St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club
May Newsletter
President: Randy Welsand | Vice President: Jeff Dickerson

Message from the Vice President
I would like to thank all of you that have participated in our recent events. We have had a great time
over the last month.

As a club we went to Camp Ripley and provided a demonstration and opportunity for
the Scouts to see radio equipment and to get on the air at the Ripley Rendezvous. While it was a cold
and rainy day, it was a great time to interact with the BSA and to expose the young men and women to
the world of Amateur Radio.  A special thanks goes out to all those that braved the weather to go up to the Ripley Rendezvous as well as those that stood by their radios to talk to the young scouts.

We would also like to give a special thanks to Randy Welsand and Eric Hanson who helped us with the
Digital Radio Class that just concluded. We covered Winlink, APRS and FT-8. We are looking at a
future class where we will cover JS-8 Call and Vara Chat.

Overall, a special thanks to you our members for your willingness to serve and to get on the air and join
us in our different Nets. We hope that as we go into the summer that you will have a wonderful time and
that you will find fun, enjoyment, and fulfillment in the world of Amateur Radio!

73,
Jeff (N0JFY)

Upcoming Event Details

May General Meeting: Thursday May 21 at 7:00 PM at the clubhouse. All members and guests are
welcome to attend and participate.

Antenna Class: Begins Tuesday May 19 at 7:00 PM and continues weekly. Instructor Jim Schmidt
(“The Antenna Farmer”). This class will cover all aspects of antennas including building and testing.
Bring a curious mind and willingness to learn.

Club Clean-Up: Saturday May 23 at 9:00 AM at the clubhouse. Help organize and prepare for the busy
season.

Field Day – June 27: Crow Wing State Park (just south of Brainerd). Pavilion reserved from 8:00 AM to
10:00 PM. While Field Day officially starts at 1800 UTC, we will be there earlier in the day to set up and
test equipment as well as participate in Parks on the Air (POTA). All are welcome—both licensed and
unlicensed individuals. We will be operating under the Club Call Sign W0SV with Extra Class control
operators available so that everyone can get on the air. We will be operating SSB, CW, and Digital
(Winlink). FT8 is not able to be used during Field Day. We will set up different types of antennas and
equipment, making this a great place to learn. We will have a grill going. We ask that everyone bring
something to go with the meat (potluck). Lunch will be around noon and dinner around 5:00 PM. This is
a great emergency communications exercise and learning opportunity.

FIELD DAY – WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
Hands-on emergency communications experience in a real-world setup.
• Operate using club call W0SV (all experience levels welcome)
• Try SSB, CW, and Digital (Winlink)
• Learn antenna setups and compare configurations
• Participate in Parks on the Air (POTA)
• Build confidence in a fun, low-pressure environment
• Enjoy food, fellowship and time on the air
Lunch at Noon | Dinner at 5 PM (Potluck)
New to amateur radio? This is the best day of the year to get on the air—we’ll help you every step of
the way.
This is one of the best learning opportunities of the year—don’t miss it!

FIELD DAY – WHAT TO BRING
• Lawn chair
• Beverages
• Radios (The club will provide operating stations – bring yours only if you want to test it and get advice)
• Dish to pass (potluck)
Tech Tip: Antenna Building
Start with accurate measurements for your band. Use quality wire and coax. Keep the antenna as high
and unobstructed as possible. Always check SWR and trim in small increments. A good choke balun
helps reduce noise and improve performance. Strong mechanical support ensures safety and longevity