Waves and Wurst: Paderborn’s Quietly Brilliant Radio Club

In a world consumed by hyperconnectivity and fleeting attention spans, the members of Ortsverband Paderborn-Elsen (N61) are a reminder that meaningful connection often begins with a good antenna and a better question: “QRV?”

Operating from the heart of Ostwestfalen-Lippe, N61 is a collective of technically minded, deeply social amateur radio operators. Their headquarters? Not a gleaming data hub, but rather a rustic and resolutely gemütlich venue: the iconic “Schinken Willi”, a local Gaststätte where the beer flows, the pork is smoked, and the electrons—metaphorically and otherwise—crackle with intent.

A Monthly Ritual at Schinken Willi

Every second Wednesday of the month, N61 convenes in the dining room at Am Biekenkamp 3, a location where the scent of tradition and ham hock permeates both the menu and the conversation. For the uninitiated, it may seem like a reunion of old friends; in truth, it’s a forum for everything from repeater updates to fieldday logistics and the finer points of coax impedance.

Their next gathering? April 9th, 2025. Visitors are not only welcomed but encouraged—because, as every OM knows, community is the lifeblood of the hobby.

Fielddays by the Lake

N61’s annual Fieldday, slated this year for September 5–7, 2025, transforms the Jugendzeltplatz at Lippesee into a vibrant open-air laboratory. It's a mix of BBQ and bandwidth, tents and transceivers. Under canvas canopies and surrounded by pine trees, club members erect antennas with the care of architects and the glee of boy scouts.

The Fieldday isn’t just about pileups and signal reports. It’s about hands-on learning, communal resilience, and long conversations over portable rigs and Kartoffelsalat. Whether you're chasing DX or roasting marshmallows, the spirit of ham radio is unmistakably present.

In the Shadow of Innovation

Paderborn is no stranger to computing history—it’s home to the Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, the world's largest computer museum. And appropriately, DL0HNF, the club’s station at the museum, operates every Tuesday from 17:00 to 19:00. There, between glass cases and silicon timelines, analog radio finds its poetic counterpoint to the digital narrative.

With their station perched behind the museum's “Radio Wall,” N61 members offer visitors a live demonstration of global communication through local effort. Their anruf frequency—145.375 MHz—is more than a frequency; it’s an open invitation to curiosity.

History Meets Community

Founded in the tradition of post-war experimentation and Westphalian pragmatism, N61 thrives not because of a flashy digital presence, but because it balances nostalgia with future-proof relevance. Their activities speak to amateur radio’s enduring allure: a hobby rooted in science but driven by humanity.

For those tired of algorithmic noise and seeking authentic connection, N61 offers a powerful counterpoint: friendship, frequency, and a fine bit of Funkbetrieb—served alongside a slice of Schinken.