2013 RAYNE, LA HAMFEST - VIDEO AND A FEW PICTURES - REVIEW

I went to the hamfest in Rayne, La (just below Lafayette I'm told) this past Saturday. 

I rode down from West Monroe with Randy-KE5ESU,  MACK-KA5JNL and Jim-AB5YS.

We arrived around 9am and were happy to see lots of tables covered with merchandise both new and used.

I always enjoy looking at  gear of all types.  I like looking at the old boat anchors as well as the new stuff.

I don't remember the call of this one guy I saw.  I was standing at one tabel looking at some formerly military radio gear.  I was asking question to the guy who was selling it when I found out he was priormilitary. 

I asked him about when he was 'in' to which he gave his reply.  I asked where he was stationed to which he replied, Ft. Polk, la. 

I said, "I was there at that time."  Then his voice registered in my memory.  I said, "Chuck?"  He said, "Dan?"  I said, "Yes1. How you doing, man?


I was in the Army with this guy.  Once, while eating dinner (he never fails reminding me)  he choked on some food and I (according to him) saived his life.

Yes, although I like gear, I think the greatest element of going to a distant hamfest is meeting hams I've only heard on the radio.  It's quite interesting matching voices with faces and real people.  Seeing how wrong I wass, in terms of how I imagined people looked compared to how they actually look is really something.

I met Herman-KN5GRK for the first time.

Here's a video and a few Pictures I took.

KENWOOD TS-50S OPERATOR'S REVIEW

I've been running my TS-50s ever since I became a ham.

The TS-50s is a great rig.  For a legally blind guy, it is simple to operate.  Yes it does have an electronic/digital menu that can pose some difficulties for a person like me, but I have been able to figure it out without too much trouble.

It has some nice features.  One such feature is split frequency.

It is all modes, 160-10 meters. It has three power settings: 10, 50, 100 watts.

The microphone has a few buttons on it that control the frequency and power level.

Next to the VFO knob are the mode buttons.

It has the RIT function as well as a scan function.  The scan function works in concert with the VFO knob.  It has a good noise blanker as well as an attenuator that works really, really good.

The power output meter is a set of led bars, and it see,s tp be adequately sensitive.

I don't get great audio reports.  People never remark about how wonderful my audio is.  They do hear me though, and that is the important thing.

All in all, Id rate the TS-50s to be a great buy.

KENWOOD TS-590 High Performance HF Tranceiver INFO

Now here is a fine rig.  This would fit very nicely in my little ham shack.

KENWOOD TS-590 High Performance HF Tranceiver

Here is a video demonstration of a guy adjusting his transmit audio.





General Features

Downloads






The TS-590S marks a bold new chapter in Kenwood's proud history of manufacturing high-performance transceivers. Featuring a narrow-band Roofing Filter the TS-590S significantly reduces interference from unwanted signals that would be hidden to lesser rigs. With IF AGC based on advanced DSP technology, Kenwood has essentially redefined HF performance.

Built to satisfy the most demanding DX'er, this high-performance HF transceiver takes Amateur Radio to the next level continuing the Kenwood tradition of operating ease and rugged reliability.


General Features

• Best dynamic range in its class versus off-frequency interference

• 500 Hz / 2.7 kHz Roofing Filters

• 32-bit floating point DSP

• 100 W heavy-duty design

• Built-in automatic antenna tuner ( 6 ~ 160 meters )

• USB & Serial DB-9 ports for PC connectivity

• Kenwood ARCP-590 Control Software

• Kenwood ARHP-590 Radio Host Program for VOIP

• CW Auto Tune

• Beat Cancel

Download File Type Description Release Date

Download Brochures TS-590S Product Brochure Sep 16, 2010

Download Owner's Manuals Owner's Manual Sep 29, 2010

Download Owner's Manuals In-Depth Manual May 18, 2011


Note: Kenwood USA Corporation is committed to a policy of constant improvements in features, quality and performance. To accomodate these improvements, all technical information and specifications are subject to change without notice.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE KENWOOD WEBSITE

Should we Mix Politics and Amateur Radio?

what concerns you?   What are you most concerned about when it comes to spirituality, religion and politics?

It's not my intention to offend anyone, but  I have discovered that it is difficult to speak on different subjects without offending people.  So, the motivation to be politically correct or not speak at all is very popular today.

People are actually afraid to talk about what they want to say.  This is a frightening scenario in that nothing of substance can be accomplished if nothing of substance is ever said.

We end up carried on the wind currents of someone else's plans, like a leaf in a wind storm.

I recently heard a story... a parable that I want to share with you.
---
A man bought his mother 2 very expensive birds for Mother's day.  They could sing, dance and talk.  They cost $5,000 each.  The day after they were delivered to his mother he called and asked her, "Mother, mother, what did you think of those birds?"

She answered, "They was good."
He said, "No, no mother, you didn't eat those birds.  Thise birds cost $5000 a piece and they could sing, dance and they could talk!"

She replied, "Well they should have said something."

...And, you know?  That's where we end up too, if we don't speak up for what we believe.

What we need to do in this politically correct world is forget about uninymnoty of speech and thought, and we need to concentrate on being respectful to people with whom we disagree.

This all being said, I believe it is possible to mix Amateur Radio and politics.  Not only can we, but we really should use this wonderful  technology and the 'net' platform to discuss the issues of the times.

Can we be respectful towards eachother while discussing abortion, or gun control for two examples?

Give it some thought.

If you have any ideas on how you think we could begin these typs of dialog, post it in the comment.

Fox TV, Detroit, Discusses the Value of Amateur Radio (Video)

Fox 2 News Headlines

My Cat Playing in water (Video)

Gracie doesn't mind the water at all.  I know she's no ham, but she belongs to a ham.  Check her out in this video: