Hi!

On Saturday, 3 May 2008, the Cochise Amateur Radio Association (CARA) held its annual Larry Warren Hamfest on its "Green Acres" field in Sierra Vista AZ (grid DM41vm):

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=31.5197+n+110.1...

As part of the hamfest, there was an AMSAT table with information related to amateur satellites and on-air demonstrations during 3 passes. This was a large (for Arizona) effort, with two Sierra Vista hams (Jeff K7WIN, Bill K7WJS) taking the lead with the planning for the effort. Larry W7LB from Tucson and I (driving in from Phoenix) were also part of this. Jeff and Bill have done presentations for the CARA in the recent past, laying the foundation for the AMSAT effort at the hamfest. The CARA even authorized us to use its callsign K7RDG for our radio operations during the hamfest. Jeff and Bill also had information on IRLP and EchoLink, and we monitored K7WIN's 70cm repeater on both of those networks in case anyone wanted to call us during the hamfest.

We set up the tables in time for the 7am (1400 UTC) start of the hamfest, put out flyers and AMSAT merchandise, and prepared our stations (satellite and IRLP/EchoLink). We were ready for the first pass, and talking with hams and anyone else walking by until the first satellite pass.

AO-51 came by for an overhead pass between 1453 and 1508 UTC, and it was a busy pass. K7RDG made contacts with 2 Canadian stations, 6 Mexican stations, and 8 stations from all over the continental US. Despite the number of stations, this was a very good pass to show those not familiar to satellite operating.

About 20 minutes after that pass (1529-1543 UTC), SO-50 went by from the north to the southeast. With a maximum elevation of 51 degrees at our station, it was another good pass for a demonstration. K7RDG logged contacts with 10 different stations during this pass. One Canadian station, 5 Mexican stations, and 4 US stations - again, a very nice show for the audience.

Once SO-50 passed by, we had almost an hour before the next pass. AO-51 made a low pass (maximum elevation 8 degrees) to the west between 1633 and 1644 UTC. With mountains in that direction coupled with the low elevation, K7RDG logged only 5 contacts on this pass. Four in the continental US, and one (Dale KL7XJ) in Alaska.

As with other Saturday hamfests in Arizona, this hamfest went until midday. Then we, like everyone else, packed up our stuff. Lots of people stopped by our tables, we made 31 contacts with stations from Alaska to central Mexico and all across the US, and everyone had a good time.

Thanks to the Cochise Amateur Radio Association for the space and the use of the K7RDG call for our demonstrations, to the operators on these 3 passes (especially the many XE stations that showed up and said "hello" to the hamfest), and to Jeff K7WIN and Bill K7WJS for their work leading up to - and on the day of - the hamfest.

73!

Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/