2013 Quartzfest

One of the reasons I like to head south in the winter, along with getting warm, is to attend some amateur radio events.  My favorite is Quartzfest, near Quartzsite AZ.  It's a gathering of amateur radio operators camped in the desert around the time of the big RV show in Quartzsite.  Its sort of "Woodstock" for hams.  Since I've blogged on it the last couple of years I won't go into details, other than its 10 days of multiple events and activities.  

One of the events they do each year is a day long 4x4 trip in the desert.  I've missed it the last two years so I really wanted to go this year.  This is the view from a ridge we stopped at.

Another stop was at a cabin built by the CCC with an adjacent windmill. 

The trip was fun, but long.  I'm glad I went, but probably will not go next year.  The scenery wasn't much different that what you can see from the highways.

Hams have several satellites in space.  This is a demonstration on how to work them as they pass overhead.  They're in low earth orbit so the fly across the sky really fast.   There are a couple that can be worked using hand held radios and antennas which is what these guys are trying to do as one passed quickly overhead.

One of the more famous hams in Gordon West, WB6NOA.  He's written many books and license manuals around ham radio.  He is also one of hosts of a popular podcast about ham radio. Here he's recording a segment about Quartzfest for a future airing.

One of my neighbors wasn't able to get his little Honda generator to start.  I carry some starting fluid with me.  Using it the generator would start right up but just as quicky die.  When the owner said he hadn't ran the generator in a year, we poured the old gas out.  This is what happens to gas after sitting a year without a stabilizer added, it starts to jell.  What a good lesson.  Don't store your small engines with gas in it unless you have added a fuel stabilizer.

There are many talks and seminars given each day.  I'm not aware of another amateur radio gathering with as many activities as Quartzfest.  

Here is my campsite for this year.  I came down with a friend from Coeur d'Alene, Bob and his wife Vonnie.  It was nice to have someone to pal around with.  We spent one day troubleshooting an electrical problem with their new trailer.  Their batteries would drain completely down at night.  We looked everwhere for the problem.  I won't go into details other than to say that Bob has a new middle name, "Electric Brakes".  

As in the past I met some really nice folks.  Roger and Sue from Lake Chalene WA.  I rode with Roger on the 4x4 trip.  And Jason and Monica from Salt Lake City.  They have the same RV as mine.  We both now have some new ideas on how to improve or motor homes.  

And it actually got to be shirt sleeve weather!