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

Fall has arrived! While we’ve had a few colder days, September mostly brought warmth and sunshine. The leaves still hesitant to change, we look at our calendars as daylight shortens and we start getting everything ready before winter. First off our meeting again will be on Zoom. Gordy and Benton will be doing another round of Ham Radio Trivia. Discussion on new questions and old questions to keep radio operation and the rules fresh.

The Legion is getting close to operational and we are hopeful that November will be in person again. Thank you to everyone who has helped with this move and continue to do so. We are also moving the meeting time back to 7pm. This should be able to stick as well as the Legion opens because they have multiple meeting rooms.

The Twin Cities Marathon is on October 5th emails have gone out soliciting volunteers so if you are interested or able please sign up. We also have the Northstar Radio Convention on October 11th. Make sure to sign up ahead of time to make sure you get a lunch, lunches are prepaid, there are lots of good classes as well as a swap meet. We will also take volunteers for sitting at the Maple Grove table.

Ray is also setting up a POTA this fall so keep an eye out for specifics and get on the air!

73,

Zach, KØZTW

Amateur Radio General Class License Class

October 2025

Want to increase your radio knowledge and bragging rights? Want to get on the HF bands and contact hams around the world?

Come join this study class based on the ARRL materials. This class is sponsored by the Maple Grove Radio Club - a service oriented club primarily serving the Northwest suburbs.

When: Wednesday’s starting October 8th. Class usually runs 11 to 12 weeks.
Class time 6:45 - 9:15 pm Classes will be recorded and available for review if you miss a session or need to cover the material again.
Where: ONLINE using Zoom We will also have a few supplemental in-person sessions as part of the class. These in person sessions will cover additional material not on the exam and will allow some hands on experience but are not required.

Cost: $10 registration fee due first night of class. This will be collected via PayPal.

You will also need to purchase the ARRL General Class License Manual 10th Edition text book for about $32.

Payment details will be emailed to you after you register for the class.

To Register or get answers to your questions: Email registrar@mnyarc.org

Please include your name, Address, and phone contact information as well as your email address.

The General Class License exam will be offered online during the week of the last class for an additional $15 fee.

Please Volunteer for the Twin Cities Marathon

Last chance to register for the North Star Radio Conference that happens next weekend. The price has increased but you can still register here; https://northstarradio.org/registration/

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

MFJ-915 RF Isolator Product Evaluation

This is the second of several articles intended to describe the technical details of peripheral products that we ham’s use. The manufacturer describes this as a RF Isolator and a 1:1 current balun.

Typical market costs: $40 (MFJ products are discontinued but still in widespread use).

Power Rating: Full legal power on SSB.

Input to Output Connectors: SO-239 to SO-239

Frequency Range: 1.8 to 30 MHZ (160 to 10 Meters)

Termination Impedance: 50 Ohms, nominal.

Waterproof and suitable for outdoor use but the connectors need water ingress protection or sealants.

As per the manufacturer instructions, it is intended to be placed close to the transmitter and in line with the coaxial feeding the antenna. (this is unlike most choke baluns).

Description. Refer to figure 1. This device simply provides a straight-through connection from the outside shield to the outside shield and inside conductor to inside conductor. Contrary to some wound baluns on the market, this device simply has fifty small toroidal ferrite cores placed around the inner coaxial cable acting as a common-mode choke device.

For the following, refer to the oscillograph shown in figure 2 and to the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Each vertical grid square (graticule) is a change (drop) of 10dBm. Frequency is from left to right. The yellow trace is somewhat flat and closely follows the second grid down or -20dBm in value. Following the trace to the right, there is a small diamond symbol near the center of the screen. That is a marker representing -28.26dBm of attenuation at a frequency of 55.385 MHZ, nearing the 6-meter band. For an attenuator in our types of systems, a drop of 20 is good and is much better than no attenuation. Ideally, achieving a value of 30dBm or more is even better but takes more careful design consideration.

This test was performed within a range of 1 MHZ to 150 MHZ, although the manufacturer does not specify this wide range.

Compare this MFJ unit to the LDG unit from a previous month’s article. The MFJ produces a much flatter response from 1MHZ up to 150 MHZ, whereas the LDG unit has a poor response on the low end and is reasonable at 20 meters and good at around 10 meters.

