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Maple Grove Radio Club
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If you are having trouble reading this newsletter in your email client try turning off "Dark Mode." Also, you can always read it online from the newsletter archives.
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MGRC Mission Statement
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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.
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As it is February I wanted to focus on YLs and XYLs in our ham radio community. What better way to celebrate that talk about a special contest organized on by the Young Ladies Radio League? The YL-OM Contest taking place on Feb 13-14th. I hope you get a chance to show your enthusiasm and operate this contest. You can get the contest rules on the top of this page: https://ylrl.net/contests/
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President's Message
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Hello fellow club members,
As we head into February, I am reminded that the best part of our hobby isn’t just the gear—it’s the people behind the mic.
This month, I challenge every member to do one thing outside of their comfort zone. Whether it's making your first FT8 contact, trying a new digital mode, or volunteering for one of our upcoming events, I encourage you to grow. Let’s also focus on mentoring new hams to strengthen our local, on-air community.
With the days getting longer and warmer, I hope everyone is taking advantage of the season, whether you're chasing DX, participating in contests, or planning a POTA activation.
The strength of this club lies in our shared passion for learning. Please take a moment to mentor a new ham, share your expertise, or help someone get their first station on the air.
If you haven't attended a meeting in a while, I encourage you to join us. Your participation and ideas are what make this club thrive.
73
Scott Henley
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Connect with Elmers/Mentors
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All club members are invited to join our groups.io forum. Please go to https://groups.io/g/MGRC/join to join. It should take less than a day for a moderator to approve. This form is a great way to get any technical questions answered.
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Similarly, all club members are welcome to join our Slack chat:
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Held at the Chester Bird American Legion Post 523 located at
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8900 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427
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Club meeting starts at 1900 hours (7:00pm CDT). Please come early for social time/ dinner before the meeting.
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Karin KD4DXX from RT Systems was licensed in 1990. She enjoys helping others get the most from the features of their radios. She will share a little history of RT systems. How the programmer is developed. And a live demonstration. So this is very special presentation.
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Next Board Meeting
Members are welcome to attend MGRC Board Meetings (only board members can vote), which are typically the 3rd Thursday of each month.
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Board meetings are always by zoom. Please contact president@k0ltc.org or any board member or officer if you would like the Zoom meeting link to attend.
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MGRC Weekly Net
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Our weekly Net is on Wednesdays at 20:00 UTC (8pm), on 147.000, positive offset, tone 114.8. We use directed Net protocol and will have a new question for discussion every week. Please call in if you can reach the K0LTC repeater. We need additional NET Operators! If you'd like to receive Net operator training please contact net@k0ltc.org.
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TALARC The American Legion Amateur Radio Club
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President: Aaron Lewis WØADL.
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Shack is closed down for now.
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Contact the Membership Chairmain Scott Henley, KFØFFE at scottehenley@gmail.com if you are interested in shack access and/or an honorary membership.
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Just need to be an MGRC member in good standing to be eligible for honorary membership.
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Zoom meetings 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30pm.
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Club Calendar of Events
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Club Member Spotlight
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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 Barb Hanson KDØHUV
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Question 1: How did I get started in amateur radio?
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Years ago, my husband, Gordy Hanson, N0ZRD, was part of a group that set up an amateur radio support team for the MS events. I started attending these events. My volunteer position was to answer the phone for rider support. This was 24/7 phone support for the entire event, so I took this phone to bed with me!
I met many wonderful individuals including Robbinsdale club members. Pam Hammock invited me many times to join the Robbinsdale Club. They met on Wednesday nights, which did not work for my schedule. I ended up starting to go to Hamvention in Ohio with the Hammock’s, Gordy and others from the Twin Cities and really enjoyed being with the folks from around the country and the world.
In May, 2009, I tested at Hamvention and received my Technician license. The Robbinsdale Club became the Maple Grove Radio Club. Their meetings moved to another evening so I was able to participate in meetings and events. Over the years I have participated in many events and enjoyed being part of safety and welfare for participants in the events.
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Question 2: What is your most favorite part of amateur radio?
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Safety and support for events has been my favorite part of amateur radio. I enjoy operating net control. I equally enjoy being out at events, i.e. road crossings, rest stops, sag communicator, etc.
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Question 3: What is your most proud accomplishment in amateur radio?
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This is a tough question. I’m very proud to have tested out and been awarded my general and extra license. I took classes through the Maple Grove Radio club. Tim Arimond, Gordy Hanson, Jim Hammock and Roy Wood taught the classes.
We had a core group of women, by then, so we were able to look “glazed over” as our wonderful instructors taught us. We bonded over study group sessions and still remain connected today.
