Here you will find off-site storage for content related to Lake Area Radio Klub, www.w0wtn.org, Watertown, SD USA.
Last Updated on October 21, 2025 by Dave LeVasseur
Here are a couple of “Intro to Ham Radio” links that came up during discussions this past week:
KN0JI’s (Noji’s) Ham Radio Starter Page
Evan Thorson, K2EJT’s reviews, views and tips. As he puts it, “Just a guy who likes to hang out in the woods and play with radio stuff.”
Our 2025 October Calendar is BUSY:
Saturday, October 4th: Simulated Emergency Test (SET) – COMPLETED. We set up a cross-band repeater system to temporarily replace county Emergency Communications’ repeater – just to make sure we can provide this service if/when needed. Photos from the event.
October 11th: Autumn Antenna Party – PARTIALLY COMPLETED. We gathered as a team (KE0HMS, N0SD, N0DL and KF0QHO) to raise one end of Rich, KE0EPY’s dipole up a tree from about 6′ off the ground to around 30′. We met again on October 18th (after breakfast at HyVee) to raise the other end. Here are photos.
N0SD also has some work we will finish up before the snow flies. but is currently waiting for a tree to be removed in his backyard before that can start. Tentative date for that is now October 25th, assuming the tree service does their part by then.
Sunday, October 12th: Amateur Radio Exam Session – COMPLETED. It was held at the Watertown Regional Library. We had two applicants get what they came for: one new licensee (pending the end of US government shutdown) and one upgrade from Technician to General. See hamstudy.org for study materials.
Monday, October 13th: KB0LCR’s 70cm antenna and feedline and installation – COMPLETED. A number of us provided ground support/Assistance for Kevin, KB0LCR with a dual-band antenna at around 175ft up a tower owned and installed by KF0UUH. The DMR repeater has yet to be installed but preliminary checks with a 70cm HT connected to the bottom-side feedline shows good range to at least 20miles to the east using only a few watts. The final repeater will run 25W.
The October LARK meeting is currently slated to take place on our usual ‘last Thursday of October’ rule. This year that puts it on Thursday, October 30th. We are checking to see if this conflicts with the Salvation Army’s Halloween party. If it does conflict, we may meet at the Watertown Police Department Community Room.
November 20th: Due to conflict with Thanksgiving our November meeting will take place on November 20th, 2025.
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The W0WTN Repeater operates on 146.25/146.85 MHz. It does not require a tone on the input but it does include a 67 Hz tone on the output. If you enable the 67 Hz tone squelch on your receiver it will reduce the amount of times your squelch mistakes noise for the repeater signal.
Northeast South Dakota 2m Net on 25/85, Tuesdays at 7pm
I created a Google Spreadsheet (requires a Google account) as a template for Net Control Stations (NCSs) but open to anyone to view. If you don’t have a Google account here is a PDF of the Northeast South Dakota 2m Net – Google Sheet as of 20-Aug-25
Saturday Informal Breakfast
A number of our local hams, LARK members and non-members meet at HyVee in Watertown every Saturday at 9am. All are welcome. Stop by for 5 minutes, or stay an hour or two. Have breakfast, or just a cup of coffee. Just a very informal “no-host” gathering of folks interested in radio.
| https://hamdash.affirmatech.com | N3FJP contest real-time results |
| LARK event calendar | Google account required |
| Field Day planning spreadsheet | Google account required |
| Field Day PC and radio screen shots for quick setup | Google account required |
| NØDL’s entire LARK folder | Google account required |
Ham License Study guides available at hamstudy.org.
