Hi!
On Saturday (17 October), I will have an AMSAT table at the Old Pueblo Radio Club's annual hamfest in Tucson AZ. The hamfest is at the Kino Sports Complex, along Ajo Way east of I-10 and the Tucson Electric Park stadium. The hamfest starts around 0600 local time (1300 UTC), and should be done by noon.
At my AMSAT table, I plan on doing demonstrations using 2 FM satellites (AO-51, SO-50) and a linear-transponder satellite (VO-52). This has been a successful way to show interested hams that a large station is not necessary to get started, either on FM or SSB. Subject to the availability of these satellites, WD9EWK will be on the following passes from the hamfest:
AO-51: 1346 UTC SO-50: 1619 and 1759 UTC VO-52: 1537 and 1712 UTC
I may be on the 1208 UTC AO-51 pass if I am up and about at that time, but probably not from the hamfest site. If you hear me on any of these passes, please feel free to give me a call. The hamfest is in grid DM42me, for those who may be interested in that. I will send QSL cards to all who work WD9EWK at the hamfest, in appreciation of your support of my demonstrations.
After the hamfest, I do not plan on taking the direct route back to Phoenix. I may wander over to other grids in southern or southeastern Arizona before making the drive home. I do not know which grid or grids I will visit for those passes. I hope to be on the afternoon AO-27 and afternoon/evening AO-51 passes from somewhere - and somewhere could be DM31, DM32, DM41, DM51, DM52, DM53, or some combination of these grids. For the post-hamfest activity, you don't have to send me a QSL or SASE if you work me. Just e-mail me the QSO details, and I'll send out a QSL card if you are in the log.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/