_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
KDØCI’s Radio Newsletter
Volume 4 Number 2 - Supporting Amateur Radio in Eastern Minnesota & Northwest Wisconsin - February 25, 2009
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 9th 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 24th 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 24th were jeopardized when during long awaited completion of antenna cable repairs took place on February 20th, 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 4th. 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 28TH IN ST PAUL
A Skywarn Workshop is scheduled to take place at the University of St Thomas in St Paul on Saturday March 28th. 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 9th 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.
2009 REGIONAL SKYWARN SPOTTER TRAINING SCHEDULE |
||||||||
The following is a list of Skywarn Training Seminars scheduled within the KDØCI Radio Newsletter coverage area. |
||||||||
Information courtesy of Metro Skywarn, NWS Minneapolis & NWS Duluth. For additional listings, see Note 3 below. |
||||||||
Date |
Location & Time |
Address & Contact Information |
Presented By |
Pre Reg* |
||||
Saturday |
Oak Park Heights |
9:00 AM |
Boutwells Landing, 5600 Norwich Parkway |
|
Metro |
|
||
February 28 |
Minnesota |
|
|
Skywarn |
|
|||
Monday |
Ogilvie |
7:00 PM |
Ogilvie Public School, 333 School Drive |
|
NWS |
|
||
March 09 |
Minnesota |
|
Lowell Sedlacek, KDØFLQ |
[320] 679-6380 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Wednesday |
St Cloud |
1:00 PM |
Law Enforcement Center, 807 Courthouse Square |
NWS |
Yes |
|||
March 11 |
Minnesota |
|
Marv Klug |
[320] 251-3940 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Wednesday |
St Cloud |
6:00 PM |
Law Enforcement Center, 807 Courthouse Square |
NWS |
Yes |
|||
March 11 |
Minnesota |
|
Marv Klug |
[320] 251-3940 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Saturday |
Elk River |
9:00 AM |
Great River Energy Campus, 17845 Highway 10 |
Metro |
Note 1 |
|||
March 14 |
Minnesota |
|
|
Skywarn |
|
|||
Saturday |
Blaine |
12:00 PM |
Blaine City Hall, 10801 Square Drive |
|
Metro |
|
||
March 14 |
Minnesota |
|
|
Skywarn |
|
|||
Monday |
Mounds View |
6:00 PM |
Radio City, 2663 County Road I |
|
Metro |
Note 2 |
||
March 16 |
Minnesota |
|
[763] 786-4475 |
Skywarn |
|
|||
Tuesday |
Sauk Rapids |
7:00 PM |
Sauk Rapids High School, 1833 O'Sauka Road Northeast |
NWS |
|
|||
March 24 |
Minnesota |
|
Charlie Reichensperger, KBØPXT |
[320] 251-7844 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Tuesday |
Forest Lake |
7:00 PM |
Running Acres Harness Park, 15201 Zurich Street Northeast |
NWS |
|
|||
April 07 |
Minnesota |
|
Joe Strunk |
[651] 464-2244 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Thursday |
Duluth |
6:30 PM |
Central High School Tech Center, 800 East Central Entrance |
NWS |
|
|||
April 09 |
Minnesota |
|
|
Duluth |
|
|||
Monday |
Mounds View |
6:00 PM |
Radio City, 2663 County Road I |
|
Metro |
Note 2 |
||
April 13 |
Minnesota |
|
[763] 786-4475 |
Skywarn |
|
|||
Wednesday |
Deer Park |
12:30 PM |
St Croix County Highway Shop, 2212 State Highway 46 |
NWS |
|
|||
April 22 |
Wisconsin |
|
Jack Colvard |
[715] 386-4718 |
Minneapolis |
|
||
Wednesday |
Webster |
6:30 PM |
Jackson Fire Hall, 4599 County Road A |
|
NWS |
|
||
April 22 |
Wisconsin |
|
|
Duluth |
|
|||
Saturday |
Hudson |
9:00 AM |
County Government Center, 1101 Charmichael Road |
NWS |
|
|||
April 25 |
Wisconsin |
|
No contact information available |
|
Minneapolis |
|
||
Saturday |
Blaine |
12:00 PM |
Blaine City Hall, 10801 Square Drive |
|
Metro |
|
||
May 09 |
Minnesota |
|
|
Skywarn |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Pre Reg* |
Pre-Registration is required where noted in the column. |
|
|
|
||||
Note 1 |
Training specifically for Northwestern Hennepin, Wright and Sherburne County spotters. |
|
|
|||||
Note 2 |
Pre-registration required due to very limited seating. |
|
|
|
||||
Note 3 |
For additional information on Skywarn Training Seminars, please visit the following websites: |
|
|
|||||
|
|
Metro Minneapolis/St Paul |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NWS Minneapolis |
|
|
||||
|
|
NWS Duluth |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
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 31st 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.
