[amsat-bb] WD9EWK at Mesa AZ hamfest (6 December 2008) - report

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi!

The 2008 Superstition Amateur Radio Club hamfest, held yesterday at
Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, was a successful event.  
There was no rain, unlike last year, so the attendance was much 
larger.  Many walking around, and many sellers.  AMSAT had a table
at the hamfest, and was a very good day. 

As in the past couple of years, I manned the AMSAT table with the 
help of Gerry Baker VE4GTB/KD7MDB.  Although the hamfest did not 
start until 1300 UTC (6am local time), I had the AMSAT table ready
and was able to start working passes starting with AO-51 around 
1245 UTC.  WD9EWK was heard on 7 different passes throughout the
hamfest - 3 AO-51 passes, 2 passes on the ISS cross-band repeater, an
SO-50 pass, and a VO-52 pass.  

As the morning progressed, the crowds for the demonstrations grew. 
The largest crowd I had was for my last demonstration, a pass with 
the ISS and its cross-band repeater, at 1910 UTC.  WD9EWK logged 
contacts with stations across the USA, plus contacts with stations in
3 other countries (Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela!).  Once again, I 
was able to include VO-52 along with the FM satellites (and the ISS) 
I used for demonstrations, to show the crowds something other than FM
satellite operation.  Thanks to all who called me, and I apologize if
I did not have a chance to add your call to the WD9EWK log at the 
hamfest.  

I don't bother to keep track of how many people we talk to during a
hamfest.  The number would approximately be "a lot".  Whether the 
questions related to my demonstrations or were general questions 
about satellite operation, many hams are curious about this corner 
of our hobby.  Gerry is a great help, talking with people and 
answering questions while I am doing the demonstrations.  

Thanks to Gerry for his help at another hamfest.  He allegedly 
retired from doing this, but he is always willing to help out.  And
thanks to Judy K7JLF and the Superstition Amateur Radio Club for 
allowing us to set up an AMSAT table once again at their hamfest.

73!




Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/