[Azham] The Williams AZ Hamfest and the ScQRPions QRP events.

[Mike Baker]

Hello Gang,
	If you didn't attend the ScQRPion's Convention (OH, I'm sorry, the Arizona
State Amateur Radio Convention) at Williams Arizona, you missed mixing and
meeting a really nice bunch of guys and gals and having a really good time!

	Followed John Stevens K5JS up from Phoenix at 5:15am on Friday and we BS'ed
the whole way north on 146.52 while I monitored 14.060CW on my Icom 703+.
Ran into a few others along the way to share conversation with.

	Got to the Rodeo Grounds just after 7:45 and with the help of a few others
helped John set up the booth for the ScQRPions.  Slowly the members
discovered the booth and began migrating out of the sun and using it as a
staging area.  Set a while, wander the swap meet a while, etc.

	Made my first pass thru the swap meet area (large area, small turnout, lots
of space between vendors.) and met an old friend, Gavin, so we spent 45
minutes catching up on life the past 8 or 9 years or so. Wandered off and
met others I know by sight and not by name or call. (The mind is a very
selective file cabinet. I don't know how it works or doesn't work.)

	Gave my Mom a call in Seligman and she came over to Williams with a friend
she was helping out and after they got done with business we had lunch at
"Rosas Cantina" (the best Mexican Food place in Williams. The ScQRPions gang
had diner there Friday Nite) and then checked into the Motel. Took a hour
nap and then went back to the Hamfest.  Turnout still pretty sparse.  Lots
of motorhomes, trailers and tents though. Took the booth down and packed up
in preparation for Dinner.

	Dinner Friday at Rosas Cantina was excellent.  They have a dark Mexican
beer that is pretty good (OK, Yes I would have preferred a Guinness, but
they don't have it.) I tend to judge a Mexican restaurant by how well they
do their Chili Rellanos and if they can "smother in Pork Green Chili".  OH
YEA!  They did both and I had a chicken enchilada with rice and beans to go
with it.  Man was I full!  Spread me with KY Jelly and squeeze me thru the
door!!  This was not going to be conducive to me getting to sleep any time
early that evening and necessitated me having to make use of the Motels Pool
and hot tub. Welcome relief.

	Saturday morning I hit the Swapmeet for a single pass thru and then had a
cheep breakfast nosh to take my pills with and headed for the Hotel and the
ScQRPion's presentations.

	The review of presentations has already been made so let me only say, it
was the best thing going at the Hamfest. The turn out was SRO most of the
time and extra chairs had to be brought in for the last few presentations.

	The lunch buffet at the Railroad station Restaurant wasn't bad but a bit
tough for a fellow with Diabetes. Too many Carbs with Mac and Cheese, pasta
in two dishes, Corn,Beans, Breaded items, but we made it thru ok.  The
Riblets were good, boneless and spicy.

	Back to the Hotel for the rest of the presentations.

	When we were all done there, it was off to the local Safeway to get the
goodies for the BBQ at Dogtown lake that night.

	The BBQ was great. I got a chance to chat with a bunch of folks, listen to
Dan Tayloe's NC-2030 version 1 and was VERY impressed. The only receiver
that has ever impressed me that much was a Rob Sherwood-ized, tube-mosfet
hybrid, totally tricked out Drake R-4C about 15 years ago. It just amazes me
what he has done with a direct conversion receiver. I can't wait to get my
hands on a kit at Pacificon.  I can only hope he decides to make a multi
band version of it down the road.  WOW!
	And speaking of WOW, he threw together a neat little 20 meter loop antenna
wrapped around a Hula-Hoop and supported within a PVC pipe frame by twine
and fed with a single smaller loop and the larger loop was made out of sheet
aluminum flashing material and the cap at the ends was made with nylon
screws and washers using the ends of the sheet flared outward. By using
sheet about 10 inches across it equals the surface area of a 6" tube so he
figured it was about 92% efficient! COOL and small!  Boy, did that rekindle
the old flames of building a small efficient mobile 40 meter horizontal
loop!

	Did I have a good time?  You bet.
	Am I going to do this again next year?  You bet. And hopefully next year I
will have a camper of some type so I can just hang out in the camp ground
with the other camping ScQRPions and play!

	Now to work on plans for Pacificon!



Mike Baker  K7DD
k7ddmjb at qwest.net