Hi Jim (I found the post! My server had dropped this thread -- too old, I
guess.)

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.

We've gotcha in the Blackbird Suite. It's all high performance jets, and
it's close to the pool!

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.

Yep, I've got an ICOM handheld we could use. I'm not sure where we could
put the antenna, but we'll think of something!

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.

My old beast of an aircraft radio finally died last month, and I ordered one
of those new ones that Sporty's is advertising everywhere. Apparently it's
on back-order, though -- but I'll set up those freqs as soon as it arrives.

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.

Well, the ideal place for the antenna would be in the stair tower. It's the
highest point around, and not far from my office. I suppose we'd need maybe
60 - 70 feet of coax to get it up there.

Thanks for everything, Jim! We're looking forward to your visit...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"