Hi!

Last Friday evening, I gave a presentation at the monthly meeting of the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach in southern California. This is the club that operates the W6RO station aboard the Queen Mary. This had been in the works for a little while, and I thank Endaf Buckley KG6FIY for the invitation to speak at his club.

Before the meeting, there were passes of FO-29 and SO-50 passing by the west coast. Endaf ensured that the club members were aware of this, if they wanted to see a demonstration of both FM and SSB satellite operating. There was a nice crowd that greeted me when I arrived, and I was able to chat with them as I set up my portable station outside. I was able to log one QSO on FO-29, with Frank K6FW, followed by seven QSOs on SO-50.

My presentation was not the "how to work satellites" type of presentation, but a combination of a history lesson - history, as it relates to amateur satellites - and talking about the Fox project and its satellites. I had done some reading about our satellites from the 1960s and 1970s for an presentation I gave in February, and incorporated bits from that in the presentation on Friday evening. I think there were 30 to 40 people in the crowd, including some satellite operators who drove varying distances to be in the crowd - Jim KQ6EA, Tom WA0POD, Mike AI6GS, Chris KA6WNK, plus Endaf KG6FIY who is also on the satellites from Long Beach.

Thanks to the ARALB for an enjoyable evening, and thanks to the 8 stations who worked me from Long Beach before the meeting. 73!

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