From the desk of Randy Welsand, WJ0L — President, SCARC
Fellow members and friends of W0SV,
What a month! I want to start by extending my sincere gratitude to everyone who made our ARRL Field Day 2026 such a tremendous success. The turnout at Crow Wing State Park on June 27th was fantastic — it was genuinely heartwarming to see so many familiar faces (and a few new ones!) gathered around the antennas, sharing meals, and doing what we love best. We ran a full complement of stations: HF SSB, HF CW, digital modes and VHF/UHF. The food was excellent, the camaraderie was even better, and the operating was top-notch. A huge thank you to everyone who helped plan, haul gear, set up, operate, log, and tear down. You are what makes this club special.
July is shaping up to be equally packed — and that is a great thing. We have our FREE Amateur Radio License Testing session on Saturday the 18th, a wonderful opportunity to grow our ranks and welcome new hams into the hobby. Right on its heels is the Tour of Saints Bicycle Tour on Sunday the 19th, where our club provides radio communications support for the riders. If you have not already signed up to volunteer, please reach out right away — we can always use more operators. Then on Saturday the 25th, we host our 4th Annual Tailgate Hamfest right here in our parking lot. Come shop for gear, bring your surplus equipment to sell, and enjoy some classic hamfest camaraderie.
In between all of that, I encourage everyone to simply get on the air this summer. HF propagation has been rewarding, POTA activations are happening all across Minnesota, and our Nightly Net at 7:00 PM on the W0SV repeater is always a great way to check in and connect with fellow members. If you have been thinking about doing a POTA activation, grab a portable antenna, a battery pack, and go for it — you might just have the most fun you have had in years.
A quick reminder: 2026 membership dues are still being accepted. You can pay at any club meeting or through PayPal on our website. Keeping your membership current means staying connected, eligible to vote, and part of everything W0SV does for our community. It is a privilege to serve as your President. Thank you for your energy, your volunteerism, and your dedication to amateur radio and to one another. I look forward to seeing you at the July
events!
73,
Randy Welsand, WJ0L
President, St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club, Inc. (W0SV)
Upcoming Events — July 2026
Thu, Jul 17, 7:00 PM – General Membership Meeting, W0SV Clubhouse, 401 4th St. N, Waite Park, MN. All members welcome — bring your news, questions, and ideas!
Sat, Jul 18, 10:00 AM – FREE Amateur Radio License Testing, W0SV Clubhouse. Administered by LAUREL VEC. All license classes: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. Pre-registration preferred; walk-ins permitted. Bring: valid photo ID, FRN, and any CSCEs. Contact the club to pre-register.
Sun, Jul 19, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM, Tour of Saints Bicycle Tour (Comm Support) College of St. Benedict, 37 South College Ave., St. Joseph, MN 56374. Club provides radio communications for the event. Volunteers needed ASAP! Contact Randy Welsand, WJ0L. Ride Director: Michael Doyle, (320)266-7579.
Sat, Jul 25, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, 4th Annual Tailgate Hamfest, W0SV Clubhouse parking lot, 401 4th St. N, Waite Park. Shop for deals or bring your own gear to sell! A great morning of fellowship and finds.
Regular Weekly & Monthly Activities
• Project Night: Every Monday, 6:00 – 9:00 PM — W0SV Clubhouse
• Training Night: Most Tuesdays, 7:00 PM — W0SV Clubhouse
• EMCOMM / Meeting: 1st Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM — W0SV Clubhouse
• Board Meeting: 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM — W0SV Clubhouse
• General Membership Meeting: 3rd Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM — W0SV Clubhouse
Volunteers Needed — Tour of Saints, July 19
The Tour of Saints is less than two weeks away and we need radio operators for
communications support. If you are available on Sunday, July 19th, please contact Randy
Welsand (WJ0L) as soon as possible. Every operator counts!
Recent Nets & Activities
ARRL Field Day 2026 — June 27, Crow Wing State Park
Field Day 2026 was a genuine highlight of the club year, and W0SV showed up in force at Crow Wing State Park. With Extra Class control operators on duty throughout the event, the club fielded a full slate of stations: HF SSB, HF CW, digital modes and VHF/UHF. The day got off to an early start with a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation at 8:00 AM — well ahead of Field Day’s official 1:00 PM (1800 UTC) kickoff — a great warm-up that put contacts in the log and smiles on faces. The club provided lunch and dinner, and members rounded out the spread with potluck contributions that kept everyone well fed throughout the operating period. Participation was strong, spirits were high, and the results reflected the effort everyone brought to the table. A big thank you to every member who helped make Field Day 2026 such a memorable outing. See you in the pile-ups!