In conclusion, ferrite devices are modern marvels that provide tuned coupling or attenuation, depending upon configuration, to our systems, especially when it comes to EMI or electromagnetic interference. I am sure most all are interested in simple noise reduction, and this can be the first in our line of defense. Note, care must be taken when choosing the types of ferrite materials we buy. Choose mixture “31” or “43” in our HF to VHF and up to UHF frequency bands. UHF and higher will need a closer look. Do not grab randomly from a junk box.

Gordon Patenaude

WAØWSR

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 Clay Bartholow, WØLED.

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

Good question. I built a crystal (germanium diode) receiver when I was seven or eight years old. I read every copy of the ARRL's Amateur Radio Handbook I found at the local library. I found and refurbished an old Philco tabletop shortwave/medium wave receiver and did a lot of SWL'ing from about age ten.

I learned Morse Code in Boy Scouts (although we sent it using flags). When I was about sixteen I bought a Knight Kit T-60 transmitter that didn't work. (I bought it from Lyle, KØ-L-F-and-a-V.) I found the problems and fixed them. By that time I had a Hallicrafters SX-111 receiver and a Novice license (WNØWEP). And that's how it started.

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

I really enjoy kit-building. I was a v-e-r-y early adopter of packet radio and was a charter member of MAPR (Minnesota Amateur Packet Radio), the forerunner of TwinsLAN. These days I'm enjoying QRP ops.

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

Geez, that's tough. I mean, I've been a ham over fifty years! But there is one that comes to mind.

When I was a Novice I had a homemade two-element 15-meter Yagi and a 40-meter dipole. I couldn't operate 15 meters when the 'rents were watching TV in the evening. For those who recall TV technology of the 50s and 60s, you will recall that the IF (intermediate frequency) of TV receivers was 45 MHz with a bandwidth of about 5 MHz. The second harmonic of a 15-meter signal was around 43 MHz, right smack in the TVs IF!

My father, in all his wisdom, thought it would be better to locate the TV antenna inside, in the attic. The separation between his TV antenna and my 15-meter Yagi was about ten feet. Talk about radio overload! Needless to say, I couldn't work 15 when it was TV Time.

So, I'd get up real early, and try 15. One morning the band was quiet and, after a while I sent a CQ. A 569 signal came back. wnØwep de vr6tc k . We exchanged the usual info. I think I owe that entire QSO to the CW skills of Tom Christian. Tom was sometimes called 'The Voice of Pitcairn' (Pitcairn Island). Tom was a descendant of Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame. He and his wife were both hams. VR6TC was in my logbook! We exchanged QSL cards and I displayed it proudly. Sadly, somewhere in the past fifty years it has become lost. But I will always remember my first DX contact.

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

Frankly, I've gotten to be something of a grumpy old man. (Or maybe that's just me being a grumpy old retired electronics teacher.) So, my pearls of wisdom might be highly suspect.

Think analog! The entire universe is analog! Digital is simply a subset of analog. Digital is basically a few mathematical concepts.

Borrow or buy a basic oscilloscope and carefully connect it (with a coupling capacitor) across the loudspeaker of a radio or to the output of an audio generator. Look at the displayed waveforms. The amplitude (voltage) varies; the frequency changes. Don't play with the 'scope'. Think about what you see. Make measurements of time and voltage.

Get a decent soldering iron and some 60/40 solder. Small diameter. Build a small kit. It doesn't have to be a radio but it must require soldering experience.

Get on the air! Technicians have some HF privileges. Personally, unless you have a particular use in mind, don't get one of those Icokenyae or Wahoo handheld radios. Get an HF transceiver! Communicate!

Interesting Media and Links

I've been on the hunt for some good content about Meshtastic. This was the best one I could find. Gives a lot of information and examples. Shows the app interface of both Android and iOS. I found it really comprehensive and helpful. Hopefully you will too.

I'm really excited for the lab classes to be offered again. (Hopefully I'll be able to attend) I found this fun old video that explains frequency modulation really clearly and wanted to share it.

ARRL NEWS

ARRL Wants Every Ham to Help Us Pass The Bill

ARRL needs every radio amateur in the United States to send letters to Washington as we continue our nationwide grassroots campaign to pass the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (H.R. 1094 / S. 459) to secure antenna rights. The process is simple: click the button at www.arrl.org/HOA, put in your call sign, and press the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It takes mere seconds!

