Maple Grove Radio Club

MGRC Mission Statement

Maple Grove Radio Club provides education to current and future amateur radio operators, with the goal of serving the public. We are a reliable communications resource for events and emergencies in Maple Grove and surrounding communities.

President's Message

Volunteer for the Twin Cities Marathon

Connect with Elmers/Mentors

Additionally, please follow the Maple Grove Radio Club Facebook page for frequent updates on club member activities.

Monthly Meeting

TALARC The American Legion Amateur Radio Club

Club Calendar of Events

Club Member Spotlight

Ham radio allows us to have a wide range of varying interests. I just wanted to provide a spot light to the amazing people we have in this club. This months interview is with Jerry Dorf NØFWG.

Question 1: How did I get started in amateur radio?

I took my Extra test in a evening down in the Burnsvile or Lakevile area, I thought it was a easy test. I recall making one correction and the examiner asked if I wanted to change it back, no the correction stands. Response was congratulations you passed with 100%

Question 2: What is your most favorite part of amateur radio?

VHF / UHF and repeaters. Maybe when I retire more digital modes.

Question 3: What is your most proud accomplishment in amateur radio?

Passing my Extra, becoming the Minnesota Repeater Coordinator

Question 4: Do you have any recommendations, words of wisdom, or ideas for newly licensed hams?

Have fun, try different things, keep a open mind, listen to others and keep learning. Do not get discouraged if you let the magic smoke out of a project, it happens to all of us.

Question 5: Did amateur radio influence your career choice?

Interesting Media and Links

ARRL NEWS

Interview with ARRL CEO: Details on Recent Board Meeting, Huntsville Hamfest, Legislative Advocacy, and DX

ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, is the guest on The DX Mentor YouTube channel this week. The hosts of the popular show – Bill Salyers, AJ8B, and Joe Pater, W8GEX – spoke with Minster at length about many topics of interest to ARRL members. They touched on the recent introduction of the DXCC® Trident Plaque, which recognizes the achievement of amateur radio operators who have confirmed two-way radio contacts with 100 or more DXCC Award countries (entities) on three modes. Minster also talked about the newly announced 10-Band DXCC award.

The importance of radio clubs and 2026 being designated the ARRL Year of the Club was also a topic of discussion. Minster also answered questions about decisions made at the recent Second Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors.

The trio talked about this year’s Huntsville Hamfest, which held its annual convention in Alabama earlier this month. Huntsville Hamfest will host the ARRL National Convention next year, August 22 — 23, 2026.

Other topics of interest included the impact of social media on amateur radio, and ARRL leadership and governance. Minster also talked about the ARRL DX Advisory Committee (DXAC).

Resilience Through Amateur Radio for National Preparedness Month 2025

September is National Preparedness Month, which is a good time to look at your personal, family, and community resilience levels. For 2025, the National Preparedness Month theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home.”

Amateur radio is a valuable resource for communication and community service before and during times of crisis, and can be a significant factor in your home’s level of preparedness.

“Now is the time to make sure everything is in order,” said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV. For hams, it means taking the time to check their equipment – from the ground to the antenna, so that it is ready. “Many hams already participate in daily, weekly, and monthly nets that help them hone their communication skills, but if you’re not already active in one, this could be a good opportunity to get into it,” said Johnston.

To extend your personal preparedness into helping provide community resilience, Johnston invites operators to become active in their local ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) activities. “ARES has been leveraging the utility value of the Amateur Radio Service for 90 years,” he said. “We saw last year during Hurricane Helene how vital of a lifeline ham radio operators were for the affected areas."

Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, says that should motivate hams, but not scare them. “Never let your guard down," said Graves. “Don’t live your life in fear, just be aware.” Graves added that his net operators are spread across the Western Hemisphere, but they still have training sessions via radio nets and Zoom meetings.

Hurricane Watch Net Marks 60 Years of Service

This Labor Day weekend, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) celebrates its 60th anniversary of providing critical communications support to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and communities impacted by hurricanes.

As Hurricane Betsy was pummeling the Caribbean on Labor Day weekend 1965, a ham radio operator started hearing calls for information from operators in the Bahamas. Jerry Murphy, K8YUW, sprang into action. He began relaying surface data and storm conditions to help those in the path.

That first net paved the way for what would become the Hurricane Watch Net.

HWN has been active for 156 landfalling hurricanes, including 60 major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger). Of those, 12 struck as Category 5 hurricanes. The net’s longest continuous activation occurred during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, when operators remained on the air for 151 hours straight. Among the deadliest storms ever recorded by the net was Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which claimed more than 11,000 lives in Central America.

HWN operates on 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz, often simultaneously, with net control stations strategically positioned throughout the region to maximize coverage.

“The Hurricane Watch Net continues to serve the public interest by helping save lives during hurricanes. We are proud to carry forward the vision of our founder, Jerry Murphy, who passed earlier this year at age 88,” said HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV.

For more information about the HWN, or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.hwn.org.

FCC Batch Filing System Unavailable

As of Monday morning, August 25, 2025, the FCC’s Electronic Batch Filing (EBF) system—used by all VEC organizations to file exam sessions, individual applications, and club license applications—is not processing submissions.

This outage means that applications for new and upgraded licenses, as well as individual and club filings, are not currently being processed or issued.

ARRL VEC alerted FCC staff, who are working to resolve the problem. While the system briefly processed a small number of Monday’s submissions on Wednesday, it has since gone down again. Thousands of applications remain pending on the FCC side.

ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, reported that the FCC has not provided an estimate on when the system will be restored.

Please check back on this ARRL News page for updates on the FCC outage as more information becomes available.

Upcoming Contests

• September 1 - 2 -- MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint (CW)

• September 3 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)

• September 4 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)

• September 6 -- CWOps CW Open (CW)

• September 6 - 7 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)

• September 6 - 7 -- IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB (phone)

• September 6 - 7 -- RSGB SSB Field Day (phone)

• September 7 - 8 -- Tennessee QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

• September 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, CW (CW)

Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions

• September 7 | Southern New Jersey Conference and HamFest, hosting the ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention, Mullica Hill, New Jersey.

• September 12 - 13 | Slidell EOC Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Slidell, Louisiana

• September 19 - 21 | Duke City Hamfest, hosting the ARRL New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• September 20-21 | Midwest Superfest, hosting the ARRL Central Division Convention, Chillicothe, Illinois

• September 27 | ARRL Dakota Division Convention, Moorhead, Minnesota

• October 4 | Rock Hill Hamfest, hosting the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina

• October 10 -12 | Pacificon, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California

• October 10 - 11 | Melbourne Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida

• October 10 - 11 | SPARK-CON, hosting the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Sedalia, Missouri

• October 11 | North Star Radio Convention, hosting the ARRL Minnesota State Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

• October 12 | Nutmeg Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut

• October 23 - 26 | HamCon Colorado 2025, hosting the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Grand Junction, Colorado

• November 1 | Stone Mountain Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Board Members

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