[Elecraft] Hamfests

Thu Oct 23 12:59:00 2003

 John,
 Imagine if Elecraft owners all across American, and indeed, those in 
foreign countries were to spend even just a few hours manning a table at 
a hamfest. No matter how small or big it is, this would increase 
awareness of our amazing rigs by a factor of untold dimensions. It 
doesn't have to be a "selling job" ... the quality and reliability of 
the properly constructed rig would sell itself. All we need to do is let 
folks see our rigs, maybe one operating and one opened up for display, 
and pass out info. I did not go looking for a Elecraft rig when I begun 
my search. I had looked for months while saving up the dough. I narrowed 
my search down to something that could be portable, work QRP (thought 
the K2 is far more capable of more than just QRP) and I wanted future 
expansion into a laptop for field day activities as well as my many 
camping expeditions. This is what led me to Elecraft. I read this list 
for a few days and decided that the K2 was the way to go. It was really 
Lisa at Elecraft who set me straight on which rig to buy. If  I had the 
income, I'd have bought all of them just to satisfy my builders 
lust...for now I am just some what satiated.
  I have made contacts with a local 2 meter repeater association and a 
few individuals near my QTH (Spokane, Washington) to try to arrange a 
table at the next hamfest near here. I am also thinking about attending 
recurrent breakfast and lunch groups of hams around the area and taking 
my K2 on the road with me to demonstrate. I am building my K2 as part of 
a Communications Systems class project for college credit, the professor 
(John Cook) was so impressed with the K2 rig that he is now studying 
with me for his Tech license and wants to eventually go all the way to 
Extra. I think it's neat, next week he gives me a test for class in wave 
propagation and waveguides, and I give him a practice test for Tech 
license!! Each of the guys in my class are watching with very rapt 
interest to "see if that thing works" ... I have allowed them to 
actually install some components while supervising them to teach them 
skills in soldering and building, something that they have never done 
before (none of them in my class have ever even used a soldering iron 
before) and assembly skills in reading the manual and actually making 
progress. They were amazed when I powered it up for alignment tests in 
lab last night, and I told them that they too had a hand in it.
 Now in all honesty and fairness, Bill Spaulding, an long time list 
member and local hero for me, helped me this last week to find a solder 
bridge in my rig that kept the PLL from locking up, and this I accept as 
my fault, he is also helping me to study code for my General and Extra 
exams which I plan to take in December.  Elmer's have been around since 
Marconi was a kid, it's not new ... but Elecraft, this list and the K2 
kit is what gave wings to my lifelong dreams of becoming a Ham operator, 
and gave me the ability to pass on my dream to someone else even though 
I am a newbie. There is no doubt that Elecraft and enthusiasm sell ... 
just some thoughts from a new old fart on the block.
73, MIke Heit KD7YLA

John Veach wrote:

>This summer I wrote Lisa and asked if Elecraft would be represented at the
>Utah State Convention at Bryce Canyon National Park.  The response was no.
>Since I was workamping only 12 miles from the hamfest site, I volunteered to
>man a booth for Elecraft if they would arrange for a table with the hamfest
>committee.  I know others have done the same thing.  Lisa sent me lots of
>material and an Elecraft banner. While this was not a major hamfest, let me
>assure you that the Elecraft table was the most popular place to stop in the
>commercial room.   If you want to see Elecraft at your hamfest, why not
>simply offer to run the booth for them?
>
>John KE4D
>on the road again
>K2/100 #2985
>www.TheRollingHome.com
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>  
>
-- 
73, de Michael Heit KD7YLA
"Real Hams do it at a high frequency"

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