The letters will automatically be sent to your elected officials encouraging them to support the bipartisan bills. This legislation is intended to prevent restrictive homeowners’ association (HOA) rules that currently prohibit or severely limit the installation of amateur radio antennas. Passage would give amateur radio operators the same rights to install antennas on their property as those enjoyed by users of TV antennas, wireless internet, and flagpoles.

ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, was the guest on the Ham Radio Crash Course YouTube channel. Host Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, talked with Minster for 45 minutes about this important letter writing campaign.

ARRL West Gulf Division Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, shared insight into the importance of getting every ham to send a letter on the W5KUB Amateur Radio Roundtable podcast with Brett Glass, WY7BG, and Glen Popiel, KW5GP. See that discussion on YouTube, listen to it on Podbean, or view it on Facebook.

“You don’t have a be a member,” said Stratton. “Any amateur radio operator in or out of an HOA should go to the website.” Go to www.arrl.org/HOA.

ARRL is also encouraging radio clubs to provide letters of support, and is urging each club officer to sign the letters. There are instructions for clubs on how to complete the letter [PDF] and a sample letter that each club can customize with their information [DOCX].

Hams Needed to Track NASA Moon Mission

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking volunteers to passively track the 2026 Artemis II Orion spacecraft as the crewed mission travels to the Moon and back to Earth.

The Artemis II test flight will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT; Victor Glover, KI5BKC; and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU, on an approximately 10-day mission around the Moon.

Targeted for no later than April 2026, the mission will rely on NASA’s Near Space Network and Deep Space Network for primary communications and tracking support throughout its launch, orbit, and reentry. However, with a growing focus on commercialization, NASA wants to further understand industry’s tracking capabilities.

This collaboration opportunity builds upon a previous request released by NASA’s Space Communication and Navigation Program (SCaN ) during the Artemis I mission in 2022. Ten volunteers successfully tracked the uncrewed Orion spacecraft on its journey thousands of miles beyond the Moon and back.

One of those volunteers tracking in 2022 was Scott Chapman, K4KDR, of Montpelier, Virginia. “Sometimes it’s what you don’t know that makes this kind activity interesting,” said Chapman. “All I had was a small S-band dish and receiver and wasn’t sure what I could or couldn’t hear...but when I started hearing the signals...it made everything worth it.”

Chapman said he felt good about the whole process and, while it was interesting, it was also lot of fun!

There were also other participants during the Artemis I mission, including international space agencies, academic institutions, commercial companies, nonprofits, and private citizens who were also attempting to receive Orion’s signals. Chapman added that NASA is also looking for commercial partnerships to share in the process.

If you’re interested in volunteering for next year’s event, all of the information can be found at SAM.gov. The response deadline is October 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM EDT.

National Preparedness Month: Use Your Ham Radio for Public Service

Amateur radio has long been a vital partner with served agencies in providing communications support, passing traffic, and performing other tasks, both in times of crisis and in times of community service. Through community events, hams help out before and When All Else Fails®.

The best way to become a part of serving the greater good in your area is by joining your local ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) group. “Every disaster starts and ends at the local level, and so should community resilience through radio,” said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV. “Local ARES groups are set up based on the needs of the local community and local volunteers are critical to making sure they are able to serve when needed.”

ARRL has a tool to help hams get plugged in with a group near them. An interactive map at www.arrl.org/find-an-ares-group (example below) will let those interested in serving connect with local leadership. This flyer [PDF] talks about what ARES does at the local level.

As September ends, the lessons from National Preparedness Month shouldn’t stop with the change of the calendar. As ARRL Sections prepare for the Simulated Emergency Test (SET) in October, being a trained member of a local ARES group will add to your personal, family, and community resilience.

Upcoming Contests

• October 1 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (phone)

• October 3 -- URC DX RTTY Contest (digital)

• October 4 - 5 -- Collegiate QSO Party

• October 4 - 5 -- Oceania DX Contest, Phone (phone)

• October 4 - 5 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone)

• October 5 -- UBA ON Contest, SSB (phone)

Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions

• 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

• November 15 | Superstition ARC Superfest & Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL Arizona State Convention, Mesa, Arizona

Board Members

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P.O. Box 22613,
Minneapolis MN 55422
Archives: https://k0ltc.org/newsletter-archive/