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.

Happy New Year! I found out that there is this really cool contest for the whole month of January called World Wide Award. For the bands you can use is 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters. For modes you can use CW, SSB, DIGI (FT8, FT4, RTTY, PSK). You can stick to one mode or do multiple. The general idea is that there are activators that are special event stations, mostly with WWA in their call sign (depends if the suffix is possible in the country). You have to sign up online as a Hunter. The fun thing is that there is a real-time score board. Anyway here is the link where you can sign up and see all the rules https://hamaward.cloud/wwa.

President's Message

Hello Everyone,

My name is Scott Henley, KFØFFE. Most of you probably have no idea who I am. So, I would like to introduce myself a little.

I got my license through MGRC during COVID. At the time it was the only way I knew of to do both classes and testing completely online. I have been involved in The Club in the background as much as I could ever since. I have even cotaught a tech. class.

Upon joining the club, I began attending the board meetings. At first just as a guest, then a position on the board came available. I decided that I would be able to give back to the club in more ways by joining the board. It has been my pleasure serving on the board for a couple of years now. I believe this club is doing great things and moving in positive directions.
I have found that I have been able to give back to the community by joining multiple boards and clubs. It seems that there is a shortage of those willing to work in the background. Perhaps some of you may know of me from one or more of these connections.

Now the opportunity has come up to serve the club in another way. I am excited that The Board has given me the opportunity to be your next Board President. It is my hope to guide the club positive ways that will help to prepare it for many great years to come.

Up to this point I have only had online and background involvement in the club. The reason for the distance is that I have an autoimmune condition that weakens my immune system to the point that even a common cold is a risk for me. This will make my tenure a president look a little different that others have in the past. My physical presence may be less than you have been used to but I assure you that does not mean that I will be neglecting anything. I will just be delegating some of the processes to others. I will do my best to be involved in person as much as I am able to be.

73

Scott Henley

KFØFFE

Final call for KØYVZ Public Service Award Nominations

Help Supoort Hams with H.O.A. Restrictions

Amateur radio needs your help! There are many hams with H.O.A antenna restrictions. The Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act

(H.R. 1094 / S. 459) has been written for all hams to secure antenna rights. Please go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa to send letters to your congressperson.The process is simple: fill in your basic information form and press the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It takes only a few seconds! Thank you for your help.

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 Stephen Cullen, KFØAED "Always Eating Donuts"

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

I got started with amateur radio mainly for storm spotting. But as we all know, once you get your license, the floodgates open up to a world of possibilities with amateur radio.

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

First, I would say doing Nets for events (Metro Skywarn, Twin Cities Marathon, Osseo Lion's Parade, and so much more). Second, I would have to say I enjoy contesting on HF, getting all types of awards from QRZ & POTA

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

For me, it's a personal accomplishment to have my callsign with the recognition to reflect my character within the amateur radio community

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

Join a local club to get insights and find an Elmer. I would first suggest you go headfirst into the topic in amateur radio that brought you into amateur radio so you don't feel overwhelmed by all the different areas of amateur.

Cool Book Review

Are you interested in learning how a SDR transceiver works? If you would like to make the extra exam questions come a live look no further. Thanks to "the algorithm" I became aware of this cool SDR transceiver called the T41-EP the "EP" means "Experimenter Platform" but throughout the book they call it just it the T41. The 20 watt radio is comparable to the Xiegu G90 but has some features that other more expensive radios don't have. What is great about this book is that it is fully comprehensive and written in plain English. It goes into the program implementation, the digital signal processing without much equations or math. They even provide more resources if you would like to further geek out. To get a idea of the design please look at the block diagram and the SSB stages below.

Interesting Media and Links

As you can see from the title this is a presentation by Jim, W6JCZ. He presents a relatively new digital voice mode. Which is fully open source if you are interested in the protocol and implementation.

