two meter simplex net is operating in the St Cloud area in Central Minnesota on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 8:45 PM on 146.415 Mhz. The net is run by Kevin Kampa, KBØNMN, from Foley. It is basically an informal net designed to encourage simplex activity on the two meter band.

Both of these nets have only recently appeared, and they both have plenty of room to grow.

REGIONAL INFORMATION – Print and post in your shack

TWO METER REPEATERS – Updated February 18^th 2009

LOCATION       FREQUENCY     OFFSET           PL TONE          CALL SIGN       NOTES

Aitkin                146.805 Minus               156.7                KCØQXC

Becker              147.345 Plus                  85.4                 KØOS               Skywarn Hub [to KØMPX]

Big Lake           146.775 Minus               None                 NØRPP

Brainerd            145.130 Minus               None                 WØUJ              

Brainerd            147.225 Plus                  None                 WØUJ

Cambridge         146.640 Minus               146.2                WRØP                                     

Crown               145.230 Minus               127.3                NØGEF             Skywarn

Duluth               146.940 Minus               103.5                WØGKP           Skywarn

Elk River           146.970 Minus               None                 KØCJD             Skywarn

Foley                147.075 Plus                  85.4                 KBØPXT           Skywarn, REACT

Foreston           146.745 Minus               107.2                NØGOI

Giese                146.865 Minus               146.2**              KBØQYC          **PL Tone Updated

Isle                   146.610 Minus               141.3                WBØSYO                    

Little Falls         147.135 Plus                  123.0                WØREA

Mahtowa           147.000 Minus               103.5                NØBNG            Skywarn [linked to Duluth]

Milaca               145.350 Minus               None                 WBØMPE        

Ogilvie               147.240 Plus                  146.2                KDØCI              Links to St Cloud & Duluth Pending

North Branch     147.315 Plus                  91.5                 KCØASX          

Princeton          146.895 Minus               203.5                NØRPP*           *Custodial Change Pending

Rush City          145.330 Minus               146.2                KØECM

Siren                 146.625 Minus               110.9                N9PHS

St Cloud            146.835 Minus               85.4                 NØOYQ            Skywarn

St Cloud            146.940 Minus               None                 WØSV

St Cloud            147.015 Plus                  100.0                WØSV              Central Region Emergency Net

Superior            146.760 Minus               110.9                K9UWS

EMERGENCY & SKYWARN FREQUENCIES

Eastern Minnesota [Simplex]: 146.565 MHz

National Weather Service [Duluth KØNWS]:

Northland Skywarn: Mahtowa - 147.000 MHz

Northland Skywarn: Ogilvie - 147.240 MHz [PLANNED]

75 Meter Skywarn Net: 3810 KHz LSB, Alternate: 3820 KHz LSB.

National Weather Service [Minneapolis/Chanhassen KØMPX]:

Isanti County Skywarn: Cambridge - 146.640 MHz

Benton County Skywarn: Sauk Rapids - 146.835 MHz, Foley – 147.075 MHz.

Sherburne County Skywarn: Elk River - 146.970 MHz

Regional [Packet]: 145.670 MHz

MAJOR AMATEUR RADIO NETS

EASTERN MINNESOTA EMERGENCY SIMPLEX NET [EMESNET]

Every Tuesday @ 7 PM – 146.565 MHz Simplex [Note: See schedule on the next page for individual session details]

CENTRAL REGION EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NET

First Wednesday of every month @ 1 PM – 147.015 [WØSV Repeater – PL 100.0 Hz, St Cloud]

UPPER MIDWEST TEN METER NET

Every Thursday Evening @ 8 PM – 28.480 MHz USB [Net Control KBØHDA]

EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB NET –

Every Monday Evening @ 8 PM – 145.330 MHz [KØECM Repeater - PL 146.2 Hz, Rush City]

MINNESOTA SECTION PHONE NET

Twice Daily: @ 12 Noon [Net Manager: KØBLR] and @ 5:30 PM - 3860 KHz LSB [Net Manager: WOØA].

WISCONSIN SIDEBAND NET

Daily @ 5:15 PM – 3985 [or 3982.5] KHz LSB [Net Manager: KB9KEG]

EASTERN MINNESOTA EMERGENCY SIMPLEX NET -

Revised for name change December 20th, 2008 – Post near your radio for handy reference.

