Subj : Amateur Radio Newsline (A)
To : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Fri Feb 02 2018 08:00 am
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2101, for Friday, February 2, 2018
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2101, with a release date of
Friday, February 2, 2018, to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. Delays plague the planned construction of
Dayton Hamvention's new expo center. Arizona's Quartzfest has
concluded, and reports record attendance -- and a new award bears
the name of a recent Silent Key who was an accomplished DXer and
treasured friend. All this and more, as Amateur Radio Newsline
Report 2101, comes your way right now.
**
BILLBOARD CART
**
DELAYS PLAGUE HAMVENTION EXPO CENTER
PAUL/ANCHOR: We open this week's newscast with an update on this
year's Dayton Hamvention, and some disappointing news. Here's
Stephen Kinford, N8WB, with that report.
STEPHEN: Hamvention 2018 is going forward on the weekend of May 18th
to 20th, as planned, but the massive international gathering of ham
radio operators will not have the much-anticipated new expo center
that was announced last year. Hamvention organizers report a backlog
on the prefabricated building sections, causing a construction delay
not just for Hamvention, but the Greene County Fair. The announcement
was made on Jan. 29, by Hamvention organizers Ron Cramer, KD8ENJ,
Jack Gerbs, WB8SCT, and Michael Kalter, W8CI. They said it was
regrettable, but [quote] "It is well out of our control." [endquote]
A Jan. 29 report in the Dayton Daily News said bidding for the $1.9
million expo center closed with one bidder, Greater Dayton Construction
Ltd., citing higher costs than the county had estimated. County
Administrator Brandon Huddleson told the newspaper that the company
was not able to guarantee the building's opening in time for Hamvention
at the Greene County fairgrounds. The county's plan now, he said, is
to rebid the project again in the summer to ensure the building would
be in place later this year.
Ron Cramer reaffirmed Hamvention's commitment to the fairgrounds,
however. Organizers noted that an additional building will be available
this year - a 7,500-square-foot structure being vacated by Fairgrounds
Furniture, which has until April to leave the premises.
For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth,
Ohio.
(DAYTON DAILY NEWS, DAYTON HAMVENTION)
**
ARIZONA'S QUARTZFEST BREAKS RECORDS
PAUL/ANCHOR: In Arizona, another much-celebrated gathering of amateurs,
has just concluded, and as we hear from James Pastorfield, KB7TBT, it
was quite a finish.
JAMES: Quartzfest 2018 is now in the history books -- and what a year
we had. The all-time attendance record was not only broken, but it was
smashed with 853 people. The previous record, set in 2016, was 820.
There were 118 activities on the schedule, ranging from antenna
building, Winlink, A Ladies Circle, Rasberry Pi, a four-by-four off-road
trail ride, and even a Pet Parade. At night, lots of people would gather
around one of the RVs, where they had a movie night. The WIN-System
group was in charge of making the coffee during the event, and we all
were thankful for that on the chilly mornings. The WIN-System group even
had a 440 MHz repeater linked into the network all week long. Many
people checked in, and got on the air, to talk to people all over the
U.S. and around the world, via VoIP.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Western Country Cousins put on a Pot Luck
dinner, that had lots of side dishes, and 40 pounds of brisket.
The Laurel Amateur Radio Club on Wednesday, and the ARRL on Saturday,
held VE sessions, that together passed nine new Technicians, 7 Generals,
and 5 Extra class operators. During Happy Hour, we gathered all the new
technicians to make their first VHF 2 meter contact with Gordon West,
WB6NOA, and receive a First Contact Certificate.
Every morning and night, we all gathered around the campfire, for a
fireside chat, on Wednesday night, we had the Burning Ham-Man activity.
On Thursday Rick, W7RAP, held the annual Hobo Stew, and again, we all
had full bellies by nightfall.
On Thursday night, we had a Hootenanny at the fire circle, and enjoyed
lots of great music, that was put on by Russell, KB6YAF, Michele,
K7MGO, and Kevin, NB7O.
The Salome High School did a project with the kids, to build QRP Fox
Hunt transmitters, we had tiny spiders, dinosaurs, and even a flower
in a pot to hide in a garden. The projects were used for the Fox
Hunting activities during the week.
The W7Q Special event station was on the air all week long, and made
244 contacts with James, KB7TBT - that would be me! - winning the most
contacts award at 125.
Kristyn Weed, KR1SS, has been coordinating the event for six years now,
she worked endlessly to make the event one of the best ever, we all
thank her for the spectacular job that she has done.
We also give out a special thank-you to all the volunteers, who took
care of us.
We hope to see you all again January 20-26, 2019.
Reporting from Quartzfest 2018, this is James Pastorfield, KB7TBT, 73
till next year!
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