Tony, KC6QHP has been playing on the microwave ham bands for over 30 years. He shares his experience, various equipment options, and how to be successful. Come learn how to operate this interesting band. I found this PDF of a Simple and Cheap Transverted for 10GHZ. If you are handy with a soldering iron could be a great way to get started.

I must admit I am a bit infatuated with two bands synchronized interleaved QSO's. The world premiere contesters use it break world records. This presentation explains the mechanics of the process. Come learn from the inventor Jose Nunes, CT1BOH.

ARRL NEWS

2026 is ARRL’s Year of the Club -- A Celebration of Amateur Radio Clubs

As we turn the calendar to a new year, ARRL is launching a year-long celebration that puts the spotlight squarely where it belongs — on radio clubs. Beginning January 1, 2026, ARRL officially recognizes the Year of the Club, an initiative designated by the ARRL Board of Directors to honor the vital role clubs play in sustaining, growing, and energizing amateur radio.

Radio clubs are the backbone of ARRL and of the Amateur Radio Service itself. For countless hams, a club is the first welcoming doorway into the hobby — a place to learn, to operate, to build, and to belong. Clubs create opportunities for mentoring, public service, technical exploration, and lifelong friendships. Simply put, when clubs thrive, amateur radio thrives.

Throughout 2026, all ARRL Affiliated Clubs are invited to participate in special programs, operating events, and recognition opportunities designed to celebrate club accomplishments and inspire new ideas. ARRL will be rolling out initiatives focused on supporting club growth, strengthening activities, and recognizing clubs that help expand ARRL membership or reach significant milestones, including 100 years of ARRL Affiliation.

Two exciting contests are already under way to kick off the Year of the Club, highlighting how clubs connect with members and the broader community. Details for entering the ARRL Club Newsletter Contest and ARRL Club Website Contest are available now, with a shared submission deadline of January 30, 2026, at 4 PM Eastern Time.

The ARRL Club Newsletter Contest recognizes that newsletters are often the heartbeat of a club — sharing news, and keeping members connected and involved.

Does your radio club have a great website that supports club members but also attracts attention for your club? Consider entering the ARRL Club Website Contest. Club websites play an increasingly important role in outreach, public service visibility, and attracting new members to amateur radio.

Winners will be notified in May 2026, honored at the ARRL National Convention being hosted by the Huntsville Hamfest in August, and featured in QST.

In preparation for the Year of the Club, ARRL has launched a new Clubs website, offering a modernized, accessible hub for Affiliated Clubs, prospective clubs, and individual hams looking to get involved with a club. The site brings together information about club benefits, locations, resources, and ARRL Affiliation — all in one place.

A new, streamlined, online application also simplifies the process for becoming a new ARRL Affiliated Club. And all clubs can use the new Member Verification tool as they set a club goal to increase ARRL membership among club members. The result is faster service, easier updates, and better support for the Affiliated Clubs. Everyone is encouraged to explore the new site and pages at clubs.arrl.org and affiliatedclubs.arrl.org.

During 2026, every issue of QST will include club photos, showcasing the people behind amateur radio’s local success stories. Clubs are encouraged to gather members for photos, wear club or ARRL apparel, pose with banners or signs, and submit high-resolution photos along with names, call signs, and club information. It’s a simple way to highlight your club’s pride and presence on the national stage. See the photo submission guidelines at www.arrl.org/club-photos.

In his editorial in the January 2026 issue of QST, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Minster, NA2AA, noted that clubs have shaped his amateur radio journey — from school clubs and Field Days to lifelong friendships built through shared activities. During the Year of the Club, he encourages members to recognize and thank the volunteer leaders who make these experiences possible, while also looking ahead to new opportunities.

ARRL will promote innovative ideas and best practices throughout the year, including content inspired by the MARCONI program — Motivating Amateur Radio Clubs to Open New Initiatives. Clubs are also encouraged to explore creative projects — from kit-building nights and technical workshops to hilltopping, antenna expeditions, and new operating challenges.

