NWAPRS 13th Annual Summer
Gathering
September 10, 11, 12, 2010
2009 Summer Gathering attendees, about 40 in all as some are not pictured.
The 2009 Summer Digital Conference, hosted by the NWAPRS
Group, was Sept. 11-13th, 2009
The 13th annual Summer Gathering will be Sep 10-12, 2010. See you then!
Important note: If you plan to attend the NWAPRS Summer Gathering to get the latest info on APRS software and equipment, you're coming to the right place, but that information is readily available to you now on the internet. The real fun from attending a Summer Gathering is the people connection; that is meeting new people with a similar interest in Ham Radio, or re-acquainting yourself with others you've met in the past. We've been doing this for 12 years now in the NWAPRS region, and the comraderie, fellowship, visit time, sharing a meal, or whatever you want to call it is the basis for a great weekend at Valley Camp.
LOCATION: Valley Camp, East of North Bend WA, Exit 34, on I-90. Go north past Edgewick Inn and gas station about 1/4 mile, and turn right at the "Valley Camp" sign on SE Middle Fork road, proceed east another mile or so, turning left at the fork in the road, and continue another 1/2 mile to the stop sign. Entrance to Valley Camp is directly across the intersection. Site will be posted as K7FZO on APRS for those of you with laptops and GPS map displays. Talk in freq is 146.52 simplex, or 441.125 repeater, T 123.0. Geo-location is 4727.88N 12140.79W.
WEB: http://www.valleycamp.org
HOSTS: Thom/K7FZO and Teena/K9HAV Proehl
FACILITIES: Full service RV hookup sites, Tenting, Restrooms (with showers), large covered picnic shelter for 100 folks, WiFi, a playground for kids of all ages that includes; baseball field, basketball court, Volleyball, swings, slide, and plenty of space for Frisbee golf. There are hiking & biking trails and plenty of wildlife for even Herb.
WHAT TO BRING: Please bring your own dinner ware: plates, utensils, etc. If you can bring a roll of paper towell, bag of charcoal briquettes, etc, that will help the common good.
2010 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Friday, Sept 10
Arrive as desired
** Recommendation has been made for APRS for Newbies 101 Friday evening.
Thoughts?
8 pm Movie Night, TBA
Saturday, Sept 11
6:30 am - 7:30 am Breakfast by Chef Dobbins. If you want more than pancakes, bring it
along and we'll get it cooked. Extras appreciated.
8 am - 5 pm Program (NOTE NEW START TIME)
Tentative Program for Sat Sept 11, 2010
0800-0850 Welcome and round of introductions
0900-0935 State of the NWAPRS and Introduction to Presentations and
Demonstrations
0945-1600 with lunch break 1230-1330
Topic Breakout Groups (locations TBD, each presentation 30-45 mins in duration)
APRS Software Applications: UI-View, WinAPRS, APRSPoint, openAPRS, AGWTracker,
IBCNU,
APRS Digipeating 101: How a digipeater works and path selection
APRS Messaging: How to Send an APRS one-liner and EMAIL messages
APRS Trackers for High Altitude Balloons and Rockets
NWAPRS Blended APRS Development
APRS & SAR: D-Mapper and other software applications, SAR-specific trackers
APRS for Public Service and Special Events
APRS Equipment Demos: Kenwood TM-D710, Yaesu VX-8GR and FTM-350, MicroTrak
tracker, BigRedBee tracker
APRS Weather Station Setup and Reporting
1600-1700 Rejoin in one large group for re-cap of presentations,
demonstrations, and discussions.
Solder iron hot
Bring your lunch and dinner items, plus something to share. Charcoal grill will
be hot both meals.
Sunday, Sept 12
7:30 am - 9:30 am Breakfast by Chef Dobbins
Solder iron hot, sit and visit
ANYTIME: APRS-WIDOW OUTING: Spouses and family members "less interested" with our love of APRS will want to take in the nearby North Bend Outlet Malls for some excellent shopping. The Malls are located back at I-90 Exit 29. A bit too far to walk, but only about a 7-8 minute drive.
Bring your family, there is plenty of room for everyone and as anyone who has attended the last two Summer Gatherings can tell you, we have lots of fun!
RSVP: Thom and Teena need to start collecting a list of those that will be attending, if you want an RV hookup, plan to tent, plan to stay in our retreat center (all you need is your sleeping bag), or plan to motel it (Edgewick motel is 2.5 miles away). Email Thom at k7fzo@arrl.net.
If you will indicate how many nights you'll be staying, Thom will reserve sites for you.
If you have an APRS-related goodie you'd like to dispose of, bring it to the Gathering and put a note on it how much you want for it, etc. Perhaps you'll sell it while you're there.
As this get together is as much about food and fellowship as it is about ham radio, everyone is requested to bring a side dish or two to share during our Saturday lunch and dinner meals. Potato salad, fruit salad, coleslaw, etc works great, as do deserts. Thanks in advance.
It'll be great fun to get together again, see you all in September!