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Question 4: Do you have any recommendations, words of wisdom, or ideas for newly licensed hams?
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Become involved in events and use your radio. As with anything, “practice makes perfect”. I am still practicing and really enjoy doing so.
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Question 5: What has been a highlight of working with amateur radio?
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I am the trustee for the Beargrease call sign. In many ways, this has been my favorite event because health and welfare are crucial. In net control we have received reports of wolves following dog teams as well as dogs voting to leave the race by lying down and refusing to run. We track miles and the speed of the teams, so we know quickly that there is a problem.
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Many radio operators in the outlying parts of the event have some training in wilderness survival and can recognize hypothermia with the mushers. We have had mushers hospitalized due to this, so it is a very real occurrence. To me, this is truly what amateur radio support is about.
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Interesting Media and Links
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Felis Y02MGI interviews Raisa R1BIG about her interests in contesting and recent DXpediations. Raisa has such passion for ham radio and is a really great example to the world. I hope there will be even more interview podcasts in the future.
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Looks like we weren't the only ones with a cold Winter Field Day. I'm not going to spoil anything here but, come watch Elle KJ5LXP operate.
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This is probably the most recent YL channel that has been going off with a bang. Come watch Caitlin K8FAE operate some POTA. As you can tell there is another ham radio youtuber guest.
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ARRL NEWS
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North Carolina Students Scheduled to Make Contact with the International Space Station
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The winter weather has subsided and now 580 students at Conn Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, will participate in a conversation with an astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS). Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has confirmed the contact, scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, just after 10:00 AM EST.
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Radio communications will be provided by the Raleigh Amateur Radio Society under the leadership of John Brier, K4EB. “This contact could not have been possible without a $14,000 grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), said Brier. “The new equipment, which is in cases and movable, will allow us to provide communications for other schools in the area.” Brier added that club members are being trained to operate the gear and it can be loaned to other clubs for use in future ARISS contacts.
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Friday’s contact will be with NASA astronaut and medical physicist Christopher Williams, KJ5GE. Twelve students will be asking questions, two in each grade level, from kindergarten through fifth grade. All 12 students will be wearing special T-shirts designed by a second grader who won the school’s T-shirt logo contest. Students also had a chance to create a logo for a keychain and there was a winner for each grade. Every student will get their grade level keychain to mark the ARISS event.
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ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the US, participating organizations include NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program, the ISS National Laboratory -- Space Station Explorers, ARRL, and AMSAT.
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ARRL Atlantic Division Leadership Change
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In a message emailed to all ARRL members on January 28, CEO David Minster, NA2AA, shared news of a recent change in leadership within the Atlantic Division. Atlantic Division Director Robert B. Famiglio, K3RF, became ineligible to continue serving after voluntarily choosing not to submit an annual recertification statement, as required under ARRL By-Law 46. As a result, the Director position was vacated in accordance with the bylaw.
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The “Board Member Statement on Authority, Responsibility, and Expectations” (see www.arrl.org/general-information), confirms that Board members have read and understand their fiduciary obligations under ARRL’s governing documents and applicable law. Signed statements were completed by all 36 other Board members as well as all candidates who stood for election during 2025.
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“We sincerely thank Director Famiglio for his many years of volunteer service and for his contributions to ARRL and the amateur radio community,” included Minster.
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Consistent with ARRL’s succession procedures, Vice Director Marty Newingham, AG3I, has assumed the role of Atlantic Division Director effective immediately. A replacement Vice Director will be named at a later date.
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Newingham lives in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and was previously appointed Vice Director in July 2025. He is an ARRL Life Member and a Gold level contributor to the ARRL Diamond Club. He’ll serve the remainder of a term that expires December 31, 2026.
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Student Coding Competition is Underway with $25,000 Award
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ARRL is asking members to help encourage licensed youth in their communities to participate in the ARRL Student Coding Competition, an initiative focused on developing practical resources for the Amateur Radio Service. The competition, which began January 1, 2026, challenges young amateurs to create a mobile application that ARRL will use as a long-term learning resource. Rules and App Specifications (PDF) were released on January 1 and are available at coding.arrl.org.
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The competition centers on building a useful, accessible FCC exam preparation app for iOS devices. The app must support Technician, General, and Extra Class license exams and use the official NCVEC question pools. Judging will focus on usability, clarity, stability, and code quality — qualities that ensure the finished product can serve as a dependable study resource for current and future radio amateurs.
