[amsat-bb] Yuma Hamfest - day 1

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi!

The first day of the two-day Yuma Hamfest in southwestern Arizona
was a great day.  A huge crowd showed up as the hamfest opened 
at midday, there was steady traffic through the main hall where my 
AMSAT booth was located, and I had a nice crowd watch and listen 
to a demonstration on AO-7 in the afternoon.  The hamfest continues 
tomorrow, with a full day of activities wrapping up with a barbecue in 
the evening.  

Thanks to AC0RA, W5PFG, AA5PK, and N8HM for the contacts on
the AO-7 pass around 2240 UTC.  This was the only demonstration I
gave today.  This pass showed how well this 39-year-old satellite is
still working, and these stations - in Iowa, two different parts of Texas,
and Washington DC - illustrated the coverage of this satellite.  I had 
some help for this demonstration.  Frank N7ZEV, a satellite ham and 
AMSAT Area Coordinator from Las Vegas, was outside for this pass 
with his TH-F6A HT and the 2m part of his Arrow Yagi listening in as 
I worked the pass.  Keeping an eye on my booth in the hamfest's 
main hall during this demonstration was a group of ARRL card 
checkers, including long-time satellite ham Ron W6ZQ.  

The hamfest continues at 8am (1500 UTC) tomorrow morning, and I 
am planning to get on passes during the day.  I am going to try to 
work SO-50 as it passes by at 1441-1453 UTC, just before the official
starting time of the hamfest, and other passes later.  Please call me
if you hear WD9EWK on any of these passes.  I'm also planning on 
going outside the hall to copy AO-73 telemetry on at least one of the
two passes later in the morning. 

73!





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