Maryland Milliwatts Show & Tell

Joe Everhart, n2cx goes to Maryland...

Gang,

Saturday was the last Maryland Milliwatts Show and Tell at the old location of the Laurel Md ham dealer - Maryland Radio Center. MRC is not closing, it's just moving to a new location about a quarter or half a mile down Rt 198. Unfortunately the new location is smaller so ther probably won't be enough room for any more Show and Tell Sessions.

This S&T was probably more lightly attended than others I've managed to catch. Those I can remember being there were Danny - K3TKS, Mike - WA8MCQ, Scott - KF3I (I saw his hat but didn't get a chance to talk to him), Walt - WA4KAC, ??? Kost - W3EZN (?) of the American QRP Key Co, Dick S. of S&S and another fellow QRPer whose call sign I didn't catch. I think all of these folks are also on the qrp mail list. There were also several other hams who were not necessarily QRPers but showed up anyway (MRC was always a place to go on Saturdays to socialize).

The main attraction wasn't show and tell, but scrounging! MRC had moved all of their stock out, but there were old cable, tables assorted components and some equipment that they were selling at closeout prices. Danny was the master of ceremonies representing MRC. (At least that's what he told us!). He was selling off the tables, shelves and parts for negotiable prices. I got some coaxial cables eith connectors, some ribbon cable, a few small parts, a cigar lighter plug, an old D.A.T.A diode data book, a Motorola RF Devices data book and other assorted stuff for $6.00. And when Danny took the money, he also handed me an old pair of headphones and some sort of homebreew project on a piece of Vectorboard. One guy bought two old window air condtioners for $50.00 each. Another guy saw a large tube style oscilloscope marked at several hundred dollars and asked what Danny would take for it. Danny replied "$100.00." When the guy hesitated, Danny said "$50.00." The guy queried "How about $25.00." Danny quickly replied "Sold!" I hardly got to talk to Mike, MCQ becasue he was rooting through boxes of stuff and dismantling benches. I've seen his garage and can't imagine where he will put them! We did trade a few ideas on Altoids tin projects.

Another guy had a large vehicle out front with boxes and boxes of assorted stuff. There were oddball computer modems, keybaords, Plug-in boards, a couple of pc mother boards and cartons of assorted *stuff.* He told everyone, I have a three bedroom house and no room in it. Take what you goodies you want becasue they're not going home tonight! I got some 220 uF 16 volt electrolytics a drawstring bag good for an Altoids tin and a couple of brand new connectors.

Dick of S&S had set up his hamfest dipole and tailgate setup in the parking lot and was showing off his wares to all interested folks. There's nothing like a setup with an aluminm dipole on a 15 foot tripod mast to fraw attention in a parking lot. And all that cw racket doesn't hurt either.

In a compromise with the wife, she and my son rode down and dropped me off for a couple of hours. She and my son went to a mall and otherwise sight-seeing. Then we wnt home by the way of York PA where we stopped for dinner.

As the time for her to return drew near, it was obvious that "show and tell" would be limited. I had brought my 30 meter station in a cell phone bag and showed it off. Several guys including Walt - WA4KAC were iterested in the NN1G 30-40, wso we "popped to hood to give everybody a look." On none-qrp'er asked "What's that a receiver?" He hardly believed me when I told him it was a complete transceiver. He queried if it was a direct conversion receiver, so I told him that it was a superhet with a crystal filter. He finshed with "That's a kit rig?" Several folks were surprised at the simplicity of the BIC Flamethrower dipole, too.

Danny had another surprise up his sleeve. He had a blueline pad at the door and asked everyone to sign in. Periodically he would randomly pick a name from the lsit and give a free prize to that person. There were some Icom accessories (don't ask what it is - just take it), some mobile mounting brackets and a bunch of leather HT cases.

I've gotta say that this wasn't like a typical NJ-QRP meeting.

72/73,

Joe E., N2CX

work: jeverhart@cayman.vf.mmc.com
home: n2cx@voicenet.com