Aabenraa's Resilient Relays: A Danish Radio Club Navigates Renewal and Future Tech

AABENRAA, DENMARK – In the Southern Jutland town of Aabenraa, the local amateur radio club, OZ6ARC, is currently demonstrating a period of active renewal and forward planning. Fresh from its Annual General Meeting in late March 2025 and a recent focus on significant infrastructure projects, the club is preparing for its next gathering on May 15, 2025. This meeting also marks the beginning of its summer schedule, which will see monthly meetings on specified Thursdays through August, before a new season commences on September 4, 2025.

A key operational focus for OZ6ARC is the overhaul of its antenna system. An April 27, 2025, club meeting concluded that the existing antenna was beyond economical repair, necessitating a complete replacement along with its aging rotor. The estimated cost for these core components is approximately 11,000 DKK, with additional anticipated expenses for lift rental and accessories. This ambitious undertaking has been significantly buoyed by generous member sponsorships, with Henning (OZ2I) pledging 15,000 DKK towards the antenna and lift, and Harbo (OZ5XF) contributing a further 5,000 DKK. The club's physical premises are also slated for much-needed maintenance, with member Germann (OZ1KVM) having already sponsored paint for the task. A dedicated committee comprising John (OZ7UE), Henning (OZ2I), Germann (OZ1KVM), and Gert (OZ1BMO) is managing this refurbishment drive.

The club's recent AGM on March 27, 2025, chaired by John (OZ7UE), addressed both achievements and challenges. While acknowledging a period of neglect for the clubhouse, the chairman outlined plans for necessary repairs. To address a small financial deficit, the assembly agreed to adjust the club's insurance coverage and to increase the annual membership fee by 50 DKK, bringing it to 300 DKK. Elections solidified the committee structure, now led by Chairman John (OZ7UE) and Treasurer Aage (OZ1LWF), with numerous sub-committees covering areas such as electronics, initiatives, kitchen duties, clubhouse management, website editing, and newsletter production, indicating a well-distributed workload and member engagement. Looking ahead, the club is actively soliciting ideas for future lectures and activities, with expressed interest in a diverse range of topics including datalogger programs, the QO-100 (Oscar 100) satellite, logic probes, a potential club project to build a magnetic loop antenna, practical tips for digital modes like FT8 and PSK31, DMR radio, creative uses of Raspberry Pi (such as for a Geoclock), and home automation.

Despite these ongoing projects, regular amateur radio activity continues. OZ6ARC maintains a chapter frequency of 145.525 MHz, where members are often active, particularly between 5 PM and 6 PM. Saturday mornings typically see on-air presence around 3.707 MHz. Furthermore, the club attempts to hold a technical forum via the Knivsbjerg 70cm repeater on evenings around 9 PM. Regional "Amatørnyt" (Amateur News) is broadcast on the Knivsbjerg 145.725 MHz repeater every Tuesday evening at 8 PM. A closed Facebook group also serves as an active communication channel for members.

OZ6ARC Aabenraa, by directly confronting its infrastructure needs through communal effort and sponsorship, while simultaneously planning a diverse program of modern technical exploration and maintaining regular on-air and in-person activities, exemplifies a resilient and forward-looking local amateur radio society. Its blend of practical problem-solving and enthusiastic pursuit of the hobby ensures its continued relevance and contribution to the amateur radio community in Southern Jutland.