Read a preview about our event written by the Poughkeepsie Journal’s Southern Dutchess Focus here .  73 de Stan WB2LQF

Note from WB2LQF:  The printed article included two pictures which I provided to the Poughkeepsie Journal.  They appear below with appropriate notations.

The following picture appeared on the front page and described that Scott Dunlavey (foreground-left) and Julian Blair (foreground-right) were unloading a 40 foot crank up tower upon which beam antennas would be placed.  These beam antennas would permit around-the-world communications.

The picture below appeared on the second page and described Tony Castellano, a Hopewell Junction resident, working “high speed CW.”

QSYMinutes.2011.06.v0

Folks, I just have to share this bit of serendipity.

Back in April I worked I2RTF in Brescia, Italy.  We had a nice, long CW chat on 20 meters.  We chatted about Italy, my Italian heritage, and northern Italy.  Whoever this guy was, he had a good fist.  It’s somewhat unusual to find a DX station that actually wants to have a real conversation.  Most of the time it’s “RST 599 TU QRZ?”

After the QSO, I went to http://www.QRZ.com for a QSL address.  I soon realized I had worked Piero Begali himself!

Now I’ve always had a simmering love affair with Begali keys so this was a meaningful contact for me.  I sent off my QSL card and a SASE hoping to get a reply from the master Italian key maker himself.

A couple weeks later, I receive a thick package from Italy.  In the package was a QSL card, a nice personal note from Piero, an autographed copy of his recent book (in Italian) about the development and growth of radio in Italy, and a catalog of all his company’s offerings.

OK.  You can probably figure out where this is going.  That simmering love affair with the concept of “someday” owning a Begali key was rapidly turning into a burning  “gotta have it NOW” situation.

I emailed Piero with some technical questions about the model I was interested in.  His daughter, Bruna, replied that she was unable to answer my technical questions and would refer me to Ulrich Steinberg, N2DE, since Piero was in Dallas, TX and that’s why Bruna was answering his emails.

Ulrich answered all my questions to my complete satisfaction and I proceeded to place my order with Bruna.

Bruna then advises me that she knows exactly where Fishkill, NY is because she and her father, Piero, had visited here six years ago and Ulrich (N2DE) was their guide.

Now I’m really getting inquisitive so I look up N2DE in QRZ.com and find out he lives in Pleasant Valley, NY!    Up the road a bit from Scott, W2NTV.

I contact Ulrich and he’s equally surprised that we are close neighbors!    Then I find out that Ulrich is the co-designer of the Begali keys, designer of keys for many other top-of-the-line manufacturers, and the inventor of the Begali CW Machine!

He’s agreed to present to us at our August meeting and he’s also intending to drop by at Field Day to meet us and say “hello”.

Ham Radio — what a great world-shrinking hobby!    Stan WB2LQF

FIELD DAY 2011 June 24, 25-26

Field Day is officially an operating event to demonstrate the communications ability of

the amateur radio community in simulated emergency situations.   Anyone with an interest in amateur radio is welcome to attend.  Please join us to watch, operate, and meet hams from QSY and other area clubs.  Come and enjoy the thrill of amateur radio.

WHERE: as before at Dutchess County’s Bowdoin Park, (pavilion 4) situated at 85 Sheafe Rd in the Town of Poughkeepsie.  Click here for Map and see directions below. Bathroom facilities are available, as is water, a covered pavilion and flat parking lot.

We will be using MBARC 146.970 (PL 100) as the repeater to coordinate talk-in for those of us who will be going there for the first time. As you get closer 146.500 will be our simplex.

SETUP: 2pm Friday. Anyone available to help would be MORE than welcome! We will commence operating at 2pm Saturday and operate for the legal 24 hour period. Teardown is 2pm Sunday.

OPERATING: 3A operating as K2QS with a GOTA (Get On The Air) station WB2 LQF

BRING: your favorite headphones, mike, key, etc. for operating.

WELCOME: operators, and crews to setup and teardown.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES: for tour on  Sunday June 26th. the staffed emergency communications vehicles of the Dutchess County Red Cross and the Dutchess County Emergency Response Vehicle.

ITEMS NEEDED:

Everyone is invited to bring coolers, ice, water, beverages, snacks, dessert, or any food that would complement the weekend meals!

Coolers & Ice – We always need as many as possible…

Cash donations (or checks to QSY Society) are welcome:

Major expenses include site rental, food, and gasoline. Remember, we still have no dues and rely on 50/50s and contributions!

If you have any questions or comments, send an email to Scott at w2ntv@arrl.net or call/text him at 845 705-7247

DIRECTIONS FOLLOW . . .

DIRECTIONS to the 2011 QSY Society FIELD DAY at Bowdoin Park.

All roads lead to Bowdoin Park! (85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls)

Any way you go, Rt 9 is the easiest.

From the north take Rt 9 (southbound!) to Sheafe Rd, the first right past the Best Western, in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Bowdoin Park is a few miles on the right.

If coming from Albany, take NYS Thruway to Exit 18 (New Paltz/Poughkeepsie), follow Rt 299 to 9W to Mid-Hudson Bridge, stay in right lane after the bridge and follow signs to Route 9 south. Then turn right just past the Best Western onto Sheafe Rd. The park is a few miles on the right.

From the south take Rt 9 (northbound!) to Spring Rd which is the left just past the Galleria Mall, then a left at the stop sign onto Sheafe Rd. The park is a couple miles on the right.

From the south you can also take Rt 9D to left onto CR28 – stay on Rt 28, cross the bridge over Wappinger Lake, make a right at the stop sign onto Main St and then a left onto Sheafe Rd (1st left past New Hamburg Fire Station.) Park is half mile on the left.

At the park: take the FIRST RIGHT after going through the gate, travel on the dirt road behind the chapel, go up the hill to Pavilion 4.

talk-in will be on Mt Beacon 146.97, PL 100 and there will be signs posted to guide you in!

we will monitor 145.500 as our simplex

Map

Or Find us at the ARRL website Field Day Locator under K2QS …

http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Field Day 2010 pictures have now been placed in the QSY Gallery.  This was brought to our attention by Shirley, N2SKP.  You can also see them here.