NEAR-FEST Reports!

[W1DAN]

Hi!

Please post your Near-Fest reports here.

I drove up Saturday AM with friend WA1TDH. The weather was cool and misty. Upon reaching about the tenth table, my friend spotted an Orban Optimod being taken out of a guy's trunk. Inquiring, I bargained for it down to $60. Also purchased some old Popular Electronics magazines, some LP's and a couple of knick-knacks.

Eyeballed with K1REC, WA1HLR, WA1QIX, KA5WHO, W3GMS and a few others. Overall it seemed the flea had fewer buyers and choice gear than in the spring, but very much worth it!!

See photos: WA1QIX, KA5WHO, and another AM'er I do not remember. A cheap Harvey transmitter. WA1TDH with a QRP tuning cap for his pocket rig.

73,
Dan
W1DAN

[W1DAN]

More photos...

Central Electronics 458 VFO and 20A exciter.

Central Electronics Sideband Slicer.

Ted KA1QAR's R390A checkup station and Class E setup.

Dan

[W1TAV]

While not AM someone we know also picked up a KWS-2A for $40... Good deals all around. Good job Dan on the Optomod! 

[W1RC]

While not AM someone we know also picked up a KWM-2A for $40... Good deals all around. Good job Dan on the Optomod! 

a friendly mine was lucky enough to grab that KWM-2a for $40.00.  He showed me the radio.  It was dirty but will clean up nicely.  I am glad that Wally got it.  He deserves it.  We all do once in a while.

I have never known of onethat sold for less.  The great deals are still out there.

Nice to see a good representation from the AM community at Deerfield.

73,

MrMike

[AJ1G]

Was only able to be up for Friday.  Fantastic WX, in spite of the cloudy forecast, it was sunny and warm, bordering on hot.  180 out from what was it, two years ago in October, when there was snow on the way up through Worcester, and everyone froze their BAs off.

Sold some odds and ends, did a lot of socializing, bought very little.  For my $40.00 special, bought Diane a near mint 1950s vintage Ambassador Debutante sewing machine as a surprise gift.  Who'da thunk something like that would show up at Near-fest?  Beautiful in its own right, all gloss black enamel and chrome.  Just like the KWS gold dust twins and the KWM2, they don't make em like that any more.

Seems like there were many more young people around this fall, very encouraging to see that.  While I was packing up Friday night, some young kids between 11 and 14, one of whom just received his ticket, came by.  I gave them a bunch of my odds and ends that they could have fun with. They went off all happy like Christmas had come early, and I didn't have to lug the stuff home. Best deal of the day.

Decided to rack out in the truck before driving home, left about 0430 and had fun on the drive back listening to the Old Milrad Saturday morning fone net, checking in with the PW Angry 9 mobile on CW. Tried to check into the Lonely Guys pre-net on fone, but apparently was too PW.

[Burt]

Worst Deal DX-60 HG-10 VFO $235

[W1DAN]

MrMike

Thank you and your gang for working hard to hold these events.

Dan

[steve_qix]

See photos: WA1QIX, KA5WHO, and another AM'er I do not remember.

The other fellow is Neal NB1HF, one of the more-or-less locals.

[Carl WA1KPD]

Thanks again to Mr. Mike and his noble band of coordinators
Arrived Friday about 9:30, set up and attendance seemed sparse. But wx and and attendance definitely improved as the day went on.

Saw a lot of AM and other friends including one I had not seen for about 40 years. He was up there to re license himself. Todd, Rich, Rob, Dave Al and many others.

Picked up a nice HB modulator and a not so nice, but well priced NC-125. Sold a fair amount of projects that is clear I will not get around to, and gave away 3 boxes of magazines.

Returned Sat AM to the dull wx. We did not set up again, as there was littl left and wx was raw. Roamed around and picked up a few goodies.

All in all a nice couple of ham days and always appreciate the effort by everyone.

Carl /KPD

[W3GMS]

I will post some photo tomorrow, but as usual it was an awesome event!  This continues to be my favorite Hamfest.  My only wish is that it was closer!  MrMike and his entire staff did an awesome job. 

Joe, W3GMS 

[W1AEX]

This one will rank as one of my favorite NearFests. The weather on Friday was spectacular and although there was a chill in the air Saturday morning it really wasn't unpleasant. I sold more than I bought (in units of weight and cash) and saw lots of old friends. As always, the church lady vendors provided A+ food and coffee for fuel. During both days, a few "shoppers" even made offers for my Jeep, which was not for sale!

I really enjoyed meeting Norm W1GYY who has built the most amazing homebrew dual band (75 and 10 meters) Class D transmitter which he installed in the console of his vehicle. That is teamed up with a beautiful homebrew receive converter that utilizes the vehicle's dashboard radio to produce excellent hi-fi audio. His dual band mobile antenna is also completely hombrewed. In the video at the link below, you can see Norm demonstrating the setup to Joe (W3GMS) and I, as he replies to a 10 meter AM call from Rick (VE6CQ). Although Rick did not come back to Norm, when I caught him today, he mentioned that he heard Norm's signal, but that he had to step away as company had arrived and he had to answer the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQF6Q7uzbZM&list=UUGqgOCTbrBALJPFbZe5HVqg

Mr. Mike and his crew did a great job to assure that everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Nicely done!

