All,
I finally did it, made my first QSO on the birds this afternoon. Worked W6AJP on A051 on the 0100UT 21 July pass from DM33, Thank you for the QSO. I was also worked by WC7V in DM45, again thanks for the QSO, I hope I didn't sound like too much of a rookie :-). QSL's will be in the mail tomorrow.
I did hear someone else call me, I think it may have been K6SIP, but before could reply the bird went below my radio horizon and I lost the signal.
My station is pretty simple: a Kenwood TH7D handheld using a homebrew dual band yagi from plans by Kent Britain WA5VJB. Simple to build and works like a charm and only $30.00 in parts. I attached a digital voice recorder to the radio and used my Ipod ear buds (A Heil headset is on the short list of things to get next time I'm at HRO :-)).
Again thanks for the QSO's and hope to work more of you in the future.
Clear Skies
Rick Tejera Editor SACnews, Public Outreach Coordinator Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona www.saguaroastro.org http://www.saguaroastro.org/ [email protected] K7TEJ