Calling up local amateur radio operators using a 2 meter repeater

Raising the Mike Signal in a novel way...

Explorer Scout observes K2M station operation...

A better microphone picker-upper ;-)...

Reading the fine print - K2M station QSL instructions..

Keeping track and logging contacts on the local nets

The size of the microphone is not proportional to the power of the signal!

Strategy session - note the yellow top loaded handi-talkie antenna hat...

Ab5IG Amateur Televion repeater link setup by Explorer Scout group
using DARC emergency amateur radio van as a support - note AB5IG ID screen on TV set..

Explorer scouts moving the antenna to improve signal strength from the top of DARC van

Explorer scouts operate amateur television station camera, transmitting live ATV audio/video from K2M
America's only Y2K millenium special events station...

For proper operator "loading", you need a ratio of one cooler to one antenna for lowest SWR:thirst ratio

It's December 31st, so how come the coolers are in the sun and the tents are in the shade?

"I know we left a hole here somewhere at last year's field day..."

"Okay, that's perfect, now don't move or put your legs down
or your changing body capacitance will de-tune the critical antenna inductance and we'll lose the TV picture...

These photos are from the K2M Amateur Radio Special Events station which was America's only Y2K Millenium celebration station. K2M operated from mid-day December 31st, 1999 into mid-January 1st, 2000. The station was setup in downtown Dallas (across from Dallas Morning News building and the Dallas Amtrack Train Station. Operation was on a number of bands, from 80 meters thru 6 and 2 meters.

In addition, a Richardson Explorer Scout group broadcast some of the happenings at the K2M station to other hams and amateur television enthusiasts in a 60+ mile radius of Dallas. The AB5IG amateur television repeater was used for this project.

I arrived early, but the early worms had already struck and nearly finished setting up tents when I arrived. I got a chance to put my amateur extra license to use, serving as control operator briefly while several other hams went scouting for some local hot cuisine. Afterwards, I explored the setups for the evening's party in downtown Dallas. The highlight of Dallas' Y2K festivities was relighting the restored red flying horse logo of Mobil Oil Corp. (now Exxon-Mobil Corp. of Irving, Texas) atop the old Mobil Oil building in downtown Dallas.

Since January 1 was a Saturday, we also had an impromptu First Saturday Sidewalk Sale. Actually, we had two of them, one on the first day of the millenium for those of us not too drunk or hung-over from partying to show up for some real bargains. We also had a second rescheduled sidewalk sale on January 8th to capture the funds of the rest of the folks who celebrated too much.

I have to admit that an amateur radio/television special events station like K2M plus two (2!!!) sidewalk sales in the same month is a great way to start off the next thousand years!

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