Preamble:

This is [your call sign] calling the Eastern Minnesota Emergency Simplex Net. This net meets each Tuesday evening at 7 PM Central Time on a frequency of 146.565 Megaherz for the purpose of emergency preparedness and operator training. This net also provides dissemination of Amateur Radio information and bulletins. All stations are welcome to join the net, and are asked to check in by the use of their call sign only. This is a directed net. Transmit only at the direction of the net control, and please pause between transmissions so others may join our group. Each station will be recognized in the order they check in, and they will be given an opportunity for informal comments. Again, your net control station is [your call sign], my name is [your first name], and I’m located at [your location].

Format:

Standby for Emergency Traffic

Standby for check-ins from Mobile Stations only [Follow by asking for any relays on mobiles]

Standby for Announcements or Bulletins

Standby for formal written traffic

            Traffic handling training session on the second Tuesday of the month.

Standby for check-ins

Check-ins by County during the Emergency Services Session on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

Standby periodically for any additional check-ins during the informal session of the net.

Close the net:

Thank all participants; return the frequency to general amateur use.

SHORT TERM EMESNET SCHEDULE AND TRAINING SESSIONS

March 3^rd                      Normal Net Operations

March 10^th                    Formal Traffic Training

March 17^th                    Normal Net Operations

March 24^th                    Emergency Services Net Session from Kanabec Hospital

March 31^st                    Skywarn Spotters Net Session

April 7^th                        Normal Net Operations

April 14^th                      Formal Traffic Training

April 21^st                                             Normal Net Operations

April 28^th                                            Emergency Services Net Session from Kanabec Hospital

REGIONAL AMATEUR RADIO CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

NOTE: If you are in our regional coverage area and your organization is not listed here, let me know.

EASTERN MINNESOTA -

ANOKA COUNTY RADIO CLUB –  www.anokaradio.org

ARROWHEAD RADIO AMATEURS CLUB –  www.thearac.org

BRAINERD AREA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB –  www.brainerdham.org

EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB –  info@ecmarc.org

MAGIC REPEATER GROUP – www.magicrepeater.net

MORA OPEN REPEATER ASSOCIATION – morahamradio@gmail.com  

SHERBURNE COUNTY ARES – www.shercoares.com

ST CLOUD AMATEUR RADIO CLUB –  www.w0sv.org

STILLWATER AMATEUR RADIO CLUB –  www.radioham.org

ST PAUL RADIO CLUB – www.stpaulradioclub.org

NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN -

POLK COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION – www.qsl.net/kc9dmy

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN/SUPERIOR AMATEUR RADIO CLUB – www.uwsuper.edu

VE TESTING & HAMFESTS – Courtesy of ARRL & Other Sources

EVENTS SHOWN ARE THOSE IN OR NEAR EASTERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN

UPCOMING VE TESTING SESSIONS

Saturday February 28^th 2009

Sponsor: Sherburne County ARES

Time: 8:30 AM (Walk-ins allowed)

Contact: John Smolenski, NØYR [763] 263-8741

Email: n0yr@arrl.net

VEC: ARRL/VEC

Location: Elk River American Legion

525 Railroad Drive

Elk River, Minnesota

Saturday March 7th 2009

Sponsor: St Paul Radio Club

Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)

Contact: David M Buending [952] 486-0836

Email: AD2B@ARRL.NET

VEC: ARRL/VEC

Location: Roseville City Hall

2660 County Road C

NW Corner County Road C & Lexington Avenue

Roseville, Minnesota 55101

Thursday March 12th 2009

Sponsor: Eastern Minnesota Amateurs

Time: 7:00 PM

Contact: Teri Belsheim [320] 272-5050

Email: terib@ogilvie.k12.mn.us

VEC: ARRL/VEC

Location: Ogilvie Public School – Board Room

333 School Drive

Ogilvie, Minnesota 56358

Saturday March 14th 2009

Sponsor: Anoka County Radio Club

Time: 9:00 AM (Walk-ins allowed)

Contact: Paul K Shepardson [651] 340-0567

Email: N0NMZ@ARRL.NET

VEC: ARRL/VEC

Location: WWW.CI.BLAINE.MN.US/_DOCS/DIRECTIONS.PDF

Blaine City Hall

10801 Town Square Drive

Blaine, Minnesota 55014

UPCOMING HAMFESTS

28^th Annual MIDWINTER MADNESS – Saturday March 28^th 2009 in Buffalo Minnesota.

Presented by the Robbinsdale Amateur Radio Club – www.k0ltc.org

Location: Buffalo Civic Center – 1306 County Road 134, Buffalo Minnesota 55313.