The Year of the Club also coincides with our nation’s commemoration and celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ARRL will mark the semiquincentennial with special America250 Worked All States awards, including WAS and WAS Triple Play, and clubs will have opportunities to participate through W1AW/portable activations across the country — echoing the excitement of ARRL’s Centennial in 2014. The first state activations begin on January 7. See details at www.arrl.org/america250-was.

The message for 2026 is clear: Celebrate what your radio club already does well, try something new, and be radio active. Whether your club is small or large, new or nearing a century as an ARRL Affiliated Club, the Year of the Club is an invitation to connect, innovate, and share your story.

Follow all Year of the Club programming at clubs.arrl.org/year-of-the-club and make 2026 a year to remember — for your club, for ARRL, and for amateur radio.

ARDC Introduces “44Net Connect”

There is now an easier way for ham radio experimenters to secure a static IP address specifically designated for amateur radio use. ARDC, the Amateur Radio Digital Communications organization, has introduced “44Net Connect,” which it describes as “a service that makes it easy for hams to begin using 44Net IPv4 addresses through a simple, modern setup.” The group explains that “(w)hether you’re experimenting with digital modes, improving repeater infrastructure, setting up a home lab, or just curious to see what 44Net is all about, this new service lowers the barrier of entry to get you started.”

ARDC is best known as a foundation making grants to help fund amateur radio and/or digital communications technology, but its original mission was — and still is — to administer internet network 44, also known as 44Net or AMPRNet. This group of internet addresses, from 44.0.0.0/9 to 44.128.0.0/10, was set aside for amateur radio use when the internet was first being organized in the 1980s.

According to ARDC, 44Net Connect uses modern, secure WireGuard networking that’s already supported by many popular routers, including NETGEAR, TP-Link, and Ubiquiti, and it works across a wide range of devices, from desktop computers and phones to tiny Raspberry Pis.

The group says 44Net Connect offers four especially useful features: Simple setup; a static IPv4 internet address that doesn’t rely on your commercial internet service provider (ISP); bypassing carrier-level network address translation (CGNAT) limitations, and a safe space to learn and experiment with networking technology without fear of “breaking the internet.”

“All in all,” says ARDC, “44Net Connect makes 44Net more accessible and fun, helping more people experiment with networking, amateur radio, and digital communications technologies!” More information and instructions for accessing the system are available on the ARDC website’s 44Net Connect page.

New ARRL Section Managers Take Office in January

There are four new Section Managers taking on the top volunteer leadership role in the ARRL Field Organization on January 1, 2026.

Bret Stemen, KD8SCL, has been appointed as the Ohio Section Manager to finish the term that will end September 30, 2026. Stemen, of Pataskala, has recently served as the Section Emergency Coordinator. He is taking the reins from Tom Sly, WB8LCD, who has decided to step down following his tenure as Ohio SM since 2021.

Mike Corey, KI1U, has been appointed to be the ARRL Rhode Island Section Manager, completing the term that will end June 30, 2027. Corey, of Coventry, has been serving as the Assistant Section Manager and Public Information Coordinator. Rhode Island SM Nancy Austin, KC1NEK, is stepping down early following her service in the position since 2023.

Ralph Katz, AA8RK, will become the ARRL Section Manager of Michigan, with a term ending June 30, 2028. Katz, of Ann Arbor, was the only nominee for the position during the most recent election cycle. He succeeds Larry Camp, WB8R, who has served as the Michigan SM since 2023, and from 2012 through 2017.

Keith Elliott, W6KME, of Newbury Park, California, will be the Santa Barbara Section Manager through June 30, 2028. He was the sole nominee during the most recent election cycle. Elliott takes on the role of SM after John Kitchens, NS6X, completes his term of office as Section Manager. Kitchens served as SM since 2018, and was elected to the ARRL Board of Directors last month to become the Vice Director of the Southwestern Division starting January 1.

