[AReU] Fw: Spring Picnic

[w4tas]

>>I hope everyone enjoyed themselves at the picnic.
>>
>>I know I had a great time!
>>
>>Richard (KF4RBH) did a great job of flippin' the hamburgers and I
>personally
>>didn't see any hit the ground. If anyone tasted any unusual grit in their
>>burger it must have been something else other than sand. The burgers
tasted
>>great and I had two of them. I regret that I didn't get a hot dog this
time
>>but I got interested in something else and just forgot. I saw some very
>>interesting covered dishes but I didn't partake of them and I am
regretting
>>it now. There was an ambrosia looking dish that I was particularly
>>interested in but never got around to it. I had the baked beans and they
>>were very tasty. What's a cookout without baked beans?
>>
>>The weather couldn't have been better. It was a bit cold around 6:30 AM
>when
>>I got there but Ed (W7LGD) had already been there for two hours. He was
>>doing all right but I could tell he was ready for the McDonald "Big
>>Breakfast" and a gigantic cup of coffee that I brought along for him. I
was
>>proud of my jacket and should have worn socks because my feet were cold
>>until about 9:30 AM.
>>
>>We got the HF antenna up and used Ed's FT847 to work several DX stations
on
>>10 meters. Among those were SM5CAK (Sweden), PJ2/DL7UFR (Netherlands
>>Antilles) and UR6IM (Ukraine). The DXpedition from San Felix Island (XR0X)
>>was heard but the pileup, our small ground coupled vertical and 100 watts
>>was just not enough to break through. Our thanks to Dan (who looked like
he
>>enjoyed every minute of it) for the great DX from the picnic grounds.
>>
>>I brought alone enough parts and pieces to lash together a downlink
>receiver
>>for the AO40 satellite. It happened that the orbital position was perfect
>>for our location and time of the picnic. That is very unusual now as the
>sun
>>angle of the satellite does not permit good pointing angles with the
highly
>>directional antenna that is used for the downlink. That will change in mid
>>April and the satellite will spend a good portion of it's time with very
>>good pointing angles and will allow contacts with minimal equipment
>>investment. We tried out several antennas and downconverters and learned
>>very much about what will and what will not work. I hope that there will
be
>>at least three more stations in the Brandon area ready for AO40 operation
>>before mid April.
>>
>>In closing, I noticed many new faces at this picnic. I didn't get around
as
>>much as I would have liked but I hope everyone felt welcome. I enjoy
seeing
>>folks have fun and enjoying the good weather and ham radio.
>>
>>I know for a fact that not a person there enjoyed it any more that I
>did!!!!
>>
>>73
>>
>>Tony
>>W4TAS
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