REGIONAL NOAA WEATHER RADIO STATIONS |
||||||
The following is a list of National Weather Service Radio Stations serving the KDØCI Radio Newsletter coverage area. |
||||||
STATE |
COUNTY |
COUNTY SAME CODE |
STATION CALL SIGN |
STATION FREQUENCY |
STATION LOCATION |
GENERAL COVERAGE |
Minnesota |
Aitkin |
827001 |
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
South Half |
|
Anoka |
027003 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Northeast |
|
Benton |
027009 |
WXL65 |
162.400 |
St Cloud |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
Carlton |
027017 |
KIG64 |
162.550 |
Duluth |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
Countywide |
|
Chisago |
027025 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Southern |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Northern |
|
Hennepin |
027053 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
Isanti |
027059 |
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Countywide |
|
Kanabec |
027065 |
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
Northwest |
|
Mille Lacs |
027095 |
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
Northern |
|
|
|
WXL65 |
162.400 |
St Cloud |
Southwest |
|
Morrison |
027097 |
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
Eastern |
|
|
|
WXL65 |
162.400 |
St Cloud |
Southeast |
|
Pine |
027115 |
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KIG64 |
162.550 |
Duluth |
Northern |
|
|
|
KZZ79 |
162.475 |
Webster |
Eastern |
|
|
|
KZZ84 |
162.450 |
Aitkin |
Northwest |
|
Ramsey |
027123 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Countywide |
|
Sherburne |
027141 |
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WXL65 |
162.400 |
St Cloud |
Northwest |
|
St Louis |
927137 |
KIG64 |
162.550 |
Duluth |
Southeast |
|
Stearns |
027145 |
WXL65 |
162.400 |
St Cloud |
Eastern |
|
Washington |
027163 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Countywide |
|
Wright |
027171 |
WNG676 |
162.500 |
Clearwater |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Eastern |
Wisconsin |
Burnette |
055013 |
KZZ79 |
162.475 |
Webster |
Countywide |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Western |
|
Douglas |
055031 |
KIG64 |
162.550 |
Duluth |
Countywide |
|
|
|
KZZ79 |
162.475 |
Webster |
Southern |
|
Polk |
055095 |
KZZ79 |
162.475 |
Webster |
Northern |
|
|
|
WNG678 |
162.425 |
Pine City |
Western |
|
|
|
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Southwest |
|
St Croix |
055109 |
KEC65 |
162.550 |
Chanhassen |
Western |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GET A LITTLE HF GOING IN YOUR LIFE!
CHECK IN THE UPPER MIDWEST 10 METER NET!
28.480 MHz USB Thursday @ 8 PM – with Net Control KBØHDA
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 18th 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 3rd Normal Net Operations
March 10th Formal Traffic Training
March 17th Normal Net Operations
March 24th Emergency Services Net Session from Kanabec Hospital
March 31st Skywarn Spotters Net Session
April 7th Normal Net Operations
April 14th Formal Traffic Training
April 21st Normal Net Operations
April 28th 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 28th 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
28th Annual MIDWINTER MADNESS – Saturday March 28th 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 25th 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.
**********************************************************************************
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:
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 2nd 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 57th Wedding Anniversary! A very nice article about the couple was published in the February 12th edition of the Mille Lacs County Times, however a link to the article was not available on the Times website.
ARAC CELEBRATES 80TH YEAR
The Arrowhead Radio Amateur Club of Duluth is celebrating their 80th anniversary this year. Among their upcoming activities is the annual Swapfest in Superior on Saturday May 2nd. 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 20th 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