Hamfest Part 2

I was exhausted last night.  Slept off and on from about 6 pm until 8 am.  Headed back to the convention hotel a little after 11 am.  After noon, members if HDARC were holding a soldering class to some of the school students.  (photo here).

Most of the rest of the afternoon, I manned (kept and eye on) the club's display tables.  Took a break to do a little shopping and get instructions for programming my new HT.  Bought a couple USB cables, some clip jumper leads, and the cable to programming my new HT.

Then it was time to attend the Digital Modes Forum.  I am now excited to find my Icom 707 and power supply so I can start assembling a digital mode station.

For dinner, I picked up one of the leftover box lunches for giving a donation.  Checked e-mail back here at the house and then early to bed.

Duke City Ham Fest

Early start today.  At the convention center about 7 am.  Registered for the convention.  Next it was waiting for other club members to finish setting up the club's display.

High Desert ARC has an active program with the Albuquerque schools.  This Spring, they worked with NASA and had a conversation (QSO in ham lingo) with the ISS (International Space Center).  It was a big real with the schools and the club.   Much of the HDARC display was centering around that contact.

Band connections were terrible.  Antenna is only set up for 20 meters.  So, a little change of plans and the station was reconfigured for digital.  I and some others got a little primer on digital communications.  Ed (HDARC member) was running the station.  He has a forum Saturday in the afternoon covering digital modes.  I am very interested in this since it is one way I could run my radios without my speech problems.

A couple times during the day, I wandered through the venor/flea market area.  Was looking for a couple things (bench power supply, specially).  Having problems with the little Yaesu HT - think it was dropped too many times.  Ended up a Chinese HT that covers 2m, 220, and 440 for $120.

By this time, I was exhausted,  It was time to call it a day.  Stopped by Five Guys for a burger.  WOW, while the portions are large, so are the prices!

Early crash into bed.  Got up for a while during the night to do some computer work.  Soon back to bed.

Ham Fest Prep

I have been slowly getting unpacked and settled into the new house.  This weekend (August 12-14) I made a break from the routine to attend and help at the Duke City Ham Fest.

Duke City Ham Fest this year also hosts the New Mexico ARRL Section conference.

Went to the normal High Desert ARC Thursday Coffee.  Back home for a little (change cloths and break),  The afternoon was spent the the "Pyramid" hotel and convention center and hotel. Afternoon activity was preparation for the ham fest. 

The club has done this before, so most of my time was spending observing and leaning,  We were setting up 2 tables in the convention center hall, a large display board.  In on of the meeting rooms, we set up the convention special events station.  In this photo, Terry, Bill (and others) are assembling the display board.

Break from Unpacking

By Saturday evening, I was looking forward to a break from the moving activities..  Weather was looking good for most all of the day Sunday, so I decided it was a good day to make a return visit to the Valles Caldera.  I wanted to get an early start si that I could drive the preserve roads and take photos.

Typically, I could not sleep.  Got up early and had a big breakfast at IHOP (more than I could finish).  Gassed up the car,  Stopped in San Ysidro to use the facilities and get some soda.  It was about 8:15 that I pulled into the Valles Caldera National Preserve visitor's Center.  Signed in for driving the roads and headed off to shoot photos of the caldera.

The preserve is now under the National Park Service.  The preserve roads are narrow, gravel roads.  To keep traffic reasonable, the preserve allows 35 personal vehicles per day. 

Visited a little with one of the ranger - talked about my High Dynamic Range Photography/  Was thinking to check some of the spots along the way home, but the road and turn-off were full.  Think lots of people had the same idea.  Back home, I processed photos taken during the trip.

Photos I took at Valles Caldera are posted on my web site.   http://tomwinfield.com/new-mexico/valles-caldera.html