Ripley Rendezvous — Camp Ripley BSA Demo
SCARC members recently traveled to Camp Ripley to give Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts a hands-on introduction to amateur radio at the Ripley Rendezvous. The weather did not cooperate — cold and rainy throughout — but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of our volunteers, who set up their equipment and got scouts on the air, many for the very first time. Special thanks to every member who braved the elements to represent W0SV, and to those who
stood by their home stations to make contact with the scouts over the air. Events like this are a powerful reminder of amateur radio’s ability to inspire the next generation of operators. Outstanding public service, all around.
Digital Radio Class Wrap-Up
The club’s digital radio class has wrapped up, and by all accounts it was a great success. The curriculum covered three essential digital modes: Winlink (email over radio), APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System), and FT-8 (weak-signal HF digital). Special thanks to Randy Welsand (WJ0L) and Eric Hanson for their time, preparation, and excellent instruction throughout the course. The fun is not over — plans are already underway for a follow-up class covering JS-8 Call and VaraAC. Watch the club email list and website for scheduling announcements. If you
missed this session, the next class is your chance to jump in!
Nightly Net & ARES Net
• Nightly Net (formerly the Welfare Net): Every evening at 7:00 PM on the W0SV repeater. All members and guests are warmly welcome. A great way to check in, share news, and stay connected with the club community.
• ARES Net: First Wednesday of each month at approximately 7:15 PM, immediately following the Nightly Net. ARES members and interested hams are encouraged to participate.
Technical Corner
Building a Portable J-Pole Antenna for 2 Meters and 70 Centimeters
If you are looking for a satisfying weekend project that delivers real-world performance, look no further than the Copper Cactus J-Pole — a dual-band antenna built from standard ½-inch copper plumbing pipe. It is one of the most popular DIY antenna builds in the amateur radio community, and for good reason. Why hams love it: The J-Pole requires no ground plane, making it far more versatile than a standard quarter-wave design. It is rugged, weather-resistant, inexpensive to build, and delivers excellent omnidirectional performance on both 2 meters (144 MHz) and 70 centimeters (440 MHz). Whether you mount it in your attic, hang it from a tree at a POTA site, or deploy it during an emergency, the J-Pole is ready for duty. What you will need:
• ½-inch copper pipe (available at any hardware store)
• Copper tee and end cap fittings
• Lead-free solder and flux
• An SO-239 chassis connector for the feedline
• A length of coax (RG-8X or RG-58 work well for portable use)
Construction overview: Cut two sections of copper pipe to resonant lengths — the long radiating element (approximately 19.5 inches for 2m) and the short matching stub (approximately 6.5 inches) — then join them with a tee fitting at the bottom and a short shorting bar at the top of the stub. Attach the SO-239 connector at the feedpoint on the stub, typically 1.5 to 2 inches up from the shorted end, and solder all joints carefully for solid electrical continuity. After assembly, connect your antenna analyzer or SWR meter, trim as needed, and aim for an SWR of 1.5:1 or better on your target frequencies.
Tips: Take your time with the solder joints — a cold solder connection is the most common cause of a stubborn SWR mismatch. Once assembled and tuned, the antenna is equally at home on a rooftop, at an emergency deployment site, or strapped to a tree at your next POTA activation.
Thinking about building one? Bring your project — finished or in-progress — to any Monday Project Night, 6:00–9:00 PM at the Clubhouse. Plenty of experienced hands are on deck to help troubleshoot and admire your work. And do not overlook Jim Schmidt (“The Antenna Farmer”), who has been running antenna-focused sessions on Tuesday Training Nights — a fantastic resource for builders of all experience levels. Check with the club for the current schedule.
Club Announcements
• Club Website & Email Reflector: Stay connected at w0sv.org. Subscribe to the club email reflector for the latest news, net announcements, and event updates. If you are not already on the list, now is the time to sign up.
• Volunteer Opportunities: The club regularly supports public service events throughout the region and always needs skilled radio operators. Whether it is a bicycle tour, a community festival, or an emergency exercise, your participation makes a difference. Contact any club officer to find out how to get involved.
• Club Apparel — Order Now! Kay KB0CEF is currently taking orders for W0SV club-branded sweatshirts and jackets. If you would like to place an order, reach out to Kay at an upcoming meeting or contact her through the club. Additionally, club T-shirts are always available in a variety of sizes – pick one up at any club meeting and show your W0SV pride!
W0SV | St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club, Inc. | 401 4th St. N, Waite Park, MN 56387 | July 2026
