Well, didn't make Dayton, but there are plans....

 

For a number of different reasons I decided I couldn't make Dayton this year. While I don't really regret that decision I have to admit a certain wistfulness while listening to the local repeater traffic in Dayton seeing some of the photographs coming from the site this morning.

 

As a formerly rabid Buffalo bills fan, you would think that I would be used to the phrase"maybe next year".

 

This year, my plans are to spend a bit more time at the local ham fests, and perusing the tables to pick up bits and pieces of what I need to build up my station, and spending a bit of time actually building up the station which is always a Time intensive process anyway.

 

Some of the station projects on my plate::

 

Moving my gp9 and my IMAX up to the back of the garage on slightly taller poles.

Rerunning the coax for those antennas through the rear of the garage wall.

Reestablishing my 40-m- end fed, with modifications to allow me to run 80 m. Probably a coil. This will involve burying the lmr400 feeding it because I plan to feed the antenna from the opposite end of the yard.

Getting something going on 6 m, probably a Halo or a cut down CB antenna.

Establishing a receive only antenna for the purpose of feeding my SDR.

Get my big gun computer going again. It currently has Linux installed on it I play Windows give it additional memory and probably a new processor. The mini computer I'm running at the moment is nice and will be useful with the new setup but it can't hold a candle to the big guy.

Something horizontal on 2 m and perhaps 70 cm again possibly a Halo.

 

By time being so blessedly limited because of my work I may end up asking for some help to get this stuff accomplished. 

 

Among the things I'd like to find at the hamfest tables this year: an antenna analyzer of some sort, possibly a rig expert, or an mfj.

A decent external tuner. Doesn't need to be an auto-tune but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. Preferably one with several antenna outputs.

A DJ mix console. Nothing complex, perhaps four or five channels. This would allow me a bit more control over my processing stack. I actually bought a new one a few months ago but it doesn't work

 

 

So,What are the projects that are dancing around in your head?