Hi!
Thanks to all the stations across the USA and Mexico for the 18 contacts during 6 different passes while I was at the Scottsdale (Arizona) Spring Hamfest. Two passes each, on 3 different satellites (AO-7, SO-50, VO-52), during the half-day hamfest. Lots of people stopped by my AMSAT table, and - as I've seen at other hamfests - larger crowds showing up for the SSB satellite demonstrations. Weather was perfect, and I was able to stand outside without a jacket from about 0600 local (1300 UTC), before sunrise.
Toward the end of the morning, I was answering lots of questions about my two FT-817NDs and SSB satellite operating. Many have seen demonstrations of FM satellite operating, or seen the many videos online, but not too many see SSB satellite operating. Several commented that they could put together a station with a larger multiband all-mode transceiver like an FT-857 or IC-706 with an FT-817 as a receiver. The hamfest wrapped up around 1900 UTC, but I was standing and talking with people for at least a full hour past the official end of the hamfest. A good thing!
Also, thanks to the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club for a great event at a new location, and for providing AMSAT with a space at the hamfest. This new location, at a church, had lots of covered parking used for vendors and others representing clubs or organizations. I was directed to a couple of spaces in the covered parking area, which was ideal for everyone except me. Pointing my log periodic through the cover was not going to be a good thing, and I was able to get a couple of uncovered parking spaces for my truck and table before the hamfest got under way.
The past couple of days have been very busy, with my quick road trip to the San Diego area followed by this hamfest closer to home. Other than trying to work ND9M tomorrow :-) I don't plan on doing too much. One relatively quiet day out of a 4-day weekend is a good thing. The next hamfest I will attend with an AMSAT table will be in Tucson two weeks from now, on Saturday 26 March.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/