Desert Rats and Palm Springs DX Club Hamfest

[Frank - K1GR]

PAPA System members set up a tent at the Desert Rat hamfest, picnic and Winter Field Day event held on January 30th in Palm Springs. Members who attended the ham-fest demonstrated digital voice and data communications to attending radio amateurs. Doug KJ6ACO and Cecil WD6FZA brought their D-Star radios and the Dongle interface to demonstrate D-Star voice communication. A continuously running power point presentation introduced the PAPA System to visiting hams. The demonstrations generated interest in amateur digital voice and data communications and questions were answered while having QSOs with other D-Star users. Several attending hams already owned D-Star radios but were not using them because they did not understand the syntax of programming the radios. Allen KB6OYA provided assistance to program their radios for operation through the local K6IFR D-star repeater in Palm Springs. Thanks to Doug Bornstein owner of the K6IFR repeater, by mutual agreement the K6IFR repeater is now associated with the PAPA system. As you can see from the photos many attended the hamfest to buy and sell ham gear. Several of the sellers displayed older amateur equipment, some of which I once owned and some that I wished I could have afforded when I first got started in amateur radio. Sellers inside the building were selling new equipment and accessories ranging from new radios, antennas, connectors/adapters and power pole supplies. Food and beverages were available. Prizes were raffled off with an opportunity to win several radios. KJ0NAH, Jonah age 11 won the prize for being the youngest licensed ham present. A crowd gathered to watch Clint K6ICS have a QSO via the AO-27 Satellite using his HT running 2 watts. It was Lots of fun and a chance to have some eyeball QSOs.