Insula Lake State Forest is in the Superior National Forest, approximately 12 miles from the BWCA entry point 30 at lake one. You may have heard of Parks on the air, where ham radio enthusiasts set up their radio in state and national forests to make contacts and track them on the parks on theContinue reading “Into the wilderness with a radio…”
Author Archives: timjneu
We bought a bus….
In the past we’ve been using RV space for radio operation space. There are many creature comforts of doing so – but the need for space isn’t always met within a small RV. Further, having sleeping quarters too close to radio quarters can make unhappy radio operators, unhappy cooks and eaters, and unhappy sleepers. So,Continue reading “We bought a bus….”
Repeater for a day
Occasionally the volunteer events we work need repeater coverage that is a little wider than what they normally have for coverage every day. The MS Twin Cities Ride fundraiser was one of those events. The route passes through some lower areas in the Mississippi river valley and the route outlines the Twin cities of St.Continue reading “Repeater for a day”
2025 Winter Field Day
Jan 25, 2025 10:00AM local to Jan 26, 2025 16:00 local Many people may know that during the last weekend of June ham radio people of all stripes participate in a contest to challenge our ability to communicate and to have a little friendly competition. In the summer time ARRL Field Day is a dual-purposeContinue reading “2025 Winter Field Day”
Ham Radio Special Event Stations – Anoka is the Halloween capital of the world
Some people collect stamps, other people coins. There is something about collecting things that are unique that appeals to people. For ham radio operators, we collect contacts with other people. Originally this was done with postcards and exchanges via postal mail, and that continues. But there are also now digital mechanisms to exchange your contactContinue reading “Ham Radio Special Event Stations – Anoka is the Halloween capital of the world”
Radio in pop culture
Radio as a technology doesn’t seem to have a major place in most modern movies and TV shows, with few exceptions. Most recently, however, Netflix now has a mini-series where Radio technology plays a dominant plot role. The limited series “All the light we cannot see” has a fairly dominant radio-based theme. The story isContinue reading “Radio in pop culture”
Ham Radio Outlet Superfest
If Dayton sounds fun but you need more ham radio hardware in your life, HRO in Milwaukee might be the closest “candy store” for us Minnesotans. it’s closer than Dayton but still hours away. A great time to visit is September. The local store there has an annual “Superfest” gathering, with local clubs, vendors, andContinue reading “Ham Radio Outlet Superfest”
Use of VOACAP for Contact Planning
Suppose you want to make a ham radio contact with a specific location. How do you figure out when is the best time and frequency to make that contact? One way is VOACAP – the Voice of America Coverage Analysis Program. VOA created this tool to support receipt of their broadcasts, but have also expandedContinue reading “Use of VOACAP for Contact Planning”
POTA the hard way – Lake Maria State Park
By now everyone has heard about “POTA” – Parks on the Air, and I’ve previously covered it. Based on the parks on the air rules, just being inside the park boundaries is sufficient to operate and work that park. So some people may just drive into the parking lot with their HF gear and getContinue reading “POTA the hard way – Lake Maria State Park”
ARRL Field Day 2023
This weekend is ARRL field day! The Anoka County Radio Club will be operating the contest from the Laurie Lamotte Park in Centerville, MN. We plan to operate three HF stations – one voice, one digital, and one CW (morse code). If you’re interested and in the area, please stop by! On Saturday at 6:00Continue reading “ARRL Field Day 2023”
Ham Radio Tower Trailers 