Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote:
Hi Clint!
Patrick - I am sorry I missed tallking to you today on AO-51...How did it go?
The hamfest was well-attended, and contacts were made on all 3 AO-51 passes. No Hawaii stations, but Dale KL7XJ in Alaska was on the last pass (1700 UTC), a very shallow pass for my location. Thanks Dale, for getting up on an early (for you) cold Saturday morning. The crowd enjoyed hearing Alaska on the satellite.
It was very crowded on the first pass, around 1342 UTC. A typical pass covering all of the continental USA. The next pass at 1519 UTC was the very high pass for the hamfest site, busy like the earlier pass and a good show. Some of my Mexican ham friends showed up from Baja California (Manuel XE2BHL from Tijuana/DM12, and both David XE2RDA and Enrique XE2SER from DL44 in southern Baja California) near the end of that pass. And, as I mentioned, Dale KL7XJ and a few others on the west coast were present for the 1700 UTC pass. Without the increased power from AO-51, I would not have even attempted that pass (maximum 5 degrees elevation to the northwest). I still have to replay my recordings from those passes to make my log entries, so I can't make a more-complete listing of stations I worked this morning.
With great weather, the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club hamfest had great turnout - buyers and sellers. There was constant activity around the AMSAT table. Several regulars on the FM birds from outside of the Phoenix area stopped by (Leo W7JPI, Larry WA6DIR, Jeff K7WIN, Bill K7WJS) and a couple of relatively new satellite ops from this area (Bill AA4Q and Bob W0DXZ). Brock W6GMT, who was at this hamfest last year, checked in during one of the AO-51 passes from somewhere in DM15 (the Mojave Desert, maybe?).
Working with me at the AMSAT table were Larry W7LB from Tucson and Gerry VE4GTB/KD7MDB, who avoids the Winnipeg winters by staying down here in the Phoenix area - thanks guys for making the morning a fun time. Thanks to all who called me, or tried to call me, during those 3 AO-51 passes today.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix AZ http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Patrick, I was glad to help out with your demo. I was doing other things and missed the first two passes. You had a great signal into the satellite. Were you able to hear KL7DR and KL4E? I know they were both going to try.
73, Dale - KL7XJ