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

The time has come! We are back to meeting in person at the American Legion this month. I want to take a minute to thank Craig and Erika for getting us back on the schedule as we get into the swing of things. Thanks to both the Legion as well as all the club volunteers who’ve made this possible. We’re excited to have the opportunity to set up a new shack in whatever form that may be. We have some good leads on trailers but that will come in some time. For now let’s get back together and have some food and comradery back in person. I think the before meeting time is some of the most valuable time that’s easy to catch up. It’s easier to have conversations where multiple can go on at the same time vs zoom when only one person can speak. Also don’t worry zoom is here to stay too so if you still want to attend remotely that will always be an option.

This past month we had lots of good events, from the Northstar Radio Convention to a great labs class at Gordon’s house taught by Gordon WA0WSR and Paul KF0GEX on antennas and how they perform. We had a club POTA put on by Ray K0RAE. All of these good events put on by hams and club members and they’re greatly appreciated. Remember if you want to host an event use the club email list and get some people together. No need to wait for field day or a volunteer event to get out, get together and get on the air.

73,

Zach

KØZTW

K0YVZ Public Service Award Nomination

Please Help 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 www.arrl.org/HOA to send letters to your congressperson.The process is simple: click the button, put in your call sign, and press the red SEND MY LETTERS button. It takes mere 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 Aaron Lewis, WØADL

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

A longtime friend and IT colleague piqued my interest after he got his ticket (KØDJD).

Before that, I long was interested in radio and electronics as a child. I recall my mother AM dxing on road trips (listening to Twins games on 830 when well out of MN), testing the range of walkie talkies while on said road trips.

I was also entertained by Art Bell W6OBB (SK) who had the late-night show Coast to Coast AM and I bought the CC2 AM/FM/WX/2m receiver he promoted nightly. Well, as an adult, K0DJD had me tune to a repeater output on my CC2 and I just thought it was so cool that I could hear his voice, and this was the impetus to study for my ticket: I wasn't just satisfied with listening.

I tested with Anoka Dec 2019 and took them up on their offer to join their club for a free year. My first radio was a Baofeng ht and I recall I really struggled to program it properly and getting on the air.

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

Yes ;)

Joking aside, I really continue to marvel how we can build our own stations with something as simple as a handheld on up, experiment with antennas, try different modulations, use different propagation modes, and just see what is possible to complete contacts with other stations. I do like paper chasing (awards) as it gives me new things to try and learn. I have yet to actually hang something on my walls, however. I really enjoy all things POTA and Contesting. They provide an artifice to experience operating a radio.

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

The best thing I ever did was set up an HF station at home. Also, I recently figured out how to apply for DX Century Club Phone, CW, Digital, Challenge. Navigating the application process was nearly as hard as making the Qs! I need about 50 more DX entities on 80m to complete the 5-Band DXCC, so that's what I'm focused on now. All on a little pistol station: 100 watts and a wire with HOA restrictions. I've activated parks in about half the US states on POTA so that's another long term goal that will be fun.

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

Here's a few ;)

• Keep a to-do list of things you want to try.

• Don't worry too much about making mistakes, or faux-pas, or what other hams think of your operating, and don't let negative personalities keep you off the air, but do heed constructive criticism and ask questions.

• Amateur radio should be more about fun than it is about being serious. If one aspect isn't enjoyable, find another.

• Buy simple radios at first devoid of complicating features that actually prevent you from mastering the basics. An FM only dual band handheld (no digital voice-too complicated), similar mobile. Get a simple HF rig and build a horizontal 10m dipole.

• Investigate other clubs and figure out their focus. Find the helpful mentors in said clubs.

• Additionally, experiment asking AI Elmer type questions like propagation on certain band, how do I set model X radio for crossband repeat, etc.

• Log into your county library's website and search books for ARRL

• Read ARRL's On the Air magazine. Listen to podcasts like https://twiar.net/ Subscribe to https://hamweekly.com/

• Set up your home station so you can simply turn the power on to operate as opposed to unpacking and setting up equipment.

• Learn how to scan. Simple FM Japanese dual band radios can scan fast. If you hear a repeater ID itself while scanning, call out on it. Good chance you missed someone looking for a contact on the repeater. You heard them wake it up.

• Maybe you just have an ht now. You can use Repeater Book to find repeaters by distance. Program the closest into memory and scan. Upgrade the antenna and set it in a windowsill. Check into nets and connect with local community. Program some non-ham frequencies to scan like bus companies and fire dispatch and think about amateur radio in context of other radio services.

• Program the FM satellites in your scan too. All my satellite contacts have been while scanning while mobile with my normal vertical. None were planned. I didn't bother with Doppler. I have made zero satellite contacts with my expensive IC-9700

• http://kiwisdr.com/ watch the ...Secrets YouTube and browse the Maps link. Try the plugins.

• Share your accomplishments, or share what has been interesting to you with other hams to spark further interest.

Question 5: How can all hams get more people on the air?

Take a few seconds right now https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ to contact your legislators. Send other hams there.

Interesting Media and Links

Our German friends have given us yet another recording of their Software Defined Radio Academy. Please note that video #2 is only in German. I really like this conference and wish I could join them in the future.