Talk in on the KØLTC Repeater [147.000 Mhz + 600]

VE Testing sponsored by MNYARC – Registrations Requested - ARRL VE Fee $15

MAGIC Repeater Group Annual Yard Sale – July 25^th 2009 – St Paul Minnesota

FLEA MARKET

NOTE: This newsletter is ALWAYS looking for input regarding items available for sale, especially those items that may be of special interest to our newest Hams. If you have an item or items for sale, by all means send me the information so it can be published in this newsletter. The Newsletter will not be responsible for operating defects or failures of the items being sold, relying strictly on the integrity of Amateurs themselves to conduct their business in an honorable way.

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24 Amp Power Supply Kit & Miscellaneous Parts.

Also:

On eBay: Compact Presario Computer, Desktop Tower, 1.9 GHz, 40 gb hard drive, 256 mb memory Contact Terry NØGOI n0goi@amsat.org or visit http://stores.ebay.com/cmradios-Magic-Electronic-Parts

For some of the newer hams, I have for sale a complete Cushcraft 13B2 beam. This is a 13 element beam that can be used with an inexpensive TV rotator. It has an advertised 15db forward gain, 15 foot boom with a turning radius of 8.9 ft. Can be used either horizontal of vertical. Handles up to 1500 watts weighs a little over 6 pounds and windloading of 1.8 sq. ft. These sell new for $200 or more, selling price $100. 

Contact John Smolenski, NØYR. Phone 763-263-8741 [Home] or 763-221-4756 [Cell]

ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR USE

½ Wave Ringo Ranger Vertical, fully assembled. Contact Dave KAØEVQ on the Tuesday Night Net.

2006 ARRL OPERATORS MANUAL on CD, From KBØHDA. Contact KDØCI by email if interested.

KDØCI RADIO NEWSLETTER REGIONAL COVERAGE AREA

The following is a list of counties in Eastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin that are considered to be within the regional coverage area of the KDØCI Radio Newsletter.

In Minnesota: Coverage area includes all or portions of the following eighteen counties:

Aitkin [Southern Half], Anoka, Benton, Carlton, Chisago, Crow Wing [Southeast Quarter including the city of Brainerd], Hennepin [North and Northwest Suburban], Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison [Eastern Half including the city of Little Falls], Pine, Ramsey [North Suburban], Sherburne, St Louis [City of Duluth and Suburbs], Stearns [City of St Cloud and Suburbs], Washington, and Wright.

In Wisconsin: Coverage area includes all or portions of the following four counties:

Burnette, Douglas [Southwestern Half including the city of Superior], Polk, and St Croix [Northwestern Quarter].

The intent of this newsletter is to balance its coverage in these areas as much as possible in order to keep interested parties throughout the region informed. Much of that coverage depends on input from individuals and clubs throughout the region.

Over the past two years, the newsletter has grown to where it currently enjoys a wide distribution to individuals and other interested groups, in an area ranging from within this region to as far away as the Philippine Islands!

FROM THE KITCHEN OF KAØAJF

By Mary Broshofske, KAØAJF

OK, so we’ve all heard about those hot Texas Chili recipes. So what’s the big deal! If you like Texas Chili, that’s fine. But how about this – a good old fashioned, mild, stick to your ribs, mouthwatering Midwest style chili recipe - the kind that warmly greets those of us living in the frozen north on bone chilling winter days!

Well, I do have to confess – it is not MY recipe, it is KDØCI’s. He has labored for many years trying to perfect this recipe to his liking, and now he thinks he has finally got it right. The last two batches he made were excellent – not that the others weren’t, but he was especially satisfied with the last two.

So, without any further delay, let me share with you KDØCI’s Upper Midwest Chili, and grab yourself a big kettle, a skillet, and a food chopper while you’re at it!

The recipe consists of the following ingredients:

2 Cans – Bush’s Mild Chili Beans

3 Cans – Joan Of Arc Dark Red Kidney Beans

3 Cans – Joan Of Arc Light Red Kidney Beans

5 Cans – Hunts Tomato Sauce

2 Lbs of Ground Beef [the leaner, the better]

1 Green Pepper

1 Red Pepper

3 Medium Sized Whole Tomatoes

2 Medium Sized Onions

Lawry’s Seasoning Salt

Black Pepper

Schilling’s Chili Powder

Del Monte’s Chili Sauce

McCormick’s Celery Seed

Spiceworld Minced Garlic [in pure Olive Oil]

Here is how it’s prepared:

