Atlanticon 2001 QRP Forum

The NJQRP Club is pleased once again to host the "Atlanticon QRP Forum" being held this year in Timonium, Maryland on March 30-31.

Atlanticon is a weekend gathering of QRPers on the eastern US seaboard, and is once again being held on the same weekend as the Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest at the Timonium Fairgrounds, on the north side of Baltimore. We held our very first Atlanticon in Timonium two years ago, then went to Philly for the second year's forum, and now we're back in Timonium again by popular demand. It seems the large hamfest, which is also host to the ARRL Maryland State Convention, is a big draw for QRPers on the east coast.

Most seasoned QRPers know that the Atlanticon QRP Forum follows the standard tradition of a Friday night arrival and hospitality hall for vendors and attendees, a full suite of QRP seminars during Saturday morning and afternoon, and a lavish Saturday evening bash where we have building contests, a unique operating event, vendors tables again, and more socializing.

About 150 QRPers usually show up for Atlanticon, and on Saturday get treated to QRP seminar topics presented by acknowledged leaders and experts in our hobby. We are very proud this year to have our speaker slate comprised of:

Tony Fishpool, G4WIF Graham Firth G3MFJ

Joe Everhart, N2CX Dave Benson, NN1G

Jim Kortge, K8IQY Rich Arland K7SZ

Steve Ford, WB8IMY Chuck Adams, K7QO

This is going to be a great set of presentations and it's bound to be a standing-room-only showing in the seminar room on Saturday!

Last year we started a new tradition by sending a small bag of electronic components to all registered attendees such that they could build the kit beforehand and bring it along for use and judging during our building contest on Saturday evening.

This year's Atlanticon kit is the PSK31 Audio Beacon!

We designed software for an inexpensive-but-fast PIC-like microcontroller device that generates audio tones using the PSK31 algorithms. The data-driven audio waveform is fed to an amplifier IC which drives a user-supplied speaker and "voila", the familiar PSK31 warble is easily recognized. When presented as input to DigiPan (or an equivalent PSK31 receiving system), these modulated audio tones are able to be decoded to display the original data stream.

Most attendees will get a chance to build up their simple Manhattan-style kit beforehand and bring it along for judging on Saturday evening. Homebrewing experts Chuck Adams and Jim Kortge will do the judging. Then all contestants will turn their beacons ON and gather around two laptops running DigiPan and manned by PSK31 veterans Dave Benson and Joe Everhart. These laptops have built-in microphones and can decode audio PSK31 tones "in the air" ... and boy, with 75-100 beacons warblin' away, there will certainly be audio tones in the air! (We've suggested that Dave and Joe bring along a pair of ear plugs :-)

Read all the details of the PSK31 Audio Beacon here, including the schematic, parts layoout, full source code and a 19-page comprehensive manual available for downloading!

The Atlanticon QRP Forum is being held again at the Holiday Inn Select in Timonium, MD. Located just off exit 16 of Interstate 83 North, this quality hotel is only about 20 minutes from Baltimore-Washington International airport (BWI). Reduced room rates have been arranged with the Holiday Inn Select - just mention that you are with the "Atlanticon" group. Reservations can be made by calling 410-252-7373. See the hotel's information-packed website at http://www.hiselectbaltimore.com

Admittance to Atlanticon is $10, collected either at the hotel that weekend, or in advance by mail.

PRIZES

The grand prize this year is a brand new Yaesu FT-817 all-mode, all-band QRP transceiver! Everyone attending will be eligible, based on a drawing to be done at the end of the presentations on Saturday.

Other prizes will be awarded throughout the weekend based on random drawings and contest winners. Many generous QRPers and companies have donated QRP gear for us to give away ... transceivers, paddles & kets, books, calendars, and more!

OTHER EVENTS

The Atlanticon hotel is only a short distance from the very popular Greater Baltimore Computerfest and Hamvention, being held the very same weekend! See their website for complete details of the ham fun that weekend! http://www.gbhc.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Stay tuned to these web pages for the very latest details on the QRP weekend and associated special events. Details also appear in current issues of QRP Homebrewer.

This fun-filled, and now traditional east coast QRP weekend is just around the corner, so make your arrangements soon. Hotel rooms and flights will tend to sell out as time draws closer, and the Atlanticon QRP weekend should not be missed. See your QRP friends, win some fantastic door prizes, take away a pretty cool Atlanticon Kit, and hear some fantastic technical presentations ... it couldn't be better!

-- George Heron, N2APB
& Joe Everhart, N2CX

Last Modified: March 15, 2001