Although Bob's MNQRP membership number doesn't reflect it, he was really one of the founding members. When I announced the forming of the then nameless Minnesota QRP Society on QRP-L, Bob emailed me the same day. He wanted to be a member, as he knew he was moving to Minnesota. Bob also supplied me with ideas and support that really helped get our club off the ground. Even though Bob's work meant he could only be around for meetings every other month or so, he always brought interesting things to show and, of course, extra copies of QRP Quarterly. Bob took many of the photos on our club web site. As I searched for a photo of Bob to place here I realized that we really didn't have any as he was behind the camera. This photo is from the HamCall CD-ROM, we remember him better without the beard.

Bob was a great contributor to QRP. He was one of the original organizers of the Dayton QRP conference, Four Days In May (FDIM). He also wrote the QRP Clubhouse Column in QRP Quarterly and was a member of the QRP ARCI board. But most of all, Bob was a fun guy to be around and loved building radios and operating QRP. He will be very much missed by us all. Sadly, some keys go silent much, much too soon.

It was a perfect Mayday on the lawn of the Pavek Museum. I was enjoying the day and conversation so much that I didn't take a head count but Les reports we had 11 show up for the picnic and another 6 members come for the meeting and operating event. There was plenty of food to go around and it was all great! I really was glad I brought and setup the dining tarp over the table, I had thought about leaving it but the shade was really welcome, as the sun was very warm.

There were several rigs and we setup three antennas, two low dipoles and Steve N0SG's portable mast with a Hamstick dipole. (There is a sorry lack of trees at the Museum) We also had the usual problems with forgotten bits and pieces and equipment not working. I had a mysterious battery discharge problem. It was fine and charged when I packed it up and I had been using it prior with no problem. At the field site my SW-40+ was acting up badly and making the worst noises in the earphones. Turned out the battery was discharged and down to 9.4 volts! Steve N0SG had some battery problems too resulting in some melted wire. Haven't we all done that before!

There were giveaways too. Steve, KI0CL had a few new '60's Geiger counters to give away. Rumor has it there may be more at the June meeting. Les, N0PPF had a bunch of jars full of odds and ends parts to share. Interesting stuff too!

Everyone had a good time even though band conditions were rotten! I don't think we made a single contact, there just weren't any signals!

I'm quite proud of the nifty reduction drive I made for the main tuning capacitor out of a nail and a few rubber grommets! It really works smooth.:-)

The QRP ARCI announced the 1999 inductees into the QRP Hall of Fame.

Dave Benson, NN1G
L. B. Cebik, W4RNL
Paul Harden, NA5N

L.B. Cebik had a great weekend. He became a Hall of Fame'r and won the K2, donated by Elecraft
Rich Kline, WB3BLM, won an SWL 40+ donated by Small Wonder Labs, Dave Benson.
Phil Carter, WD8QWR won a neat loop receiver kit donated by Jade Products Inc.
Rev. George Dobbs, G3RJV won a Ten Tec 1330 30m transceiver donated by Ten Tec.
Douglas Farnsworth N4MPD won a full ARRL Design package donated by the ARRL.
Toni Pallone KC8ASF won a BIG 50W solar panel donated by Sunlight Energy Systems, Mike Bryce.
Joe McKinney, N4OVC took home the grand prize, an SGC 2020 donated by SGC.

QRP Spy Mert W0UFO reports:

Got back safely from Dayton and now recuperating. Thor Lyford, W0QIK and I went down to Dayton late on Weds so as to be on hand for the Thursday Four Days in May (FDIM) symposium put on by QRP ARCI. We stayed at Day's Inn South where the FDIM was being held. The motel was ready to welcome QRP'ers.

Checking into our room, we were greeted by Brad, WB8YGG and Gary, N2JGU the "Tick" boys from embedded systems who had the room across the hall from us. They had a wire out the window to a tree across the courtyard for rigs on 80 and 40. From then on it was great fun meeting all the QRP enthusiasts. Many of the names and calls seen on QRP-L came to life. Look at the QRP ARCI web site for a complete list of attendees.

The Thursday sessions opened with remarks by Jim Stafford, W4QO and Ken Evans, W4DU. A show of hands showed that a lot of people were there for the first time. Attendance at the first session was over 100 and at the banquet the following day the count was about 140. The papers presented were all very interesting and can be reviewed by getting a copy of the FDIM proceedings.

At the noon break, Thor and I went to a Walmart to get some twine to support the dipole that we had brought. We then strung up our antenna from our second story window to a light post across the parking lot. It wasn't up very high but cleared most trucks that came through (except one with an antenna, but it only scraped lightly). After lunch we got our NC20 on the air and, believe it or not, our first contact was with MNQRP'er, Jim N0UR and the second contact, later in the day, was HP1AC, Cam. By this time, many antennas were sprouting from the Motel and I was expecting some local QRM but it never really happened.

Thursday evening a room was set up for QRP'ers to meet the speakers heard earlier and to see some of the hardware that had been discussed.

Friday we went up to the Dayton Hamvention at Hara Arena and spent a good deal of time browsing the flea market. No big purchases, only trivial items but we are planning to come down with the pickup truck next year because the 'scopes, QRP kits and solar panels looked pretty good. We spent some time at the FISTS table helping Nancy, WZ8C and Irene, WO8E greeting members and processing new member applications. Many FISTS members passed by and some were people that we had worked on the air so it was a fun time.

Back to FDIM for the big banquet where the speaker, from the ARRL (forgot to write down his name) showed slides of the ARRL Headquarters and made some observations about QRP. An awards ceremony followed and then drawings for prizes was conducted. All 140 attendees got some sort of a prize.

After the Banquet, a vendors display area was open. Rigs and kits were on display and the air was filled with CW notes as operators "played" with the equipment. Some had coax running out the window so that actual on-the-air demos were possible. Products were either available for purchase or could be ordered for delivery later. Before going to bed that night, we checked the 20m band and found that EU was pounding in so we worked UA9FAR, OK1CF, 9A7C, HA0HW, and LZ2LP. I am very pleased with my little NC-20.

Saturday morning back to Hara to look at fleas and then to the Air Force Museum for the afternoon. In early evening we made some more contacts and later went to the equipment building contest and radio show/tell social in the motel. Then, about ten-thirty packed for an early morning departure back to Minnesota. Ready for a rest and reflection on what we had seen. Hope that gives you an idea of our trip.

VHF Chuck Munce K0GJX reports:

I go with a vhf group and arrived at Dayton on Thursday AM to set up our stuff in the flea market and then do some shopping!!, I found some new Dow key N type SPDT 12vdc relays plus 2 used Bird line sections. Next I found some 470uf/400vdc p.s. caps for another project. I did not buy any QRP parts but the hamfest was better for RF type parts then years before, with lots of RF chokes, V caps, transistors ICs etc.. Plus lots of old Millen and National dials.

Inside was much the same with K2, ARCI, Kanga, G-QRP etc. and all regulars. The K2 looks good for the QRP purist but for the money I would go some other way. MFJ bought HYGAIN and the new manager for them is an old vhf buddy ex K1LL, I forget his new call.

The weather was good, no rain! We left Saturday evening and headed back.

Please send in upcoming events to the Mike Stapp KE0WW calendar editor.
We can’t show them if we don’t know them!