The ARRL Field Organization is divided into 71 Sections and is comprised of more than 60,000 volunteers among ARRL’s membership.

ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition

ARRL has awarded a $5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, 2026. Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It is a territory of Norway and nearly all of it is covered by glaciers. The most recent amateur radio operation from Bouvet was the 3YØJ DXpedition in 2023, which moved the island from #2 on the Club Log most wanted list to #10.

Two camps are planned, according to team leaders, operating all HF bands, with one camp focusing on high band propagation to North America when conditions allow. Each camp will consist of three tents serving as operating, sleeping, and communal spaces. These tents have previously been used on Bouvet Island and team leaders say they have proven capable of withstanding the extreme conditions expected.

Plans call for the team to leave for Bouvet from Cape Town, South Africa, on February 1. Weather permitting, 3YØK plans to use helicopter airlifts to transport personnel and equipment between the vessel and the island. The group expects to spend three weeks on and around the island and will attempt to contact as many other ham radio operators around the world as they can, using up to 8 stations operating on CW, SSB, FT8, RTTY and the QO-100 geostationary satellite.

The 3YØK DXpedition is perhaps the most expensive ham radio expedition ever mounted, with a budget of $1.7 million, most of which ($1.2 million) is for what the team refers to as a “reliable commercial Arctic / Antarctic vessel,” noting that “(s)afe and reliable ship transportation continues to be a challenge for such remote island expeditions, and the cost continues to rise.” Team leaders note that “the foremost priority of the 3YØK expedition is the safety of the operating team, support personnel, and the vessel and helicopter crews.”

The team consists of 24 operators from 14 countries. Two of the team members are young hams, 21-year-old Max Freedman, N4ML, an ARRL staff member; and 26-year-old Alex Schengber, DL2ALY, an aviation engineer currently working at a German research station in Antarctica.

The Colvin Award is funded by an endowment established by the legendary DX couple Lloyd Colvin, W6KG (SK), and Iris Colvin, W6QL (SK), both now deceased. The award is intended to support amateur radio projects that promote international goodwill in the field of DX.

Other major financial support for the DXpedition has come from the Northern California DX Foundation, the International DX Association, and the German DX Foundation.

The complete 3YØK log will be uploaded to ARRL’s Logbook of The World® — LoTW® — within 12 months following the DXpedition. LoTW is used by radio amateurs to track their progress toward awards including ARRL’s DXCC Award — the DX Century Club Award — which is achieved by confirming on the air contacts with 100 geographic entities.

For more information, visit 3y0k.com.

Upcoming Contests

• January 1 -- ARRL Straight Key Night (CW)

• January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)

• January 1 - 2 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

• January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest (digital)

• January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (digital)

• January 1 -- IRTS 80m Counties Contest (CW, phone)

• January 3 -- ARRL Kids Day (CW, phone, digital)

• January 3 -- PODXS 070 Club PSKFest (digital)

• January 3 -- Marconi Club ARI Loano QSO Party Day (CW)

• January 3 - 4 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)

• January 3 - 4 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup (digital)

• January 3 - 4 -- EUCW 160m Contest (CW)

• January 4 -- 5 -- FOC Old School Classic 1960s QSO Party (CW)

• January 6 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

• January 7 -- UKEICC 80m Contest

• January 10 - 11 -- NCJ North American QSO Party (CW)

Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions

• January 10 | Ham Radio University, ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New York
• January 16 - 17 | Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
• January 30 - 31 | Jackson MS Capital City Hamfest, ARRL Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
• February 7 | Hendricks County Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Indiana Section Convention, Danville, Indiana
• February 13 - 15 | Orlando HamCation, hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida
• February 20 - 21 | Greater Houston HamFest, hosting the ARRL Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
• February 27 - 28 | ARRL Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma Arizona
• February 28 | HAM-CON, ARRL Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont

Board Members

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