Topic: Discovery Center Station KA1SKY Upgrades Completed

[W1RC]

As many of you know the KA1SKY amateur radio station at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord NH was NEAR-Fest's first project. Since we are a non-profit entity we need to divest ourselves of any excess funds that are not needed to run future hamfests. 

Folliowng the incredible success of NEAR-Fest XIII in May 2013 we offered to finance a badly needed tower and multi-band beam antenna to replace the HF vertical at the Discovery Center.  In July 2013  a three-element Cushcraft MA5B HF Yagi beam antenna on top of a non-penetrating 17' rooftop tower,  special gifts from NEAR-Fest, were installed.  We are also adding an ICOM ID-880 D-Star VHF/UHF radio which hopefully will be operational in the spring of 2014.

An ICOM IC-7600 HF transceiver and a homebrew 40 meter vertical antenna, generously donated by Woody, WW1WW and a Hygain rotator, a gift from Fred, KK1KW, were also added to the station

NEAR-Fest would like to thank Pete Stohrer, K1PJS, and his crew for doing the work to make this enhancement a reality and wish him best of luck in his position as ARRL NH Section Manager which he assumed in July 2013.. Today I received  this message and photos from him:

"Hello KA1SKY Operators and Supporters,

Today the new Cushcraft, 3 element 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m beam was installed on a non penetrating roof mount at the Discovery Center. The old vertical has been removed. (see attached picture) Special thanks to our good friends at Near-fest for once again supporting the project and special thanks to Fred, KK1KW for the donation of a rotor. 

The antenna and rotor system checked out fine and although no contacts were made with the TS2000, the radio loaded up without issue and many stations were coming in loud and clear especially on 20m. The station will be ready for this weekend's Aerospace fest.

The old operating position is gone and the new is in. The first attached picture is of the display with the doors closed. The operating table is on a track system which extends out of the wall for the operator and public viewing. The control boxes are on shelves and the radios and computer monitor are on the table which retracts into the wall when not in use.

If you are available Saturday stop by and take a look. Also, check out the QRZ page of K1A which Fred, KK1KW has established in advance of Aerospace fest.

I want to recognize the following operators who helped with today's project

Tim and Mike of the DC staff, the NEAR-Fest, Woody, WW1WW; Fred, KK1KW; Stan KB1YSK; Don, N1ZIH; Al, KB8RPO; Larry N1PHV and Jim, K1JHM

73,

Peter J. Stohrer, K1PJS
ARRL NH Section Manager

Good work guys!

73,

MisterMike, W1RC