AZ ScQRPions Club 2013 Ft Tuthill QRP Conference

After my lack of success making any QRP contacts a couple weeks ago, I decided that I had some learning to do.  Coincidentally, a friend sent me the flyer for the AZ ScQRPions QRP Club Conference.  It was held August 2 and 3.  I was unable to get away on Friday (August 2) but I decided to drive up to Flagstaff Arizona and spend Saturday August 3 there.  It was well worth it.

I attended some really interesting sessions:

• Scot Cowling (WA2DFI) presented a program on SDRstick HF Software Defined Radios, an in-depth look at the SDRstick series of simple SDR receivers.
• Lyle Johnson (KK7P) of Elecraft gave a great presentation on the development of the KX-3.
• Bob Proctor (N6YPE) gave a great presentation on the new Ten-Tec 506 Rebel.
• Ward Harriman (AE6TY), author of SimSmith, a PC based Smith Chart gave a great demonstration of SimSmith.

I also received lots of advice and encouragement from some very experiences QRPers:

• The band conditions the past few weeks have been lousy.  Don’t give up.
• Switch my antenna configuration to an inverted vee in order to elevate the feed point.
• Switch to the low end of 40M (7020-7055) where there are more low speed CW QRPers.
• Don’t worry about my code speed being just 10WPM.  That’s just fine.

The conference was well worth the time spent.