(Reposted from 8 June 2004)


Jay...

A few things...


1. Count us in (weather dependent) on the pool party. Reserve us a room for
the evening. Of COURSE we aren't going to drink beer that afternoon because we
have to fly the next day, but I've got this friend Ernie that will drink my
share ... {;-) We stayed in the PanAm room last year, so if you've got
another room you think we might enjoy, I'll leave it to your good judgement.

2. I think we need to have a talk-in frequency. Do you have a handheld or some
other aircraft radio that you can use? The legit air-to-air frequency is 122.75
(87.187(k)), but you aren't allowed to use it from air to ground. 122.85 or
122.9 (multicom 87.237(b)(3)) seems to be a good one as it permits (on a
secondary basis) uses such as transportation, lodging, etc., but you've gotta
have a ground station license in order to use it as a ground station. 123.3 and
123.5 can be used in "pilot training" (87.323(b)), and I *do* have a license for
123.3 and 123.5, so those are semi-legit frequencies to use.

Why don'cha do this for me. Monitor 122.85, 122.9, 123.3, and 123.5 around your
place for a while and see if one of them is relatively quiet. Interfering with
another station, even if legitimately done, is never a good idea. Then post
your frequency of choice here at least a week before the party.

If you promise to construct it, I will send you the makings for a vertical
dipole weatherproof external antenna. I'll even make up the coax lead-in if you
tell me how many feet you need from the antenna to the radio inside. I mean,
after all, an aviation theme hotel HAS to have an airplane radio in the office,
don'cha think? You will need to provide about 4' of PVC waterpipe and some
wooden dowels.

Jim

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com