Hi!
The AMSAT table at the Superstition Hamfest in Mesa AZ was successful. Lots of traffic by the table, sales, and good crowds for the two AO-51 demonstrations (1615 and 1755 UTC). I, along with Gerry VE4GTB/KD7MDB and Larry W7LB, had a great time with a real AMSAT table with AMSAT stuff along with the satellite demonstration(s) for the first time in at least a couple of years for a Phoenix-area hamfest. We also had some help from an AMSAT life member, George W7ON (my father-in-law), who lingered around the table striking up conversations and also answered questions from passers-by. AO-51 regulars Leo W7JPI and Ron W6ZQ stopped by throughout the morning; nice to see them make the drive from southern Arizona to the Phoenix area.
The first demonstration was a great AO-51 pass, at 1615-1630 UTC. With the satellite up to 80 degrees elevation, it was good for us with lots of activity across North America (10 QSOs). The 1755-1805 UTC pass, a westward pass with maximum 9 degrees elevation, was pretty good (3 QSOs, plus I heard a Mexican station toward the end of the pass that I could not make a contact with). My station was an IC-2720H mobile radio at 15W into my Arrow Antennas handheld dual-band Yagi (using a Diamond duplexer, to handle the higher power output). From the radio's speaker jack, I strung an external speaker away from the radio for the crowd to listen in, along with a small earpiece so I could hear the radio and a Sony digital recorder to capture the activity on these passes (and log the contacts later). Larry W7LB listened to the activity with his FT-817 and Yagi, along with the crowd around the external speaker.
I had thought about trying at least one VO-52 pass during the hamfest, but never got around to it. We were talking with people for much of the morning, I didn't get my FT-817 out and try to work that satellite like I saw during the AMSAT demos at Dayton earlier this year. There will be other chances to do that.
We are looking to have an AMSAT table at 3 other Phoenix-area hamfests in the next few months, and we will try to do demos on AO-51 provided the schedule is compatible with our equipment. Maybe other satellites, if those passes are compatible with these hamfests and the equipment we have. I'll post more information in advance of those hamfests, and hopefully we'll hear you during those demonstrations or see you at the hamfests.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/