Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC)
2009 Sterlingfest Special Event Station

The members of the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club operated a special event station at the Sterlingfest in Sterling, VA.

Despite a couple hours of light rain in the morning, our station at Sterlingfest on Oct 10th was a big success. We discussed amateur radio with several members of the community and meet a couple prospective new members.

We only logged a handful of contacts during the day, but highlights include a QSO with WW2SUB, another special event station operating from the USS Batfish (submarine) in Muskogee, OK (yes, I said Oklahoma). We also got into the Arizona QSO party and made a satellite contact via SO-50. The festival clown even stopped by the station and demonstrated his CW skills.

Special thanks go to Mark, KI4OBT, for helping to organize the effort and making satelitte QSOs, Russ, W3RST, for supplying the generator, Dick, W2YE, for bringing the radio and dipole, and to Duane, K4UW, for photo support. Thanks to the many other members that came out to support the event: Jim KF4PQL, Gary K4SRX, Linda K4LDT, and Joe WB2SAI.
 

Mark, KI4OBT, setting up the canopy.
Russ, W3RST, sets up the generator. Apparently it started easier this year than last year.
Dick, W2YE, supplied the radio. A practice telegraph key is positioned front left on the table. Log book under the microphone.

Russ, W3RST, Mark, KI4OBT, (sitting), and Dick, W2YE, all set to go and waiting for the Sterlingfest to begin.
Mark, KI4OBT, working the radio.
Dick, W2YE, working the radio. The crowds have started in the baackground.

Russ, W3RST, and Mark, KI4OBT, start to make a contact via satellite, SO-50.
Russ, W3RST, and Mark, KI4OBT, make a satellite QSO.
Dick, W2YE, and Linda, K4LDT.

Joe, WB2SAI, Dick, W2YE, Aaron, KG4WAL (a visitor), and Mark, KI4OBT,  in front of the booth.

The Sterlingfest clown demonstrating CW. Yes, he knows morse code.
Jim, KF4PQL, waiting to welcome visitors.

Duane, K4UW, working phone.

Russ, W3RST, at the code oscillator/practive telegraph key.
Russ, W3RST, Duane, K4UW, and Dick, W2YE.



Made on 12 Oct 09