1. Put ground beef in a skillet, add Lawry’s Seasoning Salt, and Black Pepper to suit, 6 to 8 tablespoons of Chili Sauce, and a half teaspoon of Minced Garlic. Cook at moderate heat and keep skillet covered except to stir ingredients until meat is thoroughly cooked.
2. Using a [Vadalia] Chopper, chop onions, tomatoes, green, and red peppers.
3. Put Light and Dark Kidney Beans, Chili Beans, Chopped onions, Chopped Peppers, and Chopped Tomatoes into a large kettle and stir.
4. Add about a half teaspoon of Celery Seed to kettle and stir.
5. Add skillet contents into kettle and stir.
6. Add one can of water to kettle.
7. Bring contents of kettle to a boil and let cook at medium heat for about a half hour – stirring frequently, then continue to cook on low heat for another hour.
8. For best results, let ingredients cool and blend together in the kettle a day or so before re-heating and serving.

The reason for cooking such a huge batch is because we like to store some of each batch in the freezer. It’s nice to be able to break out a frozen bag of homemade chili for a quick meal without a lot of fuss. The last batch yielded three full gallon bags of chili for freezing – and that was after helping ourselves to five [count em’ FIVE] bowls of chili between us!

I hope you enjoy this homemade chili recipe as much as we do. It has become a wintertime favorite in our house, and KDØCI usually makes two or three batches each winter.

LATE BREAKING NEWS ITEMS

BULLETIN: CITY OF MORA CONSIDERING ANTENNA/TOWER ORDINANCE

It has been learned that the Mora City Council is considering an antenna/tower ordinance. The ordinance contains an exemption for Amateur Radio tower installations, however wording for the exemption in the draft has raised concerns. KDØCI has been in contact with the city regarding the ordinance and its possible impact on Amateur Radio operators in the city. A public hearing is set for 6:30 PM Monday March 2^nd at the City Hall. This story is developing at this time.

HIGHWAY 23 CORRIDOR PROJECT UPDATES

Over the past year, there appears to have been no progress in the planned custodial change of the 146.895 repeater in Princeton. When the subject was discussed during a meeting at MJ’s Restaurant in Milaca last winter, Brian Vork, KBØPYI, said he was actively seeking acquisition of the repeater. The plan was to acquire possible help in funding from Mille Lacs County Homeland Security, and then incorporate the repeater into the regional Highway 23 Corridor Project.

Meanwhile, things have been relatively quiet on the Highway 23 Corridor Project since the launching of the Ogilvie repeater last August. While the repeater has been operating flawlessly since early fall, there are still a couple of very minor problems to be solved. One is the need for an AC Battery Backup to protect the repeater during brief AC Power outages that occur, especially during thunderstorms. KDØCI plans to purchase and install a device before the end of winter. There are also concerns regarding the sensitivity of the repeater’s receiver, which will require some attention.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Don [NDØM] & Norma Carlson of Milaca on their recently celebrated 57^th Wedding Anniversary! A very nice article about the couple was published in the February 12^th edition of the Mille Lacs County Times, however a link to the article was not available on the Times website.

ARAC CELEBRATES 80^TH YEAR

The Arrowhead Radio Amateur Club of Duluth is celebrating their 80^th anniversary this year. Among their upcoming activities is the annual Swapfest in Superior on Saturday May 2^nd. There’s much more information about the club on their website at www.thearac.org

THIS MONTH IN REGIONAL RADIO HISTORY

One Year Ago – A phantom Packet radio signal begins appearing on the FM Simplex Phone portion of the two meter band in East Central Minnesota. The signal appears at various times and at various levels of strength, befuddling the local Amateurs. After hearing the signal over a period of several days, several Kanabec County Hams get involved in the search for the elusive phantom. The mystery ends when KBØHDA locates the surprising source of the signal in Brunswick, a few miles south of Mora. For more details on this amazing story, please refer back to the February 2008 issue of the Newsletter.

ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER

The KDØCI Radio Newsletter is a free Amateur Radio information publication for Eastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, and is distributed monthly [or more frequently if required] by email to amateur radio operators and clubs, public service officials, and other interested parties. Permission is granted to subscribers to reprint this newsletter for distribution to others. Material herein may be used as long as this newsletter is referenced as the source, or sources within the newsletter are credited. Comments, questions, etc for this newsletter are always welcome.

Send your comments, as well as any “newsworthy” or “for sale” items for inclusion to either of my email addresses. The deadline for submitting material for the Newsletter is the 20^th of the month [submittals subject to editing].

Primary Email Address: kd0ci@arrl.net [proxy server for kdzeroci@q.com] Alternate: kd0ci@yahoo.com

73,   Kenny Broshofske KDØCI