Anoka County Radio Club - Field Day Event

Details

Written by Tim Neu

Hello and Welcome from the Anoka County Radio Club!

We're out showing people our hobby - Ham Radio - and we're glad you decided to stop by and read about us.  

We are operating a ham radio contest for ARRL field day at Laurie Lamotte Park in Centerville.  This event is both a contest and an emergency services excercise.     Over this event we often contact most or all US states and many countries.   The Anoka County Radio Club has participated in this annual contest since 1956. 

The Anoka County Radio Club is a group of Amateur (Ham) Radio enthusiasts that support each other and our community in Anoka County. 

Fun Ham Radio Facts

• We communicate locally, regionally, and internationally using only the atmosphere and our equipment.

• We use our hobby to support local community events (walk/run, fireworks,  parades, etc)

• Ham operators have their own satellites for our own use in earth orbit!

• We can hear, and communicate with, the ISS.

• We experiment with electronics and antennas

• We use voice, data, and morse code.   In data modes, we can see where our signals go on a world-wide google map!

• We can send/receive pictures via radio, including from the ISS.

• We have competitive contests testing our skill to make contacts, trace signals, or pass messages.

• Our equipment ranges from the ancient to the state-of-the-art, from homemade to store-bought.  Antennas could be simple wires, fiberglass poles, or entire tower trailers.  Radios exist in all price ranges.  

If any of this sounds fun to you, you should consider becoming a ham radio operator.   The Anoka County Radio Club is authorized to administer FCC exams; and the questions and answers are online.  www.arrl.org would be a good resource to start out.   Also www.anokaradio.org for testing dates and locations.  Ham Radio is a fun hobby for all ages or budgets. If you are a smartphone person, there is an inexpensive app called hamstudy to learn the things you need to know for the test. 

We also aspire to help out any new hams in our service area with equipment selection, operation and/or installation - look up our board member call-signs on qrz.com for email contact information.

If you see us around during or after the event we'd be happy to answer any questions that you have.   You can also email president at anokaradio.org. 

If you saw a tower trailer at the event, you can see which one it was at this link.   Local MN hams have been buying up used equipment for tower trailers as they are so perfect for our ham radio uses.  

Anoka County Radio Club is a 501c3 organization. 

We meet the first Friday of the month (excluding June-August) at 7:30 at the Blaine City Hall Mark Stack Room. 

-Tim N0TJN  

Blaine Festival Fireworks

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Written by Tim Neu

On Tuesday, July 4 the Anoka County Radio Club will be assisting with communications at the Blaine Fireworks Festival.  Members will meet at the southeast corner of Lot D off of 105th street.   The club will be planning to do a pot luck meal before staging.    Hope to see you all there.   Please plan to be there by 5:30.     You will need a 2M HT with good batteries, sun & bug defense, and anything you need to be comfortable (camping chair, etc).   

2021 ACRC Xmas

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Written by Tim Neu

On Dec 4th, 2021 the Anoka County Radio Club will once again be having an in-person holiday party starting at 6:30pm at the Pizza Ranch in Andover.   More details will be posted as they become available. 

Ham radio technician classes

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Written by Tim Neu

The Maple Grove Radio Club is hosting a technician class on Monday evenings at 6:45 to 9:15, starting Feb 7th and running for about 10 or 11 weeks. It will be on Zoom, with a couple of in-person enrichment sessions.

For more information, visit the following link: https://k0ltc.org/tech_license_class/

ACRC Field Day Planning

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Written by Tim Neu

On Friday, May 15 at 6:30 there will be a field day planning meeting at the http://tinyurl.com/anokaradio online forum.   All members who are interested are welcome to attend.   All members who intend to run Field Day stations are encouraged to attend. 

Emergency Communications

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Written by Tim Neu

Did you miss the February General Membership Meeting? 

If so, you missed out on a great presentation on being prepared for emergencies.   You can read-up or refer to the presentation below.  

Thanks to Ralph for presenting.

http://www.anokaradio.org/joomla/images/Presentations/EMERGENCY%20PREPARDNESS%20Handout"