The Crew Grows

This year will be the first time my brother Dave, KD8MZT, will be going and I’m pretty excited to see his face when we arrive. He’s been to several local swaps lately since getting his ticket but I don’t think he understands the sheer magnitude of Hamvention. Of course, this means the drive will be a little tight in the back but I don’t think either of us are going to mind much. As an added bonus, he will get his new vanity call, N8DAH, while we’re down there, so he’ll be due a new name badge.

Shenanigans on the Road

Every year I like to do something different while we trek along I-75 South for four and a half hours. This year will be no different and thanks to my father’s obsession with making his truck more connected than a EmComm command post, we’ll be rocking PSK31 on HF, along with several other digital modes and voice. Perhaps I’ll get my first mobile HF contact!

I suppose I’ll also be connected to the good ol’ Internet for chatting it up with others en route but I really do want to focus on the amateur radio aspect of this and stay away from the web, except of course when posting random tweets or pictures.

Hopefully the rest of the crew will not be too harsh as I try to get some video of the trip, starting bright and early at 4am.

Scavenger List

As with most years, I don’t have any ‘needs’ but certainly a lot of ‘well if I happen to see it for the right price’ items. Lots of magnets, perhaps a used mag-loop antenna, various memory cards, micro-drives, and maybe even a 6-meter radio that’s easy to use on digital. I never really go with anything in mind to get but always come back with a handful of things and a huge grin. I don’t think there’s a single ham who can say they don’t love digging through a box of ‘junk’ looking for great ‘stuff’.

Antenna-Helmet

Oh yeah, it’s back, and this time with twice the radiating power! Not only will I have my TH-F6A attached to the center antenna, but I’ll also have an antenna mounted on the helmet visor for APRS. Using my RadioShack HTX-420, an OpentTracker+ and Argent Data System GPS puck with power supplied by a 12 volt lead acid gel cell battery.

I’d like to see what it would take to trickle charge the battery using solar panels that will be mounted on the side of helmet. Just a little something to put together while I’m there winding down after each day. If I’m feeling very adventurous, I’ll set up my laptop with it so I can RX/TX messages too.

Tweetup!

Yep, I’m trying to get a bunch of people together, but that’s all I’m going to say since it’s a TWEETUP! If you want more info, follow my twitter @kritikal for more info. I suppose you could just watch the lifestream on the right hand side, but where’s the fun in that?

T-minus 4 hours!

I’ve compressed what I wanted to say but I should get some sleep before we venture out on the road.

73, safe travels, and see you there!
Andrew, K8DJK (soon to be W8FI)

http://www.k8djk.com

I’ll stream while I can, and perhaps even while I’m out in the flea market. I’ll be posting galleries to the page Dayton page which you can find a link to at the top.

See you all there!

This year I retired the tried and true, but tired, RadioShack HTX-420. It was a great first radio and will always be a great back up. I’ve acquired a nice set of accessories for it including a TinyTrak II and GPS for it. I’ve longed for the radio my father and his freinds all use, so in place of the old HT, I will be armed with my new Kenwood TH-F6A. I’ll be needing a headset for it, something of decent quality, rather than an MFJ special, hi hi.

The last thing needed this time over last year has already been given since we’ll be spending 4 days down in Dayton, rather than the one I was allowed to have (my XYL was 7 months pregnant). It sure will be nice to document our travels, our adventures, and our return, without that rush to get back in just one day. I can say the drive back last year was not fun near the end at 3am.

I’ll also be streaming live video of the trip down and up via ChaserTV for those people who just can’t get enough of someone driving through Ohio. On top of that video, I’ll be recording random videos and taking pictures, in sort of a documentary form. I’m thinking something in the way of how I came into ham radio (not that I had a choice with a father and grandfather both being hams) and where it has taken me. I’m working with someone to help on the editing and should have a source for release soon.

Aside from the usual gear, we’ll be using APRS all the way down/up so we can be followed for eyes in chairs and receive messages for when my 3G service goes out. I’ll be active in several chats, both IRC and XMPP and be fully online when coverage allows. I’ll be updating my Twitter with live photos and updates and if anything needs anything, just hit me up there and I’ll keep an eye out.

As with the past few years, I’m hunting for a cheap tablet computer. Perhaps a Fujitsu Stylistic or something similar to have float around the house for quick weather checks and email. I’d also love to tie in some home automation and remote control for the random electronics. As I previously mentioned, I’ll be looking for a good headset for my HT so I can go hands free while I’m there as well as when I’m storm chasing.

Speaking of storm chasing, it might not hurt to get two webcams for a good price. I’d still love to try out the “3D storm chasing” if it didn’t cost that much. Perhaps a window mount for my Inspeed anemometer too, or just another one all together, we’ll see how the pocket of cash holds out!

Of course, I’ll be sure to save enough to get my years worth of 2600 from the van and a few cups of the wheat beer they serve out of the trailer near the bar at the corner of the arena.

It will be fun to again see people you only see in Dayton, a chance to quick up real quick and ask about any great deals. I’ll no doubt pick up some small pieces of this or that while I’m there, just to haggle, and hey, I’m a General now so I’ll be looking at a whole new kind of amateur use.

We’ll see you down there!