Rob W1AEX

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Rob, it was great catching up with you there again. It's been a few years. Also good to see GMS & Mrs GMS (I always forget Martha's callsign), Steve/QIX, Carl/KPD, Phil/PHL, Joe/PJP, Bill/KV, Chris/AJ1G, Warren/GUD, MrMike and soooo many others. Saw W1DAN's back entering one of the commercial buildings but was in another conversation at the time.

WX was absolutely excellent on Friday, so much different than some previous events. It was surprising to see how busy the place was, how dense the foot traffic was on Friday. Seems a lot of folks took off work to attend.

Spent a whopping $7 on parts, including $3 for a 6CW4 Nuvistor NIB. Haven't had time to take a photo of the treasures yet, will try to do so later.

Did get plenty of other photos including the AM Dinner and a couple on site. Had a visit there from my dad and older brother who is visiting the homestead in VT from WY. Ol' Ma B didn't make it this time but still sent along the traditional NEAR-Fest homemade pie. Uh....YUM! George Rancourt K1ANX put on a fantastic talk on the R-390A, R-725, and Wullenweber systems. PJP & I attended but had to bail out early to get over to Johnson's for the dinner. Got a couple great shots of the evening sky as we were leaving.

After missing the last two events due to baby duty it was great to be back. The Radio Gods clearly had a chat with Mother Nature too, as Friday's WX demonstrated. Another successful event is history.

 

[W3GMS]

Here are some pictures from the AM Dinner on Friday night.  Great food and fantastic company!  

Joe - W3GMS


Top Photo-My wife Martha N3QBE
Middle Photo-John KC2FXE
Bottom Photo-W2PHL and Steve WA1QIX

[W3GMS]

And more....

[Admin Edit per Joe's request - names/calls

Top photo left side of table: Steve/W2TRH ex KC2JXX, Howie/W1CL, Martha/N3QBE, Joe/WA2PJP, waitress (yes, she was standing up), back of KA1KAQ, Eric/no call, answers to 'son of Ross'

Middle photo right side of table: black ball cap(dunno), John/KC2FXE, George/N2LJO, Phil/W2PHL, Steve/WA1QIX, Ross/W1EKG

Bottom photo: still dunno]

[W3GMS]

And more.....

Top, L:R John-KC2FXE & George N2LJO

Middle,  Todd - KA1KAQ

Bottom, L:R KA1KAQ & W3GMS
 

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Some identification of the people in the various pictures would be helpful to putting a face to a call.

[wb1ead]

Glad to see ya all enjoyed Nearfest and of course the AM dinner..this ain't no "pity me" post but while you were chomping on that T-bone I was at SMMC undergoing yet once agn a medical event..this time an internal hernia..as opposed to my previous 5 ext hernias..this was a new one for me..yuk!..a bright lite if there was one was the clean bill of health on any returning of the big "C"..catscan proved that out..Saturday found me looking out my SW facing window from my bed towards Deerfield with an NG tube hangin' outta my nose and thoughts of how scrumptious those sausage subs would be.......ah well back home now and on the mend and workin' like crazy on the 10/15mtr bands for AM..w-i-d-e open there!
               Tnx for the pics!..hopefully there will be more along with pics of the "goodies"..73 de DAVE

PS: jeez Todd ya won't be able to needle me in person about no ant for 80/40..just won't be the same..HI HI
 

[Steve - K4HX]

Dave, I heard a EU station in QSO with you on Monday. Ten meters was cooking!

[N0WVA]

Geez, look at all the old people.......Maybe I shoulda been born 40 years earlier.

[W3RSW]

Surely you jest. 
All our turns come far sooner than expected.

Hey, since you used to hold an Advanced, you hain't  too young a spring chicken yoself.  

_{This prospectus is based on backward projections via inverse time exponent forward expectations.} Say, Anyone used to work for ITE?

-Slight necro in this thread:
Hey Todd, those sunset pix are spectacular. Reminds me of the sunset and aurora we saw at Howard Co. fester some years ago.
I'm a sucker for such; you probably saw the sunset and sun pillar pix I posted a month or so ago taken from my house.

[W3GMS]

Here are a few pictures of Larry - NE1S, his wife Elaine and his famous Ford Falcon all equipped with the Elmac A-54 which Larry uses mobile along with a Gonset Converter tied into his BC Car Radio. 

Joe - W3GMS

[W3GMS]

From the classic NE1S to a more modern lash-up, one needs to see what Norm - W1GYY built for his mobile work. The transmitter is a Class D rig and the receiver uses the NE-602 in what Norm referred to as a straight forward design.  Sorry I could not get many details out of Norm!  I do think what he has created would be well served in an article.  Rob, W1AEX posted actual operation of this mobile lash-up earlier in this posting.     

Joe - W3GMS     

[W3GMS]

More of Norm's mobile creation! 

Joe - W3GMS

[W2PHL]

Norm's completely home brew mobile rig was certainly a NEAR-fest highlight for me! Thanks for posting the pics Joe. The AM dinner was the other highlight. Thanks to all who made it happen. It was great seeing you guys. We have to do this again..how about six months from now?

Phil

[W3GMS]

Hi Phil,

It was good chatting with you at NEAR-Fest.  Martha and I always have a fantastic time and its definitely my favorite Hamfest.  I just wish we lived closer!  I really need to find a better and less stressful way to get to the Hamfest.     

I still have a few more pictures to post and will try and get that done tomorrow. 

I agree about the highlights of the Fest.  I really enjoy social aspects and the AM dinner for us has gotten to be a tradition.

Joe - W3GMS