Thanks to "the algorithm" I discovered this British ham radio series called TX Factor. This is episode 32 where he walks a ham fest. There are other episodes that you might find interesting too.

This is a really short video of Jose CT1BOH doing "two bands synchronized interleaved QSOs" or otherwise known as 2BSIQ. You can access his website and presentation for more details. I personally find it fascinating that people are trying to increase their contest QSO rates this way. You may have seen this in the November QST but I thought I'd share it here too.

ARRL NEWS

Hurricane Melissa Update

This past week Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, took it’s time and toll as it moved over Jamaica, Hati, Cuba and is now headed towards the Bermuda. Melissa is one of the most powerful Caribbean storms in recorded history.

At noon on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida forecasted Melissa, now a Category 2 storm again, will move just west of Bermuda, but Bermuda will be on the stronger right-hand side and will still have to deal with some of the stronger impacts later in the day.

Amateur radio operators from around the world have been monitoring the Melissa path and over the last four days have been working the weather nets passing and relaying critical information. The Hurricane Watch Net, will activate again Thursday afternoon, October 30, at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC).

• 20-meters - 14.325 MHz (USB): Start at 5:00 PM EDT (2100 UTC); operate until no longer required or evening propagation loss.

• 40-meters - 7.268 MHz (LSB): Start at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC); operate until no longer required.

The VoIP Hurricane Net is likely to activate once again at 5 PM EDT Thursday for Hurricane Melissa and its passage by Bermuda.

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) has been actively monitoring Hurricane Melissa. RAC urges all Canadian Amateur Radio operators to protect the frequencies currently being utilized for disaster response on HF (High Frequency).

ARRL will continue to publish regular reports from radio amateurs supporting these operations.

ARRL November Sweepstakes About to Get Underway

The CW weekend of the ARRL November Sweepstakes is November 1 - 3, 2025. It runs from 2100 UTC Saturday through 0259 UTC Monday. ARRL Sweepstakes is the oldest domestic contest, beginning in 1930, with competition at the individual, multi-operator, and school club levels. In this contest, multipliers are the 85 ARRL and RAC Sections; each may be contacted once as a multiplier in the contest, regardless of band.

There are no changes to Sweepstakes multipliers for 2025. The 2024 multiplier list will be used for all Section-based contests for the remainder of 2025. Canadian stations located in Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut should continue to send TER (Territories) as their section. The three Canadian territories (Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut) are combined into a singular Territories (TER) multiplier.

The exchange may be daunting for first-timers, but it’s familiar to those who've operated in this contest before. Contacts may be made on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters, but because multipliers may be worked only once, activity tends to cluster on the bands that are open and populated. See the full rules and additional information at www.arrl.org/sweepstakes.

See Your Club in QST!

ARRL has made 2026 the Year of the Club, a year-long celebration of ham radio clubs and everything they do for amateur radio. As just one way of honoring various clubs, QST will feature club photos in every 2026 issue. If your club wants a shot at being highlighted in the pages of QST, here’s what to do:

• Get your club members together, looking their best — if you have a club t-shirt or ARRL shirts, this is a perfect occasion for wearing them.

• Consider posing with your club’s sign/banner.

• Take high-resolution images. If you’re taking photos with a phone camera, please make sure it’s set for “highest quality.”

• Take photos in horizontal and vertical orientations, and please do not crop or otherwise edit the photos.

• Type up the names and call signs of any hams pictured, the name (and call sign, if applicable) of the person who took the photos, and the full name and call sign of the club.

• Send the information, along with one vertical and one horizontal photo, to qst@arrl.org.

• Read QST each month in 2026 to see if your club has been featured!

2026 ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program is Now Accepting Applications

The scholarships were established by generous donors and are managed by the ARRL Foundation as a means to inspire youth to explore amateur radio and to pursue higher education and related career paths -- and especially in wireless communications.

In 2025, the ARRL Foundation awarded 170 awards totaling $800,000. More information and the online application are available www.arrl.org/scholarship-program.

The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program has opened the application window for 2026 scholarships. Applications will be accepted through December 30, 2025, at 12 PM EST. Students are encouraged to apply for more than 170 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000. All applicants must be active, FCC-licensed amateur radio operators.

Upcoming Contests

• November 1 -- IPARC Contest (CW)

• November 1 - 2 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB (phone)

• November 1 - 3 -- ARRL Sweepstakes Contest (CW)

• November 2 -- IPARC Contest, SSB (phone)

• November 3 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data (digital)

• November 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

• November 5 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (phone)

• November 8 - 9 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)

• November 8 - 9 -- JIDX Phone Contest (phone)

• November 8 - 9 -- OK-OM DX Contest (CW)

• November 8 - 10 -- CQ-WE Contest (CW, phone, digital)

• November 9 -- FIRAC HF Contest (phone)

• November 11 -- DARC FT4 Contest (digital)

• November 12 -- RSGB 80 Meter Autumn Series, SSB (phone)

Upcoming State, Section, and Division Conventions

• 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

• December 12 - 13 | The Tampa Bay Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida

Board Members

K0LTC.ORG, Inc.
P.O. Box 22613,
Minneapolis MN 55422
Archives: https://k0ltc.org/newsletter-archive/