SKCC 5123T----- FISTS 14979----- Flying Pigs 2331----- NAQCC 3610-----QRP ARCI 14176-----Polar Bear 257

Monday, March 11, 2013

Operating at Red Cross Home Expo

The Panama City ARC had a booth at the Red Cross sponsored Home Expo this weekend. I brought the KX3 and Alexloop for show. On Saturday, I tried to operate in the confines of a metal building. I could hear a few signals but no luck getting out. Sunday, I set up outside next to the Red Cross truck. I had a great day! I checked into SouthCARS 7.251 net and Maritime Mobile net 14.300. I had three Wisconsin QSO party contacts on 20 SSB. It just turned out the SKCC Weekend Sprint was on and I worked MO X 2, TX, CT X 2,  MA X 2, VA and  OK on 20 meters. Then I worked CA and AZ on 15 meters. This included a QSO with W1AW working the Weekend Sprint. This was another confidence builder for the Alexloop and KX3 combo as a minimal portable setup. The show patrons seemed most interested in the code and a couple could copy code from their military experience. Marv KK4DKT, Don KK4DWC and Harold KF4YDO did a great job of talking up Ham Radio at the booth.

KK4DWC in chair, KK4DKT Club President and N4KGL in the back.

Alexloop and KX3 setup next to the Red Cross truck.