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Eligibility is limited to ARRL members aged 21 or younger who hold a US amateur radio license, competing individually or in teams of up to three. ARRL membership is free for full-time students, making participation accessible to students already active in amateur radio and those newly licensed. Parents, educators, and ARRL members involved in radio clubs, VE teams, and youth outreach are encouraged to share this opportunity with students who have an interest in software development or STEM learning.
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Project submissions will be accepted between February 1 and March 31, 2026, with source code and documentation submitted online. Winning entries will receive national recognition, with total awards of up to $25,000 authorized by the ARRL Board of Directors. While pre-registration is optional, it is recommended to receive competition updates and reminders. Complete information is available at coding.arrl.org.
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Register Now for HamSCI 2026, Hosted by ARRL
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ARRL will host the 9th annual Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) Workshop on March 14 – 15, 2026, with primary activities held at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) in New Britain, Connecticut, and additional events at ARRL Headquarters in Newington. The international workshop brings together radio amateurs, scientists, educators, and students to explore how amateur radio serves as a practical tool for scientific research and citizen science.
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Organized by the HamSCI community, the 2026 workshop carries the theme “Discovering Science Through Ham Radio.” Presentations and discussions will highlight real-world research enabled by amateur radio, including ionospheric and space weather studies, meteor scatter propagation, radio-based sensing technologies, and the growing use of Personal Space Weather Stations. The program emphasizes how these efforts not only advance scientific understanding, but also directly inform and improve amateur radio operating and technology.
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The weekend will feature oral and poster presentations, invited tutorials, and sessions designed to be accessible to both newcomers and experienced researchers. A Saturday evening banquet will include a keynote address by astrophysicist Marc Kuchner, NASA’s Citizen Science Officer. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour ARRL Headquarters, including the ARRL Laboratory, the W1HQ Radio Laboratory, and W1AW – the Hiram P. Maxim Memorial Station, with opportunities to get on the air.
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Amateur radio operators, educators, students, engineers, and citizen scientists are all encouraged to participate. A call for abstracts for presentations and posters is open through February 1, 2026, and registration is now available. While the workshop is planned primarily as an in-person event, a virtual attendance option is expected to be announced closer to the date. Additional details, including registration and abstract submission information, are available at hamsci.org/hamsci2026.
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Upcoming Contests
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- February 1 -- North American SSB Sprint Contest (phone)
- February 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
- February 4 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (CW)
- February 5 - 6 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- February 7 - 8 -- LABRE-RS Digi Contest (digital)
- February 7 - 8 -- Vermont QSO Party (FT8)
- February 7 - 8 -- 10-10 Winter International Winter Contest, SSB (phone)
- February 7 - 8 -- F9AA Cup (CW)
- February 7 - 8 -- European Union DX Contest (CW, phone)
- February 7 - 8 -- Mexico RTTY International Contest (digital)
- February 7 - 8 --Minnesota QSO Party (CW, phone)
- February 7 - 8 -- FYBO Winter QRP Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
- February 7 - 8 -- British Columbia QSO Party (CW, phone)
- February 7 - 8 -- North American Sprint (CW)
- February 9 - 13 -- School Club Roundup (CW, phone, digital)
- February 10 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital)
- February 11 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
- February 13 - 14 -- YLRL YL-OM Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- February 14 -- PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint (CW)
- February 14 - 15 -- CW WW RTTY WPX Contest (digital)
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February 14 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW)
- February 14 - 15 -- Russian PSK WW Contest (digital)
- February 14 - 15 -- KCJ Topband Contest (CW)
- February 14 - 15 --Dutch PAC C Contest (CW, phone)
- February 14 - 15 --SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
- February 14 - 15 -- OMISS QSO Party (phone)
- February 14 -- RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest (phone)
- February 14 - 15 --Balkan HF Contest (CW, phone)
- February 15 - 16 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions
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- 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
- March 6 - 7 | BirmingHAMfest, hosting the ARRL Alabama Section Convention, Trussville, Alabama
- March 15 | WINTERFEST 2026 - The National Capital Area Ham Radio Fair, ARRL Virginia State Convention, Vienna, Virginia
- March 21 | St. Patrick's Day Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
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- President: Scott Henley – KFØFFE (2024)
- Vice President: Chris Silva – AEØIM (2025)
- Secretary: Stu Randall – WØWTF (2026)
- Treasurer: Barb Hanson – KDØHUV (2024)
- Trustee K0LTC: Jerry Dorf – NØFWG
- Member: Clay Bartholow – WØLED (2021)
- Member: Zack Whitney – KØZTW (2021)
- Member: Gordon Patenaude – WAØWSR (2023)
- Member: Stephen Cullen – KFØAED (2023)
- Member: Paul Brandt – KØPJB (2025)
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Love it, or hate it?
See anything interesting that I missed?
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