[amsat-bb] Re: Palm Springs HamFest

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Clint,

> Thank you to contacted stations in Montana ... Tennessee ... Laguna Beach ...
> Colorado ... Texas ... the event's parking lot ...
>
> Huh?
>
> A special thanks to Patrick WD9EWK for his assistance last Saturday during
> the 2nd annual Palm Springs HamFest. While working the second pass of the
> day, I heard a familiar voice calling me. Same grid square, too - DM-13. Just after
> contacting Tennessee, and kiddingly telling the assemblage, "Wow - can this
> REALLY work THAT far? Tennessee at 2 Watts?" ... Patrick contacts me from
> the parking lot of the event ... (grin)

I was using my TH-D72A with a Diamond 2m/70cm long duckie (about
20"/50cm in length) on it, with an earpiece so I would not have any feedback.
Knowing Clint's setup, I figured he would hear me from the satellite and not
on the uplink.  Since this was an impromptu thing, I did not have my audio
recorder set up.  I made sure to stress the distances the radio signals
covered to bridge that short distance between us at the hamfest.  That was
fun!

That hamfest was a nice way to spend a day.  I have not spent any time in
Palm Springs - other than fuel/food stops along the freeway going to or from
Los Angeles - in almost 20 years, until the hamfest.  Several regular satellite
operators made their way to Palm Springs, besides Clint.  I saw Larry WA6DIR,
John W6ZKH, David K6CDW, and Bob KO6TZ during the day.   I was able to
get on a couple of VO-52 passes from places around Palm Springs before the
hamfest, and an AO-7 pass after the hamfest, along with that AO-27 pass.  Not
a lot of radio work for me, but that's OK.  Clint put on good shows for the
hamfest crowd, and DM13 isn't all that rare (KO6TZ lives up the road a short
distance from the hamfest site, and there are others who get on as well).

73!





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